By Gary Condry

Author  Bio The Wooster, Worthington, & Delaware Railroad (WWD) has been very slow to develop but it has been a joy to watch an engine run, even without cars behind it. The design and construction of its first engine, Hybrid U25B # 1975, has taken my enthusiasm to another level.

I am a tried and true OSU Buckeye, having graduated in 1972 with a B.S. in Agriculture. It seemed only logical that since working with wood and having been in and around a woodworking shop most of life, I majored in Forest Industries, but my true major was ROTC. I wanted to graduate with a Regular Army commission and did. I served in Germany with the 1st Infantry Division as their FAAR Radar Platoon leader and latter as Direct Support Platoon Leader with the 32nd Air Defense Command. The Cold War was very much alive then and it was a tense filled assignment.

I guess that tenseness and wanting a family, I opted to return to the US and go back into the wood industry. I worked for Koppers Company in Orrville Ohio as wood technician. My two girls came along and life became a whirlwind for years as the girls went through school and college and weddings and now grandkids. Throughout all these years and many jobs since my life has been most interesting.

I owned operated a retail store of flowers and crafts, worked for a small manufacturing company as maintenance supervisor and worked in IT department in an insurance company. I designed and built solar homes and remodeled homes, still staying around the wood industry.

It wasn't until a few years ago that my love of modeling and woodworking got a boost when I was able to add my own woodworking shop just off my back porch.

I wouldn't say my life has slowed any but I have taken the time for my hobbies and beginning my garden railroad as it took shape just before my second daughter's wedding.

The Wooster, Worthington, & Delaware Railroad (WWD) has been very slow to develop but it has been a joy to watch an engine run, even without cars behind it.

The design and construction of its first engine, Hybrid U25B # 1975, has taken my enthusiasm to another level.

My newfound love of electronics and the challenges of rebuilding an engine have me wanting to build more. The Norfolk Southern GP38-2 # 5390 prototype is about completed. My other projects include a rebuild of an Aristo Pacific Heavyweight to a Pennsy K-4 and a wide-bodied cab GP38-2 in the WWD scheme.

The railway itself seems is another challenge. I prefer models of real buildings in the area, so researching and constructing of these buildings requires more time. Just when I think I know what I want in the railway I change my mind and then another idea begins to develop, thus prolonging the anything being completed.

Even though I feel I am a rookie in the Large Scale hobby I have met and developed some very nice friendships along the way.

As Rod Stewart said of his HO hobby, "I pity a man who doesn't have a hobby like this one - it's just the most supreme relaxation. Every person should have one hobby that really captures his interest."

Top of Page