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« on: April 09, 2009, 10:19:50 PM »
Hi,
My name is Nyle Buxton, I'm 42 and I'm from Long Island, New York. I've had a love for trains from the first time I watched them go around the Christmas tree about age 3. I spent years modeling in Nscale then switched over to HO when more room became available. Growing up I always had my hands in anything that was mechanical or had an engine attached to it and frequently wound up in Dad's shop on the lathe making something. Naturally I wound up working as a car and truck out of school until 1996 when I then decided to change course and open a machine and metal fabrication shop. After several years in the business a light bulb went on one day, I realized that I now had the facilities to build a live steam locomotive so out I went and purchased a 1-1/2" Mikado kit from Railroad supply. I then joined the local live steamers club, LILS, but after a while my enthusiasm fizzled out. Don't get me wrong, I still love trains but the clubs layout is a double loop in the woods in a county park. The parks department doesn't want to know anything about expansion, and I don't care to go in circles. I also determined that I 'd rather sit IN rather than ON the train I'm riding. That led me to wanting to build in a larger scale, say 15 or 16" but then the question was where would I run it once I built it???
Recently I joined RMLI in Riverhead, LI and will help in the restoration of some Larger equipment, but again the issue is running the trains, the museum and the LIRR haven't got that worked out. It was then a few months ago that I stumbled upon the WW&F in another discussion forum and I am hooked. The restoration of an old steam locomotive and cars, laying the rails down the old ROW, the future building of steam loco #11, what could be more fun!!! And the equipment is just the right size!!!
Now if I can just get a little free time to come to Maine....
In the mean time where do I start??? What can I help with from down here on the Island??