Garden Railroading for Grandparents

[kahnochee]

I am in the midst of writing what may possibly turn out to be a series of stories for GR about my experiences as a train-loving garden-railroading grandparent. My wife, Rae, and I have a total of 21 grandchildren plus one great grandson who just visited us from Denver. Like his great grandparent he loves trains. This was his first time to actually get to see (and help run) my simple and easy to run and maintain mountain railroad. It starts at ground level (actually waist high) and through a series of tight switchbacks eventually arrives at the mining town of Summit which is four levels higher. Then it continues back down the mountain until it arrives at Base Camp on the lowest level. Like many mountain railroads it has always operated on a shoestring budget, so nearly all the track and rolling stock were bought used. I doubt if I have more than $500 invested in the whole railroad. It includes a small lake and a waterfall. The various buildings in the two towns were either built for me by a very talented neighbor, bought at train shows, or as bird cages. The bird cage buildings are quite unique and most of them only cost me $5.

Grandpa Choo Choo Plans His Railroad'

Grandpa Choo Choo goes with Battery Power

Grandpa Choo Choo Decides How to Prepare the Ground; and Lay the Track

Grandpa Choo Choo Decides What Kind of Rolling Stock and Engines He will Use

Grandpa Choo Choo Does His First Test Run

Grandpa Choo Choo Teaches His Grandkids how to Run His Railroad and Repair Damaged Cars

Grandpa Choo Choo  Uses His Garden Railroad to encourage his Grandkids to take good care of equipment

etc., etc.,

Any suggestions from other grandparents?

[captain perry]

Sound like some great tales to tell and useful too...But I am only a Dad

[Quitchakiddin]

I'd just like to be a Grandfather!

[grandpopswalt]

21 GRAND KIDS!!!!!! how in the world do you keep track of them all? I have 3 and sometimes I feel over whelmed.  Congratulations to you and it sounds like you're doing a great job of passing along our hobby to future generations..

[kahnochee]

Glad you enjoyed it. All (well, almost all!) parents become grandparents some day, and playing with trains is one of my most pleasureable experiences with all the kids. My railroad teaches them how to play responsibly, and many other valuable lessons. I have been working on my railroad this morning, so I have had no time to work on my articles. But I want to make them as helpful and useful tp both parents and grandparents. There really isn't anything hard about building a simple garden railroad using battery power. By eliminating trying to send the power through the rails, suddenly it becomes something nearly anyone can do.     Sincerely, "Grandpa Choo Choo"

[Rex in Pinetop]

I only have two grandchildren but today I had 47 little ones visit my front yard railroad.  Only 22 came at one time.  The rest were spread out coming with their parents.  I have a few rules like stay on the walking paths when inside the layout and don't touch the moving trains.  The kids do really well.  The really young ones are carried by their parents when down inside the layout.  I do have a viewing path above the layout that the kids can run along with the trains.  The only accidents have been an occasional loose rock coming down on the track from the retaining wall (dry stack).  I do stop the train and pick up the blocking rock and just ask them to be carefull.  So far its worked and we certainly have a lot of fun being grandparents to all kinds of kids, young and old!!  Good luck with your writing.

Rex