James was introduces to model railroading at the age of 8 when he received an American Flyer S Scale train set that he still retains in his collection.  He switched over to HO scale in 1975 and built a home shelf layout that he donated to his neighbor and then built several other small layouts for his nephews.  He joined the NMRA in 1979 and the Highland Park Society of Model Railroad Engineers, Inc. in 1984.

James previously served as Chief Clerk Paymaster and Achievement Coordinator for the Los Angeles Division as well as the Pacific Southwest Regional Contest Chair. James obtain his NMRA Gold Spike for a layout he built in a spare bedroom and earned Achievement Certificates for NMRA Volunteer, Author and Dispatcher.

James has recently retired after being employed by the City of Whittier for 40 years in Civil Engineering with an additional 2-1/2 years as a contracted consultant. After his retirement he has recently moved to Nampa, Idaho and has started construction of a around the wall shelf layout in a third bay garage. He enjoys traveling with his wife Edna.

James is currently a member of the Caldwell Model Railroad and Historical Society and is servicing as the Office Manager for the Pacific Northwest Region of the NMRA .