By Dennis Cherry

Author  Bio I have always been mechanically and electronically inclined and love investigating how something works.

I was born in Pittsburgh Pa. in a neighborhood full of kids with model trains. Christmas was my favorite time of the year as everyone in the neighborhood had train displays.

I have always been mechanically and electronically inclined and love investigating how something works. My first venture was taking a clock apart and putting it back together again. Been that way every since.


My father was transferred to Texas when I was around 10 years old, what a culture shock. Texas in the 50's was not a hot bed of model railroading and after a couple of years trying to keep the holiday tradition alive and teenage years coming into bloom, my model railroading came to a halt.

My formal training came in the Air Force with 2 years training in electronics and long Range Radar Repair & Maintenance. I spent my time in the Air Force in a group that constructed, removed, setup and overhauled all kinds of Radar equipment.


Many years later I felt something was missing from my life, a little voice told me to check out model railroading again. I looked around and found a large HO club with a big permanent layout that needed someone with electrical experience. This club was the catalyst for forming a new organization of all model railroad clubs in the Dallas/Fort Worth area which I was one of the founding members.

This is where I was introduced to Large-scale Garden Railroading at one of the two annual Train Shows the Council puts on.

My wife and I are both love the idea and so we joined the North Texas Garden Railway Consortium. We both have spent many happy hours running trains and working on the railroad. My wife does the gardening part.


Since getting back into Model Railroading, I have been President and V.P. of two model railroad clubs (HO & Large-Scale), president of the local Water Garden Society and Past Treasurer of the North Texas Council of Model Railroad Clubs.

My interest mainly are in electronics and always trying out new ideas. Computer control run my trains inside & outside. I do have fun running trains but when you have a open house and several hundred people come to visit and ask question, it is hard to run trains and talks at the same time.

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