The power of model trains.

[Wayne M.]

This year, I set up some trains around the tree. I hadn't in a few years. It all began when my FIL, who's getting up in years, had a desire to see his mint new in the box "Polar Express" Lionel set run.
I hadn't set up trains recently because of time, and where our tree is on Christmas Day. We host most of our family, the tracks usually get stepped on or kicked. But I liked the idea and decided to do it.
We had fun with it that night for a while and Gramps was satisfied, but for the next 2 weeks, the train just laid behind the tree.
Yesterday, we had my Nephews kids over. Two boys (5.5 and 1) and two girls (8 and 3). After all the days festivities and eating and gift exchanging, I got a request to run the Polar Express. It was my MIL, who hadn't seen it run yet.
Well I fired it up and in a way only Lionel can, that set came around with the aplomb and style only a Lionel Berkshire can provide.

This when the magic happened.

While 8 year old didn't react much, the high octane 5.5 and 3 suddenly became putty around the tree. That train smoking around the tree did something magical, it made them stop, get down, and they just plain marveled at this. The 1 year old, who is already walking, was watching with great attention as well. Everyone behaved, and respected the train. Nobody was grabbing at it and their attention was 100% on this. Then I hit the whistle and it just added to the experience. The middle kids took turns with the button. It was a moment to behold.
We wrapped this up with a pledge to do a train ride with live steam in the coming months. Here are a few around here including Steamtown, the old Scranton PA switching yard which is now a National Park dedicated to Steam.

Are there any other folks in TDR land who are rail fans and set up around their tree, or have layouts?

 

[BarryG]

While I enjoy them and do have a couple sets for the grandkids who do love playing with them I would not consider myself an enthusiast. There was an awesome train store here in town Caboose Hobbie Store or something like that that has been around since the late thirties I think and billed as the largest train store in the world which I don't doubt. They were forced to close in Sept since the landlord wouldn't renew their lease this year. I had heard they were still going to be online. However just now while checking it appears they sold to new owners and a new store is now going to be open soon. Will have to keep my eye on that as I have taken the grandkids there just to check it out. They had some great layouts in the store that you could just watch. They had an incredible amount of trains, locomotives, cars, sets, parts, scenery, buildings, track, accessories, etc. It was truly incredible and the parking lot was always full as I drove by there frequently for work. They had new and old. Some of those old locomotives would run in the $2-3k range, heck a typical one could be pushing $1000-$1200, some of the old sets in great condition could be several $k as well. Seems the enthusiasts take it very seriously.

Here in Colorado we have several places we can ride narrow gauge steam trains. The closest is probably the Georgetown Loop which is very short and they routinely sub a small diesel for the steam engine but still cool and affordable, there is the famous Durango and Silverton RR down in Durango as well as the Cumbres and Toltec RR going between Antonito CO and Chama NM however you better bring your checkbook for the those two. Depending on the class of service they can be between $90 and $200 for adults and adults start at 12 years old, 3-11 is still $55 and up. While both are awesome and the scenery is fantastic it sure gets a bit expensive you take yourself, wife, kid, in law and a few grand kids you better be ready to drop a handful of c-notes for sure. However in peak season they are routinely full

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I almost had my own Lionel set. When my mother in law passed, and the family was dividing up the goods, and her son wanted the set. Claimed he was going to have it restored etc. Welp, 9 years later, it sits in the very same box that he took it home in. He's not a handy type of guy, so I know it will continue to collect dust.

 

[Wayne M.]

Growing up, my Dad built a nice collection from 1 or 2 engines he and my Mom had from their day, and by going to train shows, yard sales and such. Now, aside from this Polar Express set, which should go to my wife and kids, I have 2 or 3 sets I've collected over the years, mainly by frequenting a train/ hobby shop near home. Stopping in there always yielded nice specials, and after getting a Thomas the tank engine set, I grabbed a promotional white box Mopar freight set, which is pretty cool.
J, the entry level sets aren't too expensive. A quick search yielded some nice sets for around $250.

 

[Tractorat]

I had a lionel set when I was a kid. It was a locomotive with a couple of cars and a whistle that went whoo whoo. The smoke stack smoked. I dont know how old it was. My earliest memory of it was when I was pretty little. I dont think it was boughten brand new. Im sure my dad got it from one of his buddies. So, it was probably from at least the 1940's. It was enough track to set up and just run around. For Christmas, when I was maybe 9 or 10, I got a big layout that was nailed down to some kind of wooden permanent base. Once again, maybe from one of my dads buddies. He got some green stuff to make it look like grass, a mountain, and some other things as well as a diesel engine and more cars. I lost interest in it after a while though, so they got rid of it. I really wish I still had that set. Even more the original locomotive set I had. It must be worth quite a few bucks now.

 

[Wayne M.]

Here is one of the fore mentioned engines from my childhood- 2018 with the matching tender- is a fine example of a post war engine and probably similar to what you had, Trat. The whistle is excellent, and better than the new stuff since its a real fan blowing through a whistle, and not a fake sound. This one is running on present style track- what's around my tree now. A ebay search shows a good running 2018 for $65.

https://youtu.be/haXS3fVxcxc

 

[jhenderson]

Wayne. You might want to look into the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex CT. It's just north of New London. It shouldn't be too bad a trip for you if you used the ferry. It runs from Orient Point. My wife and I celebrated one anniversary with a combo steam train and riverboat ride. It was a very pleasant way to spend a July day. If you left early you might even get in a visit to the submarine museum.

