Written by Today we have a little wooden toy train doodlewash which is decidedly vintage, but now that I think of it, probably wouldn’t be considered fun for modern kids. Considering most 2 year olds know how to use an iPad, I’m sure this little train would lack the bells and whistles needed today to keep a child enthralled. Which seems a bit sad considering what makes toys like this come to life is imagination.
I used to have one of those pull toy wooden dogs on wheels, but by the 70’s the wheels had already turned to plastic. It was by Fischer Price and was called Little Snoopy. This was confusing because it looked nothing like Snoopy, who everyone knew as the white beagle from the Peanuts cartoon. This one was a little brown and white dog shaped a bit like a large bean with vinyl ears nailed to its head and a tail on a spring with a green gumdrop at the top, so it resembled an antenna.
Although I considered doodlewashing him, he didn’t seem festive enough and I’m still in the throws of Christmas fever. Though I think as a toy, Little Snoopy might beat out a wooden train in terms of play factor. I always loved the look of wooden trains, but sliding them around yourself grew tedious quickly. As a kid, I immediately wanted the model railroad vs. a wooden train as they had the power to move on their own which was super awesome.
I remember a restaurant as a kid that had a train that traveled around the perimeter, dodging in and out of tunnels as it made its way around the place. For some reason, the fact that the train disappeared for a moment and then reappeared made the entire experience more magical. And I always imagined what it would be like to be small enough to climb inside and take that ride.
Living in the middle of America, there wasn’t an easily accessible passenger train system, so it wasn’t until I was an adult traveling Europe that I would get to take that ride. It was worth the wait. I loved every moment of the experience! Finally, I was taking that ride previously only enjoyed by those miniature people I had imagined. And in that moment, my childhood dream was fulfilled. I was a kid again, riding in a dream, dodging in and out of tunnels, and truly understanding for the first time that the magic really is in the journey.
What a neat story and perfect way to fulfill a childhood dream. Love the painting too.
My brothers had a train and I used to take my dolls for a ride on it. Then hubby and I took a sleeper car/train to Seattle. So many fun memories with trains.
I know! Aren’t trains rides the best?! Sleeper cars are super fun. Glad you liked this post Teri! Thanks! 😃
I think even kids today would enjoy the wooden train. You can’t get that tactile experience of moving the train around the track on the iPad. We had a huge train table when my son was young and the tracks and the table were the most popular thing with my son and his friends for years. I loved creating different configurations with all the track pieces. I’ve been on commuter trains before but I think it would be fun to go across the country in one! Your train is very lovely, Charlie!
Thanks so much Kari! 💕😃 Glad to know there’s still love for these and I think they’re awesome! And think going across country on a train would be fabulous. It’s on my bucket list for sure! 😉👍🏻
Charlie , I not only admire your doodlewashes that always amaze me , but also your stories who are very interesting , and educating . Today you surprised me with the notion that someone would have to grow up to experience travelling by train , as for me it was a common thing ; to go to highschool for instance everyday by train , and even going inside a tunnel 😉 .
As a two-girls household we did not have train sets to play with as children , but every time I went to my grandmothers’ I would make a train station and trains moving about with this painted wooden blocks that had belonged to my mother and aunt.
Turtle Hugs 🙂
Thanks for the kind words! So happy you enjoy my posts! 😃 And yep…I’m a late bloomer when it comes to trains. Philippe grew up with them since he’s from Europe, but I never had the opportunity or ability to take one where I grew up. Those painted wooden blocks sound like such fun. What a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing!!
So cool Charlie, your little train brings back memories. I have three brothers and trains were important to all of them. We had the train set up on a ping pong table with all of the surrounding landscape for the traveling train.
Thanks Sharon! 💕😃 And oh wow..that sounds awesome!! I never had the landscape…hehe… That always amazed me. I bet it was wonderful!
Love your little wooden train doodlewash Charlie! 😊 Train sets always fascinated me with all the miniature houses, landscapes and people. 😄 Glad you got to take that train ride as an adult. 💜🌈
Thanks Jill! Glad you liked this! 💕😃 And cool to know that you also share my train fascination as well! 😃🚂
So nice! Almost looks like the first two parts of the train in my tree. Made me smile big. Awesome, awesome doodlewash. Thanks for sharing it and brightening my weekend! 🙂
Awww cool, Marcus!! I would love to have something like this in my tree! And so happy I could brighten your weekend friend! 😊😃
Such a charming little train! As you’re in Little Charlie mode, that’s it! We can play trains! 😉 The simple toys are the best. I used to love dreaming up journeys with these – most of mine were Thomas the Tank Engine models, or Brio. I think we even had some track for the Brio, but of course that was too restrictive.
