Running my Dad's Trains in Commemoration of his Birthday!

My father crossed over in 2008.  His birthday was December 30, and I always felt sorry for him when he was a kid, having his birthday so close to Christmas.  I have his #252 and its passenger cars on our coffee table, where they can bask in the glow of the Christmas tree once again.

--John

He's proud of you, I am sure, TRAINTRACK, and I'm pretty sure he can hear the rattle-tat-tat of those tin wheels and cars rolling along those rails, as he watches over your shoulder.

FrankM

Steve,

Yours is a great tradition.  It evokes memories of my Dad who started me with trains,like so many of us.

Great memories for all of us.

Norm

Steve, avery nice tribute to your dad.  He certainly planted a love for toy trains in you!  I enjoyed meeting him when you brought him over to run trains all those years ago.  I feel sure he is smiling as he looks down to see your continued enjoyment of his legacy.

Happy railroading,

Don

A very nice Tribute to your dad and for me if it had not been for my dad putting up that first Layout in 1945 who knows what would have happened.

Mikey

A nice reminder of the train connection between fathers and sons.  My dad and uncle played with my 2026 set a lot in 1948 as I was only 2 then.  After a rehab about 20 years ago I was able to give it to my first grandson who loves trains.  It still runs of course being old school Lionel.

I am sure there is a very large, well detailed layout up there and many of our farthers gather around and share their stories.  But on special days like Christmas, anniversaries and birthdays they are watching over us with endless love and great pride.

The next time you are running your trains, take a second look up and say “thanks dad”.  It will make you feel just a little it better.  How do I know... well I am 72 years old and I did just that.  Try it my friend.

TRAINTRACK, You have established an honorable tradition and its great to see a son remember his father in such a touching way.  There are many of us who pretty much follow in your footsteps and it really is amazing to see how model trains provided such an unbreakable bond between fathers and sons.  My dad died in 1953 when I was only five at the tender age of thirty three from wounds he received in 1944 during WWII.  The last nine years of his life were not pleasant but despite the pain he suffered he managed to have trains set up in our living room under our tree for my brother and I from 1948 to 1952.  The train set he purchased in 1948 was Lionel freight set#1423W and as I post this it is running our tree as it has every year since 1974 when my wife and I moved into our home.  There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about my Dad and the sacrifice he made so we could continue to enjoy our freedom.

Steve,

Well thanks a lot for the tear jerker! I am again reminded of what this hobby does for us, and most if not all of the time it is connected to memories. Your father's legacy lives on via your layout and this is certainly an emotional connection you have with the hobby. 

Thanks for allowing us to see this beautiful connection, to what I am sure was a great man, that you have.

Happy Holidays,

Dave

My dad is 93.  I still run the train he gave me, just not on a particular day.

Wonderful, Steve. 

TRAIN I do these kinds of things all the time. My Father loved trains. I call it keeping him alive. Nick

A great way in which to honor and remember your Dad. I have things on my layout that remind me of my father every day.

MELGAR

Balshis posted:

My father crossed over in 2008.  His birthday was December 30, and I always felt sorry for him when he was a kid, having his birthday so close to Christmas.  I have his #252 and its passenger cars on our coffee table, where they can bask in the glow of the Christmas tree once again.

--John

My dad's birthday is Christmas.  Every year, I call him and say "Happy Birthday".  He always responds the same way; "Yep, screwed again!". 

beachhead2 posted:

Balshis posted:

My father crossed over in 2008.  His birthday was December 30, and I always felt sorry for him when he was a kid, having his birthday so close to Christmas.  I have his #252 and its passenger cars on our coffee table, where they can bask in the glow of the Christmas tree once again.

--John

My dad's birthday is Christmas.  Every year, I call him and say "Happy Birthday".  He always responds the same way; "Yep, screwed again!". 

Ouch.  That is bad luck.

Steve, what a great tribute to your Dad's memory. 

John

Steve,

Thank you for sharing the tribute to your father.  I am blessed to still have my father.  I think I'll call and say thank you to him too.

Bill