The Little Engine That Could thought he could, and he did! The homeschool student who trusts a Creator God for guidance and strength knows he can and will do all things for God’s glory! One thing he or she can do is get interested in railroads. For the homeschooler and every member of his family, railroads and model railroading can be one of the most rewarding, fascinating, exciting, informative, and skill-building endeavors.

In presenting railroad-related workshops to interested school, home, or church groups, I incorporate model railroading, prototype railroads, and railfanning under the title “Ferroequinology.” Intelligent homeschoolers have already discerned my reasoning: ferro is Latin, meaning “iron,” -ology means “the study of,” and equine is Latin, meaning “of, like, or having the characteristics of a horse.” The early steam engines were scary monsters made of iron, and they quickly replaced horses in moving goods and materials. So by this term I am referring to “the study of the iron horse.” My biblical support comes from observing God’s majestic model railroad—my interpretation of Isaiah 6:1—“… I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple.”

As you involve yourself with the wonderful world of railroads, you will come to realize the wealth of knowledge that is taught and that can be learned. Here are nine basic websites that will open up your world to railroading: www.nmra.org, www.greatesthobby.com, www.railfan.com, www.tamr.org, www.rrhistorical.com, www.terraserver-usa.com, www.ymronline.org, www.trains.com, and www.railroadevangelist.com. If you contact me personally (at steveseidler@pillsbury.edu), I will send you a seven-page listing of railroad-related websites.

There may not be a more rewarding field of endeavor than railroad study to keep you educationally challenged yet excitedly involved. As a Christian, you will gain opportunities to present and live your faith before model railroaders and rail personnel. Here are few of the major areas of interest that may capture your attention:

Historical Research
Railroads have been involved in every aspect of American life. You can pick a time or place to model and then do the research to put all the details together. This will take you to actual sites, the library, the history center, digital imaging, or the Internet. After I presented a railroad chapel for a local Christian school, visiting grandparents asked me, “Trainman, what can you find out about the depots in our hometowns?” A new project was presented to me! Serious research has resulted in the details you see built into the buildings in the accompanying photos. My personal HO model railroad is set in the mid 1950s in the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin.

Photography
You will be learning to take your own pictures by digital or conventional format. The photos can be used for modeling ideas or for your own photo collection. I have over 10,000 reference slides and photos. Think of where your photo trips may take you.

Friendship
You can join a local club or hobby group or find other Christian train enthusiasts as you travel. You meet the nicest, most helpful people in model railroading.

Evangelism
I share my faith through two editorials I write for the All Aboard Magazine. Two of the model photos shown here illustrate how effectively you can witness through modeling. Boston W. Smith, Minneapolis Sunday School Superintendent, built seven Baptist Chapel cars. With seating for 150 and a missionary’s quarters, they crisscrossed the country for over 50 years spreading the gospel and establishing churches.

Geography/Geology
Through studying detailed maps, you will become familiar with railroads and the territory surrounding them. You can learn about God’s creation, the colors and varied structures of the land, and where and how water moves on its surface—and then you can create it in miniature. You will get to “weather” your scenery to make it look realistic and old.

Building Skills
You will learn the non-musical railroad scales: Live, O, On30, S, HO, N, and Z. I can hardly overstate all you can learn—from basic carpentry to electrical wiring to the use of various craft materials. You can build a great educational diorama using Styrofoam, water-based resins, nontoxic paints, and molding compounds.

Railfanning
The whole family gets involved in “chasing trains.” There are dedicated sites where you can watch trains safely. You can stay in railroad bed & breakfast inns.

Train Travel
You can mix railfanning and eating aboard a dinner train. You could ride Amtrak or take in the thrills of a tourist railroad or museum in all 50 states. Your family will travel back in time as you study the railroads.

Layout Operation
Layout operation means you build a model railroad or become friends with a model railroader. I have met several in my small town, and we operate trains in scale time, using computers and sharing valuable information firsthand.

Collecting
You can collect old railroad china, timetables, or, like me, seats, lights, lanterns, and other artifacts from a real train. You can acquire a nice display of models by building them yourself, buying them at train shows, on the web, or by looking for them around your hometown. On our college campus, part of my vast collection is on display in my office, and this has given me the moniker “Trainman.”

Through the courtesy of the friendly, sharing world of model railroading you can enjoy an educational journey and be involved in The World’s Greatest Hobby. Do you think you can … think you can … think you can enjoy the ride? I know … I know … I know you can!

“Pastor Steve” spent 35 years in Christian School administration; he currently serves as Director of Admissions, Pillsbury Baptist Bible College, Owatonna, Minnesota. Railroads are his interest: he is a member of the National Model Railroad and Railroad Evangelistic Associations; Soo Line, Northern Pacific, and Missabe Railroad historical societies; Contributing Editor for All Aboard; and builder of the Little David & Goliath Model Railroad.