Hey, I'm back!

How'd I get interested in trains?  (Both steam and diesel, I assure you)  Through a family friend who is a huge expert on our local railway history and an avid railway modeller, that's how. 

Well, I had a good time.  Apart from the abcess on my tooth.  That's another story, but we went to some fun places and ate a few naughty but delicious things, and the area was beautiful and tranquil which was a good thing s we had all had a hard-working year and needed to switch-off.  Thanks for the good wishes!

Now, is there anything I should know that's earth-shattering around here?

Thank-you Sir!  Fortunately, a course of antibiotics has eliminated the abcess.

Well, I did once try to get to the National Rail Museum of the UK, in York, but a family bereavement stopped me.  I'm a fairly frequent visitor to our local preserved line, and have ridden on several other preserved railways whilst on holiday in the UK.  I've only recently started to become interested in the US scene, so I know very little, but it certainly fascinates me, as it is so very different from the domestic network that I grew-up with.