Chronicles of a Teenage Railroad Enthusiast Trains have played a transformational role in American history. With their emergence, locomotives prove to be stronger than animal power, more reliable than wind, and transportation was revolutionized. When the Transcontinental Railroad connected the two coasts in 1869, the face of American transportation was altered forever! As railroads became ubiquitous, they not only became a preferred mode of travel for adults, but also caught the fancy of the young ones, whose toy collection could no longer be complete without toy trains. With time, this fascination with trains by young and old alike grew into the niche hobby of Model Railroading that soon acquired the reputation of being "The World's Greatest Hobby." The chronicles in this book cover both aspects of trains - real and toy - by providing a fascinating account of railroad history, famous locomotives, popular train museums, public railroad exhibits, private model train layouts, landmark railroading events, and annual club celebrations. So, hop on and enjoy a wonderful ride through the world of American railroading. All Aboard for an Adventure!