Charles M. "Mike" Buster

Mike was like a father to me, shearing all his knowledge about trains and modeling, and of course my love of diecast cars soon became something Mike would love too see as and when I got new ones in and would pass on any doubles I had ,and Mike would display them in his cabinet in what was mikes work room. Well there's so much more I could say about Mike but for now , RIP Mike ( dad) you'll be missed and all the things we had in common in the modeling scene.xxx

I met "Mr. Mike" because of his love for trains when he first came to the George L. Carter Railroad Museum, then on the campus of East Tennessee State University, a decade or so ago. It was an instant friendship that continued to his passing earlier this week. Mike loved train modeling and creating model railroad scenery, and he was quickly drawn the the large layout we were creating representing the narrow-gauge ET&WNC Railroad, the "Tweetsie" where he used his modeling skills and...