Your typical 3 rail operator?

[pbjwilson]

Early friday morning in " the great city of Chicaga" and I'm thinkin, are we just a bunch of old codgers who never grew up?

Every once in a while someone posts a question about HO or N gauge trains and we send them to the Modelrailroader forum. Over there the members are somewhat younger on average, into more prototypical modeling, more realistic modelers. Here on the CTT forum we talk of our childhoods, our first train sets, and show off our latest toys.

Whats sadder yet is we post pictures of our wives who allow us to behave like big kids.

Then theres times I find myself thinking how great it will be when MY kids grow up, move out of the house, and I'll finally have room for a train layout.

What's wrong with me? What's wrong with all of us?

I gotta grow up and go to work now. Have a good one.

I wonder what Santa's going to bring me this year?

[Jumijo]

I'm a middle aged codger who grew up in a hurry (had too, but that's my problem) at a young age. I'm only now experiencing the wonders of childhood through my own children, and am having fun doing so.

Jim

[Big_Boy_4005]

Those are some interesting observations Paul. As one who works both sides of the tracks, CTT and MR, I can say in all honesty that the two groups have different mind sets, but there are some similarities too.

The toy lovers tend to wax nostalgic, wanting to relive earlier times, only in grander style that their efforts in life now allow them to afford.

The modelers dream of creating their own little world, and running a railroad. Realism is important to them.

Being that these are two branches of the same hobby, both groups use their time much the same way, as an escape from the daily grind of the real world. The two groups are really much closer than most realize or willing to admit. The demographics are actually quite similar, even if their take on trains is rather different.

Am I a typical 3 rail operator? NO, I'm not a typical anything.[;)]

[pbjwilson]

Thanks for the response Jim. And thanks for the info on the antique store.

And after thinking about it my answer to my own question is YES.
And I'm proud of it.

Happy Holidays!!!

[cnw1995]

Great post, Paul. I've had this same sort of discussion with some smaller gauge acquaintances without most of us taking it seriously. I held that there's something fallacious about assuming that the 'seriousness' of a more strictly prototypical approach is somehow better - our trains are just bigger and with a third rail, though our accessories are more fun. Gotta go out to play now. [:D]

[dwiemer]

Morning guys,
I usually try not to ponder such deep thoughts, especially before lunch. Often, my wife tells me that I am a big kid with too many hobbies. For me, the trains are a mix of things, all good. I came back to the trains after a long abscence due to the reaction of my young son to the trains around the Christmas tree. They are an escape from much of the heavy thinking I have to do in the "real world". They also challenge me in ways that I have not had to do in some time. I have learned much in the way of electrical circuits, building, detailing, etc. It seems that the evolution of the hobby has forced me to learn more and more (I just got the Teal book). Sure, it does bring me back to my childhood, working with Dad, and having him teach me so many lessons about life and the workings of the motors, etc. of the trains. But this is also a hobby that I hope to pass along to my children as it is a great way to spend the precious time with them while they are young and by our side. Too soon they will be out the door asking for money for college.
As for my wife thinking I am bringing out my inner child, I double dog dare her to find a hobby that brings her as much enjoyment.[:-,]

[cnw1995]

You guys really nail it - I like to create a little world - it's sort of a refuge from work and life too. And I've worked in HO, N and O too. I was meeting with some guys from church yesterday morning - most without any hobby - just work and life - and I was trying to share how having a little time to visit the forum, work on a layout project - or just run the trains - really recharges my batteries to go back into the world. I triple dog dared them to think about cultivating an interest outside work...

[Jumijo]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw1995

You guys really nail it - I like to create a little world - it's sort of a refuge from work and life too. And I've worked in HO, N and O too. I was meeting with some guys from church yesterday morning - most without any hobby - just work and life - and I was trying to share how having a little time to visit the forum, work on a layout project - or just run the trains - really recharges my batteries to go back into the world. I triple dog dared them to think about cultivating an interest outside work...

Doug,

You didn't commit a huge faux Pas and go straight to the triple dog dare without so much as a dare, did you?[:)] The only person I've ever heard of doing that is Schwartz on The Christmas Story.

Jim

[daan]

What's wrong with having a hobby? Children in these times listen to loud nasty music, smoke and drink a lot and are only interested in expensive mobile phones and clothing and getting them without having to work for it. At least that's life when you are about 16 these day's.
Then let me play with my trains, live my life and take care for my family.. I think that way of life is a more adult way to behave.

