Its 10PM in Renton,WA.,the year is 1960,a twelve year old is out late with his parents visiting a cousin from Milwaukee who now works for Boeing and lives in Renton. The group is in a downtown tavern around Houser and maybe 3rd or 4th street. The twelve year old asks Dad if he can go outside in the warm summer night as he knows that the tracks in the street are not for street cars.His Dad who is a Carman/Welder for a major railroad back in Milwaukee tells the boy OK but don't go far.

As the boy steps outside he peers to the west/southwest down Houser street and sees a light that he is not to sure what it is. Soon the light becomes brighter and a grinding sound with motor hums increases in intensity. Soon the whole street is lit and the sounds overtake the boy and his Dad who stepped out from the tavern. A set of early 1900 boxcab electric locos with an 80 car freight are heading east soon to be on private RoW heading for Maple Valley and Milwaukee. Soon Houser Street was quiet again and we headed for our lodging.

This is one of my exotic railroad moments at age 12 as was the ride out and back on the Olympian Hiawatha. Now at age 62 it may be only a memory but I can still vividly close my eyes and be back on Houser Street.