Hello!

I’m new to the forum and wanted to introduce myself.

I’ve only been using MS Train Sim for a short time, but quite enjoy it, especially Andre’s wonderful StL&NA. I also do a bit of HO modeling, although I don’t have room for a large layout. Right now, 2 4x8 sections in an L shape is all I can squeeze into my allotted corner of the basement.

I’ve been a train nut for most of my 60+ years and come by it honestly. My granddad worked for the L&N from 1908 to 1959. My own “real” railroading has been limited to park trains. I ran a C.P. Huntington in Wichita for a couple of summers back in the late 1960’s and since June 2006 have been volunteering on weekends at the Little Toot Railroad in Flora, Illinois. Although I live in Evansville, Indiana, I happily make the two-hour drive on weekends for the chance to run real, albeit small, steam. Our railroad features a pair of Crown 15” coal burners running on about a mile of track through a public park. In addition, we have one completely restored diesel-style train, an F-unit trimmed out in Illinois Central brown, orange and yellow as the “City of New Orleans.”, and two other F-units that were bought as basket-cases and are in the early stages of restoration.

That’s me in the picture, having the time of my life! Notice the size. This little train will really keep you busy, driving, firing and trying to keep one eye on the load of passengers all at the same time.

I look forward to participating in the forum and to spending a LOT more time with MSTS and the StL&NA.

Norman Morgan

Welcome aboard Norman, glad you chose this place to hang out and trade "war stories!"

You certainly could have picked a worse place to join, but since this one is the best of them all "you have chosen wisely." So grab a cup of coffee, kick up your feet and enjoy yourself.

You might want to nose around the "Screenshots" forum here as there are a few others who like to play with the small versions including our yearly visit to the Turkeyville Railroad.

Glad you stopped in Mr. Norman, you'll find your among friends here

Thanks, Sean! I'll be sure to check out the Screenshots. One thing I am looking forward to is the Grand Scale convention in September this year. It will be at the Arborway T.T. & Northwestern RR down near Rolla, MO http://www.arborwayrailroad.com If you have never seen that web site, stop whatever you are doing and visit it now. I thought Little Toot was really something (I still do!), but this guy puts everyone else to shame. He has over 9 miles of 15" gauge track and some of the most beautiful equipment you have ever seen, including brand new oil-fired Northern. I drool all over my shirt every time I look at those pages.

Alrighty then (sound of drool being sopped up from now drowned keyboard and desktop) thanks for sharing that with all of us. I watched all the videos and have made it thru about 1/3 of the photos. I cannot imagine the expenses to make this thing a reality, and more so cannot ever imagine being able to have something even remotely close to it in real life. Sure makes ya want to play the lotto a bit more often so you can dream about having a "backyard" (read as forest preserve) pike like that.

You sure do know how to jump in here with a bang don't ya?!!?

Hi Norman!

A belated "Welcome" to our little slice of forum fun.

I'm looking with envy at your mini-train you get to play on!

Two times in the past 8 years, I seriously explored getting into one of the "U-ride'm" scales. Fascinating stuff. Alas, both times reality eventually came about and slapped me in the face, and U-ride'm scale is likely going to be something I'll always find an interest in, but doubt I'll actually take the plunge and do.

Andre

Andre,

You do get to play on a U-Ride_Em scale, but it is 1:1, something many of us envy. But even when you love trains as much as we all do, there are times when it is your job that you wish it wasn't, like when it is ) outside with a howling wind and snow so hard that you can't see 15 feet in front of you.

Welcome the best group around bar none. An excellent series of videos, that train in the last video was really truckin' at the ATT .

Until last summer, I had not considered it, either, although nearly 40 years ago I did spend two summers working part-time at Joyland Park in Wichita, where part of my duties involved running the very first C.P.Huntington. But, one day in early June last year, I was poking around on the Internet, following railroad links, more or less at random, and stumbled across Little Toot. My first thought was, "That's not TOO far away (about 2 hours) and would be a great place to take the grandkids." So we went over on Father's Day, had a picnic in the park, and rode the train and I wound up in a long conversation with Clint Green, the owner. After we had been chatting for nearly an hour, he said, "You should come over and learn to run this thing. We can always use good volunteer help." Talk about having your prayers answered! That was all the encouragement I needed. I spent the rest of my summer weekends over there learning the mysteries of real steam.

One thing I discovered, as I'm sure you know very well, is that nothing on this earth, not even a small child, can get any dirtier than a coal burning locomotive! Some days it feels like I spend more time wiping the grime off the engine than I do running it.

It's hard to say who has more fun on that train, the kids in the back or the old fat guy driving it. I do know this, the only sound more magical than a steam whistle is the laughter of a child, and I get to spend my weekends hearing both.

You sure are one lucky bugger Norman. Needless to say it warms the heart to read that you can enjoy your favorite sport like that!, not many of us here have that good fortune.