Lone Ranger or Team Player?

[Dr. John]

How many of you are actively involved in a model railroad club (of any scale or guage) and how many of you collect and/or operate your trains on your own?
(Yes, I know you can do both.)

I have been in clubs in the past and have enjoyed the camaradery, the opportunity to run trains on a layout far bigger than I could build on my own, and the opportunity to learn from more experienced modelers. I had just joined a very enjoyable group in Mobile last year (S.W.A.R.M. - South West Alabama Railroad Modelers) when I moved up to Prattville. There is a large HO club up here, but I have not joined yet, mainly because my current interests are in O and On30. There are some downsides to clubs (these are general and not true of every club). You usually have limited access to a layout, dues are usually necessary, older members are not always willing to accept newer members, etc. Again, these are generalities. I personally have had good experiences with clubs.

But now I'm something of a "lone ranger." I am not aware of any O guage modelers in the area and no O guage club. That's okay too. As a lone ranger, I don't go through a membership screening process, I don't pay dues, my layout will be there at hand to work on when I wish and I can build it any way I want.

The downside is there is no one to appreciate what I've done (my family is NOT into trains), there is no one to help with wiring, scenery, benchwork, etc, no one to help me operate, no one to bring over their trains to run, etc.

That's why I appreciate this forum. It is like a club in many aspects. We can talk trains or other stuff. We share our layouts through pictures, we joke and tease, we can gripe and complain, and we can ask questions and receive good advice. Thanks for being my train club!

So, are you the lone ranger type or a team player?

[spankybird]

Believe it or not, I am more of a Lone Ranger. I don’t belong to any clubs, beside the Mfg collector (MTH and K-line). I am not aware of any “O” gauge clubs in the Cleveland area. There are “S” and “HO” clubs.

The CTT forum is the closest thing to a club for me. I am lucky to have several other forum members living close by and can visit me.

[Anonymous]

Lone Ranger.

I have never been where there was a train club that shared my interests, and I like to march to my own drummer. Not to say that I don't envy Spanky with forum members around. Closest guy I know to me is Chief, and he's a thousand miles away. But the weather is nice here.

[FJ and G]

I'm a lone person as there are no toy train (much less any scale) modelers that I know of nearby, unfortunately.

I looked into joining the local train club but they already have too many modules and can do up to 3 train shows simultaeously.

None of their members live really close and I had fighting area traffic nightmares and am content to be with my trains and BB the beagle.

[TurboOne]

Thanks to Dougdagrump, I got introduced to a great club here in San Diego, went to HO meetings, to many rivet counters for me. O gauge has real down to earth people, that want to run trains, even heard that HO guys come over to 3 rail, and tell them their trains aren't running at prototypical speeds.

The 3 railers have the coooooolest layout with working scenery and my favorite, the McDonalds shop that talks.

I would say I am both. I want to learn so much from more experienced MRRs, but I like going out to the garage and doing what I want when I want. [oX)][oX)]

Tim

[dougdagrump]

Thanks Tim.
In the land of OVERPRICED real estate it is very difficult on a relatively modest fixed income to have space for a permanent layout. That is where clubs can be of tremendous benefit. I could not in my wildest dreams have built anything like the club layout. As far as access is concerned I almost always can find track time, one of the bene's of being retired. My only complaint is the [censored] traffic in the mornings when I do run, what used to normally be a 45 minute drive at most has sometimes taken as long as 2hrs with 90 minutes now being about the norm. As of yet I haven't met any other members that you would classify as a pain in the [censored]. Hopefully tomorrow morning will be a good drive since it is Good Friday. [:D]

[Roger Bielen]

I'm a loaner. I looked into a club about an hour (60 mi+/-) away, it's a combo HO & O/O27 club without much space. My biggest problem is they meet on a Tues. at 7:30 pm and I have to be in work at 6:30 am ,so I couldn't stay all that late, also the price of gas.

I asked at the local train store but was told he tried to get a group together one time but the problem was agreeing as to when. He is having a by invitation only gathering with a Lionel rep. in a few weeks, maybe a chance to meet a few other locals interested in trains and plan a get together.

[wrmcclellan]

I am a member of a local club. What works for us is that is is a very loose knit organization. No president, officers, etc. Each member contributes their individual skills. We have a good time, enjoy each others company, and have relatively few disputes. We hold meetings when necessary, like planning for a layout open house or taking the temp layout to a local event.

Some aerial views of the club layout.







Regards,
Roy

[Jim Duda]

My theme song is the William Tell Overture and my trusty sidekick was Tonto...

[cnw1995]

As others have noted, this forum is the closest thing to a club I can find. The Chicagoland Lionel clubs or other model railroad clubs are too far away - given the time I would have to try to get together. I am always on the lookout to connect to others in the hobby - I certainly appreciate the chance to do it here.

[wrmcclellan]

Jay Silverheels - da man!

http://nimst.tripod.com/cgi-bin/UC9.html

[ChiefEagles]

I'm a loner and since I have a Ranger boat, I'm a Lone Ranger. [;)] Never been interested in a club. BTW Skyray, I'll be a little closer next Thursday. Orlando until Sunday PM. Doing BPS show there. I will bask in sunny Florida. [8D] I do think clubs have a great place and give guys a chance to run their trains on nice large layouts that they might not have a chance to have at their homes.

[csxt30]

When you mention "The Lone Ranger & Tonto", you're talkin my language!! Was my favorite when little. Would only quit playing with my trains to watch The Lone Ranger & Tonto! Liked Roy & Gene, too!

[cnw1995]

I love those guys - I have their old radio shows i listen to while running trains - Heigh Oh, Silver! Away!

