EVANSTON — Southern Idaho native 15-year-old Zach Collins has visited and volunteered at the Evanston Railyards three separate occasions this summer, including during this year’s Roundhouse Festival, held Friday-Sunday, Aug. 2-4.

“I came to help with the restoration of Engine 4420 in June,” Collins told the Herald. “It was my first experience volunteering, and they gave me a variety of small, miscellaneous jobs. When I came back for the Big Boy Bash (in July), they asked me if I’d like to run the turntable for this festival.” 

Collins, who is heading into his sophomore year of high school, cannot yet drive and relies on his grandparents, Scott and Lucy Collins, to provide travel, four hours one way, to the events.

“I have a really strong passion for anything railroad related, I hope my volunteer experience can help me with a future internship or career somehow — locomotive restoration, or engineering, anything really.”

When asked what the Evanston Roundhouse and Railyards means to him, Collins said, “I just want to honor the history of it all, and I love helping out in any way I can.”