Also considering coming back...I need to drag my dad back in with me

[Anonymous]

My dad kinda likes the trains ( He gets kick out of running then really fast ) but he is not a model railroader. Sounds like you have the right thing started. by the way, im 13.

[Jetrock]

Perhaps, like some of us, he's more of a builder than an operator--many folks just like to build layouts, and then tear 'em down and start a new one once construction is completed. It might be enough to suggest the creation of a new layout.

[Anonymous]

Maybe you ought to somehow get him to read various posts on this forum. My son is 10 and really has no interest in trains. What I wouldn't give to have come up to me and say "hey Dad, let's build a layout." I will say, however, that there are other things that we do together, so it's still a good deal, but gosh wouldn't it be great to model railroad together! What is really neat about your situation is that building a layout reflecting where/when he grew up is a fantastic way for you to learn some family history. Get pictures of his hometown and perhaps stratchbuild some of the structures.

I wish I could tell your Dad what a fantastic opportunity is there with you wanting his help in building a layout. I'm sure every Dad on this forum would agree with me!

[Anonymous]

I think if i was you I would just tell your father that you want to build a new layout,and would he help you with the parts of the construction that you don't feel comfortable with.Since you plan on modeling an era and prototype that your father has had first hand experience with you could use him as a source of information.Maybe asking him quesions about the LIRR might get him stirred up a little.I wish you luck,It is a great hobby and I wish my sons were still young enough to be living at home and enjoying my layout with me.

[Anonymous]

I am thinking about getting back into the hobby, I need to convince my dad that the spare room in the basement would be perfect for a 4x12 N scale layout, or even a smaller HO layout. But herein lies my problem. My father was never really into the whole train thing, he did it to apease me. I know he loves building things and knows how to wire and is good with foam scenery. But he allways seemed to be on the outside of my hobby kinda looking in, not touching the layout after it was "done". He never really ran my trains with me but he did take me to greenburg shows twice a year and allways seemed to get a kick out of it. Now im 15 and we seem to be drifting apart from one another, and I really think getting back into modeling would be perfect for us to bond. I'd love him to get more into it, and make a serious layout this time. I'd love loooooooooove to model our local Long Island Railroad in the 60's. Thats when he grew up and maybe doing that could get him more into it. Doing the LIRR during then wouldnt be hard, heck altas had a RS3 in LIRR paint out only a few years back. And stewart had a VO1000 in LIRR colors also. The problem is convincing him that my conrail GP-38 my santa-fe GP9 and my Cheesie switcher arent enough anymore, only the GP9 has its handrails still! I dont think I could sell the old man on DCC as well "We dont need no digital command whatever!" would be his response.

Does anyone have any advice on how I could get the man back into the hobby?