Hi All - This is my first post. I have two young boys, ages 2.5 and 5 years old, and they are obsessed with trains. I brought them to a museum to see some layouts and they loved it. I must admit that I was also impressed and I’ve been bitten by the model railroading bug. My wife and I thought it would be fun to get into the hobby with the boys. My only concern is that they might be too young. Given their ages, do you think I should wait until they’re a bit older or do you think they’re old enough?
I also picked up a copy of Model Railroader magazine and their publication “Getting Started in the Hobby” for HO scale. I’m trying to do my homework before getting started. I figure a basic 4x8 layout in my basement will be the way to go. I’d appreciate any thoughts or suggestions you might have to offer. Thanks in advance!
Enjoy them while you can! I started my then 5-year old son on model railroading last year with a basic 4-6 HO layout on plywood. We expanded it this christmas with an additional two feet of board and started putting some model scenery around the track. He now knows certain engines, road paint schemes, wheel configuration for steam locomotives, etc. And always asks me to roll down the car window when we encounter a train while out on the road.
Thanks for the words of welcome and encouragement! I’m going to take the plunge. I’ll start building a table while I dig through a couple of books to get a track and layout plan. I’m hoping it will be a good learning experience for the boys in addition to being fun. This is a great forum and I plan to visit regularly. Cheers ~ ski
I agree with the others that you’re never too young.
Make sure you get some rerailers to make it easy to get the trains on the tracks. Maybe even set up a place where the boys can push the cars (cheaper ones) by hand. At this age they’ll have a lot of fun, but they like to handle the pieces.
I agree that you should get them started now, but instead of HO scale, you may want to take a look at O gauge. O gauge trains are twice the size of HO trains, and are a LOT more durable. I was given a Lionel O gauge train set when I was 6 (the best gift I’ve ever received) and even though I was trying to be careful, they were flipped over and dropped on more than one occasion. The great thing was, these trains were NEVER damaged no matter what I did to them. HO scale trains are a lot more fragile and some can pieces break off easily.
As an added bonus, there are a lot of animated accessories for O gauge, which young children seem to enjoy (along with adults). Powering an O gauge train is a lot easer for kids because of the third rail. Just clip the wires to the track and you’re off and running. By the time I was 7, I could set up an entire layout and have it running in about an hour.
Of course, this is just my [2c], but you really can’t go wrong no matter which scale you choose
I started when I was 6 or 7 yrs old, My Dad built me a layout-Stopped for awhile and when my son was 7 We built a layout. Took it down when I moved and he went into the Army. My Grandson was 4 yrs old when I was in the walk in attic and he seen the box of old track and train cars. LOL. He would not stop talking about the trains and when can we get them out-I finally gave in later that night, And am glad I did. I now have a layout started and have geared it towards him. Things he can play with, Logging cars that dump Etc… He was putting on the Eng/cars that night… He had to learn what he could and could not do. And he did great- It taught him patience and respect for things that break. Not to say things didn’t break. But as long as it is not abuse I am O.K with it. Besides it lets me Model and fix things.
He is totally crazy about anything that has to do with trains. And we have a blast at shows,driving and seeing trains,briges,overpasses. LOL on and on…
ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page.
I don’t really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces.
O gauge may be the way to go right now. They are young. The O gauge stood up to our abuse when we just started out like around 6 years old or around that time.
Hold off on the expensive HO stock until they settle down. Once they hear a sound equippted engine, I fear that they will drag you (And your wallet) into the DCC business. This is where some of the new units made to run on analog DC with perhaps a simple sound controller comes in.
If you go with O gauge, expect the room with the largest amount of clear floor space to be taken over by the trainset provided you have enough tracks. If they are already all over the HO you might find some Thomas that will do well with them and not cause a heart attack should one of the engines take the “Big drop” to the floor.
Got another suggestion: Look at Playmobil, it is a line of approximately 1/2" scale buildings, playsets, cars and a battery powered R/C train. They are very rugged, built for young children in mind. We ended up with LOTS of money tied up in the brand and the grandkids love them. Not to mention one grandmother. I did use standard G-scale track in brass - then built up my collection. Can be used in the house (I did a 20 X 48 around the wall layout in the basement) and outside. In fact, the first set was purchased for grandma. She was outside running it on Christmas day. One of the neighbors asked her if I got a new trainset for Christmas, she let him know it was her’s in no uncertain terms. In the basement, I built a 4 foot wide shelf around the room and the train ran around towns, wild west scenes, a castle and a other features. Even my grown up children loved it.
My Daughter “helped” my dad when he was layout his track plan when she was about 2. Albeit helping was getting in the way and wanting to watch the trains run. Then my dad passed away and for 7 years the layout sat idle. Track down and wired but that was it. Then one day when I had to do business in town my daughter, now 9, went into the basement with her grandma and cleaned up the train room. When I got back she had found some cars and a loco, plugged the layout in and was letting the train travel down the tracks. We are now heavily into completing the layout (8’x14’). Her grandpa would be proud. She even has developed her own mix of alpine ground cover that I have been hard pressed to match. The trains are of interest to her, but so is the back-story behind the little lives of the inhabitents of the layout. Her imagination has helped me figure out what to put down and where.
I think any age is good enough. Im 14 fixen to turn 15 in feb and i rember when i was like 3 years old and i had a train set. So get them in the hobby while you got a chance[;)]
I’m new to your forum; but I’m happy to say my grandson (5) is happy to be involved in ‘Thomas the train’ and from there he made (pre-school) a wooden (non-scale), painted {psychdelic}engine out of wood. It proudly sits upon the higest mountain on my 3 X 12 layout.
He has handled and broken a wood model and plastic (HO). Both I repaired with him and the involvement was what he wanted. I take him to train shows and most of the time we don’t buy anything and he looks forward to it. As everyone has stated before me it’s the involvement and so many skills are needed that there is room for everyone.
The floor (for me) is getting further and further away. ‘Thomas’ and the floor is very un-comfortable.
Now, the pressure is on - can I live up to his expectations?