Casey Jones you better watch your speed – 6/21/08

So we have decided that we should try and do at least 1 big outing a month with the kids. Last month was the zoo when Susie was all of 9 days old. Today we finally decided we should check out something we have been eyeing for over a year. Up in Hockley, about a 30-40 min drive northwest of us, is a group called Houston Area Live Steamers (HALS) who build and maintain (relatively) large steam model trains. Once a month during the spring and summer they offer free rides to the public.

We made the decision to go late Friday night, so the boys had no idea what was in store for them. I tell Marshall during breakfast that we are going to ride mini-trains, and he looks nominally excited. Not exactly the reaction I was hoping for, but at least he wasn’t outright opposed to the idea (which is always a distinct possibility).

We get to the park in Hockley shortly after 9:00, and there doesn’t appear to be too many people there yet. I unload the boys and Sarah stays in the car to feed Susie. We go up to the building and I scope out the situation. They have a clear box for donations which has some model trains in a mountain setting. I let Marshall put a dollar in the box, this only mildly amuses him, he now wants to open the box and play with the trains.

Sarah and Susie finally come up, and we decide that I will ride with the boys while Sarah waits with Susie for the first ride. So the boys and I get in line and wait. And wait. They actually did great waiting; I don’t think we have really ever dealt with lines quite like this. I think they are a little nervous though, lots of people, and the trains going by are not all that quiet. I keep trying to build up their excitement, but Marshall remains somewhat quiet, saying he is excited but not really looking the part. As we get closer, he starts telling me he wants to ride every train that comes by: “I want to ride the blue train”, “I want to ride the black train”, “I want to ride the orange train.” At the last turn in line before the front row, there are some little kiddie benches, then the front row has normal benches. Layne has a blast playing on these, climbing up and down, over and over.

So up to this point the boys have been great in line. Then our turn to finally board the train comes and Layne flips out, screaming and trying to run away from the train. I have to grab him and carry him, and luckily he calms down as we sit down. Marshall was a bit nervous I think, but was still eager to get on. The seats are basically just a wooden bench you straddle; Layne is between my legs and Marshall is in front, holding on for dear life. I told him to hold on tight, and he took it quite literally. Glad he listens to me every now and then. The train whistles and departs, and as we pass the station house we wave to Sarah who was waiting to get pictures of us.

The setup of the track is pretty cool. They have many scale station houses, water mills, signs, etc, along the way. There appear to several routes to take as they have lots of forks it is not just a simple circle or anything. This group has put some serious thought into the layout. There are also many bridges along the way, some a pretty impressive length as well. A good portion of the track goes into the woods and alongside a creek. This is a nice break from the sun and makes it more interesting than just riding around in an open field. The ride lasts for about 10 minutes. As we approach the station house again, Sarah has switched sides so we can again wave and get our picture taken.

After the ride Sarah and I switch off as she gets in line with the boys. Unfortunately the line is much longer this time, but we think there should be enough time to ride again before we have to head home for lunch. I wait under the cover for 10-15 minutes holding Susie, then decide to move to the other side so I can get pictures of them departing on the train. Think I moved too early because I end up waiting in the sun for well over 20 minutes. Susie had fallen asleep and was covered in her stroller, so I wasn’t worried about her in the sun, but I got stuck. Plus, I am sure she was still quite hot. I was basically on the sidewalk backing up to the parking lot, so I ended up moving the stroller next to a van so it could be in the shade. I felt odd leaving her out in a parking lot, but I was never more than 5 feet from her, so it really wasn’t a big deal. I ended up sitting in the shade of the van as well for a good part of the time. Not a lot of shady spots there, but I guess they didn’t really build this for spectators. Plus, it is free and all, so I shouldn’t complain too much. Once I saw Sarah and the boys make the last turn in line, I had to hop up every time I heard a train whistle to make sure I didn’t miss them on the train.

Except for the sun, it was a good time. Marshall said he enjoyed riding the trains, but wasn’t as talkative about it as he normally is about things. Layne seemed pretty happy on the way home. We will probably go again, but maybe do it earlier in the spring next time.