Ladies & Gentlemen,
Our family runs long on Professional Engineers, of which I happen to the last. Back in the early 1950's I got my engineering start
working with my Grandfather as we engineered my 1st Tin Plate Train layout. Earlier before I could really understand what engineering
really was, I sat on my Grandfathers lap watching my Father's Lionel 263E run around our Christmas Tree, as he explained to me, that some day engineers would invent toy trains that would be remote controlled, from a little transmitter that I could hold in my hands, and that the new trains would be able to talk on command. My Grandfather was a true Professional Engineer, his invention of the power take off shaft for farm tractors and machinery, changed modern farming for ever. Farmall and eventually International Harvester payed him monthly for his engineering invention. I knew all this even as a young boy, so I believed him when he taught me, I would live long enough to see our 263E run by remote control around my Christmas tree, and that even the big Lionel switches would be remote controlled. My Father worked for the Union Switch & Signal, his engineering was responsible for the Magnetic Brakes, on the real railroad trains, every time I hear a train whistle, I know my father watches from above.
I worked for Martin Marietta (NASA) as a Professional Welding Engineer, and helped invent and build the Space Shuttle. Just after I retired I came home to Pa, and returned to participate in the Iron Horse Train Club. As I stood in the store looking at the new DCS, 263E MTH P2, Reporduction on display, I was just a little boy again, listening to my Grandfathers words. I never doubted it would happen, and he was right, I have lived long enough to see it, and better yet, I actually get run both my 263E Trains using a remote control.
Little did I know a simple train hobby help to mold a family tradition, of Professional Engineering.
PCRR/Dave
My Grandfather and me watching my Fathers 263E, as he explained remote control trains to me.
