Meet Mike O’Connell

Mike became interested in modeling at an early age. Born in Tacoma, Wash., he attended Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash. Both cities have great railroad histories and were a huge influence on Mike. An avid rail and architecture photographer, Mike has given his entire 45,000-photo collection to the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive, which will make it available online. Mike lives in Maple Valley, Wash., with his wife, Jeanne. They have four children and four grandkids.