Mr Charles Ro, Jr    4-17-2026

Thank you for donating the flat cars used in the MakingTrainsFun Youth Clinic last weekend (April 11-12) at the Denver Train Show held at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO.  The clinic, where kids create "loads" for their flat cars, basically saved the day for our 8 year old granddaughter. 

She is a hands-on, creative kid who thoroughly enjoyed the clinic.  Although she has more than an average interest in trains, he had no interest in Kadee Couplers, or various model railroad car trucks, or radio controlled locomotives, or various other vendors, and only limited interest in the various model train layouts.  She is a touch and do kid, not a look and watch kid.  She did, however, really enjoy the Legos train layout because she and her parents are "into" Logos. She was "done" with the train show in about an hour and a half (this is boring), and then we discovered the MakingTrainsFun Youth Clinic!

The MakingTrainsFun Youth Clinic was right up her alley, and she created her car with only very limited assistance from me. She also enjoyed watching her car as part of the consist of a special train made-up of all the cars created by the kids at the clinic. The train ran on the garden railroad club layout. She is very proud of her car and has it prominently displayed on a shelf in her room.  Thanks again for your generosity and investment in youth.

Steve Schmidt

Dear Mr. Ro,   7-13-2025

My Grandson wants to Thank You for the opportunity to make a rail car at the convention. He enjoyed himself immensely. All of the kids had a wonderful time and it was so fun to watch them chase their homemade car around the huge track at the end of the class. The question & answers at the beginning of the class even taught the adults information. It is such a great way to give children a chance to take interest in this wonderful hobby. Thank you again so much for making this possible for so many kids across the United States. We attached a video of the car running on our track and these photos with Toa and his car.

Regards,

Toa & Grandparents

Dear Mr. Charles Ro,    7-3-2025

A few weeks ago I was able to attend the National Garden Railway Convention in Sacramento. My girlfriend's brother is a member of the group and his model railroad garden set-up was on the tour.  We also had my girlfriend’s grandchildren with us. She mentioned that the two young boys aged 9 and 6, were absolutely train obsessed! At home they pour over different train books and retail catalogs and mark down their favorites. The convention was a terrific experience for them.  One of the many highlights of the convention was the Making Trains Fun Youth Clinic. To watch them take a flat car and follow the building instructions to make their own individual car was wonderful to see. They both made a rail car and had them on the track with the other children.  Towards the end of the clinic, the hosts/instructors asked that we send a message to you, thanking you for your generous contribution. The satisfaction of creating something with their hands and seeing the results circle the track was truly priceless. The experience will remain with them of a long time, and I suspect many more model trains in the future. Again, thank you for your generous support and creating a memorable experience for two young train enthusiasts.

Most sincerely,

Glen Iwasaki

For Mr Ro, Jr.     6-24-2025

Thank you Mr. Ro and USA Trains for donating the G-scale flat cars for this year’s Youth Clinic, Making Trains Fun, at the Sacramento Garden RR Convention.  Our two grandchildren really enjoyed creating loads for their flat cars to transport, and then watching their flat car travel around the local club layout.  Your donation has rekindled our children’s Interest in model railroading.

Sincerely,

Bruce Olenchuk SVGRS Member

The kids had so much fun at both shows and we have received many nice comments at both shows.  I have attached a few photos from the Great Lakes Large Scale Train Show for you to view.  

Here are some of the comments from NELSTS:  

-- We loved making our train flat car!  It was a great activity for a good range of ages.  The staff was really nice and helpful!

-- We're so grateful for your generosity and kindness.  We had so much fun!  The memory will last as long as our flat car!  The idea of a train of cars hitched together is great!

-- Always organized and well thought out for the children.  Thank you for your time and effort.

-- He loved it.

-- "This was Great".  

-- Well presented, super helpful and friendly staff.  Great Cars and Loads.

-- Loved learning all the train parts.  Being active with train making. 

Here are the comments from GLLSTE:  

-- This was amazing!! What a wonderful program.  Thank you for all of the work and effort put into this.

-- This clinic was perfect for our little boy (age 6).  The workers were so patient, helpful and friendly.  Thank you so much.

-- Was perfect and a blast with the kids.

-- It was "THE BEST" event to do with our family!  We had a fantastic time building our car.  Thank you so much. ❤ 

-- This was great.  Some examples from past clinics would be fun to see.

-- We loved it.  

-- Have different bins for different scale accessories.

-- I think it was totally awesome and amazing!

-- This was fantastic!! My son had so much fun.  Thank you for "making trains fun" for train loving kids like mine. 

We know one of the boy's that participated in the youth clinics at Great Lakes attended another train show within the last year and was given a starter set.  His Mom said that he absolutely loves trains and could not wait to attend this show and participate in the youth clinics to build a load on a flat car.  With everyone working together, we are seeing kids become more involved in the hobby each year.    

Thank you so much for working with us to bring happiness to these children and giving them the opportunity to increase their love of trains.  

With all our thanks and appreciation for what you are doing.  

Malinda and Steve

Dear Mr. Ro,

We would like to send you a HUGE THANK YOU for the flat train car that we got to put together at the Ohio Metroplex Train show on Saturday May 9,2025.  Little James visited Grandma & Grandpap Germeyer (who live in Jamestown,  Pa) and they took him to the train show where he was able to build his car.  Pappy bought train trucks to run it on & it was the best part of the show!!!.

Thank you again, so very much!!!!

GOD BLESS, 

THE GERMEYER FAMILY

May 3, 2025

Making Trains Fun at the Northeast Large Scale Train Show!!

Hi Malinda & Steve-
My family and I really appreciate the effort you put into the workshops at NELSTS last weekend in Springfield, MA!   What a great program.   And a thank you to your sponsors, especially Charles Ro, for all you and they provided for the kids experience.  My grandson Colby’s car and building will be on my layout this weekend when I host my train club’s meeting. 
My grandson has a great time as did I! 
Thank you and we hope to see you next year.
Tom Fuller

April 6, 2025

I wanted to say thank you so much for your generosity that allowed my kids to participate in the making trains fun experience at the rocky mountain train show. It really blew their minds to be able to create and then use the car. We have a G gauge train at home (won at last years train show!) so my kids were SO excited to take their new car home. The new car has been working none stop, and they have a whole system with ‘docks’ and have also used the train to deliver wooden tracks to build a track for their wooden trains. Thank you so much for this generous gift!! Attached are pics of the car on our tracks and my youngest watching it go around. Thank you again!!!

Arienne Roper

Hi Charlie                                                                                                                                                                                                April 3, 2025

All of us thank you so much for all your support and the special cars.  We love them.  We are looking forward to hosting the clinics and having the kids create loads for these cars.  

Thanks Michele for the nice post!!

Malinda and Steve

Hello Charlie,                                                                                                                                                                                 May 2024

Thank you so much for donating the flat cars for us to use in Atlanta for the Youth Clinics at the Georgia Regional Gathering.  As I mentioned, I wanted to send you some pictures from the clinics.  All the children had a wonderful time and were thrilled to be able to build the load and then take the cars home with them.  

Thanks,  

Malinda and Steve