I began construction of the Persnickity and Doodle Railway sixteen long years ago when our first grandchild, Moth was born. Progress has been fairly rapid at times through the years but constructing a railroad is no small task and life often gets in the way. In those times progress was low, often with long gaps between stages of construction. The motive power of the railway changed over time, starting with a steam outline locomotive but switching to a ‘model T’ inspection car, complete with a sidecar and trailer. The track laying came in spurts and stops, waiting for the construction of our house, Becke’s house and then the Hazelnut Inn. Progress has been delayed over the last two years because of COVID. The rail inspection vehicle was running for a time but after sitting through a winter season refused to start the following spring. The little vehicle sat idle on the tracks in the driveway for the last couple of years. Each time we walked by of late Henry asks when we might get it going. This afternoon Henry played in the driver’s seat, working the controls while I rode in the trailer. We were taking the most impressive imaginary journey. Neighbour Gord heard us playing from his side of the fence, and asked Henry when grampa was going to finish the railway. Henry shrugged and replied matter of factly that the motor was broken so bad that even grampa couldn’t get it going. Gord, who is a very mechanical guy stated he probably could - if Henry could take it out of the vehicle and bring it to him some time soon. While Gord may operate on a leisurely schedule, Henry isn’t a long term sort of guy and he knew this was a fabulous offer. There was simply no time to waste. He immediately took me by the hand to get our wrenches, pliers and other assorted tools from the shop. We set to work and in a short while we had loosened the belts, unhooked the throttle linkage and unbolted the motor from it’s mounts. Henry helped me hoist it from the car onto the lawn mower trailer. With all due haste we hustled over to a very surprised neighbor Gord and Henry asked him where he wanted us to deliver the engine. After hauling it to Gord’s shop we went back to our yard to play. Henry informed me wanted to play in grampa’s Jeep - ‘until Gord fixed the motor’. It took some explaining to Henry that fixing the motor might take a while but a promise is a promise and we are sure Gord will come through soon. It will soon be time to ride the rails once again!
