My son (9) and I bought tour first model railroad equipment. Thanks to the advice from the people in this forum we our happy with our initial purchase. The got the MRC 220 transformer and a proto 2000 gp7 locomotive and enough track to make an oval.
We were up and running in no time. We went into the store with no theme in mind. It took my son about 5 seconds to decide on a military theme so I bought him a flat bed that had a couple of army vehicles on it. We set up on the 4’ x 8’ piece of plywood. My son immediately started building lego tunnels and bridges while I built the frame for the table. After the frame work was done, and a good job too (a little self plug there), I told my son it was time to move the plywood on to the frame. He said it was more fun to play on the floor than on a table. Hmmm.
Last night when I was putting my son to bed he said, “dad, do you think we could set up the trains in my room?” I told him the trains were better off in the basement. Today he asked if he could eat dinner with the trains. I think I have him hooked already.
Fantastic news, My 10 month daughter is extremely interested in what happens in the garage too. Keep up the great work and let us hear more of what happens.
When I was 9 I thought so too. But I can’t get down that far any more (or risk not getting back up, anyway). You might consider making the layout a bit lower than standard height so that he can still look down and see it all.
I made the bench 36" so it would be easier for him to use. I said we could at least try it and if really didn’t like it I would put it back on the floor. My knees are aching from being on the floor. I even wore holes in the tops of my socks. Now they match the holes on the bottom.[:)]
Randy; That’s great. It sounds like you and your son are in for many enjoyable hours. Just a note here. I used to sleep in the basement with my trains. Two reasons actually. No air conditioning and it left more time to model.
Randy [#welcome] , being able to do something with your son is awesome. For me that is what this hobby is all about. I made our layout 48 high, and when it is done, we will have a platform in the center to sit or stand on. My son and my daughter 9 will rule the roost.
Now if I can get Thomas DCCd for him and make a tinkerbell train for her.
I just bought my first loco yesterday and got the same P2K GP7! What road name did you get?
I don’t have a youngster around the house to get interested in trains. However, my daughter came home for spring break yesterday and offered to help me build my layout!
Better watch it Randy, you’re creating a monster!!![}:)] I speak from personal experience!!![:p]
When my daughter was a baby, eighteen to 24 months, her favorite place on the layout was to sit in the middle of the peninsula that was slowly developing into my yard. She would sit on a small pillow and would turn with the trains as they ran around, just watching them. By the time she was seven, she was building simple Athearn kits, by twelve she was doing wooden craftsman types, at fifteen she took first place at a regional NMRA convention with a completely scratchbuilt XM boxcar. She got so good I stopped trying to better her in the contest room. I couldn’t. [:O][:O][:O]She’s twenty-five now and although she hasn’t done anything in the hobby since then, she asked to help with the latest project. Do I let her?[?][?][?]
I’m not sure about the road name. I looked on the box and it didn’t say anything about a road name. From every thing I’ve read, the road name is the actual train this model was based on? On the train itself it says, santa fe 2655.
Day three. The interest is still strong. For the first time in a long time my son didn’t asked to play computer games. He played with the trains most of the day. Here is a picture of the egos he built tunnels and bridges with. I was late getting the camera and he already took down the legos.
LOL I still do that with my G scale, since it can only stay up for a while until my parents force me to put it away. Got my 11 year old brother hooked with the military theme too; going to model an N-scale airstrip on my layout. Hooked my fiancee on the scenery aspect too as she’s an artist…best ever! The first thing my kids will see will be BNSF’s newest diesel (whatever that may be in 10yrs)!
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