Yes. 1955. I was 7. He was not a modeler, but he loved and understood anything mechanical - trains, ships, airplanes, automobiles, industrial installations. He was an Alabama Power Company electrician and steam plant foreman.
He ("Santa") built a layout for me for Xmas 1955 - 4X8, 027, one passing siding and 2 spurs, 2055 Hudson and cars, 1033 transformer. Uncoupling sections; Marx spotlights, Marx/Lionel crossing signals. Scratch built a station, stores, a house (our house), barn.
The layout was in the corner of the dining room year-round. I used it a lot - along with everything else a boy did in the 50's - 60's. (They bought me a go-kart in 1960. Even more fun than the trains.) It was easy to use. No tedium setting it up and the like.
So, yes, his fault. My mother also actually liked me and had no problem with a train layout in the corner of her dining room. For that reason, she shares half the blame.
Except for the actual layout wood, I still have every bit of it. Not the go-kart, sadly.
