We’ve seen lots of discussion on this board (and others) about the droves of people that are drawn to Thomas events, basically revolving around kids who “bring their parents along.” And we’ve all probably known of, or experienced, the tremendous fascination for kids held by any kind of trains - Thomas or no. Often steam seems to be favored in this fascination, but not always. But what is it about trains that seems to “hook” kids of all kinds, even when they’re growing up with parents or mentors who don’t care all that much for trains?

Surely some insights might serve us well in another question occasionally recurring on this board: How do we get young people involved in picking up where the “old timers” are leaving off as they pass from the scene, to keep railroad preservation alive and vigorous?

Anyone want to offer some thoughts?

Hi Dick,
I will turn 20 soon, but I have been in the Live Steam Hobby for almost 14 years.
Here is a web page (I just put the pics up, so I hope it works) of introducing some kids to the hobby.

And here is the article that I wrote for Live Steam.
Kids and Live Steam Engines
I am 19 years old and have grown up in the Live Steam Hobby over the past 13 years. When I first started learning how to drive a steam engine, make sure there is always water in the sight glass was the most repeated thing said to me. I was shown the hand pump and the by-pass valve for the axel pump. I ran my dadÂ’s Shay when I was 6, always keeping a hand on the throttle and the other hand was on the hand pump to keep the water level where it belonged. As I became older I then learned how to take care of the steam engine and how to use the machinery needed to do that. My dad and I have now built 3 excellent running steam engines.
Now fast forward to early July of 2003. My dad and I were running our two newest steam engines, a Railroad Supply Mikado and an Allen Models Ten-Wheeler, at Russ EldredÂ’s track. We had invited my aunt, uncle, cousins and their kids to come ride the train. (We doubled headed the two engines to make sure we had enough pulling and stopping power on the grades of the track.) There were 5 visiting adults and 7 kids (ages 3-almost 13), which is a good ratio between adults and kids so all the kids can be watched carefully. Before we started giving them rides we told our visitors not to lean out when sitting on the cars, to sit in the center of the car (cross wise), do not walk on the track, and do not run and/or play near the tracks because they could trip or get hit by another train.
After giving them a ride around the track, the older kids wanted to run the Mikado. So I only left two cars coupled to the tender, and found a clear section of track. I decided the easiest thing would be to have the kids run the engine back and forth for about 30 feet in each direction and I would be sitting behind them on the tender. That way they would only need to know how to use the throttle, brake, and Johnson bar. I would take care of the fire and water. I would give a description of the controls they would use before they started to run the engine, and then I would sit on the tender behind them. All of the kids had huge smiles on their faces when they were running the engine.
The younger kids did not run the Mikado, but they wanted to sit in my lap while I ran the engine back and forth. I picked up the kids and had them put their feet on the coal in the tender (I had removed the shovel and poker stick) and they would sit on my right leg and I would hold them with my right arm while running the engine with my left hand.
All of the kids enjoyed riding the train and running the Mikado. They all left with huge smiles on their faces. It is possible to introduce people safely no matter how old they are. You just have to see it as they see it so you can explain the safety needed. It is a wonderful experience to see how happy people are after running or riding one of these trains.

This is what I am doing to try and get younger people in it.

Jeff

jsfrost@mtu.edu

let me try this again:
here is the website:
http://www.msnusers.com/KidsandTrains/shoebox.msnw



jsfrost@mtu.edu

At the SF Maritime Park we find a lot of 15 to 20 years olds amond our volunteers. Then they go off in search of girls, family, careers, and outdoors activity.

Then they come back to us at about 50 when the kids are older, the careers are established and active sports are winding down.

In other words, there is a gap but many people enjoy history and Industrial Archaeology which is where trains and ships fit into historic preservation.

There are a few odd ones like me who never leave, but we are a minority.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

> At the SF Maritime Park we find a lot of 15
> to 20 years olds amond our volunteers. Then
> they go off in search of girls, family,
> careers, and outdoors activity.

No problem providing outdoor activity in railroad preservation. How can we get more girls? One would think they would gravitate to it as a place to meet boys?

dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

Now, THERE is an idea...

Give that man a cigar.

> No problem providing outdoor activity in
> railroad preservation. How can we get more
> girls? One would think they would gravitate
> to it as a place to meet boys?

> dave


newhaven0401-NOSPAM-@verizon.net

> Now, THERE is an idea...

> Give that man a cigar.
IMHO. after the girls get there boys they both leave. Been there seen it happen. bb

> No problem providing outdoor activity in
> railroad preservation. How can we get more
> girls? One would think they would gravitate
> to it as a place to meet boys?

