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Several years ago my friend Pat invited my oldest son Aiden and I to his house to see his layout. Pat and I have been friends, since I was in first grade (he is a year older than me). When we were kids Pat had a decent sized layout in his parent's basement and we were both into O-gauge. As we grew up the trains took a side burner for girls, college, and then careers. Anyway back to about the layout. Pat kept telling me about Legacy, which at the time I couldn't figure out what he was talking about. The day that my Aiden and I went to see the layout. I got the train bug back (I still had all my stuff from when I was kid still). That night when I got home I was on the iPad researching legacy and all the new stuff in the hobby now a days. I'm hooked more than ever, especially with scale engines and rolling stock. 

Anyways back to what this post is really about. I have three sons (Aiden, Ian, and Alex). Aiden is 7, Ian is 2, and Alex just turned 1 in August. When I got back into the hobby I wanted to share the joys of model railroading from running trains to building a layout with my kids. I currently don't have permanent layout, but setup a temporary carpet layout when the mood hits me. Today in Northeastern Pennsylvania it is damp and raining. Perfect night to some railroading! My middle guy LOVES trains. He is always on youtube watching the videos on the Thomas trains that run on wooden tracks. I said to my oldest guy very quietly before dinner lets go setup the train, since we just got Vision Line PFE Reefers from one of my preorders. So off we went. Once Ian heard that Bigboy fire up his face lit up and he ran upstairs. 

Now both Aiden and Ian can run the trains with Legacy remote. Yes, my two year old can run a train on Legacy. Now he can't operate it likes his brother, but it does good. Here is a video from this evening: 

My point is that I didn't get back into the hobby not to allow my sons to play with this stuff. I want them to have the joys that I did as a kid and also I want them to learn everything that model railroading can teach them, which may help them as they grow. Like carpentry, electronics, creative thinking, design, or so many other things. Aiden and Ian both run my Visionline Bigboy and all my high end locomotives and rolling stock. They don't do it alone. I'm always there to guide and teach them, but never do I say they can't run the trains. Here is a video of Aiden running the Big Boy and showing how the PFE Reefers work: 

I see so many posts about how to retain kids in the hobby. Let them play! Teach them how to respect the models and that they aren't $5 dollar toys. Teach them what you know, which may even help them determine their career or interests. 

Thanks for reading my post. I just wanted to share the joy I have with my sons and model railroading. 

Aiden and Ian

Hopefully Aiden (his first time) and I will see some of you at York. Wish Ian could come, because it would blow his mind but he is still too young. 

Have a great weekend! 

Chris 

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  • Aiden and Ian: Aiden and Ian posing the Big Boy
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Art and Joe thanks for reading the post. 

Joe I can't say I have that problem. When Ian runs the trains. I make sure that the train brake is applied so he can't run full speed. Also, since my guys are around it all the time they know how to respect the trains. Like I mentioned. When we run trains I'm always there to observe and teach them.  I can certainly understand kids that do that who aren't around that much. 

Bring Ian!!!!!!

 Good luck don't fault you for going with Legacy , I really like my 2  Vision Line and one legacy engines,  all on different tracks and running at the same time. Having said that ,  three conventional engines are also running on 3 different loops (6 in all). Problem, , running all 6 trains at one time diminish the great sound of the legacy and Vision Line engines

The 6 loops are all Fastrack and very noisy.

Take the kids

Brent

I completely agree.  My son is turning 7 and for the last two years has been granted the ability to run our trains (TMCC remote).  He has been instructed on how to turn everything on, what to do if a problem occurs, and has given the trains a high amount of respect.  There is nothing better than hearing him in the basement, talking to the trains while running them.  Several times I have sat at the top of the basement stairs, watching him have just the greatest time running the trains (without him knowing).  His friends are not so respectful, but I always remind and reteach them on the rules of the trains. 

I can't wait until we finish our revision, and being able to see him run the trains again.

