We always had trains, pretty simple, but the basement was huge, so 5 sheets of plywood end to end painted brown allowed for lots of activity. When my brother married he took his trains with him. Dad retired and we moved to a smaller home, and about that time I joined the service, it was 1964. Dad immediately set up a nice 'L' shaped table in my old bedroom. He sent me clippings from Long Island papers regarding the LIRR or Lionel, I still have a few of them. His hardcover book, 1st edition, Steel Rails to the Sunset is a treasure trove for LIRR lovers. We were a postwar train family and didn't care for the late 50's early 60's rockets and missiles stuff. It wasn't until I saw MPC in the very late 80's that we added anything, and that was just a simple 5 car set of NYC baby passenger cars. Big brother passed early in the 90's, and then Dad did too, all of those trains came back to roost with me, and now, slowly they are finding themselves around Christmas trees owned by my fathers great grandchildren. My current table offers three levels, each with double track loops. The lower level has two sidings and the middle level is where 'activity' happens. The oldest trains are from the 30's, so I guess that means we've been in the hobby, full time for 9 decades. I recently gave a nice set, diesel switcher with rolling stock and caboose to a neighbor's son, so I told the Mom, when he finds girls or leaves the home, just box up the trains. Do not toss them or give them away, because, one day he'll come back for them. His Mom has visited OGRR, she agrees.
Thank you for sharing your stories, so many similar occurrences and thoughts. I appreciate all of the memories, yours and mine.
Chuck242
