Trains.com

Is your job toy train related?

3758 views
27 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2003
  • 6,434 posts
Is your job toy train related?
Posted by FJ and G on Monday, April 10, 2006 2:35 PM
A few of you (Jim Duda, Bob Nelson etc) work in electronics or in electronics retailing, which is useful to toy trains.

I've known of a few people on other forums who work in art studios or in props, which relate

Does your job remotely relate to any aspect of toy trains?

(my job, Army homepage coordinator/content provider, doesn't really relate).
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Shanksville PA
  • 311 posts
Posted by tsgtbob on Monday, April 10, 2006 2:45 PM
Hmmm, as a journalist, I get to cover many events, and any time that I can go to a show, swap meet, club layout open house, I take the ball and run with it, so I would have to say "Maybe!"
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
  • 1,058 posts
Posted by johnandjulie13 on Monday, April 10, 2006 2:48 PM
Hello David:

How are your electronics lessons coming? I continue to make steady process.

My job (banking) is as far away from the hobby as one can get...which is probably one of the reasons I really like it!

Regards,

John
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • 20 posts
Posted by Jamesh1083 on Monday, April 10, 2006 3:59 PM
I work in a manufacturing plant as a maintenance technician, where we work with lasers (among other things) and have a couple of them on Mars providing navigation to the rovers and orbiter. The wiring & electrical stuff I do at work helps me with understanding the wiring on the train set at home. I also get to practice my soldering skills and have learned more about cleaning methods and chemicals. I've found using IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol) works great on cleaning the rails. Because of the troubleshooting I do at "work" I'm not nearly as timid or intimidated about opening something up to see what makes it tick and trying to fix it if it's broken.
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Jamestown, NY
  • 658 posts
Posted by tschmidt on Monday, April 10, 2006 4:00 PM
I'm a school administrator so there is no relation to trains. I have them just for fun and relaxation.

TomS
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 1,774 posts
Posted by Dr. John on Monday, April 10, 2006 5:29 PM
Well, I'm a pastor and sometimes I pray that things on the layout will work . . .
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • 3,176 posts
Posted by csxt30 on Monday, April 10, 2006 7:00 PM
My job allows me to study prototypical practices, work with actual RR parts. Look for junk all over that may be used for building something on the layout.
Can take pictures of verious RR structures & rolling stock. And hope someday a boxcar load of Toy trains will overspill & instead of the RR burrying all that stuff, thay would offer it to me !! [:D][:D]
Thanks,
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
  • 1,058 posts
Posted by johnandjulie13 on Monday, April 10, 2006 7:43 PM
Jamesh1083:

You get to work with lasers that are on Mars? That is so cool! I can imagine after working in an exciting environment all day that coming home to low voltage can motors and basic wiring is pretty tame.

Regards,

John
  • Member since
    January 2004
  • 1,634 posts
Posted by pbjwilson on Monday, April 10, 2006 7:47 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Dr. John

Well, I'm a pastor and sometimes I pray that things on the layout will work . . .


I like that one.

I'm a painter who also does artwork. Modeling trains is like 3D art to me. In fact I'm really not all that into real trains. I think of my toy trains as art in motion. N and HO are to small and fidgity for me, so it's O gauge all the way. Some G gauge in the garden(my other hobby) is good too.
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Spring Lake,Michigan
  • 175 posts
Posted by crip on Monday, April 10, 2006 8:00 PM
I am an auto parts salesman. The last thing I want to do in my spare time is play with cars
like some of fellow employees! Playing with toy trains is my escape from the real world. If I never saw a car again it would suit me fine!

Home of  the K.I.S.S. Railroad

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: US
  • 1,304 posts
Posted by mitchelr on Monday, April 10, 2006 8:14 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by tschmidt

I'm a school administrator so there is no relation to trains. I have them just for fun and relaxation.

TomS


[#ditto]

Mitch

Bob Mitchell Gettysburg, PA TCA # 98-47956 LCCA# RM22839

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Watkinsville, GA
  • 2,214 posts
Posted by Roger Bielen on Monday, April 10, 2006 8:28 PM
I'm a retired facilities engineer, Chem. E., and I work part time in retail. And of course my current job relates to trains, IT SUPPORTS MY HABBIT,( I mean hobby). Just don't let my wife know that's why I work.[:D][:D]
Roger B.
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Monday, April 10, 2006 8:45 PM
At work , I practise building full scale layouts so I don't screw up my O-Scale layout in the room above the garage. [:D]

By building full scale using someone else's money, I can try new and different techniques. The hardest thing about working in full scale is the utility companies always have a sewer or water line right where you need to construct a major component for the layout. Needless, to say they always erase the third rail from the plans I have prepared for the bridges. [:(]

