Brian Kantz, Buffalo, NY-based writer and editor

THE NEWBIE DAD - AUGUST 2008

Interested in Trains? You Gotta Get to Arcade

It’s very gratifying to see your child develop interests. That’s why, as soon as the kid is born, you start to project your own interests on the unsuspecting tike. You’re psyched when the baby fixates on his feet for more than three consecutive seconds. “Honey, check that out, he’s counting his toes! Our little math wiz! He loves math!” And you’re so proud of your little sports fan. “Oh yeah, he loves the Sabres,” you boast to the neighbor as your toddler tries to feed Cheerios to the cute bison head emblazoned on his shirt.

Eventually, though, you can step back — the kid really will latch on to something by himself. Something that he has chosen to spend vast amounts of time on. For my oldest son, who is quickly approaching his fourth birthday, trains were one of the first things to capture his fancy.

This semi-obsession all started, like it does for most little boys, with one cheeky Mr. Thomas the Tank Engine. A couple of Thomas picture books progressed into a couple of wooden toy trains, which progressed into weekly trips to the library to rummage through the stacks of DVDs for Thomas adventures narrated by Brits with exquisite elocution. Even when it came to potty training — and my son was darn stubborn — the promise of more Thomas toys proved to be the only motivational tool that worked.

Thomas talk regularly propels my son onto a level field with adults. I’ve heard him carry on lengthy conversations — real back-and-forths —with other moms and dads regarding everything from the episode in which Gordon crashes into a tanker of strawberry jam (who knew they transported jelly in train tankers?) to the merits of steam engines versus diesel engines.

And it all gets me thinking — is there anything that I’m that interested in? I wish.

Of course, as a parent, it’s kind of your duty to feed your kid’s passions. That’s why we recently took our son for a ride on a real, live steam engine. We figured seeing the real thing would blow his mind. It did.

Here in Western New York, we’re blessed to have the Arcade and Attica Railroad, which operates one of the oldest remaining steam engines in the country. If you have a train-obsessed youngster at home or even if you’re simply looking for a fantastic day-trip, stop reading this column now — well, don’t be rash, you can finish reading the column first — and go to the A&A website at www.arcadeandatticarr.com to choose an excursion time and find out where the heck Arcade is (it’s in Wyoming County, less than an hour’s drive from downtown Buffalo).

A little history: the rail line between Attica and Curriers Corners (the same line that the train runs on today) was spiked down way back in 1881 to provide service for the Buffalo, Attica & Arcade Railroad. In 1917, the owners of the B.A.&A. contemplated shutting down the line, but local businessmen who relied on the rail service raised some cash, formed their own corporation (the Arcade and Attica Railroad Corporation) and bought the line. The railroad fell on hard economic times before World War II, switched to the use of diesel engines, but eventually reinstated steam passenger service in 1962. In recent years, the A&A has been operating as an entertainment vehicle, taking passengers on a 1 hour and 40 minute trip through history.

That’s where my son and I come back into the picture. We rode the rails on rainy summer morning, but in my son’s heart it was as sunny as could be. He literally ran down the street toward the old Arcade station, pointing and calling out, “There it is! There it is!”

The station is a museum of sorts, complete with old signals, signs and photos. The smell of buttery popcorn permeates the place. My son can’t be stopped, however. He heads right for the window to get a good look at the A&A’s vintage steam engine as it pulls into the station. The big news in Arcade is that the steam engine is back in action. In 2000, federal steam engine safety rules sidelined the A&A’s steam engine, forcing diesel into service. From the Fall of 2001 to this past April, the A&A poured a quarter-million dollars into overhauling the steam engine’s boiler. The results are so worth it. Steam engines rule, man.

Like a scene from a movie (or maybe from a Thomas episode), the A&A steam engine blasts its whistle and smoke billows from the stack. I’m guessing that it sent shivers down my son’s spine. I know it sent them down mine.

The trip is a pure delight. My son listens intently to the clickety-clack as we head down the tracks. On this day, Civil War re-enactors join us. Apparently, most A&A excursions have some cool theme or special guest. I stopped to chat with one Union soldier, who, in real life, had just returned to Western New York after serving proudly in the Air Force. Trevor Price told me that he couldn’t wait to get out of the area and see new things. But after being away for four years, he said he couldn’t wait to get back. Seems Western New York has a lot of great things to offer, no matter what interests you happen to develop.


