Image caption: You can go online and purchase everything from an engineer’s hat to a bandana – and even blue and white striped coveralls.
You probably have heard the phrase “dress to impress”. Today, we are going to “dress” to operate your trains.
You have spent hours designing a track plan: You installed the track; set up stops; painted figures; made roads; and even made a timetable. You may have added a computer fast clock to help stay on schedule. It is now time to run the railroad. So, get a blue and white engineer cap, a red bandana and maybe even a pair of overalls then grab the throttle of your locomotive and let’s go.
Oh! You want to be the conductor? That’s okay. You need a vest, a flat top hat and a hole punch. You might even want to make your own tickets to punch, listing the stops your railroad will make. You can go overboard, too. Maybe go online to a pin maker and have custom pins made for your railroad.
Better yet, why not railroad patches? How about your railroad logo made into a decal. Then you can put them on your trains, too. You and your trains can look good! Yes, I admit I have had both pins and patches made for the T&B Railroad. I have also customized a few boxcars to say T&B.
You can purchase uniforms online, too. Check out New England Railroad Uniforms (www.railroaduniforms.com). They have caps, vests, jackets and much more, including the brass labels for the hats. You can even get the brass badges customized for your Railroad name.
Oh, and if you are going to be a conductor, do not forget the pocket watch. You have to stay on schedule!
By dressing up to operate your railroad, you are adding to the realism and the fun. You can even get a whistle. There are wood whistles you blow and they sound good. Or you can get the small electric recording devices. Record the train blast you like. Put the recorder or even your phone in your pocket and press the play button every time your train nears an intersection.
Until next time, I hope to see you dressed up when around the tracks.
