Ideas for my 5-year-old train fan? (Albuquerque, Santa Fe: amusement park, maintenance, live)

[MKEtoABQ]

This is a long shot, but:

We just moved here from Wisconsin. My son is turning five in a couple of weeks, and he's a big fan of trains. Back in Milwaukee, we knew where the active train crossings were, when the train show came to town, etc. We just aren't familiar with ABQ enough to have a clue...in fact, I only just unpacked the last of his wooden train parts yesterday.

Any suggestions for places that a small trainiac might have fun for a couple of hours?

[Poncho_NM]

Have you given him a ride on the Railrunner? Or just watch it arrive/leave near were you live? New Mexico Rail Runner Express Official Site

Official web site of the New Mexico Steam Locomotive and Railroad Historical Society: The Official Website of AT&SF 2926 headquartered in Albuquerque, NM

Probably a Gotta Go event. We plan on going: http://www.city-data.com/forum/25700161-post159.html

On the Tracks | Cumbres & Toltec Railroad

You gotta take him to the zoo, aquarium and Tingley Beach, etc. They have a neat little train at the ABQ BioPark: Trains at the ABQ BioPark — City of Albuquerque

A 4 minute video:

[loborick]

Take him on the RailRunner to Santa Fe. Or drive up to SF and take him on the Santa Fe Southern Railway to Lamy. Or take the RR to SF and the SFS to Lamy!

[joqua]

Have you taken him for a ride on the Railrunner yet? That would seem to be a top priority for any kid, not just one who likes trains especially.

http://nmrailrunner.com/

Also, our moderator posted this upcoming event in late September on another thread:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/25700161-post159.html

[nmguy]

There's a train ride up in Chama that your son might like.

[rwjoyak]

There's a model train setup at the ABQ Botanical Gardens that he might enjoy. It runs all the time but they also have special shows every once in awhile - Train Tracks in your Garden- Train Show — City of Albuquerque.

This one might be beyond a 5-year old but maybe not - http://www.nmslrhs.org/images/graphi...nHouse2012.pdf. They're rebuilding an old steam locomotive.

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by MKEtoABQ

Any suggestions ...

Go here: Narrow gauge train.

When I say "Go here" I mean both to the thread and someday to the actual place.
It's not a couple of hours, however.

There is a big switching station in Belen just near the Railrunner station.
You can observe lots of heavy equpment moving around, puffing, doing train stuff.

[GregW]

I became involved with an very narrow gauge amusement park train my step father was building 60 years ago. That park is long gone but I am still fascinated by trains. Thanks for the info on the trains in the Albuquerque parks. We intend to stay a bit in Albuquerque on our next vacation so the information is really useful. Thanks.

[mortimer]

Originally Posted by GregW

... I am still fascinated by trains. ...

I think in a previous thread it was suggested by me that you look into getting work there.
What an ideal job for someone like you who can fix stuff.

As I recall, someone else noted that getting on the maintenance team requires connections.