As I contemplate starting the repair of an engine sitting on my workbench, it occurred to me that at 63 years of age I have been doing this for quite a while. That got me thinking about the first time I repaired, or at least attempted to repair, a toy train.
I was about 9 years old at the time. Our family lived in a tiny 3-room home, but we had an American Flyer S gauge layout in the attic with a 303 Atlantic engine leading a set of freight cars. One summer day my sister and I went up there to run the train and found it unresponsive. As I recall we brought the engine down and started to dismantle it. In those days we used Vaseline petroleum jelly to lubricate the gears, and it had hardened in the extreme heat of the attic. I don't recall if we got it working ourselves or if my dad did later on, but I do remember getting an earful from my dad when he found out we had attempted that repair without his permission.
That engine still runs today. How about you? When was the first time you repaired, or attempted to repair a toy train, whether by yourself or with help from another?
Dean