Railroad museum volunteer crosses country

John Johnson takes his time telling a story.

A tall man, he leans against the counter in the coolness of the railroad museum, or props one foot up on the train itself as the 78-year-old measures his words like so many beads on a string.

Trained as a fighter pilot during World War II, he flew the "Hump" - the China-Burma-India theater - for part of the war, then flew bombers from England to Germany and on to Russia for refueling.

Later, he transported Army pilots and wounded soldiers on United Air passenger planes all over the European Command. During his domestic layovers, he lived at the Chicago Athletic Club and dined at the 606 Club, where he kept his eye on a United Air stewardess. They married in 1944.

Today, Johnson is retired. He still flies - as a passenger - an amazing distance so he can stay a part of the history he has such respect for.

He works as a volunteer at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City. And he lives in Cape Coral, Florida.

"I think it's so great, the history here," Johnson said. "All I hear back in Florida is Vegas, Vegas, Vegas. I never hear about this area. This place has real history, not all that phony junk."

Johnson comes out to Carson City twice a year, during June and early July, then again in November and December. He went to a train symposium at the museum last October as well.

Johnson had family in California and drives up from Modesto and stays at the Ormsby House on his way to the Reno airport. On one of those trips, he stopped by the railroad museum - and didn't let the fact that he lived in Florida stop him from signing on as a volunteer.

He worked the handcar during last weekend's transportation fair, but he does everything from working in the gift shop to answering visitors' questions in the rail yard.

"I think we ought to go back to railroads again - I'm getting tired of all the delays on planes," Johnson said. "All the airlines can do is punch buttons. It took me two days to fly out here last December."

He once owned a hobby shop that specialized in model railroads. Back then kids would save their money so they could come in, buy the parts and put the little engines together themselves.

"Now it's a rich man's hobby," said Johnson. "It's just sad - I don't think kids should have computers so young. Let them learn the basics first."

Real history is Johnson's passion, and for him the facades of Las Vegas pale in comparison.

"What gets me is that the state doesn't do enough to promote the history of this area. I wouldn't take my kids to that phony junk in Vegas."

Mr. Johnson, we're glad to have you.