O where did I go wrong?

He also wants a blue baseball cap with a red "B" on it!!!!!!!! 

Do NOT give in.  Diesels are a "gateway" locomotive.

Diesel??....wuzzat?  Just put him on your knee and say....repeat after me son Berkshires....Northerns....Pacifics.....Mikes...Challengers....

Superwarp1,

Be thankful your son is interested in the hobby. Take a catalog and look through it with him. Show him a few that you believe Santa might be able to bring. Let him pick one. Superwarp1, believe it or not he will never forget it or will you. Merry Christmas to you and your son.

As I look back to my 9th year, if someone said "train" the image to come to my mind was my Lionel Santa Fe Warbonnet F3's A-B-A.

 

Have your son enjoy the image of babes, the  first generation diesels. As he matures he'll see a beauty in a NYC Hudson that is just no where to be found in the diesels. Then he'll gaze upon a UP Big Boy, and diesels will be a lost image of his youth.

 

As I type this post I look on top the fireplace mantle where sits my G-gauge USA's chrome Santa Fe Warbonnet F3's A-B units - I can momentarily revisit my youthul years.

He probably wants a modern locomotive like he would see at any railroad crossing.  I would not discourage him, but instead help pick one out together in the catalog that would be fun to run on the layout.

Have fun!

Truthfully, from a running perspective, I find my diesels to be less "fussy" and less intimidating.  Not nearly as INTERESTING, per se, but they are still fun to run and provide a nice diversion.  Cheaper, as well... at least until you start consisting them together :-)

 

Could be worse. He might have asked for an HO set...

I know what you are feeling, Gary.  I'm a big steam fan, but a few "Diseasels" have worked their way into my inventory, and thanks to the NS Heritage program, more are on the way.  Even though I have the illness, I vow that they will never replace my beloved steamers.

 

Andy

My 8 y/o say's Diesels RULE AND STEMIES DROOL!  I encouraged him into that. 

how about a turbine...best of both worlds kinda =p lol

Frivolity is fine, but there are some subjects, no matter how well intended, that for obvious reasons are taboo.  Politics--yes even with harmless or humorous intent--is one of them.

 

Now, just to keep this topic alive, I will have to spend my time going back through every post in this thread, including the original one, to clean things up.  To not do so simply invites the pot stirrers to do their thing.  I will only do it once!

 

NO politics...period!

 

And if the kid wants a diesel, get him a diesel.  He's an individual with his own mind. Just be glad he's even interested in the hobby.

Gary,

 

I am sorry to hear of your problem.    What is it with kids today ?  Next thing you know he'll want you to take him to York just so he can eat scrapple! 

 

I just hope my brand spanking new 2 DAY OLD grandson presents me with such a problem one day.

 

As you already know you are a lucky guy.

 

Ed

Perhaps its time to consider tinplate.
Borrowing from those above about time spent catalog gazing...just at a tinplate catalog.
Maybe the allure of bright shiney colors will inspire his imagination.
Granted, they're not prototypical. But after college, he may appreciate that tinplate unit the most for the dreams it helped create in his minds eye.

Gary

 

If he was interested in photography would you be upset if he wanted to take color pictures?

 

Would you be upset if your son built aircraft models and wanted something newer than an biplane?

 

Why should a kid want to only model something that was obsolete when his grandfather was born?

 

Take him to see a container terminal, a computerized hump yard, an auto ramp or just sit by the tracks and watch modern trains go bye.  In addition to spending some time with his dad and seeing today's trains he just might learn something about how the modern economy works and why rail transportation is vital to it.

 

He could even ask "is this where the B&A Berks used to run?" 

Gary,  I go for your own idea the best.  A GP or something similar so you can stick with late steam early diesel for your layout. 

.....

Dennis

Since I'm modeling the 30's, 40's anything other than a first gen diesel would look weird.  More than likely will be a New England road or NYC.

Maybe a shiney F3 - F7, but they don't look like today's diesels.  An early GP would if you can find any.

.....

Dennis

Gary

My sons started expressing their independence about that age. I'm gonna guess next Christmas he is going to want his own complete layout. hee

Larry

At this point parenting becomes a refined art. (Been there).   The most important thing is to keep his head moving.  It really doesn't matter at this point, diesel/steam, it's a point of interest and creativity.   My grandson project is very much that way.  There is also bike riding and fishing mixed in with the trains.  Keep in mind that most busy parents need a bit of help.  Some of us grandparents get a second chance to mend a lot of our parenting mistakes.  

Best wishes

Mike CT

The new Norfolk Southern heritage units are even making me consider some diesels!   This hobby is addictive and you can just never seem to have enough of anything.   

 

Get the boy a diesel!  How about an Aerotrain? They are neat, shiny and swoopy.

The beauty of O gauge is it can be as narrowly focused or as broadly focused as you want.  You can go from 027 and Plasticville and run Santa Fe locos next to NS diesels or you can have a model railroad devoted to a very specific time and geography with all the details of O scale, but with that wonderful third rail!!!    I love it! 

 

Blessings to you and your son!!

 

Rick, Mpls.

