Paying it forward with trains - I did and I challenge you!

Great story Jeff. These are the type of posts that make our hobby and the people so special. Well done!

Good thing to get into.

Bob C.

You're a good man, Charlie Brown.

Fortunately, I don't see this as much of a challenge for folks on this board.  From where I sit most would probably do the same as we have a fine group here.

 

That being said, Jeff that was a great thing you did.  I'm not sure who got the better end of the deal, your neighbor or you. 

 

God Bless!

From time to time over the last couple of years I've thinned out my semi-scale locos and rolling stock, etc., by giving them to folks I thought both would not afford a toy train set and would like it.  I think were you can, it is always good policy to be charitable and generous.

Jeff, that was fantastic.  Great job.  Its so nice hear things like this.

Jeff...you did a wonderful thing!!  This represents exactly why our hobby can be so satisfying in many different ways....simply a heart warming story.  Thanks Jeff!

 

Alan

Jeff

Every one should have a nice neighbor, like you.

Great story.

You're a good main, Captain. We salute you. 

Great story Jeff!

You realize your neighbour is now hopelessly hooked on O gauge trains again, right?

 

Rod

Your certainly made his day. I suspect that the same applies to you. Nice story that proves that our hobby and the people in it are special.

What a great story, that's what being a good neighbor and friend is all about.  Nice job!

A very good deed, Jeff!

Great story!

 

In 1980, Santa brought me my first train...a Lionel 8002 Berkshire set.  Love this engine!  It was not working right out of the box.  My dad had heard of a Lionel repairman in our town.  We took it to him.  After that, we took all of our trains to him, mostly just for general maintenance.  In 1985 or so, we set up a Christmas layout fully equiped with switches!  I thought this was amazing.  Something had gone wrong with the wiring and our repairman came out on Christmas Day to get it back up and running.  One thing that I remember is that he never wanted to charge anything, but my dad always paid him.  He is now 80 or 81, retired, and lives alone...no kids, etc.   He is not rolling in the dough as an early retiree. 

 

Back in 2005, I had the idea of getting him a train and dropping it off at his house on Christmas Eve.  My wife usually makes some Chex Mix to add to the gift.  So every year, after we get the presents wrapped at our house, I make the trip over to his home and I drop off a train or two...sometimes it's a project and other times it's not.  He is/was a big Hudson fan.  The first one I gave to him in '05 was a 783 Hudson.  I love sneaking up to the house like I'm in some special forces unit, placing the gifts on his front porch, and ringing the bell and running like a pack of wolves are chasing me.  He is usually in his chair watching a black and white movie as I approach (has a large bay windwon facing the street).  I always sign "Santa Claus" in the from portion of the gift tag.  It's fun.  I get more out of that than any gift I receive on Christmas Day.  I figure that he has done so many things for so many people over the years that he deserves something to look forward to each Christmas.  He still lives in the same house I visited when I was 4 or 5 years old.  His basement smells like what I would think a Postwar train factory would smell like.  Everytime I go there, it takes me back to the times I visited him with my dad.  It's like a time portal, if you will.  The three of us had some great times in his basement...just talking about trains.  I almost was excited when a train would need to be repaired because it meant we could go over and visit and see what he was working on.  It's a special place and he's a special guy.  

 

And this year's gift is a 2332 GG1 that needs some attention.

 

 

Nothing makes one feel as good as giving. You must feel great.

If the opportunity presents itself, I will do the same.

 

Right on!

 

Dave

 

There is a REAL message in this thread and i think we all get it.

 

It is better to give than receive !!!

 

Brent

Terrific story. You always hear complaints about neighbors, it's nice when neighbors act, well, neighborly. I love it.

A few years back a neighbor passed away and thru various circumstances I discovered he had some early 50's postwar trains that had not run in about 25 years. His widow dug them out and while we read about the "olden days" in the newspaper wrappings we went thru everything, fixed a few messed up items, got the gate man working and after purchasing some parts a friend replaced any damaged steamer wheels. 

 

Their children hadn't seen the trains run since they were small and the grandkids had never known grandpa had any trains. They liked going to grandma's house and playing with the trains so much the trains remained up until April.

 

Good thing they are indestrucable and repairable post war pieces, modern stuff might have required a call to the Corps Chaplain for last rights

going to train shows, I see all kinds of trains in many states

of disrepair. a few years ago and little boy came to my board with

his dad and there 8700 Rock IsLand railblazer 0-4-0 dockside

locomotive. there were parts missing and it hadn't run in awhile.

pulled out my parts box. repaired the loco, cleaned it up got it running

and you should've seen the glow on the youngsters face.

Dad asked what he owed me, I said you just paid me with that smile on your

sons face.

Keep it going gang. We need to get the youger generation

involved if this hobby is to survive.

I wish my dad had been able to see his childhood Lionel 252 and its three passenger cars running again, after I restored it.  Unfortunately, Dad had moved on to the next world several years earlier.

 

I like to think that he still looks in on it from time to time, though.

 

That's a great story we all can learn from.

 

--Greg

Jeff -

 

Nice effort on your part.  Congrats.

 

 

Nice story!

Jeff will enjoy his Christmas thank you!!

well done!

Andre.

great story!   really nice

Great stories, thanks for the inspiration!

Jeff,

 

Thank you so much for doing that for Fred, you have given so much more then just trains, you have made a lifetime memory for you and him. I am sure you will be blessed for you caring and generosity.

