A lot of us have mentioned over the years how their Dad did or still does play an active part of their railfannig lives-starting with those special trips to some nearby trackside locale or waiting to see what came along when the crossing lights went on or a block signal lit up green.. My Dad passed away a few years back, but the pictures I've posted from Abrams, Darby Creek and West Milton (of all places!) were taken with and/or by him as in those days I had a little Instamatic! I'd love to hear others share Dad stories.. Here's a shot I took of my Dad in 1971 at Darby Creek, taping the road power passing by (unfortuantely the tape was recorded over by my Dad about 15 years ago-also had PRSL Baldwins leaving town in Jersey!)

PS-I'm now 6 years older than he was then (he was 51)

There's alot of things we can thank our Dads for,sadly we lost him in 2011.He would take us railfanning,unfortunately we watched never even thinking about taking pictures.After watching the train action around the coal regions we'd end up in places like the 5 & 10 store in Schuykill Haven or the Town & Country store in Pottsville buying a Tyco or AHM freight car.The store in Haven seemed to have it all back then.From my childhood up to his final days he never forgot my love for trains and always surprized me with something.Whether it was a book, newspaper article,model,supplies,etc.etc.One such item was a picture by MT Zyla and I thought I'd share a picture of the picture.


My Dad always stopped for lunch at the Coney when he had business in Shamokin.Sorry about the glare on the picture.

I remember my dad taking me to Bridgeport enginehouse to see 2124 on a Ramble in the fall of 1959.I was 3 years old.that was all it took for me to be interested in the Reading. my dad just turned 84 yrs old 2 days ago. we rode a ramble to Pt. Reading N.J. on June 23, 1962. my dad took a photo of me on the platform of caboose #90707. 35 years later I took a photo of my son on the platform of #92832 at Leesport. my son and I had the honor of having our photo taken together on the 50th aniversary of original photo June 23,2012 on the platform of #92832 at Hamburg. in Sept. 1991 when 2102 ran out of Lansdale, Pa. on "United Way" specials my wife took a photo of the my dad ,me ,and my son(he was 1 1/2 yrs)in front of 2102. in OCT. 2011 when my dad was up from Fla. to visit I had a photo taken of the 3 of us. it is on my facebook page along with the 50th aniv. caboose photo. I am glad for what he introduced me to and for me to be able to pass it on to my son, 3 generations of Reading fans.Abrams was our second home for many years until NS stopped letting railfans park there.

My dad really didn't railfan unless he took us on train rides, like the RBMN and Strasburg stuff.

Occasionally we would take walks downtown York by the old WM freight building, along the Yorkrail areas. He's just now getting out his old American Flyer S scale stuff and putting up a bit of track to run them instead of letting them get dusty in the boxes

I lost my dad in 1977. My dad never had time to take me railfanning. But my Grandfather did. Eventhough he was a Reading Engineer, he was a big fan of the Lehigh Valley. We use to fishing at Packerton and watch LV crews shift the yard. He would like to make smart comments to the LV engineers. Todd Shoffler

My Dad was interested in trains - he took me to see Strasburg and various other tourist venues. I can also remember the family drive where we got to spend about 30 minutes soaking in the NKP 759 at the CNJ station in Allentown (pretty carefully timed as my Mom was along too.) My Grandfather was the one that had patience to sit at Abrams Yard explaining the finer points of trains to me, during his trips to visit us. He also took me for my first cab ride on a CNR FPA4 at the loco shops in Pt St Charles, Montreal, Quebec. Train rides on various commuter trains, etc. including the Red Arrow, CNR etc. were also his gift. Miss them both.