Oh where did I go wrong?

Awwww...let your son enjoy the diesels. Happy to hear you purchased them for him. He might surprise you and ask for steam in the future. By the way I had purchased an MTH premier Pennsy RS11. Had some problems with it (delicate antenna attachment, smoke unit, coupler) but after many months back and forth to dealer + MTH it is running like a happy workhorse!

Yes I caved too. The no diesel rule flew out the window when purchased a set of covered wagons...

then a few PA's

then the Train Master Demonstators...

Then...

 

Its just a slippery slope that you cannot avoid.

I went the opposite direction. I said all diesels in my collection. Too many moving parts on steam. Just more stuff to fix when or if it breaks. Well that lasted until I bought the Lionel "George Washington" set. Now I have more steam than diesel.

Slippery slope indeed!

 

Mark

All steam EXCEPT a nice pair of post war NYC  F-units. And an S gauge GP7.

Gary, "resistance is futile". 

It's the younger generation.   They just don't realize where the "true beauty" comes in railroading.  Actually, since my era is 1950, I do have both steam and diseasal on my layout.  But it's the steam that gets run the most.

 

Paul Fischer

Take him for a ride on a real steam loco.  Let him experience firsthand the powerful chuff and laboring steam sounds.  Make sure he hears that ghostly whistle that reverberates through the crisp autumn air to stir the soul.  Stand in the wake of the steam chest discharge as she slowly gains momentum from the station.  

If that doesn't turn him on to steam, nothing will.  

I plan on it in 2015. Waiting for 765 and others schedule to come out before we make plans.  I'm just glad he like running the trains as of late he's been running the steamer more than the RS11.  Hope the joy of trains survives the teen years.

Gary
Enjoy every train minute with him no matter what.  One of these days he may think a video game is better

Be happy he knows what a train is!!!! My grandkids love trains.....they live just off the CSX mainline in WV and thus know diesels......but any train us a good train.

I know it is hard to believe but you have to remember that boys and girls my age and younger (I'll be 50 in a couple of months) were not exposed to steam while growing up.  Sure, an excursion or two proves to us youngsters that they did actually exist.  However, it's pretty hard not to notice all of those colorful diesels when passing a train yard or waiting at a crossing...and even on TV commercials.

 

So, I have about 25 diesels and two steamers.  One came in a set that was one of my first O gauge purchases and the other I can't seem to get rid of!

 

Now, if I just had a layout to run the colors!!!

At least he is not in HO right? You are still a good parent!

I know what you mean as I had/have a no steam rule on my layout.  I relented and bought one steamer to appease my wife, but no smoke. 

 

Art

Yeah, I'm a purist on my layout too - all locomotives are either steam, diesel or electric.

Absolutely NOTHING else.

Oh for a son that loves trains (diesel or otherwise). But I'll count my blessings with two lovely daughters who do not. 

You've failed miserably as a father and have brought much shame to your forum brothers and sisters.  Sell everything, switch to HO and never return to York! 

--Greg

Ok..just kidding.  Be glad your son enjoys the hobby.  Mine lost interest at 7 or 8 (12 now)

Yes, just be thankful he likes trains of any kind, hope his interest for them continues and enjoy the time spent with him now, he will be grown and out of the house before you know it.

 

If it makes you feel any better (hopefully not worse ) I have only diesels, mostly modern and no steamers. I'm also over 60, so there were still a few steamers around when I was a kid. Not sure how that all happened, but I am sure glad it did when the new catalogs come out and I start looking at the steamer pricing.