If your dad were around, would he enjoy running toy trains?

[FJ and G]

Some of our dads are gone and some are still with us. Lionel used to capitalize on the father-son relationship in its ads and selling points. My dad never ran trains with me and he wasn't a railfan.

However, he always preferred to ride trains and was fond of the song, "Life is Like a Mountain RR." He's 84, but wouldn't really enjoy running toy trains. He'd as soon settle on a good book or the Good Book.

[Dr. John]

Interesting topic, Dave. My Dad will turn 80 this year. About 4 years ago, he was struggling with some health issues and depression. (Thankfully, he is doing great now!) I asked if he would enjoy having a small O guage railroad to pass the time. He thought that sounded good.

I built him a 6x9 O-27 layout with two outer loops, a reverse loop and a few sidings for accessories. I kept it basic with conventional control and very little scenery, just a few Plasticville buildings and some accesories. He enjoyed watching me build it and would spend time talking and reminiscing while I worked on the layout. I think it was good for both of us. While he likes the layout, I don't think he operates it much except when I come to visit. Still, I'm glad I did it - a small something in return for all he has done for me over the years. Dad was never a big railfan, but he knew I was and made sure I had some trains growing up as a kid.

[Anonymous]

Yep, no doubt about it.

I think what he really enjoyed was watching me run them, but many is the Christmas eve that they sat around the living room and set up the train after I had gone to bed. I could tell the relative liquidity of the set up party by the track mis-match errors on the basic oval around the tree. Good days those.

[jonadel]

When I was in late elementary my Dad and I built a very small HO set up. He was an electrical engineer and of course was a whiz at the wiring problems of HO, I inherited none of those proficiencies. I found it frustrating. But, I'm proud now to say that I'm pretty good at wiring my O gauge layout, everything worked the first time and it still works! My Dad would be amazed at our layout and would be over whelmed at my wiring abilities, I was the late bloomer. Sadly, he passed in '84 and I do miss him as we did a lot together, especially fishing. I think he would really get a kick out of DCS and the improvement that toy trains have made. At one time he considered N gauge after his retirement but instead spent his final years fishing, with me.

Jon

[Dave Farquhar]

Dad wasn't a railfan (he'd go to airports and watch planes take off and land the way railfans chase trains--I guess 9/11 would have nixed that hobby for him) but he had a Lionel. I'm guessing he had one because in the early 50s, every boy his age had one. I saw a couple of train layouts when I was really young, and when I found his Lionels in the garage in the 1980s, I started bugging him to set them up. Finally, after a few years, he gave in and we set them up and got them running. He and I enjoyed a lot of hours playing with that huge floor layout.

Eventually it all got packed away again. He got it back out after I went away to college. I guess he was feeling nostalgic or something. He died about a year later. My last Christmas present to him was a bunch of modern-production Plasticville buildings, including a hospital (he was a doctor).

For years I couldn't get his trains back out because they reminded me of him. But now I run the trains because they remind me of him.

Yeah, if Dad were still around, I imagine we'd be running around, hunting for trains (now that I know good places to buy them--we didn't know of any in the 1980s), painting figures, building structures, and all that. Dad was an avid builder of model kits in his youth, and that rubbed off on me. It's probably heresy to say it, but that drives me a lot more than love of trains. I've developed a love of trains along the way, but initially the only reason I got the trains back out was because they reminded me of him. And maybe, just maybe, the reason he initially got them out in 1993 was because they reminded him of me.

I've got a lot of trains now. For the right price or the right trade, I'd probably let any of them go. The exceptions are Dad's 1110, 2026, and 2037 locomotives and the cars that go with them. Those will always be Dad's trains.

[Anonymous]

Hello All: Yes Dad would enjoy the Trains (Read my post on page 242 of the coffe pot) that one was a little emotional to write. Kind Regards Steve

[Buckeye Riveter]

My dad passed away about two months before I was born. He was more into jet engines and rockets and was a classmate to some of those men that orbited the earth.

However, by grandfather bought me my first train when I lived with him and boy did we have fun with the Marx on top of the freezer in the kitchen. (See signiture photo below taken 1955.)

[Anonymous]

My late dad would enjoy repairing them and then hand them back to me to run. Odd-d

[Heartman]

Yes, My dad would like to run the trains if he were still here, but not with a hand held remote. He's been gone for 22 years now, so I think the remote would have been a bit much to handle. He got my brothers & I started in model railroading as I did for my sons. I thank him for that!

