A Basic Love for All Trains

[Anonymous]

Lately I have posted my preference and fondness of American Trains, its based on my environment and on the history of the part of the world I am from.

I have a basic love for all trains, I just want to go on record as saying that; while I prefer U.S. prototypes, I have a special place in my heart for the European, Asiatic and Aussie railroads.

I feel I have to post this because I do not want to give the impression that I "hate" non-American things. That is a vibe I got in another forum (non-railroad, more political). It seems that some Europeans and other non-Americans( ie. people that are not from the USA) seem to think that Americans are to self-centered and arrogant.

I am glad that I have never felt this way in this forum. You of Europe (and the British Isles), Australia, New Zealand, Canada et al have done much to improve my life on this forum through the love of trains and thir lore.

Let us resolve to remain united like the rails on a track, ever forward...

(emotional pause)
(sob)...I love you guys...(sniff)...there...(wimper)...I just had to day it![:D]

[Anonymous]

Joe,
From the heart fella, can't beat it!! I started modelling American RR's when I was in N, the Brit outline stuff available was basically c**p and our loco's are usually black, green or blue. I loved the colours of the equipment & the quality available via Atlas, Kato etc, the road names available where things I had read about as a kid, Santa Fe, Rio Grande, Union Pacific. I then found roads that I had never heard of and I was hooked. The move into G followed as a natural thing as the eyes got dimmer and American was the natural theme for me. I started with a Lionel 0-6-0 bashed into a Forney type, still got it but the Lionel mechanism is long gone and now I'm into diesel power, I love American diesels! Anyway, enough nonsense from me guys, we are all just people and we go our own ways. The secret is crossing paths with like minded people and walking the same way for a while.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[toenailridgesl]

Nice sentiments, Capt. I am an Ozzie but lived in the US Midwest for 7 years, '67 to '74 while going to college, got to love the people, in fact finished up marrying one & we're still together 33 years on. (We call our kids half & harf!)
There are a few posters on one particular LS forum that seem to think that, in the words of John Kozsinski, the MotoGP world champion 1990 when he won his first (250cc) title "If you ain't American you ain't ***!" but those of us with an IQ higher than a light bulb realize the ignorance that produces such stupid comments and just appreciate those of the rest of you that are sane and intelligent people.

[Anonymous]

Hi Capt Carrales
I feel a little disapointed you should feel the need to clear the air so to speek.
If we apply common sense to the discusion in hand.
Those in the US are more likely to be interested in in US trains those in the UK are more likely to be interested in UK trains and so on.
There are and will always be exeptions to this, but what do we all have in common an interest in trains and railways regardless of how we spell railway[:D]
the Rules of a model railway /railroad go.
rule1
It is my railway I will do it my way
rule2
in the event of a dispute reffer to rule 1
rule 3
Forget rule three there isn't one reffer to rule 1

So keep building your US railroad don't ever appologise for it you dont have too see rule 1
Iff people dont like it refer them to rule two[C):-)]
I personaly am not keen on US trains I find most of them to be physicaly to big for what I like but as far as my railway goes see rule 1
[:D][B)] now that I have a black eye I shall reffer you to rule 2
Besides think how boring the forum would be if we all had an interest in the same trains
had the same skills ect.
I will put the wooden spoon away now[swg] I have just done enough stiring for one day
Freedom for Railway Modelers
[;)][:-,][yeah][yeah] sorry couldn't resist
regards John

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by John Busby

Hi Capt Carrales
I feel a little disapointed you should feel the need to clear the air so to speek.
If we apply common sense to the discusion in hand.
Those in the US are more likely to be interested in in US trains those in the UK are more likely to be interested in UK trains and so on.
There are and will always be exeptions to this, but what do we all have in common an interest in trains and railways regardless of how we spell railway[:D]
the Rules of a model railway /railroad go.
rule1
It is my railway I will do it my way
rule2
in the event of a dispute reffer to rule 1
rule 3
Forget rule three there isn't one reffer to rule 1

So keep building your US railroad don't ever appologise for it you dont have too see rule 1
Iff people dont like it refer them to rule two[C):-)]
I personaly am not keen on US trains I find most of them to be physicaly to big for what I like but as far as my railway goes see rule 1
[:D][B)] now that I have a black eye I shall reffer you to rule 2
Besides think how boring the forum would be if we all had an interest in the same trains
had the same skills ect.
I will put the wooden spoon away now[swg] I have just done enough stiring for one day
Freedom for Railway Modelers
[;)][:-,][yeah][yeah] sorry couldn't resist
regards John

Well said, I guess my need to "get it off my chest" comes from my recent time in the Political Forums. I enjoy the debate, any good debate, but many times...when someone on a Political Forum is making or has lost a debate point, they result to name calling and non sequitir attacks. I come to this forum because it is a forum that is free of that nonsense, yet still allows the sharing of knowledge and even a good debate on an issue.

