Annie loves to play with her cousin Michaela’s My Little Pony dolls, so for Annie’s birthday my sister got her the “My Little Pony Magical Pony Express Train Set.” Annie was ecstatic, but I was pretty sure it was because it came with three little ponies, and not because of the train set. In fact, I was convinced Annie would ignore the train all together and just love on the ponies. As it turned out, though, the kid not only loves her little train set, but now is crazy about trains!
Check out these photos – they were taken more than a week after the train came out of the box:
Annie will sit quietly for long stretches of time watching her train go ’round, and it blows my mind. Now that she’s loco for locomotives, she notices them everywhere. There’s a video on Disney Junior, for example, where a women in a conductor’s uniform stands on a train and sings, “All aboard the choo-choo train… all aboard, all aboard… CHOO-CHOO!” Annie used to ignore it, but now she sings along while shaking her groove thang.
On Saturday we were at this mall that happened to have a train, and Annie noticed it straight-a-way. It’s actually a bit of a stretch to call it a “train” (especially since it didn’t run on any tracks). In truth it was just a motorized car that pulled eight or nine boxcars past the Foot Locker and Forever 21 while narrowly avoiding running over shoppers. Basically, this “train” was one giant lawsuit waiting to happen, but super-cute.
No one told me there were going to be photos.
As we climbed into our boxcar I leaned over to Annie and said, “You know that train on Disney Junior where the girl sings the choo-choo song? Well, this is that train!” Heather rolled her eyes at me (rightfully), but Annie’s mouth opened in awe. Fortuitously, once the ride started the sound system played “All Aboard The Choo-Choo Train.” That’s right… the song from Disney Junior!
“Mama!” Annie shouted. “This is the train! This is THE train!”
Annie’s most awesome train experience came the next day, though, at the first birthday party for Lucy, the daughter of our friends, Jason and Kelly. The party was held at Travel Town, which bills itself as “preserving and celebrating the rich railroad history of Los Angeles.”
Travel Town at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA
So, yeah. You could say Annie liked the place. It got better, though. Not only was the party itself in an antique boxcar, but at one point we all piled into a miniature train that ran on actual tracks.
“I’m on a train!”
As we waited for the train to leave the station I didn’t think Annie could get any more excited, but then the conductor jokingly announced, “Today our train will be traveling to visit Mickey, Minnie, and President Obama. Here we go!”
Annie peered at me, wide-eyed. “We gonna see Mickey and Minnie, Dada?! And Obama?!”
“Uh, yeah,” I replied. “I’ll point them out to you.”
Later, as we went around a corner, I pointed behind us and said, “There! There’s Mickey and Minnie! And the President! See?”
Annie looked over her shoulder and smiled. “I saw them!”
(Something tells me she would have pressed me a lot harder on this if she wasn’t so happy to be on a train.)
The train took two loops around Travel Town and Annie was in heaven, waving at people and shouting, “Choo-choo!!!”
I’ve got to say, I never saw this train thing coming, but it’s pretty darn cute. I’m going to have to show her Thomas the Tank, aren’t I?
Tracy says:
Sweet Dodgers sweatshirt. And in a post from Daddy. What personal growth!
Maura says:
I’d recommend Chuggington over Thomas. Much cuter and less annoying voices!
Purita says:
My girls too love trains! We watched a couple episodes of Thomas but they thought he “needed some more friends because he always seemed very sad!” With that we started watching Chugginton! They love it: animated, colorful and they sing! Wait until she watches the Polar Express, then find a local train in your area that replicates this ride for Christmas – it will blow her mind!! Have fun!
Norma says:
Such a fun time for Annie! Heather…you look beautiful.
Kristen says:
I think Annie is going to be one of the most well-rounded kids in the world!! You and Heather have exposed her to so many things that I can’t imagine she will not do any and everything she sets her mind to. I can only imagine what Annie was like first seeing those huge trains – I was in awe and I didn’t get to see them up close like that until I was 36!!
Tina says:
Watch out, that Thomas the Train phase is a long, and expensive one. We are in the midst of it right now with my four year old son. Although, seeing his and my almost two year old daughter’s face light up when we ride on Thomas at Day out With Thomas is pretty awesome.
sam b says:
I found Thomas to be insanely annoying. Disney Junior has Chuggington, which I like a lot better. The theme song for that one is pretty catchy, too. And don’t even get me started on Genevieve! My favorite Choo Choo Soul song is Bullet Train. That girl rocks!
Amy says:
Trains are awesome! My two-year-old daughter loves trains as much as her four-year-old brother. They like watching Thomas and Dinosaur Train (trains and dinos — a boy’s dream come true). Our mall has the same train!
We’ve also gone to a Day Out with Thomas (a large replica of Thomas that travels around the U.S.). Definatly check if its going to be in your area this summer, it’s a lot of fun for little train enthusiasts.
Angela says:
Yay trains! I’m glad Annie appreciates them!
Our family is bred to enjoy trains. My train-hating sister-in-law was determined that HER daughter wouldn’t like trains. She lost that battle.
arlene says:
My 3 yo grand son is ALL about trains (and trucks and construction vehicles). Where is Travel Town!!??? We are taking him to Disneyland for his birthday and he would wet his pants, I hope figuratively, if we got to go there.
