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« on: September 17, 2016, 09:52:15 PM »
I was reading the board and saw this section and thought this would be a good place for me to introduce my self since I am a new volunteer. My name is Charlie Lacasse, and I first became interested in trains when I was a kid. I had an HO model train all set in my my room until I graduated high school. As a kid I rode the north conway scenic railroad and totally loved it. I remember some trips to the narrow gauge up in boothbay. My first career when I got out of high school was in the print shop industry. As I became more interested in work, my passion for trains was forgotten about. I stayed in the production environment until i was about 27, and joined the air force. I was stationed out in Nebraska, at Offutt air force base. I was a crew chief on the RC-135 rivet joint aircraft. I worked on air planes for 3 years, then moved inside where I took a job in the tool room where I worked for another 3 years. Once I got out of the military I spent 6 years as a correctional officer. (Maine correctional center windham maine, and kenebec correctional facility in Augusta maine) I got out of corrections, and landed a wonderful job at LL Bean in brunswick maine as a stitcher where I now sew the liners or (booties) for the iconic bean boot. This past summer I took fridays off and rediscovered my love for trains. I started with the Maine Narrow gauge in portland maine, then took a trip down to the sea shore trolley museum in kennebunkport maine. In July I went and rode the conway scenic railroad and boom, my love for trains came back. While discovering different train places on face book, the WW&F popped up as a suggested place I might like to visit. I liked the page and discovered an entire new world of an authentic 2 foot railroad. My first visit to the WW&F was the annual picnic in July. I rode the train, pulled by #9 steam locomotive. The 125th birthday celebration was amazing. So much great history. I also rode the Model T rail car and Stewart explained a lot about the railroad, and about the rail car itself. On The next Saturday, I showed up at the museum and bought an all day pass so I could ride the train all day. I even got a cab ride in #9. After riding the train all day I became totally hooked on the railroad and my passion for railroads is as strong as it was back when I was a kid. On the next Sunday I showed up to volunteer. There wasn't a lot for me to do,but I polished the brass on #9, swept out the coaches and washed the windows. I worked with Stewart and we shoveled ballast in to track #7. Last Sat I showed up helped out where I could. I also brought with me a test sew out of an embroidery project that I am working on for the current volunteers. Its a sew out of the Engine #9 logo that already exists as a screen printed item on the sweat shirts and t-shirts. (I do Embroidery as a hobby) I look forward to becoming a part of the WW&F and plan on being there on a weekend day, when I can.
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