Ok I’m trying to do my part to preserve the hobby
I must admit my grandsons make me a little nervous
when they have a throttle in their hand so I have to keep reminding myself
what’s truly important is the time we spend together and that we have fun !
After all we’re all just kids at heart
You’re doing the right thing.
In a short time, they’ll learn to take care with the trains. Even with adults, you still have to remind them that trains are not race cars, but most kids recognize that they’re being allowed to play with something special, and they need to be careful with it.
What you might want to do is give yourself some sort of Emergency Off switch, just a button at a few places around the layout, so you can shut things down if there’s about to be a collision, or if they don’t stop the trains after a major derailment.
Terry,
I agree with MB, you’re doing the right thing. [:)][tup]
It is difficult and ackward sometimes to let kids try something that has even a remote “potential for disaster” - especially when you’ve invested a lot of time and money into it. However, if taught correctly upfront - seasoned with a good balace of “grandfatherly” affection and sterness - even young kids (under 5) can learn to respect and operate a train layout. If they can’t, the consequences are clear: Grandpa’s layout is off-limits! I was playing with my brother’s American Flyer train set when I was only 3.
I also think that the emergency stop/shut down button (like the ones on heavy machinery) is a terrific idea. Even adults can make inadvertant mistakes. The emergency stop gives greater security and peace of mind, knowing that you at least have a “flying chance” of avoiding “impending doom”. (Hmmm. Do they make any that can be activate via RF?)
Grandpa…er, Terry, keep up the good work. Your grandsons will remember these moments fondly. [:)]
Tom
That Photo is AWESOME!
It’s all about the Kids, I love to show my kids my layout.
I fact aren’t we just Giant Kids when we’re playin with our layouts?
Terry, I think your on the right track. My grandson started playing on my layout at age 4. He is now 8 and can operate the layout by himself with all the turnouts and reverse loops. He has matured past the need for speed and now is more interested in building trains and switching. Still has a problem with hands on approach (likes to pick up locos and cars to move them around), but is careful when he does. I have put off completing some of my scenery work so that he can play with his matchbox cars on the layout. His fun is more important than the secnery. He many times tells people that WE have a layout. Hope he still feels that way when he is older.
Steve
Nervous or not, you should be honored that you and your trains seem to be more interesting than a Play Station game.[tup]
Try buying them there own locomatives (they will be excited). I have purchased my two girls there own Thomas the trains engine and a couple pieces of rolling stock. In addition I purchased a “cheap” used engine for =my daughter and visiters to run.
I am honored but you should have seen the look on their faces when I told them
I didn’t have an Xbox
Now they feel sorry for me !
BUT…they love you anyhow, Grandpa…[swg]
Tom
My little brother Andy is 2, and he loves the trains! He knows he isn’t allowed to touch them; he has only forgotten once; when he wanted to move a loco to a different track; I caught him holding my $125 Atlas SDP35, no damage was done. Whew! [:-^]
I also agree with getting them their own trains. My other brother Josh (11) has an SW1500 and an Amtrak Superliner; both have Kadee couplers, and I am installing DCC in the switcher.
That emergency switch sounds like a good idea no matter the age of the operator(s). Would that be something that’s easy to install on a DC layout?
Tell them you have your own fun games. They’re called Blue Boxes![:o)]
Re the whole layout emergency switch:
Power for all of my locomotive controllers runs through a single AC feed. After reading the comments above, I think I’ll install a normally powered relay in that AC line. A string of SPST toggle switches or pushbutton switches, installed Christmas light fashion around the entire fascia, could be used to (if necessary) interrupt power to the relay and kill all the trains. The relay would be 12vdc, powered from a wall wart on a different circuit and mounted inside a standard electrical box to keep errant fingers out of the house current.
I figure that, for the price of a single RC control, I can install switches at four foot intervals. Since there would be switches on both sides of every aisle, there would always be one within easy reach - and no chance of a problem just after the RC remote got put down to allow some two-handed maneuver.
Thanks for a great safety idea!
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
I like this discussion. My grandkids are taught some basic rules etc, but the number ONE rule
is these are not toys, this is papa’s train. They get to run an engine anytime they wish as long as I am present.
I also have a nephew that has gotten started model RR because he caught the bug from me.
Del
Terry, You’re doing the right thing!!!
When I was just a month shy of my 6th birthday, my Grandpa worked at Sears and Roebuck in Fort Wayne, Indiana .
It was just a few days before Christmas 1956, and he took me too work with him one day.
Gramps ran the roofing and hardware dept, but took me upstairs to see the Lionel Trains display in the store display windows. It was a good sized layout with a lot of the latest things Lionel had to offer. It was an “O” Gauge setup, and I was totally fascinated by it!
I’ll NEVER FORGET that SPECIAL DAY!!!
I don’t remember a lot from my very early childhood, but I can still see that day like it was only yesterday!!!
That was my introduction to model trains, and to a life-long love affair!
Terry, you might be passing the torch, BE PROUD OF IT!!!
Ed in Indiana
Working on the Pennsy!
Modelling a 1940’s to 1950’s PRR layout freelance
trains arn’t race cars??? JK anyway, two words: model power and ebay. at 10.00 a clip, no biggie of something does happen… i caught the bug from my grandfather, he still has the american flyer layout set up, but its soon enroute to me as he needs assited living care. just hope that i can get my basement done so that he can come see my trains before its to late…