After nearly 60 years it was time to dust off my old trains. My wife was encouraging. She had no idea what I was getting myself into. Lucky me!

It had started with that little 0-8-0 tank engine when I was five. A simple oval with a siding, all on a small, neatly detailed table. Over about seven years it grew to three locomotives, a roundhouse, electric switches, on a big table. Then girls happened and it went into boxes for 35 years.

About 15 years ago I pulled them out and built a layout in my garage (pictured right) that was hinged to the wall. I figured I could monkey around with them a bit. I even had the locomotives serviced. It worked for about a month and my then-girlfriend moved in. The layout was folded against the wall and the garage was loaded with crap. Bye bye trains, again.

Ten years later, now married (different gal) and retired to Northern California. The trains beckon. Time to see what's what.