Train shows

Last weekend we took Calvin to a train show in Saline and I had every intention of writing about the trip, but post-Thanksgiving-pre-Sinterklaasavon exhaustion had me going to bed too early to get any writing in, and by the time I had any energy the second train show of the week had rolled around, and then there was twice as much to write.

Last Christmas, so nearly a year ago now, Jon and I got Calvin his first train set. We weren't sure at the time whether he'd have any interest in it or not so we went the cheap route and brought home Ikea's version. Now, a year later, even two train shows in a week have done nothing to temper the kid's love for this hobby. In fact, far from sending him over to the side of boredom, I think the extra exposure actually stoked the flame. We bought the train set on a whim last season; this season trains and train accessories make up over three quarters of the kid's personal Christmas list. I think hobbies are important, and for a homeschooler a strong interest in a hobby can be a real teaching aid. So, either we've started a monster, or we hit the hobby jackpot, you can be the judge.

Last Sunday our first show stop was at the Saline Fair Grounds. When I say first stop, I mean first in an inaugural sense, and we had no idea what to expect. Who knew there were so many different kinds (scales) of trains besides "wood"? And they had that, too, by the way—a small Thomas set-up on a table in the corner. Calvin is unfamiliar with Thomas. Although I harbor a brand-loyalty infection planted deep within my brain, it's something we feel vaguely strange about fostering in our child, so we've avoided character adoration right down the line, Thomas included (not to mention that there's something a little psycho about a train with a face, isn't there?), so even though he's clealry attached to his wood train setup at home, he was not particularly interested in that part of the show. The Lego electric train table was also a failure, although Jon and I found it rather interesting ourselves.

HO, G, and really, really tiny (possibly T?) were some the scales we saw in exhibitors' layouts. Calvin was most drawn to any train that was moving. In particular he liked any layout that included a road crossing with active lights and signals. And whistles. He loves train whistles.

The final winner on the interest scale was the steam locomotive exhibit. We spent the majority of our time walking around their track, watching them light flames in the engines, and refill their boilers with water and tanks with butane. They were larger pieces so they were easier to get a really good look at, and since they were actually steaming there was something of the old world about the entire set.

And, thanks to the one wood train vendor there, Calvin came home the proud new owner of a pair of semaphores. And we are now the proud parents of a three year old who can tell you all about the use of semaphores on a train line.

The second show of the week was not a vendor show, but actually an evening spent at the monthly open house of the Ann Arbor Train Club's exhibit located in the Dexter Train Depot. If I tell you that we drove down to the Depot in a cold rain, long after the winter night had arrived, and got lucky enough to find a spot right in front of the depot just as the signal lights started flashing to announce the upcoming passing of the real Amtrak passanger train from Ann Arbor, you'll either think we live a charmed life or that I made it all up, but that's exactly what happened. Talk about excitement.

I think the show inside might have been a bit of a let down after the eral encounter right outside, but it was packed with people and trains alike, and with a very festive atmosphere to boot. One train even carried a Santa, waving from the caboose, and box cars filled with presents wrapped in seasonal spledor. The electricity in the air didin't come only from the trains.

This was only our second visit to the A2 Club's open house night, but I love it already. The room is small enugh not to be overwhelming, and I have yet to meet a train hobbyist who has not been so in love with their chosen pastime as to want to share and share and share. Calvin's young enough that he sometimes meets with watchful, even suspicious, stares from train owners and protectors, but they warm up immediately when he starts asking questions using words like "semaphore," "steam locomotive" or "derailment."

It's a fun hobby.