You're probably going to need a track too wouldn't you? So you should look for suitable set that will fit the table you have. There's no point buying a good train if it can't go anywhere.

I would check hobby/model shops? They should be able to help.

(10lbs of cake sounds like a lot though!! That's like 4Kg!!!)

That's one heck of a long way to drive but a great way to see the country ..personally I'd drive to Cairns & fly back to Sydney from there ...
More flexibility if you have a car & if you plan your trip well , a lot to see on the way..

Sports Parents’ Behavior During the Car Ride Home

Coach Brian Gardner of St. Louis, Miss. has coached ice hockey for 10 years and even led one team of 11- to 12-year-olds to a national championship.

Some of Gardner’s players’ parents drive for as long as 1.5 hours to get their kids to the ice rink. That’s a long time for parents to be alone with their kids after a game, says Gardner. Especially if they spend that time talking about the players’ performance.

“A lot of times, parents think more about their kids’ success than the whole team,†says Gardner. The result: They give too much instruction, which can undo Coach Gardner’s lessons and coaching system.

“At the least harmful level, the parents second-guess some of the systems we put in place, such as a power play system. They say ‘You should do this, not what Coach says,’†Gardner relates.

On a more harmful level, parents tell their kids that they played badly. Out of frustration, parents sometimes even suggest to kids they should consider giving up the sport.

This behavior, while well-meaning, is counter-productive to Coach Gardner’s efforts and not helpful for the players, he says.

What exactly is the best way to talk to a young athlete after a game?

First of all, it’s critical to support the coach You’ll only confuse your child by disagreeing with the coach or offering counterproductive coaching.

Second, you need to encourage your child as often as possible. Even if your athlete’s team lost, you can find something positive to say about his or her attitude, effort or about two or three positive plays. As a sports parent, your goal is to build your child’s confidence—not tear it down.

During the car ride home, you should avoid discussions about what your child did wrong in the game. Young athletes know what they did wrong in a game and don’t need to dwell on it during the car ride home.

Let your athletes cool off after the game for 30 minutes to one hour before jumping in to discuss their performance. Let your child initiate the conversation rather than bringing up the missed pass that cost their team the win. Be as positive as possible.

About the Author

Award winning parenting writer Lisa Cohn and Youth Sports Psychology expert Dr. Patrick Cohn are co-founders of The Ultimate Sports Parent. Pick up their free e-book, “Ten Tips to Improve Confidence and Success in Young Athletes†by visiting http://www.youthsportspsychology.com

Wheels are not available separately. They are normally sold as "wheelsets," which means two wheels and an axle, assembled.

A wheelset for a modern passenger car runs around $8,000 to $9,000.

1980s prices are 'way out of date.

Train Accidents and Safety

Serious train accidents are caused by a variety of mechanical and/or human factors. A spokesman for the Federal Railroad Administration in Washington, and others, have suggested that many mechanical failures are actually a result of deferred maintenance. The railroad companies, he said, in an effort to eke out greater profits have reduced or postponed maintenance to both their rolling stock and tracks. In fact, the number of rail maintenance workers is now half what it was 20 years ago.

Human factors causing train accidents involve three areas:

- Health problems of a crew member, like a heart attack
- Substance abuse
- Human error caused by fatigue

While catastrophic health problems are largely unavoidable, and post-accident drug testing has dramatically reduced the incidence of substance abuse, fatigue remains a key factor in a large number of train accidents.

Many train workers agree that sleep deprivation and the grueling schedules were the most serious safety issue on the nation's freight trains. Because of past concerns about fatigue-related crashes, Federal Railroad Administration law now limits train-operator work shifts to 12 hours. But workers contend that being marooned repeatedly in a company motel far from home is not their idea of restful time off.

"The rules are written in blood here," one engineer said. "The only time they change is when people are injured or die."

On the passenger side of the track, there are a number of items and tips that passengers should be aware of to help train workers stay focused, which could then lower accident numbers. Most of the safety tips that passengers need to follow come from realizing that a train is heavy and dangerous machine. A train should always be given the right of way.

Once a train has started moving, it can take a long time for it to stop. A 100-car train moving at 55mph will need at least a mile of track in order to come to a complete stop, once emergency breaks have been applied. If locomotive engineer on a train can see you, it is already too late. With this in mind, always follow traffic signals in regards to train tracks. Trains are not always on an exact schedule, so expect a train at any time. Never race a train to a crossing and do not stop a car on railroad tracks.