I find it an amazing thing, on the other forums I mention people from North America and Europe are at each other tooth and nail, yet here I converse with people from nearly the same international locations without spite and with true brother/sisterhood.

Maybe, Garden Railways are the key to world peace? Maybe positive things we all have in common more rightly reflect the key to world peace.

[bman36]

Capt. C.,
People find it easy to share what they are passionate about. When it comes to Garden RR'ing I feel we are no different. In order to grow as people and as a group means saying what is on your heart sometimes. No need for you to apologize for that my man! People on this forum have a genuine desire to see others succeed, grow , and learn. We lay out our best techniques and general knowledge for the benefit of others. This is rare in today's world. No matter what prototypes we like, as OLD DAD said once...they're still trains! Personally I find it very cool to see modelling from around the globe. My heart though belongs to the Canadian iron I watched as a kid. It's our diverse tastes in this hobby that keep the manufacturers guessing. It's the friends like you I have met here that keep me coming back. Hats off to you all here. When you visit my RR one day Capt. be ready for great bacon and hot coffee eh! Same goes for anyone else wanting to visit too! Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

Hi capt carrales
Stay away from that politics its ruined too many upright honest citizens.
Like your theory on garden railways wonder if anyone will ever do a thesis on that.
regards John

[Anonymous]

Dear Captain

I have to agree with you. I have that basic love for all trains too. But know american narrow gauge has commanded my full attention. But, I still love them all

Nicholas Parker

[Anonymous]

Standard gauge, narrow gauge and even no gauge (monorail) are all of interest to me.
But my heart starts punp'n a bit faster when I think about the little ultra narrow gauge lines of 18" or there abouts.
This is the main reason why I am adding a Gn15 line to my layout, I love these rinky-dink tramway operations from any country.

OLD DAD

[Anonymous]

I don't think that Americans are self centred or arrogant, however i do think they are fairly ignorant of anything that is not American and this is why i stick to using Aussie idioms, although i have a good working knowledge of many things American I have been there several times and have seen more of the USA than most Yanks. Ie 12 states and 30 cities.

For instance I can tell you something about all 50 American states and i can tell you the capital of most of them. Is their a single American on this forum that knows how many states Australia has and what a single capital is? I doubt it !

Like the capital of Florida is Talahasee and the capital of New Jersey is Trenton. lets see a single American tell me what state I live in and what its capital is.

Another matter, Joe I don't care if you do love me I am not going to lend you my Mallet for a year.


Regards


ian

[Anonymous]

Is or is not Perth the Capital of Western Australia? Is not Adelaide the Capital of South Australia? I have to say that I am somewhat of an exception since I am a teacher of History and Geography.

You are correct, many Americans are very ignorance 'bout the world around us...beyond us. But remember, in many ways the United States is like 50 distinct countries. Under our nation's first constitution, The Articles of Confederation and Prepetual Union, the original 13 colonies were 13 seperate nations united in a common goal.

That is why we have "states" instead of "providences." In our current usage we treat the phrase "United States of America" as singular, whereas it was originally plural.

We of the USA have common debates and schisms over the issue between the "Federal Government" and our "Local Governments." This carries on even into American railroading and so-called "Interstate Commerce." Thus, one could look at Americans as members of a mini- "United Nations."

I feel Europe is going down the same path. The Euro, for example, is based on the same issues the USA went through when it had to combine its "state money" into a national currency.

Any Europeans here who can explain British and Continential railroad policy to me? I would be of much thanks. Ian, how do railroads operate down under?

Let me in on the "Annual Mallet" thing. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi Capt Carrales
The Railways down under are still very hamstrung by some very bad descisions that where made when Australia was individual colonies all the diferent states chose different gauges to build thier lines for purely self interested reasons mostly.
So very few could cross stale borders without changing trains going through customs ect.
The Federal government chose standard gauge and now all the states are linked with that but there are still trans shipment points all over the place causing problems
You even had states that built two gauges in some instances.
One well known case of this is the Puffing Billy which from memory is 2'6" gauge
when the rest of Victoria at the time was 5'3"
Fortunatly Puffing Billy has survived to become a very popular preserved line.
As a Foot note the first loco's for this line where Baldwins
Qld 3'6" NSW 4'81/2" Vic 5'3"& 2'6" SA 5'3" & 3'6" WA 3'6" small amount of 2' NT when it had a rail system 3'6" Tas some Aussies think this is part of NZ 3'6"
National gauge 4'81/2"
With the above mess you can see what I mean I think it will be a few years before all is std gauge if it ever happens.
Nice to know some Americans do know what my capital City is.
regards John

[toenailridgesl]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor
[I have been there several times and have seen more of the USA than most Yanks. Ie 12 states and 30 cities.

