subject: Small Children Living With Your Model Train [print this page] The question for many model railroaders is: Where do I put my train that is safe from the children?
This question is discussed in several rail forums and some good ideas have come from hobbyists. For example, take the father who had to share his train space with the children's play area.
After much debate, a shelf layout to surround the room was chosen. Instead of making the shelf height a common 25" high, Dad settled on 45" from the floor. He wouldn't have to bend over so much and the 16" to 24" inches wide shelf left plenty of room for his HO train.
He also used only shelf brackets instead of legs for support eliminating the possibility of bumping into legs. There were several warnings that that while the height was good for working on the train the train was still exposed to the children's play. You can count on little ones to bump into table legs, throw things on to the tracks, fall on wires and investigate the layout with their little fingers.
The best idea from forum hobbyists is the suggestion that Dad use a Plexiglas panel 4' high around the edge of the layout. The see through wall becomes a barrier in the event of accidents, Dad's or the kids'.
Long term solutions came with the suggestion that the kids, as they grew older, become involved with Daddy's trains. Starting with their own model toy train layout, they could play with their toy train while learning to respect Dad's trains.
If you have raised, or are raising kids now, you know a Plexiglas barrier is not an end in itself. I suspect you have stories of your kids piling up objects they can use to CLIMB up to anything they want, especially if there is a magical choo choo running around up high. Respecting Daddy's trains, then becomes increasingly important.
So, while you are setting up the kids' train at a lower level, you might want to keep an eye out as to how to connect them in the future. By the way, here is a little P.S. suggestion. If you have your own room for your trains, that's great, but why not cut the door in half (Dutch door) and leave the top open. That way you can watch the kids while you work/play and they can see how much enjoyment you get out of your hobby.
by: Charlotte Mathes
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