I could NOT believe it!!!

[Marty Cozad]

Only once or twice a year I can make it to the House Of Trains in Omaha NE. I had to be up in the area on busness. As I was talking a gentalman walked in to buy two GRYS mags. He said, " I have a photo in the Photo contest"!!!
I smiled and asked, you must be Dave Sands from Lincoln NE? IT was, he was picking up his mother in-law from the air port. I chated on the phone awhile back telling him I'd love to meet him.
We talked about what are the chances of our paths crossing in a 20 min period.?
I love this hobby!!![^]

[bman36]

Marty,
OK...you know the Good Lord works in mysterious ways! Yes this is a great hobby allright. Large Scalers are a unique bunch for sure. I have met more great people in this hobby online and in person than anything else I have been involved with! I guess that's what helps me to keep movin'! Later eh...Brian.

[Anonymous]

where is House of Trains. I also live in Lincoln and am just getting started with my garden layout. Which issue of GR mag is the photo in?

[Marty Cozad]

Mr Rag Top
See Omaha phone book. its around 78th and Maple only open tho 8 to5 no Sat which cuts me out. Good selection. Dec issue. the contest.
I'm sure you have heard of the Train Ceilar. see phone book. Tell Donny I sent you. Also tell him to stock the shelves more. Hes cutting back from G. cause of us who buy from the internet folks. I try to support him, but $30 more is way to much.
Mr Top, if you ever plan to come to Nebraska City give me a call, we're in the book. we run trains year round. Unless we can't find the RR. (snow wise)

[Anonymous]

Its as I have always maintained...

"Everyone already knows each other, they just don't know it yet!"

It would have been even better had you two met across from each other on a train!!!!

[powlee]

No matter what business we are employed in, this hobby is a great leveller.
Last year whilst on holiday in Arizona, I had seen an advert in GR for the Double K Ranch in Tucson. It is a Bed & Breakfast run by Ken & Mary Karrels, Ken being a psychologist and Mary being an artist. Before leaving Tucson, I rang and asked if we might pay them a visit.
They made us so welcome, showed us around. They have two layouts in the garden on which guests can bring and run their own trains. I had just upgraded to G scale and Ken was so helpful with any questions I had.
Guests can stay in a converted caboose. Scenery magnificent. We have exchanged emails since. They even got my soccer cap back to me in England after I left it behind.
Great hobby this.
Ian P

[Anonymous]

How great is this, my first time to this site and I already find a thread about Omaha based train folks. I'm brand spankin new to this hobby and my first goal is to get an on30 scale set up in my wifes holiday village. After that, it's on to an HO scale village of my own and eventually a "G" (I believe is the right scale, the big ones but not big enough for a kid to ride on) scale track that will go around the room on the wall in my "train" room.

Any useful tips for a start-up or "newbie" as some may refer to me?

[Marty Cozad]

Welcome Mr Omaha Nian
its good to meet you. I'm south of you in Nebraska City. Don and Craig are in Millard area and so is Sean K.
Plus David W.
If you have any Qs this is the place.
I was in HO for years till ifound G. And after the sticker shock I sold all my other trains to stay in G.
And yes ,( the big Q) we do run year round.

[Anonymous]

You know this house of trains, is this anything like The House of the Rising Sun/


Regards Ian

[Anonymous]

Are there any conventions in the area for train dealers and enthusiasists in the immediate area? I know what you mean about the "G" scale sticker shock, I've been shopping around on the net and have been overwhelmed with the price. That's why I'm not going with a "G" village, rather sticking with the HO for that.

I assume that you guys have been to the Western Heritage Museum to see their little display. Are there any displays in the area that are better?

BTW, to introduce myself a little my name is Bryan, live in the Miracle Hills area of Omaha, prior Navy and currently work on Offutt as a civilian contractor.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by iandor

You know this house of trains, is this anything like The House of the Rising Sun/


Regards Ian

Not to get too far off the beaten path here, are you refering to the song or the TV show "Lost" with this question? Or maybe it's some sort of train lingo that I'm not aware of (which is HIGHLY likely).

[kstrong]

Well, I'm sure "it's been the ruin of many a small boy..." Just not quite in the same capacity.

Later,

K

[Marty Cozad]

Bryan
Cool
The old Rock Island station in Council Bluffs IA has a HO RR. It usually runs during this time of the year. Fund raisers you know. Its been a long time since I was there. The club came down for an open house last summer. Only two folks acted like GRRing was even worth seeing. I used to be an HO person, very strange bunch.... Even my wife went in cause she did not feel comfortable with them.
I don't worry about it, we planted seeds...