Beat ya, Ian! While living in the US from '67 to '74 I got to see 39 of the States and since then have been to two more.
Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah!

hehehehehehe!

(Have trouble remembering the bits in the 60s though.....)

[Anonymous]

Capt, I thought you were a Texan not an American? LOL[:D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Capt, I thought you were a Texan not an American? LOL[:D]

Oooo...an interesting point. I am a Texan...that whole other country as they say in the ads. But the "Lone Star State" is also the 28th star in the constellation of the United States.

Bluebonnet71 give me a hand with this one...[C):-)]

[Anonymous]

Hi Joe,
British railways policy? make lots of promises, don't deliver on them and put the prices up. Unlike American RR's the network in the UK is historically passenger driven with freight giving way to passenger trains and when the network was under the control of the GWR(Great Western Railway), LMS(London, Midland Scottish), LNER(London North Eastern Railway) & SR(Southern Railway) each company had its own routes, which they owned and maintained. This was the golden era really when the majority of the population travelled by rail. When British Rail was formed a lot of these duplicate routes became redundant and under the (in)famous Dr Beeching thousands of miles of routes were torn up as it was forseen that everyone would travel by road. This started a long decline in investment which culminated in the re-privateisation of the system to Virgin Trains etc. Due to the under investment the track was in a horrendous state and the companies contracted to maintain the system would sub out to other contractors who weren't up to the job. Profit driven! To be fair to the train operators they have spent millions on new stock which is now filtering through and the government are taking steps to re-nationalise the track network because of the poor safety record over the last few years. The loss of all the track in the 60's is now being regretted as the country's road system grid locks. Not a full policy picture, as I'm sure you will understand, but one as I see it.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]

[Anonymous]

Capt, If I recall from the history channel, Texas was it's own country for 10 to 15 yrs (not sure of the exact) before it asked for statehood. The Texas state Flag was also the same as the country. [:D] and I'm from Ohio and new that[:p]

[Anonymous]

Capt, If I recall from the history channel, Texas was it's own country for 10 to 15 yrs (not sure of the exact) before it asked for statehood. The Texas state Flag was also the same as the country. [:D] and I'm from Ohio and new that[:p]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Capt, If I recall from the history channel, Texas was it's own country for 10 to 15 yrs (not sure of the exact) before it asked for statehood. The Texas state Flag was also the same as the country. [:D] and I'm from Ohio and new that[:p]

Yes, Texas won its independence from Mexico in 1836 and remained a free nation until it was annexed by the United States in 1846, a move that sparked the Mexican American War. The Texas Flag, as it was an nation, is one of the few flags that can fly at the same level as the US National standard.

Many a Native American (Indian) Treaty between the USA and the Tribes was broken because Texan weren't considered to be Americans. This is the case of Northern Texas.

It is in international affairs, such as on these forums, that I have to choose to be American or Texan. Those of you of England et al and Australia, what do you consider to have more standing, "American" or "Texan."

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

Capt, I thought you were a Texan not an American? LOL[:D]

Oooo...an interesting point. I am a Texan...that whole other country as they say in the ads. But the "Lone Star State" is also the 28th star in the constellation of the United States.

Bluebonnet71 give me a hand with this one...[C):-)]

A Texan I am, but my blood comes from Cherokee, Lumbee, Spainard and White.
In Texas the Comanches, Atakapan, Caddo, Coahuiltecans, Concho, Jumano, Karankawa, Kiowa, Mexican - Hispanic They are Indian too, Tigua, Tonkawa, Waco, Wichita then came Apache, Alabama Coushatta, Black (African) Seminoles, Cherokee important late comers. Sam Houston's tribe. (where my blood comes from), Kickapoo, European settlers. So there you have it, "Texans"! [C):-)]
So, that really places me Native American Indian and Texan [:D]

[Anonymous]

As a Canadian does that make me an American? That's a topic for another day. I do admit to having a fondness for canadian trains though and their railways. Just smug I guess. Actually I love all trains, especially the welsh narrow guage [:D] Have a great day all you lubbly people [:D]