Dennis

[Anonymous]

Over the past 10 years or so my dad is running trains more then ever. He loves to run them for his grandchildren. I don’t know if it’s for them or him.
By the way he is 77

[Anonymous]

Dad is still around, usually wondering the neighborhood, as he lives a couple of houses away. He raised me and my two brothers as rc modelers/builders, but later I decided I like trains more. We all acquired the building skills at a young age and while Bruce and Brian, my two older brothers went on to become world champion pylon racers, I stayed home and played with my trains and diorama's. Finally, after Dad moved into the neighborhood, he now knows what I do with my spare time. Previously, he did not understand the full scope of model railroading or my hobby. He loves to watch me build my layout and run the trains. Though I have not converted any of his friends over yet, they do come by the house with Dad to see my toys.

Sorry for the all caps but looks like I am stuck with it now.

[wrmcclellan]

When he was around, he could have cared less. My father was a great father, but he did not "play" with us or join us in our activities. He let us make our own way and encouraged us to do so.

When I was very young, about 4 or 5, my grandfather gave me a set of standard guage Lionel. Dad set it up and sparks flew out of the engine. He promptly threw it in the trash and that was the end of that. He did not repair things like toasters, etc. He had this weird fear of a fire in the house.

This was probably brought on by an electrical fire we had in our first house in Houston. No air conditioning in those days, we had a water tower swamp "cooler" and a huge attic fan for the whole house. The fan caught on fire one night. The City of Houston FD apparently had nothing to do that night as it appeared the entire fire department turned out. Our entire block was lined with fire trucks including a hook and ladder truck (which held my facination to no end)!

After this when anything electrical had a problem he promptly trashed it and bought a new one.

BTW - many years later before he died and he gave me my trains to get out of his house, he had seen a news article about the rising value of those old Lionel trains and he said maybe he shouldn't have thrown them out after all! This was around 1984 before they have the values they have now.

Regards,
Roy

[FJ and G]

Roy,

I know what you mean exactly. In a bygone era, that is how it was. Of course he loved and cared for us children but not exactly the huggy types of dads today.

More the stoics, who lived thru some hard times.

[Anonymous]

My Father passed away the begining of last month from (spelling might not be right)---Conjestive heart failure C>H>F>, but when I was 5-16 he built a layout for X-mas every year. We always enjoyed them together. My son was born in 1998 and got his first train at ?2 ? --?3? and Dad,my son and I enjoyed them and it got me back into the hobby. My father was in HO but I got into O for the gizmoes and gadgets of things moving in O and it really got my kid hooked so my first year round layout was 4x10 now its around the wall in a 22 x 22 foot space above my garage (still a work in progress) But Dad was there to help and RUN TRAINS!!


Jim D.
a.k.a. SOCKO

[Anonymous]

Hello All: Just a footnote regarding our Father's & the remote control vs traditional. Have You ever handed a senior the T.V. remote ? Once you do you never see it again. I think the same would happen with the DCS. It certainly is nice to see so many having a great respect for our parent's. Kind Regards Steve

[locomutt]

Well,my Dad has been gone from us about 7 years now. If it weren't for
him and my Uncle,I may not have had a model railroad.
He always went out of his way to find a train somewhere,that he could
show to me.
While I was living at home,Dad helped me build several layouts.
Now that I'm several years older,married,on my own;I miss him helping
me doing things.(especially on the layout)(he had some good idea's).

Possibly, I should have added this next paragraph when I first posted
this reply:

Dad was a Methodist minister, and there were several times that he
would have me put together a small layout for him to use as an object
lesson.

[Anonymous]

My dad, who was a banker by profession and an avid reader of novels, had no real interest in trains, aside from seeing me enjoy the trains he purchased for me. The Lionel layout I had--a brthday gift from my father--was professionally constructed by a couple of hobby shop employees, since my dad was also not all that interested in carpentry or electrical work.

Goes to show, I guess, that this is not necessarily an inherited interest in all cases.

[nblum]

My father, a very serious guy who held three jobs while studying for his PhD in sociology part-time, had no interest and some contempt for sports and toys. Otherwise, he was an excellent role model :). Back then few parents came to their kids sports events much less participated in their hobbies. Times change and I'm sure my kids wished I'd leave them alone some times when they were growing up. We'll see how they feel 30 years from now, when they remember their dad coming to every soccer game for about 8-10 years in each of their lives. There's no predicting what they'll think :). Neither has much interest in toy trains. One is into literature, sports and music, and the other into computer games, music and sports. We do have some great videos of the older boy when he was 3-4 putting Z gauge Märklin trains on the track using that little ramp.

