Bobby and Arthur J followed the sound of a hammer hitting nails to Grandpa John’s workshop in the basement; there they saw Grandpa John playing with a set of trains.
They couldn’t believe their eyes!
Grandpa John was running a set of trains on a long track and singing a song they had never heard before…something about a Casey Jones. The trains didn’t look like any trains they had ever seen. He looked so happy!
Bobby couldn’t stop himself from saying, “Grandpa, are those your trains?” Grandpa John turned and smiled, saying, “Come on in boys and see what I played with when I was your age…a set of Lionel trains. Oh, they were the best! They still are as far as I’m concerned. I’ve had these trains for over 60 years.”
These trains, like all Lionel trains are now collectors items. Lionel trains, were made from 1901 to 1969. They are known for how solidly they are constructed and how much they look like real trains from long ago.
Why in 2006, Lionel’s electric train became one of the first two electric toys and the only trains to make the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Arthur J was so excited seeing the trains. He just wanted to play with them, so he asked, “What are you going to do with the trains grandpa?” Grandpa John smiled and answered, “Unfortunately you ruined my surprise. I was getting them ready for Christmas so when you came over you would see them under the tree.”
Arthur J and Bobby looked sad for a moment and wondered if, since they ruined his surprise, maybe Grandpa John wouldn’t let them play with the trains.
Grandpa John saw the looks on their faces and said, “Let’s have a Christmas in June party. Help me carry the trains and the tracks upstairs and we will set them up on a wooden board on the big table in my den. We will set up the small artificial tree in the middle of the wooden board surrounded by the train village I got so long ago. The trains will run along the outside of the board, around the village and the tree. “
Bobby and Arthur J were thrilled! They both said, “Grandpa, your the greatest!”
Grandpa smiled and with a far away look in his eye answered, “Somehow I don’t think you and your friends will be the only ones playing with these trains. I’ve got a few friends of my own who’ll be coming over to play conductor.”
“But grandpa, said Bobby, “You and your friends are too old to play with trains!”
