Reply to "What became of your childhood trains?"

My younger brother (by 18 months) called me earlier this week to wish me a Happy Birthday and the call went to voicemail because I was just on the brink of firing up the 675 freight set we shared (with our Dad) in the early '50's.  Having recently purchased some smoke pellets from Hennings, I was anxious to see if the 675 would smoke.  Got it oiled and the freight cars on the track and moved the D handle on the ZW from childhood.  Wouldn't you know, that 675 moved right out pulling the freight cars and Pennsy caboose and, after a couple of loops around the Christmas tree, was puffing away like it was new instead of 60 or so years old.

When I called my brother back, I told him I had forgotten how loud the horizontal motors in the 2356 Southern AA's are (pulling its original consist of baggage, coach, and observation car from the 2500 series cars), and that the 675 was grandly puffing away like we remembered.  He immediately asked for pictures; told him I'd send him a video when I finished the around the tree display.

Until my Dad gave me these trains, I never considered them "my" trains; rather, these were the "family" trains, or more accurately, our Dad's trains which he shared with my brother and me. 

So, what became of your childhood trains?  Still have them; did a sibling get them; or, better still, your dad and mom are still enjoying them?

PS:  My Dad gave me the trains about 30 years ago after I had asked for them.  That was a mild sore spot for my brother even though he'd asked for other things from our childhood and my Dad gave them to him before I asked for the trains.  Heck, even after I gave my brother a beautiful set of PW Santa Fe F-3's and aluminum cars for his 40th birthday (because of a slightly guilty conscience) 25 years ago it still rankled him a bit.  Happily, I didn't detect any of that when we spoke earlier this week.