Club Visitors

Bill & Dorris Paul

At our meeting on 8th October, we welcomed Bill and Doris Paul again, after an absence of two years.  As you will remember, they are from Hawaii, and come to Australia, and the Tablelands in a home exchange arrangement.

Bill does not have a train layout, but enjoys playing trains on his computer.  He found the programme he uses, ’Trains 2006’ by looking up www.auran.com/TRS2006 in search of a simulated train activity and found ‘Trains 2006’.  This is an Australian product which he says is very good.

Bill’s interest in trains goes back to his early childhood in New Jersey during WW2, when he travelled often by train to see his father who was in the navy.  This was further fostered when he lived in San Diego where electric trolley cars were the normal means of transportation.

In 1955 he went to college in Los Angeles and as he travelled this route often he became familiar with the workers.  They allowed him to help with some of the running of the train.  In 1960 he started his own little railway on a 4’ x 8’ sheet in N gauge.  However he later sold this to a friend.

This railway was paid for very dearly.  He worked and saved until he had enough to buy something, then would walk a long way to the only shop that sold this material, agonise over his purchase, then walk home again.  I think this dedication has remained with him ever since.

Once while in Canada, and waiting for a car to be repaired, he walked along the railway line.  When a train came along it stopped and the driver asked if he needed help.  This was the custom then.  He had a ride back to the town.  Another fond memory connected with railways.

Now, as a retired secondary school teacher, living in Hawaii he continues to do interesting and challenging things.  He has worked as a spotter, and on a golf course.  He tests underwater cameras gauging their ability both under the water and on land at various heights and depths. 

He has volunteered his time to cancer patients, the fire department and to do mapping.

He found the ‘Train Group’, through his wife Doris.  She went to the Patchwork Group then through her connection with Margaret became aware of Brian’s involvement with model trains.