By Jim Kottkamp

Author  Bio My first HO Athern F unit arrived on Christmas at age 5 and I have never stopped modeling.

I have been a steam rail fan since age 2 (1950)! My Father would take the family down to the Missouri Pacific main line through Kirkwood Missouri to watch the steam helper service thunder by Sunday mornings after Church.

My first HO Athern F unit arrived on Christmas at age 5 and I have never stopped modeling. I worked at the St Louis Museum of Transportation from age 12 to 22 when I was drafted during Viet Nam. This museum affiliation really cemented my love for trains and the incredible engineering that went into designing them.

With all that real steam around I couldn't help but be a rivet counter of sorts, and that love of detail shines through in my passion in super detailing steam locomotives and creating new inventions. I had my first detailing article published in Railroad Model Craftsman while still in High School.

Union Pacific Steam was my primary passion until I saw an LGB Mogul in California in 1990 and that got me going in G gauge. It occurred to me that the Union Pacific could afford more locomotives than I could so I switched to the D&RGW and RGS for my garden railroad. I also discovered that my wife, JoAnn is very interested in garden and model railroading.

I have the Ridgway engine shops and station under development in the basement and a 10 inch wide basement window installed to get the trains outside, and that's as far as I've gotten so far. Ophir Loop, Dale Divide, Lizardhead Pass, and beyond are designed, but no dirt is flying yet.

I have 35 years in the Air Force and have settled down in Alexandria Virginia. Kind of far away from Colorado...temporarily!!!

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