I grew up across the street from NWP's Tiburon branch, and my elementary school's playground was adjacent to the tracks. In one of my first day's of kindergarten, I heard the local coming and bolted out of class, to the fence by the tracks, to watch it go by. That did not go over well with the powers that be.
I would do it all over again though.
I too would love to see John's layout in person some day!