 

Have a wonderful day,

Great story,  When I am at a train show and I see a youngster eyeing some things on my table, like a small vehicle, I just give it to him.  I will never miss the 3 or 4 dollars but hopefully it made his day. As Popi said, "you just enjoy the look on the youngster's face".

I'll add a little story...kind of in the same vein.

 

I have a friend in my church whose dad has an extensive train collection. I was told that it was mostly post war stuff. My friend gave me contact information to meet his dad and to go and look at the trains. he said his dad was REALLY looking forward to it. I NEVER followed up.

 

Last week I got a call from my friend that it was discovered that his dad had cancer pretty bad, but - even in his diagnosis he wanted me to come and share his trains with him. The doctors had given this gentleman two to three months to live. I really didn't want to occupy time from a man who had so little time to spend with his loved ones.

 

My buddy said that it would make his father happy to show someone who really knew and cared all of his collection. He INSISTED that his dad was looking forward to seeing me and that it was cleared and approved by the rest of the family.

 

So, I went down. At the house I met the man's wife, 4 sons, and grandson. I told them how sorry I was for their impending loss (I said it nicer than that) and apologized for my awkward intrusion at this difficult time in their lives.

 

Well, they were gracious enough and followed me, along with their dad - who was slowly escorted up and down a small flight of stairs, to the trains. I saw lots of older Lionel transformers, tons of old 3 rail track, a steel girder bridge, many older steamers, a few postwar diesels, and lots and lots of gondola and box cars. Dad also had a Trainmaster, a few large lighted cross-bucks signs, and lots of other train goodies.

 

I made jokes about the sons who weren't particularly interested in trains which made the sons and dad laugh. I explained that although I was no expert some things that look really expensive aren't worth much and some things that look very common could have great value. Bottom line, I said to confer with an expert before giving anything away or selling anything. I recommended a LHS techie whom I trust.

 

It was a delicate but fun visit of just over a half an hour. As I was about to leave this elderly gentleman asked me if there was anything I wanted. I firmly but politely declined telling everyone that it was my joy to look at the trains with him but the rest was strictly family business.

 

My friend's dad died the very next day. I was shocked and honored that I had spent part of his last full day on earth with him and his family. But I still feel a little eerie about it.

 

I don't know exactly what the point of my story is but it is a true story and I wanted to share it with you all. God bless.

Ah crap. I tell everyone that their dirty boxes of trains covered with mouse feces are worthless. That way I can clean them and keep them!!

 

Seriously, an old colleague asked about a box of trains his brides father had many years ago. They were "exactly" as I described above. I took them in, cleaned the daylights out of them, serviced them and went to return them. I set up a small loop and had it running perfectly. He and his wife were amazed. As I was getting ready to leave his wife said to take the trains with with me. She said the smile on my face of a job well done was all she needed to see to realize they were in the right place being with me. She said her Dad would be happy they would be taken care of!

 

My first overhaul and my first postwar set! 

A few years back, I was getting out of O. I was moving and wanted something much smaller and easier to move. (N Scale is why I need to wear glasses now ) So I brought my Pennsylvania Flyer set into a LHS to see how much of a trade in value the man behind the counter would give me.  Well it was about Christmas time and a man and his son came into the store to look at trains. I overheard the man saying that they couldn't afford the set that the boy wanted, looking over my shoulder, it was the same flyer I held in my hands. I told the store man he could keep his money (he was kind of a dick anyways) and I walked over to the kid and handed him my set with a few spare Fastrack pieces and a pair of switches. I've never seen a smile bigger. The dad almost started crying when he asked how much he owed me and I responded with "Merry Christmas, sir, and to your son too."

 

People all fall on hard times, and look to the simpler things in life to provide comfort. Trains are probably the best thing around for that.

 

Here I sit and pretty well 50 years ago my mom got her first train set in the form of a Lionel Santa-fe Flyer. I remember her showing me pictures of it and I got a pretty neat idea. Sitting beside me on the floor in its box is pretty well the same set from WBB. I can't wait to see the look on her face when it's set up running around the tree.

 

Pay it forward.

 

Also, not related to this hobby, but I collect old and oddball firearms. Last night I was talking with a buddy who said he wouldn't know if he had enough money to get his folks something for Christmas. I told him that if I knew his dad well enough, I've got something he'd love. Turned out I was right and the Winchester model 1887 shotty that's in the lockup has a new home when he gets back from work.

Jeff and All,

 

You give (no pun intended) true meaning to living life and it's a great reminder to all of us. Good on you!

 

Terry

steamwolf

that was a true "Merry Christmas" story.

thanks

Although some great stories here I think the best way to do something is to just do it without saying you did it. 

 

I do something nice every year for some kids but never tell anybody I do it, in print or by telling some one, I just do it for the satisfaction of knowing I did it. 

 

Too many people have to be praised for doing a nice thing, like Athletes who have to have cameras along when he goes to hospital to deliver gifts. They could have done it without the cameras, they are nothing more then credit seekers IMO. 

Great stories.  I have always wanted to do this, but currently don't know anyone else who has trains.  I once knew a family with a Bachmann large scale Christmas train that they said constantly derailed.  I offered to take a look at it the following year, but they decided not to pull it out that year, so I never got the opportunity.

 

Maybe someday soon...

 

Aaron

       
       


Golden rule! Treat others as you want to be treated. This doesn't apply to bosses and coworkers however. Giving shouldn't just happen around Christmas, it should be all year round!

Great story. Way to go Jeff