srothstein wrote: ↑Mon Dec 21, 2020 2:43 pm One of the things that surprised me when my son suggested doing this was the interest of the grandkids. When we brought the first layouts home, they were a little excited. They lost interest as we were getting it set up, especially when we had trouble running the trains at first. But with a working layout now (just a simple inner and outer loops with a siding on each) they started playing with it and did not want to stop. My son and I are doing the work to set it up, then the daughters are the ones running the trains and loving it. We are getting more track ordered now for Christmas and I hope to get that part running soon. Three loops, all with cross overs so they can change which one they are on. One with a siding and then one that splits into a five rail yard. And with N gauge, it is all on one sheet of plywood.
I just connected the DCC controls so we can run three trains at once on the loops. Next modification is to get the sound chips for the locomotives. Air horns and engine and brake noises that are synchronized to the throttle setting. That is something I never had as a kid.
And to really help them get interested, we are taking an Amtrak ride on April 2 from San Marcos to Dallas, coming home on April 3. I haven't ridden a train since the 70's so I am kind of excited about that too.
If you weren’t on such a tight schedule, DART, and TRE have connecting lines that you can take from Dallas to Ft. Worth, as well as the historic train that runs between The Ft. Worth Stockyards and Lewisville. You can get your “train fix” pretty well covered in just a day or two.
I’m loving this thread, I always wanted a train set as a youngster, but my parents never had the money. Now that I’m closer to retirement, I’m seriously considering getting into it. It will definitely, take my mind off of the current political climate.