Politicians are often accused of railroading citizens, but Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan had the idea of honoring a Tomball man for his railroad expertise instead.

Fagan recently awarded Ken Walden, a local illustrator and train aficionado, the first ever Mayor’s Volunteer of the Year award at a recent city council meeting.

Photo: Tomball resident Ken Walden (center) was honored for his work as a railroad historian and the time he spends sharing that knowledge with others at the Tomball Depot. Tomball Mayor Gretchen Fagan (right) awarded Walden with the first ever Mayor’s Volunteer of the Year honor, while State Rep. Allen Fletcher (left) presented Walden with a Texas flag that flew over the Texas Capitol in his honor.

Walden, who serves as the “station agent” at the Tomball Depot Center, provides tours and lessons about the history of railroads and Tomball to interested parties every Sunday at the depot.

“He does such a good job,” Fagan said. “I’m really thankful for all that he does for Tomball.”

Walden said he was surprised at the honor, considering that Fagan played a ruse to get him to the meeting.

“The Mayor invited me to the meeting under the guise of a presentation about the new depot fountain,” Walden said. “It was a total surprise.”

Walden, who moved to Tomball from Tampa, Fla. in 1976, said his interest in trains and railroads started as a little boy.

“I really don’t have a definitive answer (as to what started his love of trains), but as far back as I can remember I could hear the old steam engines as I was lying in bed.”

Walden’s involvement in the depot began during the Tomball Centennial celebrations in 2007. After that passed, Walden decided he would like to continue to work at the depot, providing history and tours. Somewhere along the way he decided to dress as the station agent as well.

“I decided to dress the part when I decided to open up the depot every Sunday,” he said.

Fagan said his expertise and passion is astonishing.

“I talked to a couple from Minnesota who was traveling to look at train depots across the country,” she said. “They said he was the most knowledgeable person they had met by far.”

Walden said his decision to move to Tomball was a good one.

“I’m glad I made that choice,” he said.

As for his time at the depot?

“It’s a rewarding experience. I love doing this.”

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