kids and model trains.

[Anonymous]

Well, I had been searching for a place to ask my question, and I think I have found it! :) My son is eight years old, and has expressed an interest in model trains since (what else?) The Polar Express came out last year. I am thinking of giving him a starter set for Christmas, but I have NO idea where to start! I am a single mom, and I know absolutely nothing about the hobby, nor do I have a bone in my body that is likely to be able to help me help him to play with it, work on it, etc.! Am I crazy??? I just want to give him something that he will enjoy, perhaps learn from, and even treasure for years to come! Would someone be so kind as to give me some advice, such as what size might be good, where to purchase, what is age-appropriate for him (as he has never had anything like this before and I want him to be able to use it), etc.? He is very intelligent, and can learn anything, so I know he won't have any trouble with it. He will be teaching me soon, I am certain! Are certain types easier to set-up? Maintain? Add to? Is Lionel the Be-All-And-End-All, or is there somewhere else I should start? Please pardon my ignorance, and feel free to say so if you think I am in WAY over my head. Thanks so much for ANY advice.

[trainboyH16-44]

First off, it's not ignorance, it's lack of questions that's ignorance!
HO is the most common scale nowadays, and there are a lot of sets. Price differs, and the highest quality sets you can only find in Canadian hobby shops. The best sets are Life-Liek Proto 2000, and to my knowledge, are only availible in Canada and in Canadian paint schemes.
As a rule, starter sets are for starters, and are not high quality.
http://www.internettrains.com/train-sets-all-scales-ho-scale-train-sets.html shows a good lot of sets, but avoid Model power sets, they are very low quality.
http://www.1stplacehobbies.com/trainsets.asp?sc=H&mfg=0&keys=set&walthers=&pl=&ph=&sp=1&cp=1&lid=0 also has some sets.
If he likes them a lot, he will probably want better locomotives as time goes on, and then Athearn. Proto 1000 and 2000, Atlas, Kato, and possibly Walthers will become more wanted.
Walthers, IMHO, is the best maker of train sets outside of canada, and Bachmann isn't bad. A lot may depend on your price range, though. Hope this is enpugh help....and I hope to see you back here!
Matthew

[railroadyoshi]

Hello there, and welcome.

My best advice is find a Local Hobby Shop, they will be able to answer all your questions in detail and show you many options.

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much! I will take all of your advice to heart, as I hope to do this right! I was afraid I had posted to the wrong place, so I posted this question on another part of the site, and I am learning that you all are a very helpful bunch of people!
I am a single mom on a very low income, so I am hoping to find a set for less than $150. Even this is tough for me, but I want to get something of high quality that he can keep for a long time. Thanks again, any info. is appreciated! I will cont. my research!

[Anonymous]

Does all HO track work with all other HO track? Or does the original set that I purchase limit me to the same exact type of track for future additions? I keep seeing things like True Track, and Snap Track that are confusing me. Is one easier to hook together than the others, etc.? Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I don't know about that, Arthill. 50 years ago all my friends had model railroads, Lionel or American flyer, and some went on to HO scale when they got a little older. Big stores in downtown Chicago had huge rooms full of display layouts. It couldn't have been entirely nerdy, or retailers wouldn't have done that. I think jet planes, the space program, TV, etc, took away a lot of trains. Not many kids are exposed to them today, with so few railroads compared to back then. It's really nice to read about parents today, introducing their little ones to the hobby, and we can all be grateful for Thomas. You all should have seen my grandson's eyes the day he saw Thomas at a nearby tourist line. He eats up anytthing about model trains now!

[Anonymous]

I forgot to mention Thomas..........my son loved his Thomas set, but probably wouldn't admit it much these days. (Third grade can be a tough crowd, you know.) Maybe this new set will be a bit more "big kid" friendly. I AM hoping to use the same table, though....

[marxalot]

Sharing my enjoyment of trains is about all I could do with my son. He enjoyed playing with his Lionel when smaller but has moved on with not getting into the hobby. But he still really likes my trains. You can't demand that people like the same thing you do....... But sharing is what may be able to help. Take the small ones to train shows, the things they can see there may open things up for them............

