About Me

I am 48 years old and a technician with Weis Fire & Safety in Salina, KS. My wife, Patsy and I have two children, Karissa (12) and Eric (8). Our garden railroad, the Kansas Central & Colorado RR is in it's second incarnation having been originally started in 2001 with the current layout started in the spring of 2004. The KC&CRR is a narrow gauge line envisioning a reality where the Kansas Central RR, a narrow gauge line that ran from Leavenworth, KS west with visions of linking up with the Denver & Rio Grande in Denver, CO actually succeeded! Engines and rolling stock are lettered for the D&RGW but any CO road can be seen running from time to time. The KC&CRR is mainly battery operated r/c but there is a provision for one line of track power. The theme of the railroad is trains running through a garden more than a "miniature world." The layout has 200 ft. of mainline track encompassing two connected independent loops wandering through a perennial garden complete with a pond and waterfall with a tunnel going underneath as well as two trestles and bridges. There are two main open houses, July 4th and Halloween, where the layout is opened to the public as well as the occasional WAGRS monthly meeting in conjunction with Richard and Hariette Nelson's layout also here in Salina. In addition, the layout has been opened to the Salina Area Water Garden Society meeting, a local cub scout pack meeting and has been accepted as a tour participant on the Salina Master Gardener's Tour in 2010. Our philosophy is that trains are meant to be enjoyed by everyone. To this end our open houses encourage the participation of children by allowing them to actually run the trains (see profile picture.) If our hobby is to grow it will need the active interest of the next generation. Everyone is welcome!