For as long as I can remember, a model train set dominated one corner of my parent's basement. It was a Lionel set running Super O track. It included a scratchbuilt trestle and oil refinery.

I spent much time running trains around that layout.

As I was growng up, my father was a member of the Train Collectors Associatono (TCA) and at one meeting, one of the members had a small layout set up from Kalamazoo Toy Trains. The factory was nearby and TCA members were invited to an open house that afternoon. The wheels began to spin on possibly setting up an outdoor layout at home.

It would take over five years before that dream became reality. I didn't spend alot of time running these trains as it was during my high school and college years.

Today, I'm considering a small N Scale layout for my basement. I have a small 4x6 area so N scale will be perfectputting a small garden railroad up. The expense is what is holding me back right now.

My favorite two railroads are ones that used to run through this area: Pere Marquette and the railroad that they merged into: Chessie System.