Hello, my friends! For this week’s post, I will share my earliest experiences with trains and railroading. This story will touch on how I learned to love trains, starting a lifelong passion for trains and locomotives (especially steam trains). I will also briefly touch on what sets me apart from most other railroaders: my prosthetic right leg. So, let’s dive into Bill McNally’s early days.
The Story Begins
I was born in November of 1990 alongside my twin sister to my parents Christine and Kevin. From the start, it was clear that I was different from my sister in one particular way: my right leg was not formed properly. I had a congenital issue, which would have to be dealt with later on. At less than a year old, I went in for my first of three surgeries to treat the problem.
The surgery was successful, thank goodness. Afterward, I was fitted with my first prosthetic leg. In a moment my dear mother will never forget, I took my first steps on the prosthesis at age 2. The world was mine for the taking after that! It wasn’t long before I was walking all over the house.
I was lucky to spend my earliest years in a household with two loving parents, and a twin sister. My sister Sarah and I were inseparable and remain close to one another to this day. I also had a supportive extended family, with aunts, uncles, and cousins from all over Connecticut and beyond. It was because of my Uncle Bob that I became interested in trains…
Thomas the Tank Engine Arrives
For my 3rd birthday, my Uncle Bob bought me a Lionel large-scale Thomas the Tank Engine electric train set. I was overjoyed! The set came with Thomas, the coaches Annie and Clarabel, a circle of track, and a power pack. I remember intently watching Thomas and his train circle the track again and again, his eyes flicking from side to side, and I was mesmerized by his turning side rods.
That toy, which I continued to play with, was just the start. My mom bought me VHS tapes of episodes of Thomas and Friends, which my sisters and I loved to watch. One of the recurring themes of Thomas and Friends is that steam locomotives are better than diesel ones. Diesel locomotives in the show and the books were often rivals of the steam locomotives, which included Thomas and his fellow steamers. To this day I still favor steam locomotives over diesels and electrics.
Because the electric Thomas happened to be a risky toy, my parents knew they would have to get me toy trains that were safer to play with. They bought me wooden trains and track, often styled after Thomas and Friends locomotives and rolling stock. I had a good number of pieces, including Thomas, Percy, James, Gordon, Edward, Oliver, Duck, plus Donald and Douglas, along with just over a dozen pieces of rolling stock. I got many hours of enjoyment from those toys. Thanks Mom and Dad!
The Real Deal Made of Steel
Mom and Dad were well aware of how much I loved trains, so when I turned 3, they wanted to take me on my first train ride. They didn’t want to take me on a long Amtrak train ride, so they did some digging in the phone book and discovered… the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat! The same company that I would end up working for as an adult.
I have only a few memories of my first train ride. I remember that we rode in an open gondola car with seats. I do not remember which locomotive was pulling our train, but it was either 40 or 97 because I remember it being a steamer, but both locomotives look very similar from the front. I remember being scared of the whistle because of how loud it was. My mom and dad remember that as the locomotive was doing its run-around, soot spewed out the stack… and we were downwind of the engine!
That was my first experience riding a real train pulled by a genuine steam locomotive. But now that we knew about the Essex Steam Train, things would only get better from there…
Christmas on the Rails
In December of 1994, I experienced the magic of Christmas with my family, relatives, and friends. That year, my parents dressed my sisters and me in adorable holiday outfits (which my sisters remember being itchy) and drove us down to Essex, Connecticut. There we had dinner at Oliver’s, along with our relatives and friends. At the restaurant they had all of us kids take a photo around the restaurant’s fireplace.
We then drove down the road to the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. Essex Station was beautifully decorated for Christmas, with lights, wreaths, garlands, and bells. There was no train at the station when we arrived. As we waited for the train, it started to snow. People on the platform (us included) began to sing carols. I remember the crowd singing “Jingle Bells” vividly.
Then came the grand moment when Engine 40 pulled into the station with the train. Years later, my mom told me that she shed tears of joy at the sight. I don’t remember this particular moment, but having seen similar arrivals over the years, I can imagine it.
We rode in First Class that year, in the Great Republic coach. I fondly remember the hot chocolate, the visit from Rudolph and Frosty, and the swiveling green chairs. It was a truly magical night! So magical that I still remember it all these years later.
A Passion is Born
We would return to the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat in future years for the holiday trains, and in 2016 I returned as a volunteer. I joined the staff that same year and have loved working there ever since. It truly is one of Connecticut’s treasures.
Those were my earliest experiences with trains, and they ignited a lifelong interest in trains and locomotives. In future articles, I will discuss how I worked with real trains in my adult years. My career in heritage railroading continues into the present, and hopefully for many years to come!
If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe to the blog, and let me know in the comments what other railroading topics you would like to read about. I will discuss how I became involved with real railroading in more detail in future articles.
As always, thanks for reading!