Part of being a train engineer is making sure the train runs on time. That counts for the big trains running across America, but it also counts for the model train set at the Johnny Nelson Katy Heritage Museum, 6002 George Bush Dr.

Richard Baker is the engineer. He’s a retired surveyor, cartographer and data manager for BP. He said he has always had a fascination for trains, and today he operates the model train for museum visitors—children and adults alike.

“Most of them are absolutely fascinated,” Baker said. “They’ve never seen it. They’ve never experienced a model railroad like this.”

Baker said in one case, a grandfather brought his grandson to the museum to see the model train. They were fascinated, and Baker said they told him they wanted to make a donation. It turned out, Baker said, they had some small model trees that could be included in the setup.

Getting the train back on track, pun intended, took work. Baker said he train parts were in storage and went underwater when Hurricane Harvey came in 2017. He repaired the equipment, installed the electrical connections, and made sure everything worked correctly. The work has been in progress for a year and a half, he said.

Some donated items for the model train, such as the small model trees. Baker scoured the internet for other items. Many of the items came from hobby shops across the country. Most of the equipment is 60-70 years old, he said. But the equipment is compatible. The old parts are made to work with the new parts.

Some have donated financially to help Baker secure equipment. City Administrator Byron Hebert and his assistant, Lindsay Kerr, have also helped with a small budget, Baker said.

Baker said he comes in as often as he can when the museum is open to run the train. He said many parents who watch him operate the train are living vicariously backwards. He understands, he said, because he has done the same thing.

But living vicariously backwards and operating the train are two different things. Baker said he does not usually let others operate the train because of the age and delicacy of the equipment.

Baker said Katy owes much of its history to railroads. Over the years, Baker said, Katy had passenger traffic on those trains. But now, thanks to automobiles and expanded freeways, the rail lines have gone by the wayside and most train lines go out of Houston parallel to US 290, or to Sugar Land.

“The MKT Railroad was the Missouri-Kansas-Texas line,” Baker said. “Katy’s name came from the train. It was a big train depot because of rice farming. That’s what built Katy, oil and rice farming and the trains.”