What happens when the "Love of Your Life" decides SHE wants her own train? 
Well first of all DON'T PANIC!! 
At least not right away. I fully understand ... because my wife loves steam; of ALL types. She loves watching those side-rods ... even on the prototypes.
We lived in Norfolk, VA a few years ago (courtesy of the U.S.Navy). While there we went to a trainshow in Virginia Beach, VA. I was there with the NTRAK club of which I was a member at the time. My wife came along to "help" as she put it. During the show she went looking around and got 'hooked' when she spotted a Bachmann Old Time 4-4-0 set ... sooooo, we got that. Later she found some MDC/Roundhouse (now an Athearn product) Overton passenger cars in Virginia & Truckee colors and fell in love with them. So we bought that set. Later at another train show, she spotted a Bachmann 2-8-0 Consolidation (the newest one) and so we bought that too (unlettered for now). And at another show she found a set of the MDC/Roundhouse old time freight cars ... and Yep ... bought them too! And if all that wasn't enough, she later found a set of MDC/Roundhouse Overland passenger cars (also an Athearn product now) in, what else, Virginia & Truckee colors. She says she's "Happy!" ... for now.
In any case, "our" steam roster has grown a bit since: 2 Athearn Challengers; 4 Kato 2-8-2 Mikados (two are hers); 2 Con-Cor GN S2 4-8-4's; and most recently a Bachmann Heavy Mountain 4-8-2.
Of course, all this did not happen at once, but over a period of the last 7 years. But it's been a lot of fun for both of us. 
Now if your Loving Spouse has been "bitten" by the 'Train-Bug', let her shop around at a train show, or maybe a LHS, for whatever looks good to her ... then buy it.
And the 'Benefit?' Well I have an easier time buying stuff for me. 
But even better is when we are both running trains ... and having tons-of-fun doing so .... Together!
Got your own story? Share it ... Please. 
Joined: 2004-03-16