[ChiefEagles]

John, I still watch them. Westerns Channel. [:D]

[Anonymous]

HI all!! Will never forget Lone Ranger and Tonto!!
Also loved Hopalong and remember some of Tom Mix
Tom Mix was alive when Doc Holiday was around--
Really love old westerns---can't figure out why they haven't come, kids I think would enjoy them along with something along the lines od Howdy Doody--
but no they to get rid of Road runner and all the real good stuff--Too Bad[:(]
Happy Easter to all and not forget for what it stands!![:)][:)]

[ole1]

I'm a member of a railroad club and you can visit us at www.luceline.tripod.com to see what we're up to. The town is about 15,000 so were fortunate to have enought interest to support a club. There are about 25 members with probably 12 that are really active. There are several layouts at the club and they are all portable. Our mall space is contingent upon the space not being rented to a commercial enterprize so we can't build anything permanent. My interest lies with the three rail layout and there are only a couple of us who devote most of our effort to that. There is a larger HO layout which has the most interest but one of the fellows has an American Flyer layout and one has an N. We have regular monthly meetings and are open to the public the first and third Saturdays of the month as well as Tuesday evenings. Tuesdays are supposed to be work nights but coffee and conversation are just as likely to be the main activity. If it hadn't been for a local club with a three rail layout my old Lionels probably wouldn"t have seen much daylight but now that I'm retired they get plenty of chance to run and I've gotten to do some scratchbuilding and have even picked up some additional pieces so for me the club has been great. We put on a couple of shows each year and have a special Christmas trains display when all the second graders from the local schools come to visit. About 350 kids over 3 days; phew! Another fun activity thats's not covered on the website is the occasional hobby shop excursion when we get a van load of the guys together and head into the Twin Cities (Mpls & St Paul) and hit a lot of the major model railroad hobby shops. It's an all day and about a 180 mile trip and we often come home "spent". Do I enjoy the club? Well like we say here in Minnesota "Ya you bet cha" Ole

[Anonymous]

Trains are just one of several obsessions I have. I am sure I would benifit from the give and take of others, but I detest business meetings and paying dues.

Bob

I know I am wrong about just about everything. So I am not going to listen when I am told I am wrong about the things I know I am right about.

[Anonymous]

I do not belong to any clubs, as I never have the time available. There is a 2 rail O scale club very close by, and a HO club not too far away. Since I am modeling 3 rail O scale, the closest club I am aware of is 40 miles away. I work shifts and raise a teenage son as a single parent. Some day, maybe but not right now. My son's interests are taking so much of my time I do not always have time to keep up with my interests.

[Anonymous]

I was a Lone Ranger until last year when I was asked to join a Marklin discussion group. (I R Shy) I have alway been a silent member of one organazation or another.(I like the monthly mailings and news letters) I now have been more active and allowing myself to attend the regular local meetings of the TCA, Marklin group, and ETE (European Train Enthusiasts.)
Sometimes a Fella has the time to spare, sometimes he doesn't. I've been makin the time resently.

[donl409]

pretty much a Lone Ranger, in fact I have a framed picture of the Lone Ranger with a pocket knife attached to the frame in my home office. Although I live north of San Diego and have seen layout in Balboa Park (San Diego Train Museum) (see above ) I don't normally join into groups and its still a prettly long drive (as dougdagrump mentioned)

[prewardude]

I'm a lone ranger all the way. Given my schedule, and the rural area that I live in, joining a club (if there even was a local one) is pretty much out of the question. That's why I come here! [:)]

[Anonymous]

A loner, I'm too opinionated and maybe a little selfish in my hobby to get involved with a group. I want my trains my way. By the way, didja know that only a highbrow can listen to the William Tell overture and NOT think of the Lone Ranger? John

[palallin]

I am a plankowner in the local train club, but it is a generalist's club: a little bit of everything and not a lot of anything. We have no space of our own and are just about to embark on building a multi-gauge, very plain layout just for running trains. If we ever find space . . . .

Several memebers have layouts, running the gammut from N to G and Standard Gauge.

I do work mostly alone: like many here, my tastes are sufficiently idiosyncratic that no one else does anything right [;)]

[underworld]

Too many goofy rules in the clubs that I have seen. I like the sound of the club that Roy is in.

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

I belong to a modular O gauge three rail club. I used to belong to an HO modular club too. My main observation of both is that there is a lot of buying but not much modelling going on in either. I enjoy the camaraderie, but my tastes in modelling are totally at variance with both clubs. I run trains mostly to break them in, but the other guys really don't know much about the Glory Days of steam....or even care much about it. The HO club was mainly interested in participating in shows to attract more modellers who will participate in shows and so on. The O gauge club is mainly concerned with entertaining kids. They have lots of buttons on the side of each module to operate accessories. Most people who look at the O gauge pike are more interested in pushing the buttons and watching a light come on, an animal cavort about in a scratchbuilt zoo or a Santa Claus flying about than in the trains. Ho-hum! The retention rate is dismal for both clubs as people lose interest in standing about trying to protect their trains from the depredations of little kids or standing around watching their train run 'round and 'round with no real operation. I do my modelling at home and my operating at club shows, but nobody ever notices real modelling, but they will "oh" and "ah" over the latest model pulled out of the box. I guess we clubmembers all have our own ideas of what interests us about the hobby and that all stays home.

[webenda]

Count me in your Lone Ranger Club.

Wayne

[laz 57]

I do belong to TCA but as far as local clubs we have about 7 local train nerds here in a 10 mile radius that go over each others house and run trains. Pretty cool and get some good idears.
laz57