Mike and Tanner Morgan’s Railroad 

Known for guiding Oklahomans through stormy skies, KFOR meteorologist Mike Morgan has spent the past fifteen years building something far more grounded: an intricate, working steam railroad on his family’s north Oklahoma City property. And he hasn’t done it alone. His son, Tanner Morgan, has been by his side at every curve. 

The 27-year-old head band director at Edmond Memorial High School shared the story of how a father-and-son hobby transformed into a life-sized masterpiece. “Dad was a train fanatic growing up,” Tanner said. “When I came along, that love came roaring back. We started train chasing all over the place – Portland, St. Louis, even England – just to see these famous steam engines in action.” 

Those adventures sparked an idea that would turn into a lifelong endeavor. When Tanner was 14, Mike purchased a 7.5-inch-gauge live steam locomotive from California. They embarked on the road trip, not realizing they were starting a 15-year journey of shoveling, grading, and learning on the fly. 

“The engine was too big for any local tracks,” Tanner said. “So we decided to build our own. It’s about three-quarters of a mile long now, with an 80-foot bridge and an engine house. It runs just like the full-size trains we used to chase.” 

The Morgans laid every section of rail themselves, chiseling through bedrock and carving curves to precise specifications. “Steam engines don’t like tight turns,” Tanner said. “So every piece of track had to be placed just right.” 

Through it all, father and son forged more than a railroad. “We worked on it through my entire teenage years,” Tanner said. “There were plenty of times we butted heads. I’d have one idea; Dad would have another. But that process of working hard together and figuring it out really strengthened our relationship.” 

Today, the Morgans’ backyard railroad is a fully functional loop that connects their neighboring properties, complete with steam-hauled maintenance trains and multiple locomotives. Tanner now maintains the engines, fabricating parts and overseeing rebuilds, while Mike keeps the track balanced and level. “This was really my dad’s vision,” Tanner said. “I’ve just been lucky enough to be part of it. He’s the best dad anyone could ever have.” 

For Mike, the project has always been rooted in something deeper. “My wife Marla and I believe that family is the greatest gift God can give us on this earth,” he said. Whether reading the radar or riding the rails, Mike shared, “simply being present for my children is a privilege, a gift, and indeed an honor.”