I relate to Johnacton's above comments about his daughter, which applies in certain respects to my children, now in their early 30s.
My daughter played with trains like they were dolls. Same is true with my 7 year old granddaughter. We would give the little people on the layout train rides in gondolas, and I would tell stories about the little people. My granddaughter brings her own little people, Shopkins, and we give them train rides and tell stories about them.
My son, who is very bright (much brighter than me which pleases me), would get bored running the trains as a young child. He was fascinated, however, by what goes on, mechanically and electrically, inside the trains and accessories. I remember he was particularly interested in the inside of the Lionel O22 switch tracks. He is now a mechanical engineer and Construction Project Manager for a company that build and renovates commercial buildings.
Both of my adult children now have little interest in the trains, but are amused that their Dad is so interested in them. LOL, Arnold
