RickTheRailroadGuy about

About Rick

Rick Cartwright became mesmerized by trains at the age of 3, just barely able to peek over the top of his grandfather's Lionel layout in his basement. Growing up in Chicago gave him great opportunity to watch, photograph and ride (sometimes not so legally) all the trains he wanted. Once he got the smell of diesel fuel in his nose, it just never left.

Everything Rick did in his early life was done so he could pursue his passion - trains. He took up photography to make a living as a photographer and worked in photo labs to support his "train habit". He took up cabinet making to learn the art of cabinetry sure, but mostly because it would serve him later in life if he wanted to build railroads. He's a terrific sales person too - it kept him outside where he might be able to chase a train occasionally.

In 1993 he was fortunate enough to commission his first railroad, The Foothills & South Mountain, in the Ahwautukee Foothills. The Empire Builder was born. Since then he has continued to build incredible railroads which meander lazily through the owners' property, and run typically as a real railroad would run.

Rick knows the Locolink system like the back of his hand and has installed the systems in hundreds of pieces of equipment. He also installs sound systems, lighting systems, etc. Make your locomotives exactly what you want them to be. Call for a quote!