Peanuts Begins by Charles Schulz for January 29, 2022

I had a train set like the one in the first panel. Lots of track, two switches, one cross piece.

don’t people say, “less is more”?

A funnier variation of this was when Chuck sees the other kids in a swimming pool, and goes home to sit in a bucket of water.

You’re luckier than me CB. All my life I dreamed of an electric train. Nowadays they are rich men’s toys. Very rich men. Brian May had a train set in his basement that was so luxurious it featured on a BBC special.

It’s a good start, Charlie Brown!

Yeah, Chuck’s was mine…and I just couldn’t get wound up ab o ut it.

Don’cha worry, CB. You’ll be back on track soon enough!

Lionel Trains were big sellers back then.

Look on the bright side, Charlie Brown. It will take you that much less time to put it away. My train set is not much bigger than yours!

Gomez Addams started in a similar fashion…

That’s one spacious living room

At least it’s easier to clean up.

I feel for C.B. Not until I was an adult could I have the model train layout of my dreams.

I always got excited setting up the train and turning the switch to start it, but then it was kind of boring just watching it go around a circle or wherever. I like car race sets better.

It’s all fun and games… until Mom says to pick it all up and put it away.

I have more fun building ’em than running ’em, to be honest.

Better than nothing, Charlie Brown. :)

Poor Charlie Brown.

I had a little more than Charlie Brown, but the nextdoor neighbor (adult) had half his attic devoted to American Flyer trains. A bunch of switches, mountains, tunnels, a lake, little town buildings, most of it home made. It was quite a setup.

I would have felt that way myself if I’d seen a friends train set was so much bigger than my own. But I don’t know if any of my friends even had train sets since I almost never went to any of their houses.