"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
RideOnRoad Let me just say I am impressed. For what it is worth, I am a fifty-something so I remember life with out computers, when a research paper meant hours in the library. I honestly don't know if I would have lasted in the hobby.
Let me just say I am impressed. For what it is worth, I am a fifty-something so I remember life with out computers, when a research paper meant hours in the library. I honestly don't know if I would have lasted in the hobby.
Richard, OK, Now that I read all of the replies I see that your are over 50 - respectfully, what were you doing at age 12 or 14? nobody ever bought you a train set?
Here in Baltimore, back then in the late 60's, early 70's, there was a hobby shop/train store at nearly every other exit around the beltway, about 10 or 12 of them as I remember.
Like I said before, I worked in two of them. You learned a lot working there, or just hanging out there, talking to the older more experianced modelers - sometimes you got invites to come to their houses, or join their clubs. While I was never a member of this club, here in Baltimore we have the oldest model railroad club in the world, the Baltimore Society of Model Engneers, founded in 1932. I have seen their layouts a number of times and known several of their members over the years.
This is how you learn - exposure - look, listen, ask, and listen and watch after you ask........
I too, like others have said, read every book in th public library on model trains and real trains. As soon as I had a drivers licence I went places on my own like the B&O Railroad Museum, Strasburg Railroad, etc.
When I was younger, this is the club I belonged to:
http://severnapark.railfan.net/
This club is still in operation and is now over 50 ears old. Last time I was there, about a year ago, some of the modeling I did as a teen/young adult was still in place on that layout.
The hobby has changed a lot, some of those changes I have imbraced, some others not so much so. Back then you built a lot of stuff yourself from kits or scratch, there was virtually no "high quality RTR". It took lots of time to even build and outfit a layout the size of mine - 5 x 18.
But the whole thing was about the building and learning as well as running the trains - everybody I knew in the hobby back then understood things like how air brakes work, how steam locos work, how diesel-electircs work. I am amazed at the number of modelers today who have little or no knowledge of how trains actually work in real life - but its all at their finger tips on the web - ironic?
later,
Sheldon
I am a HUGE reader, planner and an observer. When I first started in this hobby a short five years ago I read everything and anything that I could get my hands on. Not just model railroad themed books and articles, but railroad histories, books on railroad operations, signals, structures, locomotive design and how they worked...I dove right in. I also took up railfanning more intently, watching and observing how real railroads operated and functioned. Then I began planning, more planning, and then more planning. It really wasn't until 6 months to a year into model railroading that I began using the internet and forums such as this. I just had so much hard copy printed material at my disposal...which I much prefer over electronic...that I never needed the internet in those early months. But I am thankful that forums like this are here as I have had some great advice given to me by veteran model railroaders that I wouldn't have gotten being a lonewolf modeler such as I am. I don't post here very much but I check in almost daily. To some extent this is my model railway club, and I enjoy it.
Happy modeling!
Don.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that both engines have failed, and we will be stuck here for some time. The good news is that you decided to take the train and not fly."
To reiterate what I would believe most everyone else has said (I have only read the first post here) before the internet, I purchased books on the subject and I would still recommend that a person have a selection of books on your shelf for reference. Books and magazines where the primary way to learn about the hobby. Model Railroader, Narrow Gauge & Shortline Gazette and Railroad Model Craftsman where staples. Although I have none, videos where available back in 1988 when I got back into the hobby.
It wasn't like we were completely in the dark, back before the internet. It is easier to find information now, however.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Then came HO at my neighbors and trips to hobby shops in the area picking up and taking back locos that needed repair. Yes, he did that and when it came to my age as 16, I dropped that only to pick it up again in 1970 when I build a 4x8 layout for my boys. I went to Woolworth's and bought all of the loco, cars and track that I needed and a couple of "How To" books.
There was no need to get a lot of advice, I just stumbled along to today as a lone wolf. :-)
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
My thoughts.
I am not ashamed of being a "Old Gaser".
Thinking back, it was great!
We read...
Used Printed Dictionaries...
Read newspapers for news, or radio and only three network television...
Researched...Read...Read..Read...
We honed or skills...
If we "screwed up"...we tried...again..and again..
Not concerened with Everything being perfect...Our world is not perfect!
Did not worry about a mega-million dollar layout and unbelievable (dicitionary) detail.
Did not worry about the todays craze of some of, cellular telephones, texting, orbiting to wee-bo-tee-bo, information now, internet and much...much..more.
Knew that most of our tools, supplies, equipment, models (kits) r-t-r (Ready-to-Run, not Ready-To Roll) and such, the vast majority, where manufactured in the United States of America, using Americans Labor, earning a decent wage, to support a family on....
The sky did not fall...
Engineering... was using mathamatical formulas, the human mind, which was trained and a engineers slide ruler (or rule if you prefer). Remember Charles G., taking your Professional Engineering exam, for state licensurer and passing on the first try?
No Mister Plastic...
Savings plan...
No "Fast Laning"...
Respect...
Work Ethic...
Punctuality...
Patriotism...
Anyhow, yes technoligy today is a wonder... but...
To bad with all of this, no one has inveted a time machine yet, so someone can step back into time for a while, whether you were alive then, in any period of time and or want to experience the same for a while, if you were not.
Books and magazines from the library. Remember when libraries would store years of back issues? LHS but they got really tired of the kid who always stopped by looking but was too poor to buy much. So I pretty much self educated. My layout was primitive at best but WTH it ran. I had a subscription to RMC back then but it lapsed in my teens.
Years later I realized how laughably bad the layout was but whatever it was mine and it worked. I was very lone wolf though as my earliest models didn't get any praise at the LHS so I kept to myself.
Later on after I moved on in life after many years I rediscovered trains thru SL&NG Gazette. Thru the then newfangled internet I discovered large scale (GR magazine) and great big tiny trains. I have been hooked since. Recently I have began monkeying around again in HO & N with microlayouts. I also recently found and bought many of those old school books I loved as a kid. They are still very relevant today..
Have fun with your trains
I was taught the basics of modeling and locomotive kit building from my dad.I found no need for anything more then those basics since model railroading isn't rocket science.
My small library of railroad books includes the four books by Lance Mindheim and the remainder is on the prototype I am interested in N&W,Chessie,PRR,C&O Southern,SCL,Seaboard System and a short line guide..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
As a youth, every kid in my neighborhood had either a Lionel; or, American Flyer train set. When I was ten; or, so, HO came on the scene like gang busters. Even back then, when I could find the extra money, I would buy a Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman. So, reading was how I’ve learned about the hobby. I was a member of a club for around 3 years, I did a lot of work on the club layout; but, the club’s purpose was as a tourist display. Their focus being a model railroad attraction for the town the club was located in. They were a great bunch of guys and had a nice enough layout; but, I wanted something more, I wanted to operate, which I thought might bring more enthusiasm for the hobby. After 3 years and their steadfast devotion to just being a display, I lost interest and quite the club.
Beyond the years as a member of that small club, I have been a lone wolf Model Railroader. I’ve learned about model railroading by reading and doing. Once you have chosen a line you want to represent, join that line's Historical Association and you will learn tons of information from that organization!