[Anonymous]

Guys.
I keep thinking that our hobby will die! Lets find ways to promote our wounderful hobby!
Jay

[Anonymous]

trainfreak.
I realy am encouraged by people like you! Way to go! That is what this hobby is all about. I have Cebrayl Paulsy and this hobby has helped me so much too. I agree with you that if we had more kids in trains, there would be fewer on drug's etc.
Jay

[zgardner18]

Let me just tell you about my son Jared: Jared is 20 months old and just drives his mother nuts with trains. He calls them CHEE CHEES. Everytime that he knows that someone is taking him in a car, he only wants to go in my truck, because he knows that when he is in daddy's truck, we go see trains. My wife bought him Elmo an Dora the Explora movies, so I went out and bought him the Cajon Pass and Tehachapi on DVD. He loves it. He bugs me to take him to my computer where my screen saver is just pictures of trains that I've taken over the years. Every street crossing that we come to if there is no trains he will as, "NO?" Man a dad couldn't ask for anything more. Now I just have to get my wife to come around. Yesterday, her and her mom, with Jared passed some GEEPS sitting on the tracks here in Glendora, and they had to turn around so that Jared could see them. They pulled up in a parkinglot right by the BNSF engines so that he could take a look. My wife said Jared was in heaven. So the way I see it, he will grow up with a good hobby that will keep him and I connected (Hopefully other things, like sports too). And same goes for whatever siblings Jared will have too, boy or girl.

[CP5415]

My kids are a part of my life.
My trains are a part of my life.
I would like both of them to be on the same track. [:D] pun intended.

My daughter like to sit by the throttle controlling the trains because I let her.
I let her pick out trains from my collection that she wants to use so I can put them on the tracks.
I hope my son takes an active role in our hobby as well. I'm sure he will!
My wife wants me to get to a point where I can start scenery so that she can get involved.
Life is good!
As others have stated, kids won't get involved in the hobby unless you let them get involved in the hobby.
As for clubs, I personally think they need to relax their membership policies to get teenagers involved.
Just my 2 cents

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I think one way to get kids intrested especially in the 6-13 range (pre-high school) is to go to a place where you can see them actually run and ride on them. Near my house is a MARC (Maryland Rail Commuter) / Amtrack Station. The trains come down the section (if they don't stop at the station) going it seams full throttle but probably in the 60-70 mph range.... estimation. The platform goes right up to the tracks so it is really neet to feel the rush of the Air as the train comes and passes by.... That is what got my nephewes and nieces hooked for my annual train layout during the winter time @ xmas time. Kids will see the real things in action and then can relate back to the model trains... just like RC cars and Cars when they get older they want to work on etc... But most of make things fun.... my layout is the farthest thing from prototypical and exact scalling but it is fun for them to come over and run things.... They don't care if it is code 100 or code 80 track or the match box cars are the same scale as the trains.... It is just about having good time with kids...

[Anonymous]

At the Mad City Show a month ago. A gentleman in our group started singling out kids for running trains on the outside mainline. About 20 minutes later I did if for our inside loop. Show the kids how the controller works, where the whistle is, and the bell, tell the kid not to run into the train in front of him and then walk behind him as he walks around the layout.

The kids eyes would light up, they would glow, thier parents would cringe and look at you like you were nuts.

1.) I don't care if they do think I am nuts. We just made those kids day, possibly week.
2.) Nothing hurts the hobby more than telling these kids that they shouldn't be anywhere near the layouts.
3.) Talking to the parents they were ASTOUNDED that an owner/operator would turn over $500+ of MR eqipment to a kid just because he was standing there.
4.) If people are constantly "afraid" of lawsuits we are going to extinguish any flame of desire on the part of these kids.

In a different club that I joined and then quit, one of the few kids commented during operating session (10 years old), that he was going to have to get a train, because the last time he had his dad's out he had it rear-ended and Dad blamed the kid for the bump-and-run. The guy that bumped even said it was his fault and not the kids, Dad still wouldn't let him run. I let him run mine. I wouldn't be concerned as much, if I hadn't kept my ears open and found out this was typical in most clubs.

I am sorry, those of us who did get trains or were interested in trains at an early age KNOW how important it is to have that fire, that desire, fanned. Better yet great example. Father and son join MR club, Father buys son a nice diseal set up. Some of us members contributed a train for him to haul (spare stuff...you know the drill, bring to the operating session, but don't actually unbox it for use on yours because of time or other reasons.) Dad wouldn't let his son haul the train...It wasn't his. Went so far as to pull the engines off and put them in the car. All of this inspite of the club saying that it was ok.

What is it with some people?

[myred02]

There are plenty of us yungins' out there. I happen to be in High School right now. I got started way back when I was 5. Sure I have a Playstation 2 and a girlfriend to spend time with, but model railroading is way more fun than sitting on the couch with a controller in your hands doing God knows what on your Playstation. This hobby only takes a side to the girls for me.

