No kidding. Manitou Incline railroad, old Rock Island caboose, partially collapsed rail bridge, Cripple Creek narrow gauge, jar full of ore car rail spikes, BNSF hauling coal to the power plants throughout the day, and the history of what use to be and is no longer. And UP is rolling Big Boy 4014 nearby in Sept so I'm studying photos past and present in hopes to get something a little different. I am a history buff, amateur photographer, science geek, artifact hunter, hiker, and camper so maps are my friend. No shortage of maps of CO from the early 1900s showing towns that are no longer there, ore mills long since dismantled, coal mines long since closed, and the narrow and standard gauge operators that supported it all. I retired from the USAF as a F-15 mechanic and now work in a high school IT position supporting the students and staff. Constantly looking for ways to keep students engaged in their passions whether its rocketry, radios, photography, and music and introducing them to others that play a part in their interest, like 3D printing or basic electronics (certain safety limitations imposed in a school!!). Anyhow. I've decided on N scale because of the space limitation, picked up several pieces of track, ordered two locomotives, and have a few ideas kicking around in my head of scenes I want to model. Already sketching/working the concepts today! Cheers Craig
Welcome aboard Craig. I share many of your interests but am getting too old to participate in the physical ones. Once was an avid hiker.
