Although not a hobby modeler myself, I am a garden railroad hobbyist, railroad enthusiast and historian, and a member of the following organizations involved with model railroading or preserving history and artifacts of railroads in general:
Pacific Southwest Railroad Museum Association, Inc. (PSRMA); www.PSRM.org
Puget Sound Garden Railway Society (PSGRS); www.PSGRS.org
San Diego Garden Railway Society (SDGRS); www.SDGRS.com
Washington State Railroad Historical Society (WSRHS); www.WSRHS.org

I grew up in Pasco, Washington, a railroad town, with five Class-1 railroads operating in or nearby that city: Northern Pacific, Great Northern, Spokane Portland & Seattle, Union Pacific, and Milwaukee Road. Today, BNSF and Union Pacific are the remaining colors operating there. I remember as a kid being awake at night and hearing train whistles, and I learned what type locomotives were related to each; mallets were always very recognizable with deep, guttural tones.

My grandfather, a conductor for the NP, came west with the building of the railroad to the Pacific Ocean, but decided to settle down in Pasco instead of somewhere else west towards the ocean. And my father worked for the railroad for a short time as switchman and as a yardman at the ice house loading reefers. My early years were rich with the sound from trains, especially since it was at the time of transition from steam to diesel, and how the sounds changed as the transition progressed. Now I find myself again drawn to railroading by playing with model trains, being a rail-fan, and writing about railroads. I hope you enjoy my books as much as I did bringing each to you. Life is big!