Christmas trains - Part I

(No Ratings Yet)

Loading ...

Posted by Jim on Dec 9, 2006 73 views

I am not sure how many parts this will have, but I know it will be more then one. Saturday night, the big Christmas open house party is tomorrow. In the stacks of tubs - our large 30 gallon containers - is a smaller tub with trains. it was given to us by my mother and step father when they moved into their current home. About 18 months ago. And since then it has sat in the garage.

I opened it up, and inside is trains, tracks and accessories all wrapped in newspaper. From 1991.

The track makes a figure 8, but is missing pieces. A figure 8 as you can imagine is hard to use around a Christmas tree. So I have 2 choices, put the turn around on the larger side of the tree, away from the wall. Or do an oval. I started laying out an oval, and found I did not have enough straights. Item #1 on the list of stuff to get at the train shop.

The power connections are missing a few things. I have a transformer with an AC plug and the throttle control, but no wires to connect to the 2 thumb twist terminals. Item #2 to pick up.

The station building has a missing roof so you look down into the battery for the control to the unloaded. And the snap on connection to the building is missing. But the unloader is broken and is held on with a rubber band. And there are no logs for it to unload. BUT, I DO have the black plastic tray for the logs to unload into. Sweet - I think?

This does give the kids something to aim for as a skill test in driving the train, and does make it interactive, so I guess if it is cheap, I will get a replacement. Item #3 to get.

I get in the car with Anna and Eilis and we drive to Wesmont to hit the train shop. And of course they are closed, so we drive home through Haddonfield. Anna asks for a trip to Starbucks, but refuses to drive the extra 2 miles to the drive thru one on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. Nice drive for Eilis looking at all the lights. And another trip she gets to do herself without her sisters. As much as I want them to be best friends forever, I still think she needs some special attention from Mom and Dad all herself every so often so she is not one of the kids.

My mother and step-father come over to help with decorations for the party. And tell my wife they do not recognize the train set at all. Sweet