Steve hasn't retired. He works to support his hobby, but not as a concrete contractor like he used to. Now Steve spends two weeks each month flying around the country buying, selling and leasing full-size locomotives. Steve deals with industrial and shortline railroads, the branches of the tree of the railroad system. The slightly smaller locomotives carry cargo up and down 10-12 miles of tracks picking up and delivering goods to different business. The freight rail business is booming once again, Steve explained. He attributes imports from Asia for much of the increased business.

Steve sees the importance of trains in our society growing for commuters as well as freight. The days of luxury passenger trains serving fine cuisine in the dining cars on china belong to a former era, but trains will become more important here in Utah again. Light-rail and commuter trains will cross the valley taking people where they need to go cheaper and quicker than ever before.

Many of the S & S Shortline young riders will have the option to commute up and down the Wasatch Front by train when they grow up. Those visitors riding Flanders' trains are excited about riding the rails.

"We've been looking forward to this all week," said Harmony Williams of Layton, who brought her three young children, Kali 6, Jaren 2, and Kole 1, for a birthday party at the park. "We loved it."

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E-mail: dramsay@desnews.com