As a passenger, simply following the rules posted in train stations will prevent accidents. Never try to board a moving train. When a train approaches, be sure to stay behind the warning strips/signs. The strips may seem unnecessary, but a train may extend three or more feet outside of the rail, causing serious injury to people who are not paying attention.

By following rules and regulations posted in stations, passengers allow train workers to stay focused on their jobs, which can prevent accidents and keeps trains running more smoothly. Although human error and fatigue may still cause accidents, any effort to help reduce the number of those accidents is well worth it. The safety rules were created for a reason, and should be followed in any situation.

The information you obtain from this article is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

About the Author

A
Minneapolis Minnesota lawyer or attorney
at a local law firm can provide you with an experienced
Minnesota attorney or lawyer
.

Both of my boys did the standing on there head thing. They still think it's great. They were crawling around 7 months but I think it took about another month before they figured out they could use furniture to stand. Louie was walking bye 10 and 1/2 months and Tino waited until 11 months he was faster crawling than his brother walking. Just be patient my boys were ahead of the curve but usually kids are walking bye 1.
i would do things like put things in the middle of the floor so they had to crawl to get it. If you get them moving walking comes.

Basic Things You Should Know About Model Trains

Model Trains has become a leisure pursuit by many for years. It is a good way to engage your time and polish your artistic talent.  There is so much involved in this hobby other than just collecting locomotive. It also entails building sceneries and enriching your skill on scales and gauges. Gauge refers to the distance between the rails. Models of certain scale run on standard-gauge track.

Discover Model Trains

Manufacturers have the goal of creating accurate and realistic model trains. The first model trains were powered by wind-up clockwork, or steam engines, with the first electric model trains appearing in the late 19th century.

The German manufacturer Marklin produced detailed trains as well as signals, stations, houses, and other scenery and destinations. Other German companies made ride-on-top live steam trains.

In 1906, Joshua Cowen invented Lionel trains, which soon became to dominate the American toy train market. More recently, LGB popularized garden trains in the United States.

Toy trains look less realistic than model trains, but often appeal to collectors. The first toy trains were made of cast =iron or were pull toys. In the early 20th century, Lionel started making toy trains for standard gauge and O gauge. Other companies, such as American Flyer, Ives, and Marx made similar trains.

The interactive aspect of trains make toy trains perfect for young children. Some adults’ first memory of a toy was that of a Lionel train. Children between the ages of 4 and 6 may be introduced to wooden train sets that spark the imagination. Children 8 years of age and older may be introduced to S scale electric trains, HO scale electric trains, or G scale electric trains under the guidance of an adult. Make sure that you carefully read all safety instructions that come with any train set before allowing children of any age to use it.

Four Most Common Scales

• Z scale (1:220) model railroad trains: Z scale trains make a good choice for anyone with limited space. These trains are not only tiny but highly detailed.    
• N scale (1:160) model railroad trains: N scale is a popular scale and the second smallest after Z scale. N scale trains are perfect for hobbyists who want to run long trains or keep the focus on the scenery. The price of N equipment is slightly higher than HO scale. Micro-Trains, or MTL, is a well-known brand that makes scale trains.    
• HO scale (1:87) model railroad trains: HO scale trains, one of the most popular scales with modelers, come in countless types of trains and have = large selection of scenery available as well. HO trains are generally highly detailed and a good value. An HO layout requires a moderate amount of space.    
• S scale (1:64) model railroad trains: S scale trains—the scale of American Flyer trains—also =ave a strong following among narrow-gauge model railroaders. This larger scale makes the train dominate any set. S scale does not have the massive following of HO or N scale.    
• O scale (1:48) model railroad trains: O scale trains are very popular toy =rains. Lionel continues to make trains for =his scale. O scale trains are easily handled by children. MTH makes tinplate lines of model trains in O and standard gauges.    
• G scale (1:22.5) model railroad trains: G scale trains are for indoor use, but =re especially suited for garden trains. L.G.B. made the scale popular in the United States and makes detailed, sturdy trains that stand up to =he elements. Other manufacturers in this scale include Bachmann and Aristo-Craft.

About the Author

Kevin Smalley is a Model Train enthusiast and expert. For more great tips on model trains visit http://www. modeltrainshome.com. Learn the basics by signing up to our FREE Model Trains Home Mini-Course now!