 

[Wayne M.]

Wayne. You might want to look into the Essex Steam Train and Riverboat in Essex CT. It's just north of New London. It shouldn't be too bad a trip for you if you used the ferry. It runs from Orient Point. My wife and I celebrated one anniversary with a combo steam train and riverboat ride. It was a very pleasant way to spend a July day. If you left early you might even get in a visit to the submarine museum.

ITS ON MY LIST!!! A couple years ago we went up to Mystic, and got a travel flyer for it. In due time.....

 

[Tractorat]

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[/URL] Wayne M.
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Join DateAug 1999LocationStaten Island, NY, USAPosts4,138



Here is one of the fore mentioned engines from my childhood- 2018 with the matching tender- is a fine example of a post war engine and probably similar to what you had, Trat. The whistle is excellent, and better than the new stuff since its a real fan blowing through a whistle, and not a fake sound. This one is running on present style track- what's around my tree now. A ebay search shows a good running 2018 for $65.

I cant quite make the engine out and the coal car doesnt look right. But probably similar. My track was much different though. It seems like there were only maybe 3 ties per section of track. The engine looks very similar, but the piece that ties the drive wheels together on your example looks bigger than on the one I had. Is that yours ?

 

[Wayne M.]

I cant quite make the engine out and the coal car doesnt look right. But probably similar. My track was much different though. It seems like there were only maybe 3 ties per section of track.

Yes, that's the old track they've run forever.

 

[Tractorat]

very cool. I envy you.

 

[Wayne M.]

very cool. I envy you.

???

that video is not mine. :-laf

 

[Tractorat]

The I envy the owner of the video :-laf

 

[EDankievitch]

It's taken me almost 30 years to put the set back together but it finally getting there. It all started back in 1985 when my GrandFather on my Mom's side gave this American Flyer Crane car. I was always in to trains but around that time I had just started to drive. Trains not really on the front burner. It took me almost ten years to getin to a hoby shop that had specialized in AmericanFlyer. Only issue was my train car was not S scale. The guy in the shop really wasn't sure what to make of it except that he didn't have anything to go with it. For years I held on to the story that my Grand Father told me that the rest of the set was in the house some where. Only this year we finally cleaned out the house and never found it.
Then this year I think it was the April/ May issue of classic toy trains (which I had only just bought on a fluke) had an article on post war O scale American Flyer trains. There it was part of the ultimate UP train set. The set that the article asked did they ever make it. My Carne car. There was part numbers pictures of the set the locomotive everything I had been looking for over the last 30+ years. Only made for two years then dropped for the S scale product line. Since then I've been scouring Ebay for the missing pieces. There was a full set that auctioned for well north of $2500. I'm crazy but not that crazy to spend that much. but it's like GrandPa is here with me as i look at the finds that I pick up when I can. I finally found the most rare piece locomotive granted it's far from great condition but it tells a story of being used and enjoyed maybe bounced a few times but it's here on my shelf. One day I'll have it restored. maybe.....
As for Steam Town call ahead last time I was there they did not have any running engines. Every thing had it's boiler timed out and was in need of major service. As part of the National Park service there have been cutbacks and they are hurting. A better choice to actually ride a running Steam train would be the Starssburg RailRoad. Or the Ivyland and New Hope Rail Road. The East Broad Top has been shut down since 2011. Those Steam trains are in Pa. In Nj is the NewYork and Susquannha in Philpsburge. I the pleasure of working on that Locomotive a few times (number 142) back when it ran in Essex Ct. and the Line I try to get up to as often as I can The Valley RailRoad In Essex Ct.
Get out there and take that trip back in time Help keep these links to our past alive!

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks for the memories everyone. This has stimulated me to be in search of . My grandson just turned 2 I know he would love it .

 

[Wayne M.]

E D, thanks for the story. I guess we're the same age since I started driving in '85 and experienced the same interest shift. Never lost it, just put on the back burner.
I knew about the cutbacks at Steamtown, but someone told me things were coming back. I guess I'll call. Last time I was there, we rode that CN 3254 out to Moscow and later watched it go on the turn table and to bed like in this video.
https://youtu.be/y5ZMgIp93G4
I want the kids to experience that.
Ive been out to New Hope for their Polar Express, and Strasburg to see Thomas the tank engine, while going through that phase with my Son. Another good ride was Black River & Western in NJ not far from New Hope. But Essex is definetly on my list.

p-Bar, go for it! That Boy will have memories for a lifetime!

 

[p-Bar]

Thanks Wayne already lookin on craigslist and ebay. Friend I grew up with had O gauge . Your recomendation?

 

[Wayne M.]

Thanks Wayne already lookin on craigslist and ebay. Friend I grew up with had O gauge . Your recomendation?

Im no expert, but if you don't have lots of room, and like the tiny details, HO is hard to beat and can be a lot cheaper. For the realism with smoke etc and tradition, Lionel O/027 is it.

 

[HPSimpson]

Here is my Ho setup couple of pictures so get idea I have a five foot diameter helix between the upper and lower operating trains decks.View attachment 97479View attachment 97480View attachment 97481

 

[FOXY005]

WOW
That's quite the layout, bet there is a lot of time invested in that project;
Quite realistic, except for the pencil on the roof top in picture # 2 .... :-laf :-laf :-laf
Only kidding great display !