Hi,
My name is Rob Carignan and I am a member of the Southern Maine Model Railroad Club in Westbrook, Maine. I came across your podcast and am enjoying it. Regarding the last 'cast where you talked about kids and layouts; at the last model railroad show we held back in April I had an idea that was a huge hit with the attendees and the club.
One of the probelms with model train shows and club layouts is that families come to see the trains but kids can't touch! So, I built a small 3x4' oval with a couple sidings and put it at the kid's height. I hooked up an old MRC DC transformer and set out Thomas the Tank Engine with his two coaches and a small Athern switcher with a boxcar and caboose. I let the kids run the trains as much as they wanted and as fast as the wanted. Better yet, I invited them to scenic the layout. We planted trees and glued down grass and lichen for ground cover. I then had each one sign the side of the layout. Some kids had even bought thier own trains from vendors and I was happy to let them try them out.
It's important for kids to learn to love to play with trains before they become grown up modlers.
I couldn't agree more as for getting kids involved. I know my plan is once I get my bottom level of my layout done, I want to build a "kids" layout and take to shows as well.