During the 1850's the New York City and New Jersey the orphaned and abandoned children exceeded over 5,000. The organizations and and New York City looked into what they could do with these children besides placing them into orphanages. One of the programs they came up with was called the orphan trains where they would send the children all over the United States for adoption. An agent would go ahead to each stop and with the assistance of the city's local organizations locate perspective families willing to adopt these children. When the trained pulled into town, the children were taken the city hall or a church and these families would look over these children and choose the child they wanted. Occasionally homes were found for children before they left and these children would ride along with the other children and be met and taken into their homes. Robin and his big brother, Steve were given homes with an elderly couple, Steve would help with the gardening and chores while Robin would stay with them until their married daughter would be ready to take him.

During the 1850's the New York City and New Jersey the orphaned and abandoned children exceeded over 5,000. The organizations and and New York City looked into what they could do with these children besides placing them into orphanages. One of the programs they came up with was called the orphan trains where they would send the children all over the United States for adoption. An agent would go ahead to each stop and with the assistance of the city's local organizations locate perspective families willing to adopt these children. When the trained pulled into town, the children were taken the city hall or a church and these families would look over these children and choose the child they wanted. Occasionally homes were found for children before they left and these children would ride along with the other children and be met and taken into their homes. Robin and his big brother, Steve were given homes with an elderly couple, Steve would help with the gardening and chores while Robin would stay with them until their married daughter would be ready to take him.