Thomas Hillebrant grew up in Spokane, Washington, with a deep fascination in the history and operations of railroads serving the Inland Northwest. He has a particular interest in branchline and shortline railroads that once connected, and in many instances still connect, small communities with the rest of the nation. He enjoys collecting and sharing stories and photographs of these railroads to preserve their history for both ardent and casual rail enthusiasts. Employed as a mechanical engineer, Thomas lives in Richland, Washington, with his wife, Nici, their four children in various stages of “leaving the nest,” and four cats.