My name is Chuck, and I'm a retired railway worker. After spending my career working with steam, I continued this passion into retirement.
Starting all the way back in 1966, I began building a working miniature steam engine. This turned into a project that would take up the rest of my life. The cars on the train came around in 2007, along with the idea of opening up this project to the public. At first this project started selfishly. I did it because it's what I loved! But I soon realized that it was too special to just keep to myself.
I now allow the locals in my community to come and enjoy my project. With thousands of people riding the engine yearly, it's grown from a project I started in my extra time to something that I can share with my community and have them enjoy it just as much as I do. With help from many people, including my friend and former coworker Jim Chladek, I continue to help entertain and educate my community through my passion.
To me, that's what American values are and should be. Using one's passion not only for personal satisfaction, but finding the ways it can uplift others.
Starting all the way back in 1966, I began building a working miniature steam engine. This turned into a project that would take up the rest of my life. The cars on the train came around in 2007, along with the idea of opening up this project to the public. At first this project started selfishly. I did it because it's what I loved! But I soon realized that it was too special to just keep to myself.
I now allow the locals in my community to come and enjoy my project. With thousands of people riding the engine yearly, it's grown from a project I started in my extra time to something that I can share with my community and have them enjoy it just as much as I do. With help from many people, including my friend and former coworker Jim Chladek, I continue to help entertain and educate my community through my passion.
To me, that's what American values are and should be. Using one's passion not only for personal satisfaction, but finding the ways it can uplift others.
