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There are many threads throughout this forum waxing the passing of that long ago time of adolescents playing with trains and lamenting today's situation where not that many young people show an interest in model trains. Most of us realize for our hobby's future the importance of getting today's youth involved.

So my question is, "Are you planning on giving a gift of trains of any type or scale to a youngster you know in the hope it might serve to spark their interest in our hobby?" Although it could be a close relative such as a child or grandchild it doesn't have to be. It can be a more distant relative or even a nonrelative such as an acquaintance's child or even a child not personally known to you other than through some charity.

Please share any train gifting that you've planned for this holiday season.

(Although I'm primarily speaking about trains for "children," your train gift could also be for that "bit of child" in any of us! 

Last edited by ogaugeguy
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This is an excellent topic. Personally, I really have no one to give a train set too at this time. Which does not mean I will never do so, but for now, I have no one. Yet, I fully understand the importance of this hobby being passed along as it were to younger folks.

 

I hope/pray many kids receive a nice train set for Christmas this year.

My Son married and picked up 2 little girls (10 and 8) in the deal.

They have shown interest watching my trains on Skype so I will see how that holds up while they visit for Christmas.

If they stay glued to the layout much I'll talk to my son about space for a layout.

IF there is a place for them to play with it, I will send them home with a train set.

And I might take them to the LHS so they can pick it out.

Last year I took a couple young ones with me after Christmas and Now I have  a Thomas set at the house. They run it every time they come over. (No space at home for it)

Yes, each of my grandsons got a train set when they were four.  Last Spring, their three-year-old sister mentioned to me,"(Brother #1) has a train, (Brother #2) has a train, (Brother #3) has a train."  So I asked her, "Would you like a train?"  "Yes", she replied, "with a pink engine".  So she's getting the Williams Girls' Set from Patrick's Trains. 

I do every Christmas, and on birthdays too. This year, I am giving my grand niece and nephew a MTH drop bottom gondola with one of my custom loads. For our former neighbors two children, a gondola for the boy, and a Lionel searchlight car for the girl.

My brother will be getting an American Flyer flat car with bridge girder that I modified. I will probably give my youngest son, (21) one of the gondolas with a load as well. 

Don

Didn't physically give anything train related this year, but building my public display layout at the Redford Theatre in Detroit was a nice gift for me.  Several thousand people have already seen it (almost 2000 last weekend alone) and I have received many compliments on the display, as well as comments from people who only come to the theater once a year to see the trains.  The smiles on people's faces as well as crowds packed across the front of the layout and halfway up all four auditorium aisles just to see the trains were also very nice to see.

 

I took a friend there to see last weekends movie and we sat in the balcony which gave me a great overview of the crowds viewing the display during the show.

Last edited by SantaFe158

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