How did it all begin?

[Medina1128]

When I was about 5, my father, who was a fighter pilot in the Air Force got stationed to Phalsbourg, France. The popular trainsets of the time and place were Märklin. I remember Dad setting it up on a sheet of plywood, complete with pushbuttons to control the turnouts. A number of years later, he bought my brother and I each a Lionel trainset. My brother was more into the toy robot they got him, whereas, I spent hour after hour running my trainset. 

Robot Commando

For me it was no contest.. lol

[shayfan84325]

As a kid I was into model cars.  Then one day I noticed Model Railroader magazine in the school library.  I picked it up and by the time I was halfway through the magazine I was hooked.  I read back issues and devoured the new one each month.  I saved my money and about six months after picking up that first issue. I bought an N scale train set.  I was dedicated to the hobby until I finished college.  The demands of starting a career just didn't allow much room for trains.

After a couple of decades in the Space Program my life had settled down some, so I got back into the hobby.  I've been back for about 12 years;  It is even more fun, now.

[Southwest Chief]

Got to blame my dad for this one

He got me into trains because he was into trains.  Both real trains and model trains.  Got me into trains pretty early too.

Here I am on my first train trip on Amtrak's newly Superliner equipped Empire Builder back in 1980:

I got my first train set for Christmas when I was 4.  An LGB G scale train set.  I've been modeling trains ever since (in HO, O, and G scales)

[trainguy4466]

being somewhat in the 'new' generation of modellers (I'm 17) I have memories of watching Thomas on TV and having quite the extensive wooden train collection. I'd build some rather complex layouts and I still have those wooden trains today. My first memories of being exposed to model trains was when my dad took me to a train show when I was about 3. I distinctly remember watching someone run a big boy around one of the layouts. Shortly after, for my birthday/christmas (they're only 3 days apart) I recieved a life-like train set. I played with it so much I burned out the motor in the loco. I got a few more life-like trains but my intrest didn't really take off until about 2006 when my grandmother got me a subscription to model railroader for my birthday. Shortly after we built a 4x6 layout in my room. from then on I began to seriously be involved in the hobby. I joined a local club, and have accumilated a siezable collection of models. My newest and most prominent intrest is the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and I'm working on plans for a layout based on Wilmington, NC circa 1949

[bogp40]

I read the story of the father building the layout for his son/s. It really put a smile on my face and brought back memories of over 20 years ago when I experienced the same.

I had Marx, then Lionel when young always had that facination for "trains" like so many.  When my son was 5, he showed such interest in trains, his godmother gave him a "train Set" for Christmas.  It all began from there, Of couse the trains were immediately run on the kitchen floor Christmas day, within a week the good 'ol 4x8 was started. One loop w/ passing siding, elevated section to use the Atlas Chord bridge, 2 small sidings etc. Of coarse replaced all that steel sec w/ Atlas NS flex.  Building this for my son and 2 daughters was such an exciting time for them and myself. Countless hours were spent in the basement running and working on the trains. Such a rewarding experience an bonding with my children.

I joined a local club http://www.ssmrc.org/ shortly afterwards due to my renewed interest in HO modeling. After a few years, my kids interest in the trains dropped off as they had so many other social things going on in thier lives.My oldest daughter, however was rather amazing at how she learned  to run cabs at the club. The old layout was a fairly good sized DC/ cab controlled. She knew all the blocks and turnouts and could run a train w/ the best of them, and she was only 9 at the time. Some of the older "veteran" members would almost have fits, seeing a "child" run a cab. Didn't take too long 'til she earned the respect of most as to her ability.

I've belonged to the club since. Now the children are in their 20s and at least know just what to get Dad for B-day or Christmas.

The origional train set is boxed up along w/ the old Riverosi/ AHM items that were their Grandfathers. Of coarse also set aside are the Athearn BB, engines I custom painted for each of them and a good selection of BB rolling stock. I imagine some day when they have their own children the process will be repeated. Only this time they will have their own decent running equipment to use instead of that Trainset stuff that is kept just for  nostalgia.

[stebbycentral]

[HaroldA]

In the Layout and Layout Building section a father has a post about building a first railroad - (see Order of Consttruction).  He was looking for some input into the sequence of building a layout and there have been many responses.  The one that made me smile was when he said his son liked to run 'wide open' and his goal was to make sure everything didn't land on the floor.

What struck me was that this more than a father/son project, but it was possibly the beginning of a life long interest in trains.  Just the other day my dad told me about me asking for a 'too-too twain' for Christmas when I was a young kid and they bought me a wind-up Marx train that ran along the floor.  I also remember the old Lionel set I had that ran in a neverending oval on a sheet on plywood - and I managed to launch them a few times. How is wish today I still had that Lionel. But for me, that was the beginning.

So, how did all begin for you?  I thought it might be interesting to hear some stories.