My dad was a train guy. He built model trains. When I was a kid, we had a spare room in our house dedicated to his model trains. He loved trains and he would take me places and we would look at trains together. Good stuff.
I went to Durango High School in Durango Colorado. That’s right, home to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Train. I loved that train. I was a sandwich-board-man giving out information to tourists in the summer and part of my gig was to go and wave at the train when it left and go and wave at the train when it came back. I’d get soot all over me from head to toe but it felt authentic and people on the train would smile their faces off and wave back. It was great.
Now, I drive to Chicago from Rockford often. Every time I pass a brown and white sign indicating the exit for the Illinois Railway Museum. Something I should have taken my kids to and should be interested in. I mean, I like trains too.
The reality is that I’m annoyed when a train jams me up at a crossing. I shake my fist and shout, “What is this? The 1800’s!”
I loved the time with my dad and his trains and I loved seeing the Old Narrow Gauge roll in and out of Durango and I’ve always thought about going to the train museum, maybe someday – Toot Toot!
Thanks for Reading.
Jesse Kuntz 