Brian Kantz



		© 2008 Brian Kantz • All rights reserved • Contact Brian

	THE NEWBIE DAD - AUGUST 2008 Interested in Trains? You Gotta Get to Arcade It’s very gratifying to see your child develop interests. That’s why, as soon as the kid is born, you start to project your own interests on the unsuspecting tike. You’re psyched when the baby fixates on his feet for more than three consecutive seconds. “Honey, check that out, he’s counting his toes! Our little math wiz! He loves math!” And you’re so proud of your little sports fan. “Oh yeah, he loves the Sabres,” you boast to the neighbor as your toddler tries to feed Cheerios to the cute bison head emblazoned on his shirt. Eventually, though, you can step back — the kid really will latch on to something by himself. Something that he has chosen to spend vast amounts of time on. For my oldest son, who is quickly approaching his fourth birthday, trains were one of the first things to capture his fancy. This semi-obsession all started, like it does for most little boys, with one cheeky Mr. Thomas the Tank Engine. A couple of Thomas picture books progressed into a couple of wooden toy trains, which progressed into weekly trips to the library to rummage through the stacks of DVDs for Thomas adventures narrated by Brits with exquisite elocution. Even when it came to potty training — and my son was darn stubborn — the promise of more Thomas toys proved to be the only motivational tool that worked. Thomas talk regularly propels my son onto a level field with adults. I’ve heard him carry on lengthy conversations — real back-and-forths —with other moms and dads regarding everything from the episode in which Gordon crashes into a tanker of strawberry jam (who knew they transported jelly in train tankers?) to the merits of steam engines versus diesel engines. And it all gets me thinking — is there anything that I’m that interested in? I wish. Of course, as a parent, it’s kind of your duty to feed your kid’s passions. That’s why we recently took our son for a ride on a real, live steam engine. We figured seeing the real thing would blow his mind. It did. Here in Western New York, we’re blessed to have the Arcade and Attica Railroad, which operates one of the oldest remaining steam engines in the country. If you have a train-obsessed youngster at home or even if you’re simply looking for a fantastic day-trip, stop reading this column now — well, don’t be rash, you can finish reading the column first — and go to the A&A website at www.arcadeandatticarr.com to choose an excursion time and find out where the heck Arcade is (it’s in Wyoming County, less than an hour’s drive from downtown Buffalo). A little history: the rail line between Attica and Curriers Corners (the same line that the train runs on today) was spiked down way back in 1881 to provide service for the Buffalo, Attica & Arcade Railroad. In 1917, the owners of the B.A.&A. contemplated shutting down the line, but local businessmen who relied on the rail service raised some cash, formed their own corporation (the Arcade and Attica Railroad Corporation) and bought the line. The railroad fell on hard economic times before World War II, switched to the use of diesel engines, but eventually reinstated steam passenger service in 1962. In recent years, the A&A has been operating as an entertainment vehicle, taking passengers on a 1 hour and 40 minute trip through history. That’s where my son and I come back into the picture. We rode the rails on rainy summer morning, but in my son’s heart it was as sunny as could be. He literally ran down the street toward the old Arcade station, pointing and calling out, “There it is! There it is!” The station is a museum of sorts, complete with old signals, signs and photos. The smell of buttery popcorn permeates the place. My son can’t be stopped, however. He heads right for the window to get a good look at the A&A’s vintage steam engine as it pulls into the station. The big news in Arcade is that the steam engine is back in action. In 2000, federal steam engine safety rules sidelined the A&A’s steam engine, forcing diesel into service. From the Fall of 2001 to this past April, the A&A poured a quarter-million dollars into overhauling the steam engine’s boiler. The results are so worth it. Steam engines rule, man. Like a scene from a movie (or maybe from a Thomas episode), the A&A steam engine blasts its whistle and smoke billows from the stack. I’m guessing that it sent shivers down my son’s spine. I know it sent them down mine. The trip is a pure delight. My son listens intently to the clickety-clack as we head down the tracks. On this day, Civil War re-enactors join us. Apparently, most A&A excursions have some cool theme or special guest. I stopped to chat with one Union soldier, who, in real life, had just returned to Western New York after serving proudly in the Air Force. Trevor Price told me that he couldn’t wait to get out of the area and see new things. But after being away for four years, he said he couldn’t wait to get back. Seems Western New York has a lot of great things to offer, no matter what interests you happen to develop.