Last weekend after "grandsitting" we high tailed it to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. There was supposed to be a huge train show there and Far Guy had been looking forward to it for months. When we walked into the mall we both looked at each other and said "This is it?" One track with a couple of old guys and a kid, nothing to swap, nothing to buy unless you want to go to the Hobby Shop. Far Guy was so disappointed, I felt sorry for him. It was a good set up to create awareness about the hobby of trains, it was just not the type of train show we were expecting.
Yesterday we travelled 3 hours to a real train show, a swapping, bargain, everything you could ever want to find under one roof train show. Far Guy was a good shopper..he got one piece that was part of his original train set..Lionel (his engine and coal tender are from 1951)..magnatraction.. and O scale in train talk. When he gets the "new/old" piece cleaned up and working I will take some photos of it..I have been hearing about this piece for years. We are still looking for the helicopter that flies off one of the flat cars..and the logs that are unloaded from another car. Oh and a Desoto car that is less than 165 dollars, maybe at an estate sale or an auction..you never know. It is good to have a hobby where you are always looking for something, the hunt is part of the adventure.
Now who in their right mind would buy this? A brass train..I asked if I could take a photo..they said "Knock yourself out" It is beautifully exquisite..but at a thousand dollars for two pieces..I will wait until I win the lottery.
I visited with a number of men, these train guys are really friendly, the place was packed..you could hardly walk. Far Guy was like a little kid grinning from ear to ear! I took his first few bags of treasures out to the car and walked Chance in the rain..then we sat in the overhang of the building and enjoyed the rain falling.
I did make one purchase. Something for Far Guy to add to his collection on the wall upstairs in his train area.
I have always been fascinated with the lifestyle of Hobo's..just travelling from one town to the next on the trains. Carrying everything that is important to you in a red hankie tied to a stick slung over your shoulder.
They are giving away a door prize, it is a Lionel Nascar Train Set O Scale..Far Guy says he hopes I win so that I can begin my very own train layout upstairs. I know there are many women that are involved in trains, I am just not one of them..I am more of a support person..who likes to stop at all the Antique Shops along the way to a great Train Show! :)
Thanks for the hobo sign photo. My mother grew up on a farm near some tracks and spoke of the hobo signs, but I've never seen them before. Very interesting form of communication. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on the search for the helicopter and logs.
just want to say that I am glad to hear of people's passions....collecting something you love is very good for the body and the soul. Without passion or something you might as well be......well, you know. And supporting someone else's passion is a blessed and noble thing.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the hobo signs, thanks for posting! Glad Far Guy got one great train show and a real find! You gotta keep looking for those other pieces; that's what keeps the hunt interesting and the passion alive!
ReplyDeleteThat brass train is gorgeous. I do love a good train display--they're like the boy's version of a dollhouse.
ReplyDeleteLove old trains...where we use to live, Napa Valley, they had a model railroad hut at the fair grounds. Though open all year, it was always a stop for us during the fair. When my boys were little, I continued the tradition and they would hang out in there for hours. We even took the to old train museums and found the one in Sacramento to be the best. They earned the Junior Engineer badge and hat.
ReplyDeleteI have my brothers which is probably from the wee early 1950's. Not sure what it is as it just says Union Pacific on the engine and the coal car say built 1952. It use to run when my boys were little and would set it up under the Christmas tree. Then the black box stopped working and we never replaced it. Now it is on display on our entertainment center.
The Bennie's father had a grocery store and it was close to tracks. They were getting a large number of hobo's.Some one told them about the signs, they were marked with because they would give them bologna sandwichs.
ReplyDeletePatsy
http://yarlottsjourneythroughlife.blogspot.com/2010/04/old-trains-for-far-side-of-fifty.html
ReplyDeleteVery interesting stuff about trains. So what is your hobby to match his train hobby? I came by from blissed out Grandma. I liked your post about your Grandson. I have never heard of those books. My Granddaughter is the same age...the oldest of four girls. She really needs a little special attention when she is here. Of course I love to dish it out (o: Guess what they play now a days at recess (well at her school anyway? Vampires. I guess I shouldn't be surprised with the book and movie craze.
ReplyDeleteLike seeing the turtles and learning something about them.
Very interesting stuff to learn about you all. Is your husband able to do all the mechanical work any of the pieces need?
ReplyDeleteMy uncle had a Lionel train set way back in the fifties but the track was on a piece of plywood. The elaborate set-ups are fun to look at.
Miss Lynda, If my husband can't fix them then not too many other people can either. He likes to tinker and fix stuff.
ReplyDeleteGrammy, Glad to meet you! I am glad you stopped by..my hobbies are varied..photography, scrapbooking, reading and collecting old photos..I have lots of interests!!:)
Great post --- disappointing about the first train show... there is a lot of fun in the hunt..
ReplyDeleteIt's fun to see Gene get excited about the trains! The hobo signs are a hoot! I clicked so I could read them. Where did they put the signs. Were they the original ones to start graffetee(Spell?) on trains?
ReplyDeleteI would wait until I won the lotto also;)
ReplyDeleteI had my own cast iron train set as a little gal and gave it to a boy cousin when I got older. I so wish I'd kept it because I would still enjoy it's little puffin' steam as it went around the track.
ReplyDeleteGod bless!!!
You and I have the same idea - stop on the way and shop. Men love their toys.
ReplyDeleteMy husbands step-father had a brass train collection... and he was very persnickety --
ReplyDeleteI would take our little girls in there to see them and he would just be so "don't touch" yada yada yada.
I don't know what my MIL did with his collection after he died. Probably sold it for big bucks.
Nothing wrong with being the support, especially if you get to shop :o)
ReplyDeleteMy mother and my grandparents all lived in a town where the train ran and often told of hobo signs left on thier fence.
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather insisted that they feed each and every man who passed thier way, but if he stopped to long and begged too often then Granddad would offer him a job in exchange for the food and a place to stay. He said begging never left a man any pride. Sometimes the men would stay and work for a while and other times they left in a run.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Trains! My mother said that her mother's house was always marked by hobos as a good house to stop at.
ReplyDelete