Hi Everyone

[cjp53]

Just joined and wanted to say Hi to everyone.I built a HO layout in the early 90's and have not run my trains in a long time.I used the layout to store my model rockets that I have been flying for the last 5 years.I became a grandfather for the first time in June 2012.My grandson loves Thomas the train and when he saw my layout I had to get back into it.I'm building some wooden car kits for him to have as his own train set.So far I have a wooden tank car that was a kit and a 50 year old Comet kit(BabyRuth box car)that I made into wooden box car that is turn of the century.I added a Bobber caboose and am working on a wooden flat car and wooden gondala.I have a few pictures of my layout.All bridges are scratch built with basswood as are the covered bridges and barn.Hope you like them.Thanks,cjp53.

 

[cjp53]

Wanted to add a few more pictures

 

[cjp53]

Adding a few more pictures.

 

[Bruette]

Welcome to the forum, glad to have you onboard!

That is some fantastic craftsmanship! Thanks for sharing the pictures!

I have 2 grandsons myself and they love trains almost s much as I do, almost!

If your boy loves Thomas then he will surely love this complete ready to run train set for $144.99;
Lionel O 6-30190 Thomas and Friends Passenger Lion Chief Remote Train Set http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Lionel-O-Thomas-and-Friends-Passenger-Train-Set-p/lio-6-30190.htm There are many add on cars and accessories available for Thomas and his friends, but the set is complete and ready to go right out of the box.

It comes with a wireless remote that any child can handle. My niece's 1 year old boy loved playing with my remotes for my sets under my Christmas tree so much that I ordered a set for them.

The set can run on almost any surface. No need to fasten it down, just snap it together and set it up on the floor when you are ready to play with your train! The new power pack that just plugs into the track and it can be set up in minutes. My Christmas trains run right on top of our carpet, no troubles, no derailments except for the ones cause by my crazy beagles!

I set up a permanent layout on the floor for my boys. My boys are 4 and 5 years old and can run their trains with me just sitting on the chair and they do the rest. The big O gauge cars are easy for them to work with. They can change cars, uncoupling and coupling themselves. They absolutely love the wireless remote control! The big rugged Lionel cars are perfect for their little hands.

http://www.modelrailroadforums.com/forum/showthread.php?33646-Great-Starter-Sets-for-Youngsters That is a link to a thread I started about the LionChief wireless remote control sets if you want to read more. I think LionChief remotes sets are the best innovation to hit model trains since DCC, the best ever for youngsters!

 

[Rico]

Welcome and congrats Grandpa!
That's some nice modeling, those old wooden kits still show up from time to time.
Never built one myself but there are guys here who thrive on them!

 

[cjp53]

Thanks for the kind words.I forgot how much fun it was to build those kits.Only hard part is the small parts and my 60 year old eyes.My grandson made out on Christmas with alot of wooden track and Thomas and friends car and engines.Right now Grandma is helping him set up his track in living room.When he's a little older I'm going to build him a small layout for his room,but that's a future thread.

 

[Bruette]

Fantastic, thanks for the update. Great to hear Grandma and Grandpa are having fun with him, he is a lucky boy!

 

[Cjcrescent]

Welcome cjp! Like Rico said, there are guys that thrive on those old wooden kits, and I'm one of them! I even have the first wooden kit I built when I was 8! Still enjoy them more than the Athearn BB's.

There are many smart and helpful folks on the forum, so all you gotta do is ask!

Awesome big trestle BTW. Can I have it?????? Huh, Huh, Pretty PLEASE!!!!!

 

[vic2367]

welcome from PA

 

[cjp53]

Welcome cjp! Like Rico said, there are guys that thrive on those old wooden kits, and I'm one of them! I even have the first wooden kit I built when I was 8! Still enjoy them more than the Athearn BB's.

There are many smart and helpful folks on the forum, so all you gotta do is ask!

Awesome big trestle BTW. Can I have it?????? Huh, Huh, Pretty PLEASE!!!!!

Thank you,the trestle took me three months to build as I hand notched all the pieces in the bents with a razor blade.I put a timber deck truss bridge in the middle of the trestle.I think it around 400' and around 100' high in HO scale.All the bridges I found in Model Railroad Bridges&Trestles,a paperback book I found at a local Hobby shop here in Cuyahoga Falls,Ohio where I live.The wooden tank car is from Huff-n-Puff.I really like those kits.I'm building the oldie flat car now and the gondola car,that should complete my grandsons logging set.I still need to find a nice running Shey steam engine.

 

[cjp53]

.

welcome from PA

Thank you sir.