Trains.com

FB or FW

2205 views
8 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
FB or FW
Posted by lionelsoni on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 7:51 PM

Lynn Johnston's comic strip For Better or for Worse has been in reruns for a while now.  A couple of days ago she reached the point where the male protagonist gets infected by toy trains.  If you're interested, you can find the daily strips on

https://fborfw.com/strip_fix/

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    January 2012
  • 301 posts
Posted by rrswede on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 8:49 PM

Thanks, Bob. My all time favorite comic strip.

swede

  • Member since
    November 2011
  • 2,071 posts
Posted by Postwar Paul on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 8:58 PM

Isn't that the way ?

It always starts with just one train set....

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 5,369 posts
Posted by cheapclassics on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 9:16 PM

So true. 1987 Rail Blazer set from a Target after Christmas sale for $35.... and the rest is history.

Mike C. from Indinaa

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 7:48 AM

Oh yeah, I remember it from the first time around!  Very funny, and with more than a grain of truth to it.

Remember the wise words of the hobby shop owner?

"Electric trains aren't a hobby, they're a way of life!"

Now if memory serves, on the first go-round of the "FB or FW" toy train story line, either "Model Railroader" or possibly "Classic Toy Trains"  (if they were around at the time) ran a feature about Lynn Johnston's strip and her husband's toy train hobby.  Again, if I remember correctly he was into G gauge.

Maybe one of the Kalmbach staffers remembers?

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Austin, TX
  • 10,096 posts
Posted by lionelsoni on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 8:47 AM

Several days ago, she commented, "It began with N gage, then HO, then trains big enough to ride on."  Nevertheless, her drawings seemed to me to be O-ish or G-ish.

In case someone didn't notice, her site has links to previous days' strips, so you can go back and see this thread from the beginning. 

Bob Nelson

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 9:19 AM

Sounds a lot like me.  Lionels as a kid, then N gauge as an adult (due to my brother-in-law "Big B's" malign influence) then back to the thundering majesty of O gauge!

N gauge was fun and fascinating, but it doesn't shake the house to its foundation like an O gauge layout in full cry!

  • Member since
    February 2007
  • 199 posts
Posted by Roger Carp on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 9:30 AM

Wow--what a memory you have!

Yes, I wrote an article for Model Railroader (October 1990 issue) about Lynn and her husband and the comic strip. It was a blast to do, and they were so kind and generous with their time and sentiments.

Roger Carp

Senior editor

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 10:25 AM

Ah Roger, I knew  if anyone remembered the article, you  would!  

I guess it helps if you were the guy who wrote it!

It was an easy article to remember, especially after seeing the photos of Lynn Johnston.  Man, she was a hottie!  

I think she's still  hot at 72, but then I'm 65.  Whistling

By the way, when lionelsoni opened the thread the first thing that crossed my mind was...

"FB or FW?  Are those vintage Lionel transformers I haven't heard of?"  

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