Train-O-Rama

When my little boy likes something, well, he likes it.  A LOT.  We went though an elevator phase that lasted about three years.  Then we went through a Scooby Doo phase that started last year and is still in the forefront.  Now we are in a train phase.

The train phase started when Little Lewie was three; we had a choo choo birthday party and bought him a train table.  Just when it seemed that Scooby Doo was about to surpass his train obsession, he was introduced to The Polar Express.  After one simple 90 minute movie, his life was changed...forever.

Since that fateful November day of watching The Polar Express, my son has been obsessed with the movie, the book, and the soundtrack.  Our house has also become train-o-rama.  In addition, to his train table, which takes up a good portion of our living room, we have train tracks and trains set up in his room and our bedroom.  Thomas the Train has also become a popular TV viewing alternative.

Since our house has been converted to a railroad station for dozens of two-inch miniature trains, we took a guess that he might actually enjoy going to a real train station. So, last week and this week, we went to the Danbury Railroad Museum, a former train station that houses many historical trains, train cars, train memorabilia, and working model train layouts.  Of course, we've been there twice now within the past two weekends because he begged us to go back on a daily if not hourly basis.

Inside the train museum...of course.

Looking at miniature working trains.

Posing in front of trains...Can you tell my son is saying, "Choo, Choo?"

Playing trains...

A steam engine similar to the one in The Polar Express.

Lewie insisted this was The Polar Express train.

Inside The Polar Express train...

All the gears to run the train...definitely not an easy job.

A 1970's caboose...probably around my age...

Sitting up high in the caboose.

A US Railway Post Office Mail Car...

Inside the car, where all the employees had to sort the mail...

I've been told that children are known for becoming fixated on something--a movie, a cartoon character, a superhero, etc.  So, we are preparing ourselves for many more trains in the next few weeks, months, and years to come...