I got a phone call from 5yo grandson about noon today. He asked if he could come over and run trains. Today was a balmy 52F [15degree above average] Kansas Winter day.
A request like that is NOT to be turned down. Besides, it gave Papa a chance to try out the Heavyweight 3-axle truck modifications that I had gotten from Marty Cozad and George Schreyer.
As a result of the mods, the only car that had a derailment on either loop or through any of the three double crossovers was the FB unit.
Luke and Papa set up the FA/FBs [He didn’t notice that UPs were pulling RGs].
Next the four modified Heavyweights [out of seven] were placed on the rails.
Papa teaches Luke how to use the transmitter.
Surprisingly, the heavyweights made it through all turns and switches without a single derail.
Luke closely followed the train watching for derailments.
Luke gets a closer look at Vinita Station.
Papa talks to Luke about operations. Luke stopped the train at the station with the coach and observation at the loading ramp for
Looks like you had more fun than is authorized! The question is: “Who had more fun Luke or Papa?” I’m thinking Papa had the most fun. Can’t wait till I get one, the wife keeps talking to our daughter, and all she says is “we’re working on it.”
I very much agree! It does become a chore though when the weather is not cooperating and the little guys still want to run trains! I’ve done it with temps in 20’s F, in heavy rain, and in 30MPH wind! He still loves trains.
We dearly love our granddaughter, but like her grandma from N.Y. she only knows one speed - full ahead. Ever seen a F3 do a wheelie, not a pretty sight when it’s your own. She now has her own G gauge railroad in Grandmas garden and we all have a great time running our trains.
Fortunately, I think, my 3yo grandson is a bigger train-nut than grampa. Whether it be the little garden loop in the yard or the 3rail stuff inside, trains are about his first request upon arrival. It is surprising how quickly they adapt to using the remote controls as well.
Great pictures of a fine looking railroad. So true that not many kids now a days or even adults have the train fever that many of us developed in our formative years. I try to give away that fever to the younger guys that work for me and it’s not really working. All they want to do is text messaging.
