Visiting with a Master

 I have a lot of respect for masters of their craft.  That can take many forms, of course, but in the hobby of modeling railroading there are a handful of people that clearly have become a master of their place in the hobby.  Tony Koester is one of them.  

Thanks to the great fortune of having been born in New Jersey, I early on had exposure to reasons to return here after college, and of course this state is also the one where Tony settled many years ago as well.  His career took different turns but he remains a resident of the state, and to add to my fortunate location, his home is about 35 miles from mine.  I am grateful to count Tony as a friend and as someone who has come to operate on the Onondaga Cutoff.  I am a regular member of his crew on his Nickel Plate Road, too.  

A few years ago, Tony was inspired to create a few of his popular and well-regarded 'Trains of Thought' columns that featured my two sons and their youthful exuberance about model railroads.  In each of the December 2021 and April 2022 columns, Tony used a photo of the boys and offered thoughtful reflection on how the hobby is growing - and how to keep staying both grateful and excited for that.  I thought it would be fun for the boys to have Tony sign the columns for them to take with them as life goes on.  The boys had yet to see his railroad, and it was time to change that.  

So,  I asked if we could make a visit.  Tony accepted and welcomed us, giving the boys a full tour of his fabulous masterpiece - the Nickel Plate Road 'Cloverleaf', the 3rd Sub, his HO scale railroad.  

Always a gracious host, Tony showed the boys different parts of the railroad and reminisced on stories he had from people he knew in the towns.  

Before leaving the boys were curious about the stairs and the 'secret passageway' as they called it to Charleston Yard.  Tony invited them up and an iconic image presented itself.  I call this one 'Looking up':

After the tour, Tony sat in the kitchen to sign the magazines, with the boys appreciating the moment and the opportunity that it was to be there.  

It will be a day they remember, and now we have a little token of printed and signed articles to carry along for the ride to come.  There are masters out there, and any time you can spend time with a master you can find ways to learn, to appreciate, and to grow.  I am excited for what the hobby is becoming - and especially excited that the boys enjoy it with me.