Railfanning Starts Early

Every railfan has a first train memory of a train. I recall the Northern Pacific running through my town on a branch line. For my oldest son David - now six years old - it would probably be one of the many trips he and I took to go see trains while he was still a toddler, as a way to get him out of the house and doing something other than watching TV. Possibly the entire series of I Love Toy Trains videos had something to do with it too; he watched them from the time he was about six months old. It turned out that he remained interested in trains as he got older; he can now discuss ALCOs (his favorite), the rail crossings through SODO, and the activity of the UP GP15 switcher that moves in and out of the Argo Yard north of Georgetown. David uses the Sony FD75 floppy-disk camera that we've owned since 1999, to take pictures of trains (plus many of his little brother Jack and then his own face...up close...with a flash) For some, like me, railfanning started later in life; for David it was the exact opposite.

What's your earliest memory of a train?

This week at the YMCA David drew what could be considered an 0-6-4 steam engine, complete with cab to the left and pistons behind the cow catcher to the right. I am so proud of him to have even attempted something as intricate and complicated as a steam locomotive. Considering his age he pulled it off pretty well! Now I know the railfanning gene has emerged.
Nice work David!