About Joe

Growing up in Philadelphia, I like so many children, had an American Flyer train set running around my Christmas tree. Living three blocks from the Northeast corridor at Holmesburg Tower, I saw my fair share of passenger and freight trains. As a matter of fact, I dodged many while trespassing on their tracks.

I served four years in the Marine Corps after high school graduation. While attending school on the GI Bill, I secured a job with the Reading Railroad, as a coach cleaner. I rose through the ranks as Reading became Conrail. After ten years of service I made a change. I joined Amtrak in the back shops. During my tenure with Amtrak, I supervised locomotive and passenger car overhauls. I eventually became Assisstant Superintendant of the Mechanical Department. I retired in 2004.

I became interested in model railroading when one of my car repairman introduced me to his layout. I thought it would be a great hobby and a way to spend time with my three sons. It turns out they were more interested in girls. However, I caught the bug.

After a move to Delaware in 1991, I started to build my current layout. During the time of building, I joined a Wednesday night operating crew which consisted of twenty people. These people meet every Wednesday to operate different railroads. This group has been in existence for thirty years. With such a large group, information and inspiration is plentiful. By 1992, my layout was part of the round robin rotation with these gentleman. I owe a great deal of gratitude to these men. After meeting with this group weekly for over 29 years they have become family to me. They have suffered along with my persistence in order in attain this honor. I am so thankful!

In 2016, while hosting an Open house of my layout, I met Philadelphia division member of the NMRA, William Fagan. He asked if he could videotape the railroad, and submit a golden spike award for my layout. Not being a member of the NMRA at the time, I had no idea what the Golden Spike was. To my surprise, it was the opening for the AP program, and my introduction to becoming a master modeler.