Re: NNG: So Who Are You?

Hello, I'm Donald Foster. I was born February 19, 1954 (that makes me 55) in Miamisburg OH, a town south of Dayton. I have lived all of my life in southwest Ohio, currently residing in Lebanon, OH.

Growing up near B&O and NYC main lines, it was a natural that I would become a railfan. MY earliest memory is one of seeing a steam engine pulling a freight on the B&O Toledo Division around 1957. I also clearly recall Baldwin Sharks and Alco FA's running through town on the NYC.

My first encounter with narrow gauge was in the summer of 1961 at the Black Hills Central in Hill City, SD. I have vivid memories of watching "Klondike Casey" (ex WP&Y #69) climbing the grade towards Oblivion. Interestingly, I bought the book: "Railroads of the Black Hills" a few years ago from the auction at the CRRM. The author was also on that train the same day. The picture of the woman she took on page 171, is of my mother! I never knew this until I actually bought the book. What a surprise.

Since this time I have ridden the C&TS 3 times and and the D&S also 3 times (twice under Rio Grande ownership).

In the summer of 2002, I was married to my wife, Janine on the open excursion car on the Lebanon & Turtle Creek (now Lebanon, Mason, Monroe) Railroad here in Lebanon OH. After the ceremony, the entire wedding party & guests were treated to a private excursion on the former Cincinnati Lebanon & Northern former narrow gauge right of way.

I am currently the Vice President of The Three Rivers Narrow
Gauge Historical Society and also a member of the Mini Bunch, a small group of dedicated modelers of the "narrow kind", though my modeling consists of several unfinished kits (I really need to get at these!).

Through the years I have I have had the pleasure of meeting many famous people involved in this hobby such as: Bob Richardson, Ted Collins, Lee Rainey, Ed Cass, George Hilton, Johnny Graybeal, John Coker (were are you El Coke), Dan Ranger (as an engineer on the Graham County Railroad in 1974), and numerous others who my old brain may may not be recollecting at this moment. I apologize in advance if my brain farts left any one out.

It's probably best that I quit rambling and bring this to a close.

Regards,
Donald Foster