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Monday, April 10, 2006 9:00 PM
Hmmm, I work in higher education (sometimes an oxymoron) and there's a lot of higher learning on this forum so it's gotta be related.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 2:20 AM
I'm a mechcanical enginer and have worked in the plastics industry for many years. Lionel has been a customer in the past. I personally have used 2d and 3d cad to help me in the design of my home layouts. I would love to have the complete and free use of the sheet metal facilites to fabricate my own home brew sheet metal cars and locomotive bodies etc. 8D] but the company has other ideas. [:(]
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • 382 posts
Posted by trigtrax on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 5:12 AM
Yeah, my job is toy train related... I build Steeltoys... bridges, stations, el's.. But it wasn't always that way.. I used to work for others, like most people. I got tired of that scene and decided to do what I want.. I absolutely love it [:D]
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Millersburg, Pa.
  • 7,607 posts
Posted by laz 57 on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 6:26 AM
I teach kids how to use tools. In Industrial Arts class.
They can use this knowledge to build bench work and teach basic wiring.
laz57
  There's a race of men that don't fit in, A race that can't stay still; Robert Service. TCA 03-55991
  • Member since
    January 2005
  • From: New England
  • 6,241 posts
Posted by Jumijo on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:23 AM
I'm not into real trains much either. I do enjoy the vintage ones we see each time we visit New Hampshire, but modern 1:1 trains do nothing for me.

Jim

Modeling the Baltimore waterfront in HO scale

  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: Eden Prairie, MN
  • 35 posts
Posted by jlrocks on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:46 AM
I am a Financial Planner and it gives me great stress relief. What a great hobby!

Go Hawkeyes

  • Member since
    December 2005
  • From: Long Island, NY
  • 456 posts
Posted by darianj on Tuesday, April 11, 2006 8:50 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Buckeye Riveter

At work , I practise building full scale layouts so I don't screw up my O-Scale layout in the room above the garage. [:D]

By building full scale using someone else's money, I can try new and different techniques. The hardest thing about working in full scale is the utility companies always have a sewer or water line right where you need to construct a major component for the layout. Needless, to say they always erase the third rail from the plans I have prepared for the bridges. [:(]



No THAT's Funny!!!!
There's light at the end of the tunnel.... It's a Train! http://www.tmbmodeltrainclub.com
  • Member since
    January 2002
  • From: Lewiston NY
  • 50 posts
Posted by zeames1 on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 6:12 AM
I'm an engineer working in a large Hydro Generating Plant in Niagara Falls. The generators look a little like a LARGE Pullmore motor, so I guess it's related. What's greaat is that I live close enough to work that I can go home for lunch and run my trians for 15 minutes.
'Torn between the NYC and todays great railroads'!!! JimZ
  • Member since
    November 2003
  • From: Sandy Eggo
  • 5,608 posts
Posted by dougdagrump on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 12:43 PM
Retired traffic and warehouse manager, now my traffic is all domestic and a much smaller scale. The best part is that I get a tax deduction for my operation. [^]

Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.

www.sd3r.org

Proud New Member Of The NRA

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Bucks County, PA
  • 428 posts
Posted by Bucksco on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 4:29 PM
Oh Yeah!
In a big G gauge way!
Jack
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Jelloway Creek, OH - Elv. 1100
  • 7,578 posts
Posted by Buckeye Riveter on Thursday, April 13, 2006 6:54 AM
Jack,
I thought the marketing manager for LGB would be located in sunny warm San Diego where I send my LGB engines to be overhauled after a million or so miles of hard running?

Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum. Smile, Wink & Grin

Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..

Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR

TCA 09-64284

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Bucks County, PA
  • 428 posts
Posted by Bucksco on Thursday, April 13, 2006 7:28 AM
Nope- I'm an East coaster. I work out of our New Jersey warehouse. 65% of our shipments are East of the Mississippi.
Jack
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Crystal Lake, IL
  • 8,059 posts
Posted by cnw1995 on Thursday, April 13, 2006 8:19 AM
Zeames1, I've been reading up on the International Railway Company - have some neat artifacts from them - bills of lading, tickets... They ran up your way up around the falls.

Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.

  • Member since
    November 2002
  • From: US
  • 122 posts
Posted by DCmontana on Thursday, April 13, 2006 4:46 PM
I too am a school administrator. The district is paying my salary for two days the week before Christmas when I bring my layout to school and run it for the kids. The kids and I have a lot of fun. I have gotten a few of them started with trains!
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 13, 2006 6:49 PM
My employment was train related back when I was in the book publishing business, and it was interesting and a lot of fun. First with Greenberg, then with Kalmbach, and subsequently with Landmark Communications. In addition, I also wrote a regular column for "Vintage Rails" magazine (no longer published) and a good many other publications and newspapers, plus having written three model railroading books of my own.

These days I'm still working on a couple of model RR books--at my own pace--and still in the writing and editing business for a major university, but not directly involved in supporting the toy or model train industry.

After I retire, or even a bit before, I have plans to get back into hobby-related publishing on a regular but more self-directed basis, and am already developing plans for a few projects in that regard. The greatest enjoyment I get from the hobby is providing/sharing information for others so they can increase their own enjoyment.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 16, 2006 9:32 AM
Hospital finance is my combination profession and hobby. It's a long way from being train related but Doug's comment is intriguing - how does the tax deduction come about? [?]

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month