Cube Engineers Episode 43: Pride and Glory: Preserving Railroad History with Trevor Lombardi

All right.

So the first question is, what first got you interested in railroading?

I was probably three or four years old.

I took a trip up to see my grandparents in Montana.

They lived in a small town called Webo.

I think it's near South Dakota or North Dakota.

It's on the edge of the state.

The grandparents up there had this house that was next to some railroad tracks, and I just remember waking up in the middle of the night to the house shaking and looking out to see the train go by.

I've had some family on my mom's side work on the railroad.

My cousin used to do security for Union Pacific.

Found out from my dad that in Colorado there's a tunnel that was built called the Moffett and Coffin.

Great-grandfather was involved in that.

It was probably one of the first things he did when he came to America in the 20s, or it was after World War I. It's just been something that I've been drawn to.

Thomas the Tank Engine had some play in that, of course.

Yeah,

yeah.

And then Polar Express would have gotten some exposure as well.

I remember liking that a lot.

And then at some point there was some bullies that kind of made fun of me for it.

And I kind of repressed it until I got out of high school, basically.

But that's sad, I think, to hear people not treating you well for enjoying trains.

It's frustrating for me when people put others down for their interests and things that they enjoy.

So I'm glad that you're here with us today and glad that you're able to find your way back to the hobby.

It just, it was a journey.

And it's going to keep going in that direction.