My Cinco de Mayo that you saw in the photos took a turn for the better when I met Lucas, a six year old, soon to be seven I was informed, who with his mom was quietly regarding the trains as he watched other kids get to blow the whistles on the trains. When I offered him a turn at the whistle buttons he was reluctant to try, but after encouragement and the departure of the majority of the rest of the customers, he gave it a shot.

As we warmed to each other he began to ask questions. First a couple, then a bunch, then everything he really wanted to know and things he wanted to share with me. A magical hour or so later he and his mom said that they had to go to the car and would be back shortly.

I saw them come back in as I was talking with other visitors and they stood waiting patiently, mom behind Lucas. There seemed to be something important on his mind, so I excused myself from the other guests and approached Lucas. He held out his hand to give me something. In it was a roll of four or five one dollar bills that he had been saving for a special purpose yet to be defined. Now he had made his decision! The money was to go to help build a new model train layout in the new building at the McCormick Stillman Railroad Park.

I glanced at Lucas’s mom and she smiled and said that “it’s his money and he wants to donate it to the trains”.

My hesitation to accept the gift came from my upbringing which said that we don't take money from children. Hugs, yes. Money, no. But this was not for me, it was for all of the people big and small that love trains.

Well, I accepted the money and Lucas and I became fast friends! We shared a common interest. We both wanted to share trains with all of the people who came to visit the train park. The big difference is that he wanted to give everything he had to the effort and I would give whatever I could. Lucas is number one in my book!

It was five o'clock and quitting time so I bid them good-by while closing the clubhouse door and heading for a pit stop when Lucas said "I thought you were going to put the bridge down and run all the trains into the yard to pack them up". I bent down and whispered to Lucas that it was time for me to go to the little boys room, and he nodded an OK.

They were still on the sidewalk when I returned and it was then that I decided that I was about to miss an opportunity if I didn't invite them in for the bridge run to the yard for pack up time. The offer was made and mother and son looked at each other, smiled, and said "Sure!"

I sent Lucas to lower the bridge connecting the upper and lower loops of the P&P layout, which I never do with strangers, and he lowered it ever so carefully into place and pointed out that there was a gap in the rails that I should see. We looked it over carefully and decided that it was normal and we could proceed. The two of us thought and moved trains and thought some more about how to best get the top trains down across the bridge to the yard. It takes a lot of thought for one old guy and one very concerned young man to get-er-done right!

Oh, and by the way, he went from shy on the whistle button to, after some instruction, a full fledged engineer. Seeing some visitors looking through the window we decided that Lucas would be able to run the trains in conventional mode to keep the late customer entertained. He asked a few questions about speed up and down the hills and got the go ahead to do whatever he liked. That may sound risky since the switcher runs just fine at 10 or 11 volts and he had over 20 at his disposal. No problem! Lucas had the feel of the throttle and speed was not one of his priorities.

As Lucas ran the trains his mom and I talked for the hour or so it took to pack up trains for the trip home. We both decided that we had really made friends today. Very good friends, indeed! That's what trains are for!

Thanks, Lucas, you made an old guy’s day!

Paul Boston,
Train guy

p.s. I didn't get any pictures with Lucas and his mom, an oversight that I regret and will attempt to rectify. I hope you get to meet a Lucas of your own some day. It really is very special.

pps. Lucas mom. Please send me an e-mail so I might talk to you again, then give Lucas a hug for me.

paulboston@pandprr.com