Yep. I gotta agree with that. Operating a train together is a great way to bond with your kids (or grandkids, for that matter). We even play a modified operations game, so I tell my son that Thomas needs to pick up the cows at Farmer McCowle's, and he will drive the train over and stop it next to the small freight depot next to the farm, then fill up the Troublesome Trucks with his Preiser cows. Then I tell him where to take the cows, and he'll drive the train around the loop a few times, stop it at the destination I give him, and take the cows back out. Sure, he often derails something while he's doing this, but he's pretty good about rerailing them without my help.
As I've said, though, with proper supervision, children can handle HO. Sure, you may have to replace the odd grab-iron or handrail, but I've never had anything other than HO in my house (some of the stuff was mine when I was growing up -- it stayed with my cousin and his family while I was in the Navy, then came back to me when my oldest child turned 5).
That's one of the greatest things about the hobby: you can share with anyone.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I was hooked on trains from birth, and I had a massive Thomas collection by age six. Now I'm in HO.
When I was about five, my dad set up a small HO scale layout in the corner of our den. It was one of those cheaper entry level Life-Like sets, but we had lots of fun nonetheless.
You might want to consider Lego trains, as some people have mentioned. I have a fairly sizable collection of these, and they are amazingly addictive! An advantage of these is that you can build it yourself, brick by brick, and it is durable. They do have a tendency to overspeed and tip over, but they're great fun. Best of all, if your kids have the Lego bug, you can build structures and more train cars from the pieces you already have!
Whatever you choose, have fun!
There is a film of me in diapers watching a sante fe going around a christmas tree. Later at age 4 my dad had a large layout. I have been hooked since.
But one word of caution. Just like a pet, don't expect them to be commited to it all the time. Like most things at a young age, we get excited then back off or forget or find a worm or a cartoon or get distracted a thousand different ways.
never too young but don't expect commitment just yet. I may be wrong in your case [and hope I am] but that would be the only caveat I can think of.
If you love it though, then if they abandon it it won't be a problem as I see it.
My dad is 83 and still loves trains. So when i forgot about them as a kid for a while it was not a problem.
I hope that helps. :)
HOtraindude wrote: ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page. I don't really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces.
ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page.
I don't really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces.
I'm a little creeped out, that is almost Identical to how I started!!! But as far as you kids go, I would let your 5 year old actually operate the train(s) and if you have operating accessories, let you 2.5 year old press but for building "A" to make sound "1" you know, to help him learn cause & effect, and for that I would recommend O scale, as many or the trains have sound, it is simpler to wire, and they are very durable. Though O scale isn't my "Cup-a-tea." And maybe when they get older, switch to HO scale on the board, but keep the O scale for carpet/Christmas use. Just my
Jake1210 wrote: HOtraindude wrote: ok. I am 12 going on 13 in a month. i have been into trains ever since preschool. i had my first HO scale train set since i was 6. About a year ago i decided to make it into a layout. I built a table with my uncle from a Model Railroader magazine. If you want some info on building that table, go to my site- http://freewebs.com/homodeltrains and then go to the beginner page. I don't really think that they are too young, just as long as they are gentle with the fragile pieces. I agree O scale would be the best scale for a young age alexI'm a little creeped out, that is almost Identical to how I started!!! But as far as you kids go, I would let your 5 year old actually operate the train(s) and if you have operating accessories, let you 2.5 year old press but for building "A" to make sound "1" you know, to help him learn cause & effect, and for that I would recommend O scale, as many or the trains have sound, it is simpler to wire, and they are very durable. Though O scale isn't my "Cup-a-tea." And maybe when they get older, switch to HO scale on the board, but keep the O scale for carpet/Christmas use. Just my
I agree O scale would be the best scale for a young age
alex
Go for it. I'm getting the bug again too. My boys are 2 and 5. My wife thinks I'm playing with all this train stuff for myself. The boys do love it and will climb up on a bench alongside the table to watch the trains run. We just built a new table 5'x10' about 42" high. That will make it easier on my back while modeling it.
Just be careful for grabby fingers.
Enjoy.
I have it -- actual photographic evidence that a 4-1/2 year old can be a modeler. Here is my youngest staining cast plaster rocks for use on my Take Your Model Train to Work Day diorama (see the "Four Foot Diorama" thread for full details).
And there's nothing wrong with starting them on Thomas either.... here is a picture of a corner of the layout we're building together.
Now that cold weather (spoken "Train Season") is here again, maybe we'll finish it up!
No there not to young and I would recommend O-gauge since its durable.
Ski
They are the right age and will really like learning about the loco's and freight etc.It is a very good education for them and their friends.
However about 7 to 12 they will turn to video games and seem to neglect trains .
I am hoping about 12 and older they will come back to trains and want to learn how they run especially with DCC etc.
My 5 grandchildren are 5,7,9,10 and 12. I started my garden railroad about 7 years ago.
Ron A.
I tried to get my son interested at about 3 years old, but I got hooked instead.
That was 25 years ago....whaahappened?
Kids, and adults tend to drift in and out of hobbies. I have been playing with my choo choos since I was 6 yrs, old. I now have got my 7 yr. old grandson hooked. One thing we did that was fun for him, and safe, was to build a mock up of what he wanted his layout to look like entirely of cardboard. A paper track plan and creating cardboard buildings kept him busy for hours. Then in the spring and summer we went to yard sales and train shows together scrounging for just what we wanted for the real layout! (this also will save you $)
He has started on his buildings now, and with a little assistance learning how to glue neatly makes his own kits. He was so proud of his first $2.00 kit from a train show!
Our son was 2 when he got the train bug! It started with plastic Thomas the Tank Engine and has now graduated up to a huge layout that totals the size of our attic (about 800 sq ft). My cousin bought him his first passenger car and it went from there. He's 14 now and still loves to sit and watch the "real" trains go by & count the cars.
Every year, for Christmas (if available), he gets the President's Choice layout - adding to his collection - he has 13 of them now and next year they will produce the "Anniversary Edition."
We started him off with the oval track (usually set up on the dining room table), wearing a engineer's hat - we helped him with the setup, showed the proper way to handle the cars (and ensured that he handled them correctly everytime!) and he was the engineer (no one else was allowed at the controls). If his sister goes anywhere near his trains, he goes nuts & she's 16!!!! But it has become a family hobby which is great!! His layout, trains, cars, buildings, etc. is probably worth over $6,000 now and still going strong - this is a hobby that will last a lifetime!!!
Are your kids too young?? Absolutely not!!! However, you need to vigilante when first starting off - they will love to pick them up and push them across the carpet (not good for the stock for sure). Go for it, you won't be disappointed.