[Dr. John]

You knnow, I sometimes think the train-bug is genetic. It sometimes seems to skip a generation. While Dad enjoyed my interest in trains, he would probably never have gotten into trains for himself. Both of my grandfathers worked for railroads - one was an engineer, the other a line-crew foreman. Grandpa Parker LOVED my trains when I was small. He'd tinker with them and run them with me for hours. I was always fascinated with the pipe he smoked - it put out more smoke that my Marx locomotive!
My children do not share my enthusiasm for trains, so I'll just have to wait on MY grandkids. I'll do my best to turn them into certifiable train nuts!

[cnw1995]

I'm running my dad's trains - a prewar 248 and pass. cars , and a 2-4-2 with litho frieght cars. He's only 66 and still in the care of my mom but in full-blown Altzheimers. He built an HO figure 8 layout when we were younger on a ping-pong table that took up a whole bed-room - we played army men as much as ran those Tyco trains. He was a worker, not a player or a talker for that matter - part of his generation.. I often wonder when he played with his Lionels and how he got them. He did take them to Madison Hardware in the 80s to get them refurbished...

[TurboOne]

Great topic David.

I am one of the lucky ones I get to talk to my Dad every day. He lives about 4 miles from me. He came over saw my benchwork and couldn't believe I made it. Ran some engines and he thought that was cool. He just enjoys time together, so I don't think trains make that big of a difference. If I spent more time with him, then it would, but its the time not the trains. Gonna go mow his yard today. He was and is the greatest.

Take care

Tim

[Anonymous]

I'm still living at home with my parents, so I see my dad all the time. He's very interested in trains, although he wouldn't have been if it weren't for me. He can recall having a Briti***inplate clockwork set as a kid, but he was never really interested in trains. When I came around, all that changed. He built layouts for me and has done many repairs over the years. I'm not the type of person who's good at things like carpentry, so he's made my benchwork and built all the shelves that I have displaying my trains. He's very good when it comes to buying trains and he's just as proud of my layout and collection as I am. He doesn't really operate the trains, but he has hinted that he'd like to build a layout of his own after I move out and take my trains with me. He's thinking of retiring soon, so it will make a good hobby for him.

[brianel027]

Dave, this is a very good topic. And everyone who has replied here has great stories and observations... this has been wonderful reading.

Family legend has it that I wasn't even a week old when my Dad came home with the first train set. It was suppose to be a CHRISTmas gift, but I guess he couldn't wait the 4 weeks till December 25th. I don't think he had any idea how much of an influence that first train set was going to have on me. In later years (my teenage years) the trains caused more friction than they did bonding between my Dad and me. I suppose he thought I should be doing other things. And being the first-born, it's well documented that fathers tend to be harder on the oldest child.

I guess Lionel trains had always been in the family: My grandfather had some Lionel trains and my Dad and his brothers had a layout in the basement. My Dad's youngest brother is still into trains, but as a collector only and not as an operator. I have memories of my Grandfather getting me train stuff as gifts.

I never really lost interest in trains. Though I did forget about them for a while when I poured myself into my dream profession of being an artist. When my studio, all my life's work and the art gallery I was running burned down in an arson fire set in another building, everything changed. I had to start my life over again from square one. I met a woman and was more serious about her than she was about me. I bought her son a Lionel train set, ended up with the set instead of her son, and then the trains came back for me big time. After that relationship, I could have become an alcoholic. Instead I became a train nut, which was the better of the 2 choices. Unbeknownst to me at that time, but many artist and musician friends of mine were also getting back into the trains - we just weren't talking about it openly at first. So in addition to the trains, there was some real camaraderie between me and my other friends... we had some real fun going to train shows together and laughng at eachother's "train quirks!"

I was kind of apprehending what my Dad was going to think of me being back into trains? This second time around, many of my trains were K-Line instead of Lionel. And I started repainting stuff from square one of being back in the hobby. I wasn't doing this for the money... I was doing this because I loved the trains. So I had trains redone in my favorite roads of Lehigh Valley and Reading. When my Dad saw what I was doing his first words were "Let me go get my camera." I asked why and he said, "Look at all this Lehigh Valley and Reading stuff." So I guess some memories never do go away.

