2001--Age 4 years
Now 4 years old, Joe is quite the expert at running the garden railroad.  He plans routes by throwing switches and even warns me when I'm going to shove into a switch that's not set correctly with a "Daaad, that's not right".  Joey is quite adept at getting cars and engines on the track and always is eager to help get cars and engines out or put them away.  He also tries to help with weeding and other chores.  I also built him his own loop of track and got him a Mighty Mack at the ECLSTS this spring so he can run his own train with his own Aristo remote control too.

As he gets taller Joey finds he still has to "Get down" to see what going on when railing equipment.

Here Joey prepares to let his New Bright engine take a trip around the mainline

Always the ham, Joey takes a break from pushing Dad's metal cars around on the road to strike a pose and say "trains".

Inside, Joey's favorites include his Learning Source Thomas the Tank trains seen here, as well as Legos, Tinkertoys, Hot Wheels, and his "robot guys".

This small layout was built for Joey to run when Dad's trains are not in operation.  I had originally put in a gravel road however Joey immediately protested, insisting he wanted concrete roads like Dad's.

Hartland's "Might Mack" is a tough little engine and has been holding up well under Joey's use.  Here it is passing one of Joey's "custom decorated" houses.