Good points. I finaly figured out what primed my train interest. Back when i was around 4 my father came back from a trip to the Chicago area. He traveled as a mechanical engineer fo Jeffrey Mfg. He always found something for me, and my brother (2 years older). I do not remember what he got for my brother.
I was given a little train made of a yellow dyed wood, and what I recall as little etched metal wheels. A loco and 3 cars. This was a super gift to me at that time. I still picture that night. We had often been at the Columbus Union Station either meeting my father after a trip, or sending him off on another. Or, having dinner at the Merkle restaurant. The "best in Columbus". The best part though was going out on the upper level platform under the big train shed roof, and watching the many trains. There was plenty of smoke, as well as trains. PRR, NYC, Big 4, T&OC, B&O, HV, N&W, They all looked alike then, but so what, THEY WERE TRAINS. My little train set lasted, I recall, about 6 months, when my brother stomped it into the floor. He often did things like this and still has that attitude at 93. How did your family treat your toys? He never nailed my Erector set for a steam shovel, as he had the airplane set. I still have that set. I think I will take it with me to a nursing home some day. Did Erector ever have a loco set? John Armstrong ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Lane To: [email protected] Sent: Sunday, April 21, 2013 6:53 AM Subject: {S-Scale List} What I need to remember Alan, What I need to remember is the choice, I made 35 of my 50 years ago, a conscious decision to leave toy trains behind in pursuit of Scale model railroading to the continually advancing highest accuracy level my modeling skills will allow. I believe that is what most of us here agree on. I never had any of these accessories when I was in American Flyer so I am not really missing anything. For sure I am not yearning to get them now. That yearning is reserved for a 1969 Mach 1 I am not likely to EVER get! I see Scale model railroading and operating toy train accessories as 2 different worlds and for me they never meet. There is the massive automated German train and airplane displays but they too are worlds apart from the Seaboard Coal Loader! You have somehow likened yourself to Brooks Stover. Brooks has NO AF accessories on his layout! So waving the "AF and Hi Rail are great" flag on THIS list might not be the proper place. If anything what Lionel and MTH did by making these toy train accessories again is kill the collectors market for the original rare mint items. If I were into that aspect I think it would really annoy me. The new items made from Broadway Limited absolutely has affected the brass market. So NO, I don't "have to remember", or be happy that both new catalogs are portraying the brand new "S Scale Today" trains as toys that are always made to and continually promoted be compatible with 60 years old trains like that is ALL that matters. Not everyone wants to live in 1955 again. I would be negative 7 so that would be impossible for me! Thank You, Bill Lane Modeling the Mighty Pennsy & PRSL in 1957 in S Scale since 1987 See my finished models at: http://www.lanestrains.com Look at what has been made in PRR in S Scale! See my layout progess at: http://www.lanestrains.com/My_Layout.htm Custom Train Parts Design http://www.lanestrains.com/SolidWorks_Modeling.htm PRR Builders Photos Bought, Sold & Traded (Trading is MUCH preferred) http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRphotos.xls ***Join the PRR T&HS*** The other members are not ALL like me! http://www.prrths.com http://www.lanestrains.com/PRRTHS_Application.pdf Join the Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines Historical Society It's FREE to join! http://www.prslhs.com Preserving The Memory Of The PRSL