[Anonymous]

I think that trains are toys, regardless of whether they are "O" gauge, "N" or "HO". They are still toys. You can call yourself a collector, and you can insist that you are a modeller, etc, but they are all toys and no matter how the HO guys cut it, they are grown men playing with toys. There i9s nothing wrong with that, but it is what it is and they can stop trying to pretend that what they are doing is not playing with a toy. It is like no matter how physically fit a chess player is, and no matter how skilled or how big the stakes are that he plays for, chess is a game and that's just what it is. A game. Trains are toys. They come in different sizes, but they are toys.

[Anonymous]

I think the neatest thing about 3-rail O is that there IS NO TYPICAL operator like there seems to be in other scales/gauges. We run the gamit from toys to hi-tech, tinplate to rivet counting, carpets to huge layouts, Christmas to permanent, scenic'd to bare plywood...yet we all seem to get along pretty well, because we realise it's supposed to be FUN. Joe

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Reading and PA RR

I think that trains are toys, regardless of whether they are "O" gauge, "N" or "HO". They are still toys. You can call yourself a collector, and you can insist that you are a modeller, etc, but they are all toys and no matter how the HO guys cut it, they are grown men playing with toys. There i9s nothing wrong with that, but it is what it is and they can stop trying to pretend that what they are doing is not playing with a toy. It is like no matter how physically fit a chess player is, and no matter how skilled or how big the stakes are that he plays for, chess is a game and that's just what it is. A game. Trains are toys. They come in different sizes, but they are toys.

You are perfectly welcome to place yourself in either group, or like myself, in both. However, if you only chose one, don't expect members from the other group to agree with you. My trains may have started out being toys, but they have become part of a working railroad, which when complete, will be a complex and hopefully accurate representation of the real world.

It's not the trains themselves, it's what you do with them.

[ben10ben]

And, of course, the 3-rail segment and CTT forum does have its fair share of "young codgers" as well.

[Anonymous]

This is a great topic. You know... I started with Lionel, at the age of 5. My older brothers "Canonball" Freight set. At age 10, in 1982, I insisted on switching to HO, and receive for my Birthday a very bad "Cannonball" Steam set that I'm not sure ever worked! But I stuck with HO for years. Then I had kids! By then, I'd acquired a few custom painted locos and cars, and one day I found myself screaming at my kids because they wanted to touch daddies trains. Well... enough was enough. Sold the whole works on ebay. If my kids couldn't be enjoy it, I didn't want a thing to do with it. Two years later, I found a used Lionel Engine. I figured, the kids can have their way with it, and I won't become a lunatic. That got me back into O gauge. Three years later... the kids have their stuff, and I just upgraded myself to an MTH set. Everyones happy. I have learned more skills from this hobby than I ever dreamed. Carpentry, electrical, artistic. Yeah... some days my wifes none to happy that I'm playing with Trains, but it's kept me out of trouble for the most part. I know guys who's hobby is to sit at the bar, or go to strip clubs. This is a great hobby, no matter what your age. In fact, there's none better. Enjoy it fellas. Greg

[kopeck]

Well, as one of the younger crowd (roughly a quarter century) I think it really depends on who you are. I like older stuff, the postwar period fascinates me so Lionel trains are just a natural fit. I had the HO stuff at first but I was given a set of Lionel gear by my Grandparents, that's all it took.

I don't have a layout right now but I was planning on doing one for Christmas but those plans got pushed back a bit. With friends that have "little engineers" running around, well that's just a great excuse to keep the trains in arms reach..

Anyway getting back to the topic, besides the hayday period of Lionel I also love the action that the 3-rail stuff offers, and that applies to those younger engineers or some of the more seasoned veterans out there.

Merry Christmas,

K

[1688torpedo]

My Philosophey on this is that we should enjoy what we have ,while we have it. Be it H.O.,S,O, or even N gauge Trains.Life is much too short anyway and No one is promised a Tommorrow. No one should be belittled if they enjoy Trains as a hobby and another thing to think about. I would be willing to bet that at least 75% or more of the people you find in Prison or in Bars have no Hobby at all to enjoy and Friendsips to develop as a result. How Sad it is to go through life with no enjoyment or anything to look forward to.With a Hobby like Trains you get to meet new people and make new friends as a result. I think this is a wonderful Hobby to be involved with. And,this forum sure is a fine venue for Train Enthusiasts to exchange thoughts and ideas with each other and to help out another. Just my[2c] worth.Take Care.