I look at it like this. Model Railroading is a way to keep any kid away from drugs and alchol. Works for me.

I even got a few of my friends together and showed them what this hobby has to offer. Now, they are into the hobby and have a few layouts of their own. Sometimes we get together and run each other's trains on our layouts. My girlfriend thinks I could be spending more time with her than "playing" with trains. Don't worry. I'll "recruit" her sooner or later... [;)]

-Brandon

[Th1nkG33k]

Lol. Like myred02, I'm a high school student, and I started with trains at a very early age.
In addition to my MRR, I'm involved in a good deal of extra curricular activities at school, as well as tennis. Besides school, I also spend a fair amount of time playing online with my friends with games such as Battlefield 2 and Counter Strike Source Th1nkG33k.

To me, there are a number of things that influence the number of kids entering into the hobby.
First of all, family really determines whether a kid is "predisposed" to MR. As a child, I had the "Brio" wooden railway from one year old. Later on we got a family membership to the Illinois Railway Museum. I think that if it hadn't been for my family exposing me to trains, I would not have my current interest in railroading.

Another factor may simply be the times that we live in. The American public simply isn't really exposed to trains as the last two generations were. I feel, that for the average Joe, the train is just some archaic form of transport, behind cars and airplanes. Because of this public ignorance, there isn't as many young people in the hobby.

Of course, for those who do have an interest, but may not be as dedicated, a number of other factors affect the choice to do MR, time being first and foremost. On an average day I have school until 3:00, tennis practice until 5:30, homework until 8:00 (at least). By then, I don't really have the energy to invest in MR, and it's much easier to plop myself down in front of the computer for an hour of BF2. During this week off, I intend to get my trackplan finalized and the track and grades laid out. Of course, this costs $$$, another thing which teens or kids don't have a lot of.

I can't just go up to my dad and ask him for $150 to spend on MR, I have to earn the cash, which is @$&*@ hard when I'm trying to save for college, and have other interests which draw time away from MR.

I don't really think the "cool" or "popular" thing factors into the equation when kids are entering MR. At least not for me. People give me some odd looks when I pull out Model Railroader in study hall, but I don't really care.

So, solutions to getting more kids into the hobby?

-More visible media presence of trains and MR, like the Sopranos episode with the lionel in the garage.
-More model railroading-oriented teen groups
-Education about trains at an early age
-Showing off the more technical side of the hobby
-Don't worry! I've seen more than a few people who've gotten into the hobby after being in a college MR club, or just because they're interested. Just because not as many teens are interested in MR doesn't mean the hobby will die, it just reflects the current tastes of the 13-18 age range. Just because they're not interested now does'nt mean they won't discover MR later in life.

~Th1nkG33k

[Anonymous]

i should mention that my 1 friend has G scale on the floor in his livingroom. not shure how much use they get, but still its something. he has one of those..............whats it called............................"social life" things. does anyone think my LHS carries those?[%-)] myred02, you use this strange"girlfriend" word. whats that?[xx(][:p][;)]
GEARHEAD426
[8]

[srud01]

I have the same problem i am trying to get my grandkids involved but it is to time consuming he would rather play sony play station just pop in a disk and away they go!

[SOU Fan]

I am 15 and i'm never leaving the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Dang, this forum is bad for me. Sorry I waste about 8 hours on a single day on the weekend on my computer... just to take the edge off of bordom. However since I am not allowed on my computer for gaming purposes on weekdays I finally found something else to do and that is why I am here.[:D] Modelling railroads[:)]

[on30francisco]

When I was a kid in the early 60s most kids either had a train set or wanted one - either Lionel, American Flyer, or HO. You were condidered strange if you didn't like model trains or had a layout in the basement. Model Railroader was sold in every drugstore and available in the children's section of all our libraries. We had three LHSs in our neighborhood and one good one downtown (Blums Hobby House; I'm originally from Cleveland, OH). On weekends and after school they were always packed with us kids and many grownups. I'm not too familiar with what kids think of model trains today but after reading most of these posts, it seems they're definitely not as interested as we were.

[Anonymous]

Folks, we need to spread the word! We cad do this! DOnt let the hobby die!

[Anonymous]

A train set for a bingner is not all that coastly its a great pleace to start.
Jay

[Anonymous]

Model trains prmote imajonation! I have learned a great deal with my hobby and I see why its the WORLD GREATEST HOBBY! It involved so much and that it make it so fun.Everthing from painting to wireing to scenery, what could be more fun?
Jay