First "OP" session with son. Wooooo--Woooooooooo

[SpaceMouse]

The whole reason I got into this hobby was to have something my 8-year-old autistic son and I could do together. However, as we were starting out, he got bored with derails before I could fix all the track and has not gotten back into it since.

Today, however, I put a couple decoders into my little old-time 2-6-0s and invited him to run. He has a 2-8-0 with sound he calls Dixie (cause it says Dixie Line on the side.) Anyway, we ran and since his is much faster and stronger, he had to make allowances for my slow little steamer. He got the hang of ringing the bell coming into the station.

We only crashed once when I was going up hill. e bumped me from behind and coupled with my rear car. He then reversed and started pulling my whole train backwards. Of course, everything came apart in the tunnel.

But he was patient for once and we got running again. At the end, he told me that we made a good story. (Dixie was talking with my 2-6-0 every time they got close.)

[Anonymous]

This is what it's all about. Many more "stories" for both Dad and son.
Enjoy
Will

[rrinker]

This obviously means you need to name the 2-6-0 'Pixie'

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

and about now some of our younger members are going "huh?"


--Randy

[Pruitt]

You guys made a great story.

[Tracklayer]

You're a good dad Chip. God bless you.

Tracklayer

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

This obviously means you need to name the 2-6-0 'Pixie'

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

and about now some of our younger members are going "huh?"


--Randy

Actually, my daughter's 4-4-0's name is Pixie at my wife's insistance.

Her father was a world-famous chemist who using lasers was able to measure intermediary chemical reactions in real time (10 to the -15 power). Two huge lasers were used in the process, Pixie and DIxie.

She never heard of the cartoons.

[selector]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

This obviously means you need to name the 2-6-0 'Pixie'

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

and about now some of our younger members are going "huh?"


--Randy

Huh?! [:o)][:D]

[selector]

Chip, thanks for sharing that. I am happy that it worked out for you the way you had hoped it would. I hope that lends some impetus to your layout construction and research.

[8D][tup]

[railroadyoshi]

Chip, glad you are enjoying it

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Chip, thanks for sharing that. I am happy that it worked out for you the way you had hoped it would. I hope that lends some impetus to your layout construction and research.

[8D][tup]

What I'm going to do is get out some passenger cars, some 50' Overlands, and rig them with Kaydees and metal wheels. He keeps stopping at the stations pulling freight. He says there's people in the caboose that have to get out. Looks like he's a passenger ops man in training.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Tracklayer

You're a good dad Chip. God bless you.

Tracklayer

[#ditto]

I can't say it any better than that!

[howmus]

And may you and your son have many, many more great OP sessions together. Glad to hear this is working out for you! I have often wondered what your kids were doing with the trains. So many of your early posts were about them. God bless!

[Mark300]

Simply Wonderful!

Happy Railroading!!

Mark

[tstage]

That is just waaaay too cool, Chip! [^] Thanks for sharing that story. [:)] Think you could throw in a pic of you and your son "opping" together sometime?...

Tom

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tstage

That is just waaaay too cool, Chip! [^] Thanks for sharing that story. [:)] Think you could throw in a pic of you and your son "opping" together sometime?...

Tom

I'll see what I can do.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like a very fine story indeed Chip. I hope you and he have many, many more. Thank your for sharing this with us all, your brought some good light to my day, for one. Give your young man a big thumbs up from this ol Coyote.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
What I'm going to do is get out some passenger cars, some 50' Overlands, and rig them with Kaydees and metal wheels. He keeps stopping at the stations pulling freight. He says there's people in the caboose that have to get out. Looks like he's a passenger ops man in training.

There ya go! A young man with taste and class [;)] *huffs* I want to hear the stories now! You are a great dad Chip and its a privallage knowing you sir.
Bless you and yours.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rrinker

This obviously means you need to name the 2-6-0 'Pixie'

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

and about now some of our younger members are going "huh?"


--Randy

Ooooo! I hate Mieces to Pieces...

[simon1966]

Fantastic Chip, it warms the heart to think about what you had going. Ever tried using M and M's as freight? Not very prototypical, but helps to keep kids interested!!

[Adelie]

Chip, you brought a smile to my face. That is fantastic. Thank you for sharing that. And I hope the two of you have many more of these sessions.

"May your cylinders of happiness always be filled with steam."

[JohnT14808]

Way to go, Chip!! Like stated earlier...pictures would be cool, especially if your son has an engineer's ballcap that he wears when running his train!!
You guys keep having fun! Keeps us all feeling good to hear these types of posts. Thanks Chip!

[Anonymous]

Chip

[tup] [angel][bow][bow]

The 2 trains talking is priceless, Troy has told me some rather interesting stories. One involves his 2 dimensional son, and his wife, she also is a cartoon, I told him that made sense [;)]

Keep at it, hopefully when Troy and I get his layout going he will take a similar interest.

[SpaceMouse]

We just had another session. We had 4 trains running. An unpainted 2-6-0 called "Dark"; a 4-4-0 painted red called "Pixie"; his 2-8-0 called "Dixie"; and a 2-6-0 called "Espee" (Southern Pacific). He like to stop his train on the bridge and look over "Train City."

[ereimer]

it sounds like all the time , effort and cash you've spent on your layout so far have just paid off , with big bonus's .

great to hear !

[SpaceMouse]

I think we'll start thinking about stetting out cars and picking them up.

[skiloff]

Thats cool. Its funny, because I have a similar story. I just gave my son his birthday present - an old, used Atlas E9, a couple new Atlas box cars, along with all the Unitrack I've collected to date. We set it up and he hasn't left the table since. I showed him our plan and he is really excited about it. He loves his engine (its a silver and black BN with a green nose), because green is his favourite colour. I might be changing to BN before I get too much stuff.

The only problem is his mom has an old Kato steam engine that she bought at a train show about 10 years ago and, obviously, it is much smoother and quieter than his old Atlas. But he's still happy with it. My daughter now wants her own engine, so we'll see what I can come up with now. Its great having this hobby to spend with the kids, isn't it?

[Jetrock]

Hey Chip, some railroad lines in rural areas that couldn't afford passenger equipment did sometimes haul passengers in the caboose--sounds like the kid has the right idea!

[Anonymous]

try mixed runs
[:D]

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BMTRAINS

try mixed runs
[:D]

Great idea. I'm thinking of an operation where he drops off and I use an old-timer as a switcher to set out and place. [tup]

[waltersrails]

Sound like you got a good family if they like trains. I hope you keep up the good work.