Back to School

[DCmontana]

It is time to prepare the layout for its annual pilgrimage to school.  Each year I take the 5 X 12 foot pike down, haul it over to the high school, and set it up in the auditorium.  I have made some significant changes and the kids have a good time trying to figure out what is different from last year.  I have changed the mountains and made them taller and have added a lot of trees.  We now have over 100 trees on the layout.  Some are purchased, but we have a lot of weeds afrom the yard that are flocked with ground cover and make nice fall trees.  My old platicville station is sporting Milwaukee gray and has a Milwaukee emblem on it.  New autos and trucks are present and a couple of new cars are on the sidings.  Oh, and Thomas the Tank will make an appearance.  My son will be five on Dec 18th and he will run it out for the little kids.  This is sure to be a crowd pleaser for the pre-school and kindergarten set .  Right now I am working to make quick connections for the wiring.  This will cut the set up time in half.  I have a regular schedule for K-6th graders to come from the grade school to see it.  The grade school is 1/2 block up the hill.  The jr-sr high school kids visit the layout before and after school and after lunch.  It never ceases to amaze me that in this digital era, the milk care, coal & log dump cars, coupling & uncoupling, and switching get raves from the crowd.  The lighted buildings and cars still fascinate and a steam engine made in 1952 is well appreciated.  And you know, for two days this superintendent of schools is getting paid to run the trains.  Can you guys to that! 

[laz 57]

Great JOB, DC.

I am a wood shop teacher here in Pa. for 24 years, how bout hiring me and we could build a GIANT LAYOUT?   I'll even supply the wood.  Good job and wish my admin people were like that.

laz57

[SchemerBob]

It is time to prepare the layout for its annual pilgrimage to school.  Each year I take the 5 X 12 foot pike down, haul it over to the high school, and set it up in the auditorium.  I have made some significant changes and the kids have a good time trying to figure out what is different from last year.  I have changed the mountains and made them taller and have added a lot of trees.  We now have over 100 trees on the layout.  Some are purchased, but we have a lot of weeds afrom the yard that are flocked with ground cover and make nice fall trees.  My old platicville station is sporting Milwaukee gray and has a Milwaukee emblem on it.  New autos and trucks are present and a couple of new cars are on the sidings.  Oh, and Thomas the Tank will make an appearance.  My son will be five on Dec 18th and he will run it out for the little kids.  This is sure to be a crowd pleaser for the pre-school and kindergarten set .  Right now I am working to make quick connections for the wiring.  This will cut the set up time in half.  I have a regular schedule for K-6th graders to come from the grade school to see it.  The grade school is 1/2 block up the hill.  The jr-sr high school kids visit the layout before and after school and after lunch.  It never ceases to amaze me that in this digital era, the milk care, coal & log dump cars, coupling & uncoupling, and switching get raves from the crowd.  The lighted buildings and cars still fascinate and a steam engine made in 1952 is well appreciated.  And you know, for two days this superintendent of schools is getting paid to run the trains. 

This sounds like a great idea. You're right, even in this modern age with Xbox and PlayStation, kids of all ages still seem to enjoy model trains. I figure that most kids who aren't interested in model trains are not interested simply because they've never been around any, and once you show an operating model train to a kid, then they realize...or, at least, they understand why you're so crazy about them... I also think kids are more attracted to O scale trains because they're so big and loud, and typically have more "play-value" to them than any other scale, in my opinion. I'm sure you'll have a great time.

[Anonymous]

Along with hiring Laz, you can hire me. I just finished my masters in administration last year. Do you need an elementary principal?

Thanks for sharing with us. I took my trains to school and participated with the second grader's "Living Villiage" project. The kids loved the trains, (I think the teachers loved them more!)

Do you have any pictures of your layout??

[DCmontana]

Sorry it took me so long to get back!  We took a break during Thanksgiving.  I will probably have an IA position open in the jr-sr high school and an elementary opening within the next few years.  My job will probably be open as well due to retirement as are the other two due to retirement.  Like most places in the country we are top heavy with the over 50 set and retirements are going to be big and I mean big.  I see that large urban districts are already hiring teachers from over seas.  Who would have thought that the USA would be importing teachers???  Well one thing I'm sure of, ole 2056 will be still going around the track for many more years, and long after I have headed to the big round house down the endless track!