I never knew my great grandfather. Born in 1891 Martin Luther Rhodes was a burly, rough and tumble cigar smokin’ railroad machinist and WWI vet that always tipped his hat to women, loved little children, and had a heart of gold. He worked on the railroad his whole life and was extremely talented. As a hobby he would dumpster dive (my word not his) old scrap metal and in his spare time built a to-scale steam locomotive. This baby weighs 300 pounds, measures 6.5 feet long and still works. My dad used to ride it around the yard as a kid. This is hard core. No kit, no map or instruction booklet, just building a train from his memory and genius. When he died he left my dad, his oldest grandchild, two things: his pocket watch he used on the railroad and this locomotive.
I majored in History and get a total kick out of hearing people’s stories. I really love to ask my grandmother about her life, she is a keeper of many secrets and teller of few. During one conversation I learned that my great grandfather had built a locomotive. I asked if it was still around… and discovered an amazing tale of storage units and cousins and different states. After a few years and some smooth styling and fancy footwork I get to house this amazing piece of history. I love everything about it. The history, the look, the freakin’ awesomeness of it and my boys love it (evident by their bedroom).
The train sits proudly on its custom base in our front entry. To me it doesn’t matter at all that six foot long 70 year-old metal isn’t typically what you see when you enter a home. I might not be an entry table kinda gal, but I’m totally okay with that. Kids sometimes knock on the door to see it and the UPS guy even waits for me to open the door just to get a glimpse. It’s a conversation piece and cool is an understatement. My boys love hearing stories of their great, great grandfather and life on the railroad, and I love having this history in our home.
Do you have any heirlooms or vintage pieces that are forgotten that need a place of prominence? Can you display a grandmother’s quilt or frame a favorite recipe? What about the father figures in your life, is there a mining hat, old hammer, or something unique about them that would give dimension and character to your home? Do you have something atypical you can put in your entry? I would love to hear your comments!
(Check back tomorrow on my next post on making the train stand.)
Happy Creating!
This is so very cool! Can’t say how much “junk” has gone to the thrift store that, with a little treasure hunting, would have been as captivating and valuable as this.
seriously? “junk”!? my heart is breaking!
Elisabeth says
I LOVE this train! I watched for countless hours as Grandpa made it and brought it to life. It brings back a flood of wonderful warm memories! He also used to drive me down to the train station every afternoon and we would watch the train pull in to town. He would pull out his pocket watch and say “Yes sir, she’s right on time!” If you ever get tired of it, let me know!
I love this train too! Your memory of it warms my heart!
Jose-Maria Merino, hijo (Uncle Joe) says
I loved to talk with your g-grandfather. Not only was he a true-blue, hard-core democrat a la Delano Roosevelt, but also a skilled machinist. I remember a replica of a safe he made for uncle Mike that only stood about 12 inches high. The original it was copied from was about 3 foot high. And one time while visiting he showed me a take-apart puzzle he made out of solid steel. It was so finely machined that I could barely make out the pieces that made up the steel cube puzzle. He was also kinda quirky like drying his socks in the oven hung on a wire hangar. What a guy!
Uncle Joe, thank you so much for writing this. I heard he was a pro-labor union guy and I love him all the more. He sounds so very talented and I really am privileged to have his work in our house. I find new things that I love about it every day. Really, really remarkable.
I’ve heard about this train forever & never seen it! It’s AMAZING!!! I love it so much! You’ve done a great job giving it a beautiful place to show off the handy work of a great man. I can’t wait to come to your house and see this in person! It reminds me of having a pioneer statue in the entry way of our childhood home. LOVE IT! Can’t give you enough praise. So perfect!
It is amazing. please come to the house :). The pictures don’t do it justice!
The pictures don’t do it justice! You need to come & take a ride!
Carrie says
Hi Sara, I’m new to your blog……..this one hits right to my heart, major love. My grandfather was a railroad man also, switch operator for many years. I have one of his favored pocket watches sitting on my grandparents memory wall. I have many other treasures from grandparents of both my husband and myself……cream separator, butter churn, cream pitcher, flour sack quilt, doilies, and so many more things. These items bring comfort to me, makes the people real, alive!
I am so with you. Sometimes it seems like a different life, a different world, but relics like the train make it all real. Those guys lived amazing lives and the little slice of memory I have from them I love. You are lucky to have so many! I would looooooooooooove to see a flour sack quilt, it must be amazing. Thanks for this comment, it made my day!