A good start In the hobby!

[RR Redneck]

A friend of my family's works for the local school district, and the school district runs an afterschool program for the younger kids called YMCA and when school is out (ie, spring break) they have it all day. Well said friend told me about one of the little kids there and how badly he'd been bitten by the toy train bug. She then asked if I could bring a magazine or a locomotive or something. I was more than happy to ablige. I was about to grab a small stack of CTTs when an I decided forget magazines and a locomotive, I'LL BRING A WHOLE TRAIN SET! So I packed my Santa Fe Fast Freight set up in a travel bag, put it in the back seat of my truck and left for daycare. Imagine her suprise when I asked if there were any open outlets. Well the kids loved the trains and had a ball with the sound system. I didn't want to go home. I had fun watchin those little kids enjoy my Lionel set and vowed to return with another. Maybe my new Empire Builder Set.

[csxt30]

Great story Red !! You're going to some followers if you keep them interested & a great feeling of accomplishment !! 

Thanks, John

[alexweiihman]

Great Idea eric!!!

[brianel027]

Yeah Red, I've done that sort of thing before too, which is why I can say with so much conviction that there IS still interest in trains. Most young kids have never even heard the phrase "Lionel Trains" nevermind actually seen them.

I had put out some thoughts I was considering the idea of starting some kind of youth train club at my church (if the Pastor likes the idea). And word got around and today I got 3 heavy boxes of old postwar trains in the mail as a donation towards this effort. Nothing collectible by any means but stuff that can certainly be brought back to life.... a 2056 steamer that with some TLC I think can be back on the rails making some kids smile. A lot of neat Platicville stuff too.

Granted not every kid who sees a Lionel train running is gonna have the train bug bite: it was like that years ago and it's still like that. BUT they have to see them first. So good job Red. And don't you have to admit, that seeing all the smiles and happy faces on those little kids was worth the effort you made? I bet it was.... nope, I KNOW it was!

[RR Redneck]

It was fun and I will be goin back for sure. Probably Monday or Tuesday after school.

[1688torpedo]

 Hello Red!    That was a nice thing you did & I hope they invite you back for more Train Time with the Kid's. Take Care.

[tmcc man]

Eric, that is one of the best ideas that I ever heard. You will truly have some followers with you.

[RR Redneck]

They have asked me back for either Monday or Tuesday afterschool. This time I will be bringing my N scales along.

[Anonymous]

Great Job!  Keep up the good work.

Scott 

[RR Redneck]

They want me back tomarrow and I will be takin my little 2x4 N scale layout.