I've never really had the right chance to be married or be a father. But I have taken any number of kids from single mother homes under my wing. In a way, I haven't been a father, but I sure as heck have been a "Dad" for some of these kids. Many of the kids called me "dad" on their own - I never ever asked for them to do that... they just did. I built a train layout with one of those boys. He wasn't so keen on the idea of trains at first... trains were boring when compared to video games. But his viewpoint changed dramatically when he saw I was involving him in everystep of the way. Then he got real interested. I'm sure his interest in trains has as much to do with me and the bond it has made between us as anything else.

I know families have changed today. But I still think the idea of the father-son bond is a valid one. It's one that works and unfortuantely, the train companies are not promoting that idea as they could. It may be an old idea, but it's still a good idea.

[cmrj]

My Dad is still around he talked Santa into bringing me my first lionel set. And alllowed me to set it up on the dinning room flr. on ocasion. He also gave me space in the basement for 3 differant HO layout's . My grand dad was the train guy He's the one that got me started . It wasn't hard to talk him into takeing us down in the basement to run train's. He passed on some 30 yr's ago and I still have his Mark's Tin Plate frieght set,along with some track &switch's. My dad still suport's my hobby , and encurage's my son with ad on's to his real track's by Fischer Price. If he knew the price of my toy's he might change his out look. [^][^]

[FJ and G]

brienel,

Good post as usual.

Some added info...

one reason we traveled so much by train (NY subways--irt, bmt, independent--,PRR, NYC), is that we grew up without a car, just as people did in the 1800s; perhaps 1 out of every 1,000 people can relate to that. Thus, trains were our mode and occasionally buses.

I can completely understand why people might not be crazy about trains. After all, they are conveyances to get us from point a to point b.

the analogy is computers. I'm not fascinated with computers. They are merely a tool I use. Yet, so many people are fascinated by them.

So, my and other dads not particularly caring for trains is completely understandable. They had to work hard and long hours to bring home the bacon, and a toy train might not exactly be their cup of tea.

As I've said many times, there's a deep deep emotion, perhaps atavistic in nature, that must be there for a lifelong love of trains; both real and model; and the majority of folks on this forum seem to have that love...as well as some dads or granddads.

Oftentime, the interest skips a generation or 2. Never met my dad's dad, 1880-1956, who died a year before my birth. He may have been interested in trains, who knows?

[underworld]

Absolutely! He was my first contact with "garden railways". At first it was just a figure 8 on a sheet of plywood that we would take outside. Later added a few sidings. [:)]

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[laz 57]

My POP is gone but did buy me my first set in 1957 for $12.53.
My nephew has the set now and runs it at Christmas time. My POP if he saw all the stuff I have would have said one of two things........................
A. What are you nuts?
B.Give me a beer and lets watch em run.
My guess is probably B.
laz57

[Anonymous]

My dad passed away when I was 3 months old. That was in 1971. My mom and uncle set up both an o gauge and an HO setup for me sometime when I was about 10.

It wasn't until my own son was born on Thanksgiving 2003 that I returned to the hobby. My mom gave me the 1947 Lionel 2025 and all of my dad's set. It's been set up in my basement (with about a $1000 of new stuff) and I plan on running it with my son very soon.

so the answer is...my dad is not around.....except every time I fire up the trains.

[Anonymous]

My dad is not really into trains, but my uncle is. He got me started with a small set of tinplate trains and a post war set. I have added to them as I get the money and i usually just run them for relaxation after a hard day at work. I have them set up on a 4x8 train table at my place. My dad thinks the trains are OK and likes that I use my skills I learned in the construction trades (what I do for a living) to also do something for a hobby. He says it keeps my skills sharp. He is proud of the way I can develop electrical circuits and route wiring in an efficient and neat manner. He also complements my carpentry (which I think needs more work!) At least he is proud of my hobby and that is important to me.

[Anonymous]

My GrandDad, Great Uncle, My Dad, his brothers and brother-in-law, myself, my cousins,
my sister, her son, my sons, and my Grandchildren are ALL into trains! I have trains that
were passed from my GrandDad and Great Uncle, as well as my Dad's. I have a large collection of my own that I have accumulated over my lifetime. Even my wife has her own good sized collection! Trains have been a tradition in my families' lives since the 1920's and hopefully will be going strong in the 2020's!

I lost my GrandDad in 1997 and my Dad in 2000, but every time I run my trains they are
right there with me just like they were when I was a little kid at Christmas. As a recent
author of a Lionel book said "the trains are like a talisman that reminds us of a world where there were no conflicts..." or something like that. And that is just the way I feel when I sit back and watch all those trains that are now entrusted to my care run around their layouts making their own sounds on the rails and generating that wonderful smoke and ozone smell.

You just can't duplicate that with "virtual reality computing".