I posted this a while ago in a different thread, but I think it applies here:
One of the moments that is etched into my memory, and has fueled my interest in the hobby, was when my dad took me (at 7 yrs old) over to a gentleman's house to pick up a ZW he had listed in the paper. Once there, he invited us down to his basement layout room.
The steep wooden steps creaked as we descended into the basement. My chin hit the floor as we turned into the layout room. At first, my eyes couldn't look any further than the ocean of black postwar steamers filling up a group of yard tracks. In reality, it was probably about 20 or so, but at the time, it may as well have been 1,000 ironhorses stamping their feet in the stable, eagerly waiting their chance to strut around the layout.
As he stretched the legs of one of the steamers around the pike, there were crossing arms that danced, blinked, and bowed in homage to the puffing black beauty pulling along a streak of silver passenger cars. A gateman popped out to see what all the commotion was about, but quickly realized all was fine, so he retreated to his cozy little shack.
A beacon light swirled and scanned the room from the top of a giant green mountain that soared above my ear to ear grin. Then the loco emerged from the tunnel below where I chased the express down the mainline straightaway.
The gentleman gave me the chance to push a few buttons, and flip the the levers of some turnouts, while he told my dad the tale of surviving his 4th heart attack. There were real railroad signs on the wall next to shelves of F3s and rolling stock. I thought to myself, this guy has life figured out.
All in all, it was a thrilling experience that gave me dreams to take back to our ping pong table oval with passing siding. Over time, and likely because of overtime, my dad was able to periodically pick up a used train or old box of tracks to keep me going.
I probably would have been somewhat interested in model trains without that visit, but the visit was truly an inspiration to a young buck like me at the time. Even today, I'm hoping to recreate that same awe inspiring moment for my own kids to enjoy with me, and carry with them for the rest of their lives.
JD