I was 16 when I picked up the December 1976 issue of Railroad Modeler magazine from the local hobby store. Inside was an article that would stay with me since. Written in a unique style, was a piece on the Los Angeles Junction by Don Sims. I was just riveted by the look of the zebra striped Alco’s and the description Don painted of the railroad. I guess I’m a “slow worker” but eventually I circled around, buckled down, and built the model I always wanted.
![](https://lancemindheim.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/IMG_7420s.jpg)