> dave

I think most girls are intimidated by large and powerful equipment. Besides, where I work you can't be afraid of grease, soot, and dust, and it's not exactly a place that will keep your nails looking pretty. And how many "Engineer Barbie" dolls have you seen?

I read this message here at school, and I was able to talk about it with a couple of young women I know. One of them has a model railroading boyfriend, and is working on finding some time they can both come out and volunteer. The other one thought it was so cool that I learned how to be an engineer within the last two years. There are quite a few of these young women that are willing to do something they never considered before. You just have to find them and then make the experience worthwhile, as with anybody.

A few months ago on an "Engineer for a Day" trip, I took our only brakewoman out on the trip to help her qualify as a conductor. Because she was willing to come, I was able to let her drive the short freight train for a couple of miles.

Heber Valley Railroad
dakota97@xmission.com

I am seeing more girls become involved in the Live Steam hobby. I know of two are now someplace between the ages of 14-16 and they are still in the hobby. In fact I talk to one of their fathers and asked him how much longer his daughter would want to get dirty by running the steamer. And he said, "Well in about 10 years she will be 8 months pregnant and will hardly be able to shovel coal around her belly, but she will still running that engine."

I think that one of the reasons that girls are not in this hobby is because it is still thought that girls play with dolls and boys with trucks. We might not do it on purpose, but it is in our society.

This summer some of my cousins kids saw our steam engines for the first time. Hopefully the like will appear so you can see a picture.
This is Jordan Carlson and she is now 11 years old. This was her fist time to see a live steam engine. She was also asking about how the steam engine worked, how hot was the fire, how do you go forward of backwards, does the air temp (It was a cold day for July) affect how well the engine runs. She was really into it. She was into it more than the boys.
The pictures show her having a big smile on her face. This is what I love.

Ok, that is my 2 cents worth.
Jeff

http://http://www.msnusers.com/KidsandTrains/shoebox.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4
jsfrost@mtu.edu

We have had several young men join our group as teens and move on as they grew up but we also have several that have stayed in town and are a part of our museum membership. One of the ways to attract more youth is to offer the merit badge for railroading through the local scout org. We have tried to do it but due to the type of projects we have currently it doesnÂ’t fit with the scout program. We also encourage parents who have children who are really into trains to join our museum and bring the child back as often as the like as a member. We open our shop to kids and show them what we are doing and encourage them to touch and feel the things we are working on. Your contact with visitors is crucial to whether kids will come back.

Another area that is overlooked by museums is that of women who are interested in trains. My wife is very much as interested in shop work as I am. She grew up in a service station and is very knowledgeable about how things work. Last summer we took a trip to the Steam Tractor Show at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. There she met a woman who owns a ½ scale Case Tractor and a full scale 65 hp Case Steam tractor. We spent a whole day with the two of them talking steam and machinery.

The biggest factor in either area is to be friendly and open. You will surprise yourself how well that works in recruiting new members both young, and old. Oh and by the way if youÂ’re lucky enough to get some young men and women to join donÂ’t treat them like idiots. Take the time to teach them about what you know and encourage them to lean the crafts necessary to move forward in this world of historical preservation.


johndeck@cox.net

Thanks to all for all the responses. Really an enjoyable web site, Jeff! Would sure like to come see your operations sometime.

Dick

feel free to send me an email anytime. I am from Traverse City, MI. I am studying in Germany until the end of July. But my dad will be running the engines before I get back. We are love to have visitors.
Jeff
> Thanks to all for all the responses. Really
> an enjoyable web site, Jeff! Would sure like
> to come see your operations sometime.

> Dick


jsfrost@mtu.edu

Dick;

I can offer you my thoughts on this:

> ..How do we get young people
> involved in picking up where the “old
> timers” ...

When I was a mid-teen, I used to go to Toronto to watch and "participate" in 1201's rebuilding. When the time came for the first firing and running, the CPR police were out in droves keeping the railfans away, but the head of the rebuilding, a man called John Coulter, invited me and a friend to watch.

We had to stand beside a CPR Police Officer, but, we were invited while the CPR kept the older railfans out.

Since then, other than having time off to raise kids, I have been heavily involved in steam operations. Did Mr. Coulter's thoughtfulness help my interest? ABSOLUTELY.

My two daughters both know how to drive Diesels and steam (my youngest daughter was shown - not by me - when she was 11 years old). They both participate in active restoration.

Will they continue to participate? Who knows. But, they are having fun right now.

Grinding after welding.
freewrl-1@rogers.com