P.S. I see a Thomas train table in your future but and least it will be ready when you little boy becomes obsessed with trains in a couple of years.
Mike says:
Hi Arlene,
Travel Town is at Griffith Park in Los Angeles near the Hollywood sign. It’s a a fairly small place, but has a cool museum with antique trains, cars, etc., the miniature train to ride, and a few other things. The entry fee is right, too… it’s free!
arlene cloud says:
Mike,
Thanks for the info. We will definitely be going there. Good to already have some kid-friendly day trips on the agenda. Can’t beat the price!
KarenM says:
Check out Chugington….it’s full of trainy goodness. My boys love it!
Kristi says:
It sounds like Annie has the fever. My daughter got hooked on trains when she was two and while it has waned a bit (she’s four now), she still likes them a ton. From the minute she saw Thomas she was hooked. She had to watch Thomas ALL.THE.TIME. It was actually very fun and she still loves the “train” at the mall.
Laura says:
I saw that train as I was leaving the mall on Saturday and thought to myself – I see the Spohr’s have a train ride in their future!! I am impressed the adults went along for the ride as well LOL!!
Tamela says:
First, you HAVE to do the Polar Express! We did it with our 6 and 8 yr. old boys this Christmas and it was amazing!
Second, I’m sure you know…Ringo Starr narrated some early Thomas the Tank Engine shows. So, there’s something for everyone!
Stephanie says:
My sons are now 20 and 23 and we still have ALL their Thomas the Tank Engine trains and Brio track – and it still gets played with every once in awhile. Constructing the track and setting up the town were just as fun as playing trains! And back then, George Carlin was “Mr. Conductor”/the narrator (if anyone remembers him?).
Jessica V. says:
I snort-laughed at the pic of you three in the mall train. Mike – you look like you are in a time out! So fun that Annie has jumped on the “train” train – gives you a good excuse to ride the trains at Disneyland next time you are there! And I second the Chuggington over Thomas sentiment…way less irritating.
Alissa says:
You are definitely getting a taste of what it will be like to have a boy with this train-madness. I’ve got two, ages 3 and 1, and it’s an intense interest.
Caution: Choo Choo Soul will get stuck in your head on repeat for hours. I’ve seen them all so often I instantly recognize when they’ve put out a new song. I like the zoo train one the best.
Sheri says:
You can google (I’m lazy) a Day Out with Thomas. It is a day long festival type party where there are facepainters, all kinds of train stuff and a ride on Thomas. Even if she isn’t a Thomas fan, she might get a kick out of it. Thomas opens and closes his eyes and all that jazz.
Have fun with her!!! She is such a sweet little girl!!!
Kayla says:
How adorable!! And read her The Little Engine That Could!
Beckie says:
Hubby is an avid train nut; every size, but especially the real ones. He is VP of our local train museum that offers excursions throughout middle Tennessee. Our daughters are in their 30’s now, but by 3, they could tell you whatever kind of freight car and what rail line a particular car was. There are worse things than being a train nut!
Beckie in Brentwood, TN
Leslie says:
2 words….Dinosaur Train….GREAT SHOW!!!
Georgie says:
Our Brio (wooden train set) is played with every day! The kids all love it!
There are lots from when I was little there, and new stuff. We have those fancy, new stations that talk when the trains run by, and electric trains with lights and sound and so on. As well as the good ol’ trains you have to push and drawbridge from when I was little.
My 2 yo. is obsessed.
Trains rock.
Lisa says:
I have three sons. All enjoyed this well-made costume, and I believe Annie would also. Check it out.
http://www.aeromaxtoys.com/Jr.%20TrainEngineer.html
Mommy says:
Oh we have had train fever at my house for years! It’s very fun!!! We love travel town too! You definitely should take her on a “real” train too. The train station in Filmore has Thomas, and all sorts of holiday trains- you can go on a “Polar Express” train ride to see Santa, and a pumpkin liner, etc. We also take an amtrak train up to SLO every summer and our boys go nuts for that. Have so much fun with your little conductor!!!
J says:
Check out the Orange Railroad Museum down in Perris, if you ever travel south. It’s wonderful — like Travel Town but way better — and much bigger. It’s a boy’s version of Disney (and they host Day Out with Thomas in fall, too).
MichelleM says:
My 3-yr-old daughter Chloe is obsessed with trains! She even had a Thomas birthday party to which she wore a Thomas dress, and we probably own about 40 of the Thomas trains (bought used-score!). I think it’s a cute and wholesome show and of course my husband loves that his little girl loves a “boy” toy. You should totally show Thomas to Annie!!
Michelle H. says:
My daughter loves Choo Choo Soul too! She’s only 13 months old, but dances and grooves as soon as she hears the music, so we have dance parties when it comes on. Now it’s always stuck in my head!
Robin says:
Thomas trains are the most awesome toys! …. and you can’t beat George Carlin narrating some of the stories …..
Auntie_M says:
Annie’s enthusiasm for life is wonderful! Love the joyous looks on her face in the various pictures! And, Mike, really love you on that mall lawsuit-waiting-to-happen-train!