 

How about the beautiful "Grand Central Express" set from Lionel? (If it arrives in time of course.)  You can't get much more first-generation than an FT, and it has sound too! 

 

Maybe he would groove on one of these!  Steam era diesel! And FAST!

And AMEN to that.

You may want to consider an SW1. That would place you solidly into your era. The SWs are great for switching and affordable. The B & A might be a tough find, however NYCs are available online through MTH finder. Good luck! 

Hey, let's be fair.  Diesel have their place, just ask Mack, Peterbilt, Caterpillar, et al.

Gary the same dynamic exists for me.  While I much prefer the steam era, my son prefers diesel motive power.  He has even got me interested in some local roadnames with modern power.  Having your son in the hobby with you regardless of what he likes is a really good thing for the both of you.

Gary

I agree with this.

Diesels are what can relate to.

Growing up all I saw running by my house where PRR steam engines and electrics, GG1 and P5a. But I always wanted a steam engine for Christmas.

 

You are a lucky guy, having a grandson interested in your model railroading.

Have you given your son exposure to real steam, electric and diesel locomotives so he can see the differences for himself?

 

I must say that as a little kid I was intimidated by a 4-6-2 steam locomotive that was in the Hoboken Terminal, ready to pull out. The good part of the story is that the fireman saw my anxiety and lightened the moment by asking if I wanted to buy it! A cab ride on a Long Island Railroad G5s 4-6-0 soon followed and won me over to steam. I also have a thing for trolley cars and interurbans.

 

I am not a diesel fan, but the 1st generation of diesels are pretty, so New Haven PA and MKT F3 sets have somehow gotten onto my roster.

I have 3 grand children and they like to run my trains when in town.  I have found out letting them run a Williams product is very good way to save your big dollar trains.

Al

Since you live in Western Mass, I can suggest several options.

 

Something from NYC (in honor of the B&A) or a B&M since it ran to Springfield.

 

If you would like a more contemporary look, repaint something into Pioneer Valley Livery, get the MTH Central New England or the Weaver New England Central.

 

If you'd like to spend less money, buy something from RMT.

 

Lad

Trains are trains and it is in the diversity of our interests where it gets interesting.  My joke as the president of TCA Desert Division is that I could anyone join the TCA by having another member hold down a prospective member while I give a dissertation on the PRR and specifically GG1s until their eyes glaze over and they will sign anything just to get me to stop.  This is a great hobby because of its diversity.  The fact that I model strict 1954-1957 PRR and CNJ from the New York and Long Branch at home and in two rail doesn't stop me from running my "City of Everywhere" passenger set at the three rail club I am member of.  If a child shows an interest in this hobby in any form to encourage it is better than the alternative.

 

Who cares what your son is interested in as long as it captures his interest.  A UP SD70 might look just fine against all those B&A Berkshires if that is what he wants... it could happen Especially in a child's imagination. 

Don't feel too bad, at least he is staying in 3 Rail O Gauge, of my 3 Nephews who I have built up impressive  collections over Birthdays and Christmases, 2 of them are straying to the dark side, and also getting tempted by N SCALE, Heaven forbid, absolutely Breaking Uncle Doug's heart. Fortunately at this point, it is just an additional interest, and the O gauge track is still in (Daily) use behind the couch in the Family room. It was even the FIVE year old, that wandered down that ill-advised path, and his Big Brother(8 years old) seems to be following as well. At least my other Sister's Boy is still staying true to 3 rail O Gauge, so far.........

 

 

Here are the Traitorous little Rascals,

 

 

 

 

Here is the Little Rascal, that caused all the Heartache'

 

 

 

And Here is the Nephew who has stayed on the Straight and Narrow, So Far....

 

 

 

 

(Uncle) Doug

Uncle Doug

 

You better copy right the bottom photo before LIONEL steals it for their ad campaign.

Unfortunately my Wife took that pic, it was lost on her to lower the framing a little bit to show that it is an NYC Lightning Stripe RS3 in the box. Before I saw the pic that moment was past, and lost forever. Yes the boys do have a FEW Diseasels in their rosters, but their collections are HEAVILY weighted towards steam.

 

 

Doug

 

 With a little "Incentive", I might be persuaded to let them use that pic

 

 

Always Promoting the Hobby,

 

 

 

 

(Uncle) Doug

A steam locomotive is the way God intended a train to look. It’s hard not to be charmed by the warm pulsating almost breathing machine. But I’ll bet if you could ask a crew from the late 40s that climbed off a mike and into the cab of an F-3, they would tell you it was as nice as the ride home from work in the family Chevrolet

Hey Richard, No religion either. But I do agree with you. I asked my eight year old what he preferred. By they way, he keeps reminding me that he got me into the hobby. A Polar express starter set for him last Christmas and I am into this hobby for about 10 k. He said Steamies. I assumed it was because he grew up on Thomas. He said they were better for the environment because of where they got their fuel. When I asked him to explain. He said, "Did you ever hear of a coal spill." Got to love kids and allow them their opinions. Sometimes they are wiser than we think. Plus if it were not for them, there never might of been this hobby. After all, we are just a bunch of grown men playing with toys. FMH