Maybe one of the manufacturers could make a 1:48 action figure with suction cups. Maybe it could be upgraded to command control with the little guy jumping on and off the trains. We could then transfer him to a cop & hobo car for the final showdown. Of course, he has to have a little ticket to beat the rap to do it again. And like next year they could play the game of "you gotta get it now that you're hooked on the series" and issue the wife and little kid. There could be a track trip so that every time the train goes by she faints. A crying sound chip in the kid could add to the realism. Maybe the last installment to the series could be a little euro-coffin.
I'm just the idea guy, and as much as I like my idea I wouldn't buy it since I model transition only. This would be ideal for Mike's Euro trains. After it builds a big following he could come out with a North American(don't want to leave the Canadian market behind) signature addition .
Flash brainstorm: to draw girls into the hobby there could be little 1:48 Barbie outfits to put on the wife and kid. Now, I'd buy that!
Gotta rest now,
Alan