The whole reason I got into this hobby was to have something my 8-year-old autistic son and I could do together. However, as we were starting out, he got bored with derails before I could fix all the track and has not gotten back into it since.
Today, however, I put a couple decoders into my little old-time 2-6-0s and invited him to run. He has a 2-8-0 with sound he calls Dixie (cause it says Dixie Line on the side.) Anyway, we ran and since his is much faster and stronger, he had to make allowances for my slow little steamer. He got the hang of ringing the bell coming into the station.
We only crashed once when I was going up hill. e bumped me from behind and coupled with my rear car. He then reversed and started pulling my whole train backwards. Of course, everything came apart in the tunnel.
But he was patient for once and we got running again. At the end, he told me that we made a good story. (Dixie was talking with my 2-6-0 every time they got close.)
Actually, my daughter’s 4-4-0’s name is Pixie at my wife’s insistance.
Her father was a world-famous chemist who using lasers was able to measure intermediary chemical reactions in real time (10 to the -15 power). Two huge lasers were used in the process, Pixie and DIxie.
Chip, thanks for sharing that. I am happy that it worked out for you the way you had hoped it would. I hope that lends some impetus to your layout construction and research.
What I’m going to do is get out some passenger cars, some 50’ Overlands, and rig them with Kaydees and metal wheels. He keeps stopping at the stations pulling freight. He says there’s people in the caboose that have to get out. Looks like he’s a passenger ops man in training.
And may you and your son have many, many more great OP sessions together. Glad to hear this is working out for you! I have often wondered what your kids were doing with the trains. So many of your early posts were about them. God bless!
That is just waaaay too cool, Chip! [^] Thanks for sharing that story. [:)] Think you could throw in a pic of you and your son “opping” together sometime?..
It sounds like a very fine story indeed Chip. I hope you and he have many, many more. Thank your for sharing this with us all, your brought some good light to my day, for one. Give your young man a big thumbs up from this ol Coyote.
There ya go! A young man with taste and class [;)] huffs I want to hear the stories now! You are a great dad Chip and its a privallage knowing you sir.
Bless you and yours.
Fantastic Chip, it warms the heart to think about what you had going. Ever tried using M and M’s as freight? Not very prototypical, but helps to keep kids interested!!