What its all about. A good story

[canazar]

Ok so it may not be ALL what its about, but is definalty one of those great moments our hobby can give us......

Today, as some of you know, I was at my old house moveing out. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is out of the house, except my layout and train stuff in the garage. I just couldnt bear to rip it up yet. Besides, I am hoeping to cut my wood for the new bench work this week and leaving them in the old garage just keeps them out of the way. I have until the May 1st to be out.

So, today I am loading last stuff from up stairs in the truck with the garage door open behind me when two of the local kids come up and ask if my son is there to play. (We live/d in a apartment/condo type place) I had to explain to the little guys that my son doesnt live there anymore. One was 5, the other 4.. They both seemed so sad, but then I caught one looking over at the train layout. Its 50" high and the kids cant see it, but the one knew it what was up there.

I caught him eyeballing it and asked "Hey, wanna see some trains?" The one who knew it was there got all excited, the other, was new,first time I met him, and didnt know about it. Oh, watchin his face light up when he got on top of the milk crate to see it was priceless. His little buddy was telling him all about it like he was the local layout expert. I just smiled and ran the trains...

Well, after 15 minutes, another little kid came over and saw what was going on, well, out came another milkcrate. His sister came over, and came milk crate number 4 was out. I had 4 little ones (bewtween 4 and 6) wathcing the trains go. I had 3 of them running. Soon, they were counting the cars and picking which way they should go (flippin switches) then we were playing the I Spy game, "Can you find the old red pick up?" Then they would go off looking all over for the red pick up, or the blue building, the guy in the yellow chair, the horsey, etc

It lasted for well over half an hour with the kids all glued. It was great watchin them get so excited. Hopefully, one will pick up the hobby later in life when he remembers that "one guy who had a layout in his garagae".

Chances are, that will be my last operating session on the layout. And I couldnt think of a better way to end it.

Just another reason why I love this hobby[:D]

Best regards
Johnk

[Grubby]

[:D] that rocks...

[cwclark]

that's a great story....maybe the'll be some MRR's in the near future ..chuck

[davekelly]

Way cool!

[selector]

John................................................................all I can say is.......thank-you.

Best regards, and may your transition to new home be a super one. It's already memorable.

-Crandell

[canazar]

Well thanks you guys. Well, the word is all ready getting out about the new layout here. One of my new neighboors (which everyone here in the new place seems great) commented one nite, when had a small gaggle neighboors outside our house, "Boy, your garage sure looks clean considering you just moved in".
I replied with a small grin, "Well, I will be building my train layout in there so I have to keep it cleared out.."
Then the neatest thing happened, Out came all the questions about it, and then everyone started chimeing in with their train stories. One of the kids, a 12 year old, seem very intersted. I think I will have quite the little following here. Heck, might even get some of the "Big Kids" (the dads and moms) to be believers and convert them to builders.. Hehe. Keep ya posted.

Best Regards
John k

[Anonymous]

That was a great story.... wish I could do the same thing over here with the kids.... too bad I don't have a lyout yet and most of the kids over here are rotten brats that just like destroying peoples property.

Good luck on the new layout. I hope you are able to get some new converts or maybe get some of those "Older Kids" to help you build the layout with you.... you could teach them different modeling techniques and such.

[siberianmo]

Now that really is a good story. Thanx for posting it![tup]

One thing that I'm "into" is encouraging those I know with little ones to take them on a train trip - while we still have them.

We live in a place that one can ride Amtrak on either a short or long round trip (no jokes, please! ) and it's a great way to introduce the generations coming "up" to riding the rails.

St. Louis also has a great light-rail system - MetroLink. Also another way for a young one to get their first "real" train ride experience.

Enjoyed your story and I really can relate to what you've said - my basement layout(s) have been constructed with little visitors in mind!

Good luck in your new home ......

See ya![tup]