Nowadays I rather like the idea of owning a big, grandiose train set and just watching the trains go round and round, and indeed in and out of the tunnels!
Thanks Jacob!! 😃 Ohhhh I would love to play trains! Hehe…and have also thought it would be cool to have an elaborate set. But I’m not sure I’d what the “putting it together” part. I would just want it to magically appear so I could get to watching it go in and out of tunnels. 😊
Surely that’s what Philippe is for. He can build it for you! 😉
Haha! Only if it’s made out of Lego! 😉
My girls loved their trains…of course that was 15 years ago, no ipads then. But I suspect when given the chance children still enjoy moving real things around and making up stories. I love the Christmassy colors on yours. (K)
Thanks Kerfe! 😃💕And yeah, I’d like to hope that as the iPad becomes the first thing little kids use, that the tangible toys will just become that much cooler! 😉
I really agree with you but I really hope toys like this offer something electronics don’t. I think we do a disservice to our kids by handing them those things but I digress. Once again, a lovely painting to inspire me to reach higher, Charlie. Lovely colors, shading and grounding and composition……your work always gives me the nudge to press on no end never lose sight of my goal. Thank you for that daily nudge. And I hope you and P have the merriest Christmas ever! (and Phineas too! At least I remember how to spell his name lol). Please give them both a big hug for me and the hugs back are from me, my friend. ❤️🎄❄️⛄️🎨👍👏
Thanks so much Laura! ❤️❤️😃I’m hopeful that kids will still crave something imaginative and tangible still! Hehe…and a very Merry Christmas to you and yours as well!! Hugs all around!! ❤️🎄😃😃 I’m getting so excited!! Like a little kid! I can’t wait!! Lol
*on and
Toy trains are magical! Love yours Charlie o!! Ho Ho Ho!
Hehe! Thanks Jodi!! Glad you like this one!! ❤️😃🎄
This is a wonderful painting, you´re getting better and better, it´s really amazing!!! And I love you´re story to it. As I´m afraid of flying, I used to love to go by train. Unfortunately I started being afraid of trains too – but I´m working on it. 😊 Can´t wait to be able to sit in a train again. Thanks for this wonderful post, Charlie!!! 😊❤️🚂🎄
Thanks so much Ann!! I’m so happy you like this little train! 💕😃 And I would definitely prefer to only travel by train if I could. I’m sure you’ll get back to sitting in one! 😉👍🏻 😃🚂
Great memories and all magical. Be reassured that some kids still do play with wooden train sets. My Grandkids do but ever so briefly. Then it is on to something else but at least they set up the wooden tracks and spend some magical moments pretending. 🙂 Making me smile and remembering days gone by.
Thanks so much Susan! 💕😃Glad here there’s still a little time to enjoy something so old-fashioned for kids today! 😉Happy you liked this post!! 😃
I make sure there is a little time for the old fashioned things. It was me that bought the train for them. Kids now days need to use their imaginations every now and then. 🙂
I completely agree! 😉👍🏻
So darn charming Charlie. You can read that two ways and I mean both of them from the bottom of my heart!
Awww…and now you’ve gone and made me blush Cathe! 😊Thanks so much my friend! I’m thrilled to have “met” you! 💕😃
So cool Charlie, your little train brings back memories. I have three brothers and trains were important to all of them
Ahhh cool! I love hearing this brought back nice memories! Thanks! 😃
Wonderful painting…would make a lovely card or illustration and a perfect ride for daydreaming.
Thanks Haunani! I wish I’d had these to make cards for people, but by the time I drew them it was a little too late. 😊
what a beautiful painting..brought to mind a story I used to read to my son when he was a toddler. About a wooden train. It was his favourite story and we read it every night for a couple of months, I think.
Awww that makes me so happy that it brought back good memories! Yay! Thanks so much, Misti! 💕😃
I had a Snoopy pull toy as well. I suspect that Fischer Price named theirs first. Hmmmm. I wonder where Charles Schultz got the name from?
Oh wow… I never thought about that… hmmmm… 😉