My great grandfather worked for the Northern Pacific Railway and invented the steam engine spark arrestor. My grandparents also live along the former NP, BN and now BNSF Brainerd Sub. That started my interest in trains and my parents furthered it along by getting me Thomas the Tank Engine everything. But I digress. When I was 9, I had the privilege of riding all the way and back to Palmers in the GN NW5 #192 with Duane Benoit and John Fogelberg. That was one of the best experiences of my life. Then, when I was 13, I started hanging out around the Lakeside siding every day when the daily train came by. One day an older engineer leaned out the window and yelled at me. He told me to come back the next day. I was intrigued. So I came back, and as the LR train was coming in, it slowed down and stopped. The engineer made a motion for me to hop on, and I did. As I was walking back, I heard a passenger say “Wow. He must some special kid.” Boy did I feel like something special. I took a seat and talked for a while with him. Then I asked “So what’s your name?” He looked at me, and slowly said “Jim. My names Jim” I fully credit Jim Cox with getting me where I am now. Countless cab rides and lessons in sarcasm make me the person I am today. If not for Doug, John, Don, Will, Jim, Duane, Chuck, Frank, Lloyd etc letting me ride, I doubt I would be here today. The next year I started volunteering and two years later, here I am.

 Favorite Train Movie: Don’t really have one. Saw an awesome video about snowplows once though.

Favorite Train Book: Tales from the Sandhouse.

Favorite Railroad: Duluth, Missabe and Iron Range Ry.    Great Northern comes in at #2.

Favorite train ride: Afore mentioned cab rides. They are all memorable.

Favorite achievements:

Winning City Championship in football, going to State in 2006 for Senior League baseball and in 2007 for VFW baseball.

Why does he volunteer at the  LSRM:

You will meet a great group of men and women, and it is a great environment. Also, CHICKS DIG TRAINS! : ) I am actually not joking, in the sense that almost everyone I talk to says how awesome trains are, and are amazed at all the hard work that is put into being down here.

Why You'll like Volunteering Here:

You get to be around trains, get to fix trains, FREE POP, you get to walk around in work boots, grease/oil, and coveralls. Lets be real. Whose dream doesn’t involve doing that? The countless kids, parents, grandparents and general public that come away with a new perspective should be reason enough.