 

I was just thinking about this yesterday while watching my 5 year old grandson running my trains.  When I was younger I was not as patient and worried more about the value of the trains and the risk of them being damaged so my children did not get to play with them.  Now I see that I was all wrong.  My 5 year old grandson (and all of my other grandchildren for that matter) are very careful with the trains .  I am sure to have an adult supervise them but they really love using the remotes and working the accessories.  I really missed an opportunity with my kids which I determined not to repeat with my grandkids.

Rolland

"Dad, you can't take down the trains!"

That was two years ago after Christmas when he was five. Now we have a small elevated 6x9 with two loops, a scale polar express, legacy F3 and Lionchief Pacific. More cars than we can run, but having a blast anyway  He knows how to keep the z4000 at 18volts max and runs anything, anytime. I've taught him about electricity, wiring, benchwork and all that scenic stuff too. That's time spent that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and that he's so into it and we have this in common to share with each other is priceless to me.

Here he is this am, running trains and looking at some of the scale Atlas Zephyr cars I've been collecting and will someday be his.

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Zep posted:

"Dad, you can't take down the trains!"

That was two years ago after Christmas when he was five. Now we have a small elevated 6x9 with two loops, a scale polar express, legacy F3 and Lionchief Pacific. More cars than we can run, but having a blast anyway  He knows how to keep the z4000 at 18volts max and runs anything, anytime. I've taught him about electricity, wiring, benchwork and all that scenic stuff too. That's time spent that I will treasure for the rest of my life, and that he's so into it and we have this in common to share with each other is priceless to me.

Here he is this am, running trains and looking at some of the scale Atlas Zephyr cars I've been collecting and will someday be his. 

 

Exactly my point. Bonding time, same interests, and teaching them how to use the brains and hands to make or build something. If they lose interest someday then so be it. At least I will have memories. If they decide to stay in the hobby like me, then they will have some cool stuff and they can take me to train shows when I'm old!

Love everyone sharing their experiences with this. I'm also glad to see that I'm not the only one that lets the kids play with high end stuff. 

Tonight's listen for Aiden was a wiring and using the wire stripper/crimper. 

IMG_4865

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I had a train when I was little, and it got put away for 20 years, much as OP mentioned girls, cars, school, job, were more important. It wasn't till I had my oldest boy that it came all came back out.  Here is a little picture from today of us playing in the basement. He's very good with the trains, he's usually telling me to slow the train down and that it is going too fast.

20161002_150619

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My older daughter (13) is pretty much an "academic", loves reading, science, math, etc. - but wants nothing to do with trains.

My younger daughter (10) is pretty much opposite.  She doesn't like much of her classwork - but loves sports, social events, girl scouts, etc.  - AND she loves trains - so Santa got her a LionChief set in 2014 and we set it up on a table in the basement and she's got her own little layout going on.  She often has friends come over to play and sure enough most times I hear the little engine fire up when they are down there in the basement goofing off, I love it!

SaraLionchiefChristmas2014

I also take a video of the girls and the trains each year for Christmas - I posted a link of the videos here:  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...m-the-murnane-family
These videos are a really neat way to get the kids engaged with the trains at least once a year, so it's been fun and they know it's just plain something we do every year now.

 

 

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Murnane posted:

 

SaraLionchiefChristmas2014

I also take a video of the girls and the trains each year for Christmas - I posted a link of the videos here:  https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/t...m-the-murnane-family
These videos are a really neat way to get the kids engaged with the trains at least once a year, so it's been fun and they know it's just plain something we do every year now.

Rich, I look forward to your holiday videos every year. Thanks for always sharing them. 

Tom 

very well said. I have 3 - 6, 3 & 5 mo. I let them play with everything just like my pop did with me.  My son (3 yo) is obsessed with trains. My older daughter was, but not so much now. She still likes to come in & hang out when I run them & take a turn at the controls.  Yes, there have been a few accidents, but they are toys & for the most part the kids are very good with the trains.   My daughter helped me wire the layout we just took down bc of moving.  My son likes to use the tools with my help.   After we move at the end of the month, both of my older kids have already asked if they can help build the new one with me. All of this is quality time spent with my family & it's great & the kids actually learn something as well

 

 

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