[Anonymous]

Well, I guess IM a big kid!!!, That's fine with me, my kids love a big kid as a Dad, My Wife knows that I have a very stressful job working as a Neonatal Intensive care nurse taking care of very sick premature and sometimes dyeing infants. She understands my need to escape and relax. My layout and miniature world is void of all the stress that follows me daily in my Adult world. In my little world there are no rising gas prices unemployment, crime, wars etc. My little world takes me back to a simpler life where 1950 `s automobiles cruise main street, Coke was a nickel, people had manners and held a door open for a lady or tipped his hat. Kids walked home from school and didn't have to worry about Amber Alerts and strangers. Baseball fields or an empty lot became the neighbor hood Yankee stadium or the polo grounds. And the best thing about my little world is that Railroads where alive and well and steam was the king. No highways and traffic jams or roaring jets flying over. Yes, I am a Big Kid and I play in my miniature world of O scale trains. The way the world is now maybe a few more people should play with trains instead of committing a crime, murder, a war etc.
Yes I like my world better [2c]

[Anonymous]

One thing it does guys ,is keep you out of the bars!!!!!...Tim

[daan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardsushi

Well, I guess IM a big kid!!!, That's fine with me, my kids love a big kid as a Dad, My Wife knows that I have a very stressful job working as a Neonatal Intensive care nurse taking care of very sick premature and sometimes dyeing infants. She understands my need to escape and relax. My layout and miniature world is void of all the stress that follows me daily in my Adult world. In my little world there are no rising gas prices unemployment, crime, wars etc. My little world takes me back to a simpler life where 1950 `s automobiles cruise main street, Coke was a nickel, people had manners and held a door open for a lady or tipped his hat. Kids walked home from school and didn't have to worry about Amber Alerts and strangers. Baseball fields or an empty lot became the neighbor hood Yankee stadium or the polo grounds. And the best thing about my little world is that Railroads where alive and well and steam was the king. No highways and traffic jams or roaring jets flying over. Yes, I am a Big Kid and I play in my miniature world of O scale trains. The way the world is now maybe a few more people should play with trains instead of committing a crime, murder, a war etc.
Yes I like my world better [2c]

Amen. Nothing left to make it more convincing. One simply NEEDS an escape now and then.

[rrandb]

Saying that "model" trains are not toys is alot like playing with a GIJOE and saying he is an "action figure" and not a doll. You just pay alot more for your toys now. I'm sorry your model railroad. The bottom line is play, have fun, or do what ever works for you [:)]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by richardsushi

. No highways and traffic jams

As one who grew-up in the 50's, I had to comment on this[:)] Yes, there were less cars, but...most of the roads were 2-lane, and many people were killed trying to pass the car in front of them. Many breakdowns occurred, tying-up traffic. Most were caused by 2 things we don't see much today...overheating, and flat tires. And anyone that lived in New Jersey can tell you about the nightmare called "traffic circles". But I agree, the 50's were a great time...and the theme of my layout as well. Joe

[cnw1995]

Is it something unique to this hobby - model railroading - that participants can interpret or participate in it in such a wide variety of ways? It doesn't seem so with slot cars, or R/C cars or airplanes.

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cnw1995

Is it something unique to this hobby - model railroading - that participants can interpret or participate in it in such a wide variety of ways? It doesn't seem so with slot cars, or R/C cars or airplanes.

You make an excellent point here Doug. Those hobbies don't involve the artist and creative elements that ours does, and are therefore not subject to as much interpretation. When you boil down RC and slot cars, they are quite academic.

[pbjwilson]

I honestly didn't think that there would be much of a respose to this topic. It was 6 a.m. and I was just sort of ranting and being sarcastic.

All the responses have been very thoughtful and thought provoking. That's why I tune in to this forum, good talk, thoughtful insight, and some good humor.

My quip about the "wives topic" was pure sarcasm. I think that was one of the nicest topics to have been posted in quite awhile and very appropriate for this time of year.

Keep "playin with your trains" and enjoy the holidays.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Paul, I'm not sure whether it was a nerve or a chord, but this struck something with me. I wasn't sure if you were going for funny or philosophical. I guess I take my trains pretty seriously.[swg]

Have fun always!!!!

[ChiefEagles]

Lots of old kids who got toy trains when they were young staying young. [:)]