Just wanted to take a minute to introduce myself to the group.  My name is George Simmons and I live in Central Louisiana.  I have been a model railroader since high school and a fan of railroads since a little child.  I remember listening to my father a conductor/brakeman for the Missouri Pacific Railroad or "MOP" as he called talking about some of his trips.  He along with my grandfather, two uncles and a couple of cousins worked for the MOP while one cousin in law work for years for the L&A.  The major boost for me in model railroading was when I found out that one of the alumni from my college fraternity was involved with the local club in New Orleans.  It is the life long friends that I meet that night over 30 years ago that has made this an exciting hobby for me.  I have a medium size layout presently representing a freelanced line between Lake Charles, LA and Memphis, TN with a branch to Oklahoma City.  I have been building and operating it for over sixteen years.  Also for the last sixteen years, I have been the major operator for the 24 inch C. P. Huntington train in the Alexandria Zoological Park.  I look forward to seeing this adventure take roots and grow.

George Simmons

Dry Prong, LA