Hobby involvement

[thomlip]

Over the past year my involvement in the hobby changed focus more than involvement. I made a major renovation. I installed a DCC system and have learned how to install decodes into a variety of engines. I have also been introduced to sound. WOW !!! It makes running trains more fun My 2 year old grandson sure loves to help by blowing the horn and ringing the bell.

T

[sparkingbolt]

Increased. Over past few years i've kept an interest, buying a few locos, autos(HO), even built benchwork. also handlaid about 20 switches at the bench. Laid some track even. But in about July, I got down to biz and brought it all together. Now it runs, and is improving daily

[Anonymous]

My personal involvment remains high, but my 2 oldest sons (ages 12 and 14) are getting more involved in the hobby. So I guess you could say I am doing my part to "grow" the hobby![:D]

[curtisporky]

My involvement has increased with my son taking an ever-growing interest and an idea of an around-the-basement-type layout, but I have had to look for cheaper items- garage sales, e-bay, second-hand track and such. Prices are increasing too fast and I hope to do some more layout modifications.

[Anonymous]

My hobby involvement has INCREASED over the last fifty five years. I've been in this addicting hobby of model railroading since I was around eight years old. We, my brother and myself, had a wind-up tin plate train that we ran around a oil stove in the living room of our Clear Lake, South Dakota farm house. It had to be wind-up since our place wasn't hooked into the R.E.A. power grid. After moving to the Twin Cities we were given an electric Lionel train set for Christmas ( we're in the big time now ). Then an older kid next door got into HO scale. Crude as HO scale was back then it looked better than Lionel to my young eyes so I eventually made the switch, my brother lost interest and left the hobby. Much latter on N scale came along and I made another scale switch. After many years in N scale I lost interest and dropped out of the hobby for almost ten years. Then my wife and I saw a large scale coach sitting in a hobby shop window--nuf-said. We have been in garden railroading and loving it ever since. We held two open days this past summer and that really spurred us on (nothing like an open house to get your buns moving).

May all your weeds be wild flowers...OLD DAD

[vw-bug]

This year alone Ihave joined a local clubed subscribed to two other RR magazines, and Really started knuckling into the hobby. the funniest part of all is I live in an apartment where only ahve 4'x2' Ho scale testing yard.

[Anonymous]

Decrease due to work overload, in preparation for RETIREMENT. With RETIREMENT, hopefully will have the time to devote to new and larger layout. once Home Office is cleared out. Time spent working, (Self Employed), voluntering for local neighborhood project and on local region Board, takes most of my time. Time spent Model Railroading, is preparing existing portable layout ready for local region Train Show
Bob, Santa Fe Southern "C" RR.

[Anonymous]

decreased had to move to ark. only 4 hobby outlets in state, only way to shop is by e-mail now.

[Russell2]

My involvment has increased by leaps. By learning more about the hobby in general and Photo-typical modeling in particular, I am becoming better at looking at the details. I am a member of the Illinois Central Model group on Yahoo which gives me access to craftsmen who share their knowledge and encouragement. I have also upgraded the quality of my, Locos, rolling stock, and buildings for my layout.

Larry Russell
Brookhaven and Bogue Chitto Model Railroad
Puckett, Mississippi

[Anonymous]

Because of moving my $$$$ are down a little BUT never giving up! :)

[Catt]

My interest is up,my involvement is up ,my cash flow for trains is down.Actually I am reducing the number of locos I have.I'm not buying any new rolling stock (will be buying the new ATLAS autoracks though).

I am spending more money on the layout room and the layout itself though.

[Anonymous]

Scene- Retirement Community; Cast- 12 'old' men (well, maybe 2nd childhood); Space- room 24 x 19 ft.; Pike- Cultural Center Railroad- ga. HO; Temporary loop in operation; Target date for first phase of completion- about 2 years more or less, mostly more; Work- lots of it; Enjoyment- you betcha.

Hubert W Holmes jr

[Anonymous]

To me that is a twofold question as I did spend more money last year [engines can be expensive]. This year I am concentrating more on scenery which is cheaper, but looks like more is done. It is and I guess a neverending project.

[Sydney]

Have just received a wheelset for a damaged steam engine (Minitrix). Took a few months to get the parts from Germany, but I'm now looking forward to a repair job and getting that engine back on the tracks!

"Sydney"
New South Wales
AUSTRALIA

[fishplate]

My son and I have been building a layout in HO. He's almost 11and it's been great
teaching him on how fun the hobby is. He now wants to build a N scale layout
in his room. I think that this is really great!

[Anonymous]

12" to the foot work on Descanso this weekend, rail history society work three days last week, garden work 2 days, hospital sitting one day, and only two club nights on mrring. It has got to get better. I think I will have to give up retirement to get more time for modeling!
Lindsay

[Anonymous]

Increased.
I'm brand new.
And LOST.

[Anonymous]

I like to collect slowly. Building models is my favorite part. Have been slowly collecting since I was about 8. Have to budget about $10-25 each week at the most. I've also changed over scales several times. Back in HO now, my first and favorite. But I've kept a hold of everything I've bought before, lots of boxes in storage now! Works out good when you need a change off pace though.

[conrail079]

I seem to go in cycles, now is a down cycle. The big Tony Koester article and the one from McCellan (I know I spelled that wrong) really got me enthused. Since then there hasn't been many good articles and my involvement has gone down.

Don

[Anonymous]

deffinatly increased Over the year,9 months ago I had nothing but a desire to return to Model railroading after a 6 year break,now I have a dual track 90% scenicked layout,24 engines and 90 + types of rolling stock,and am installing a 6 bay engine house with a sunken Turntable,as well as working on a small club module that can be taken to shows for Fun and conversation (as well as trying all the new stuff you bought while you were there,Right!!)So yes abit of an increase over last year.

[Anonymous]

More involved, I moved into a new home this past summer and it has a monster size basement and I just finished framing and wiring my new train room, 13 1/2' x 24' with
an ajoining hobby work shop 8' x 12', next step is sheetrocking and taping. Anybody
out there that wants to help me with that miserable job???????

[Anonymous]

Seeing as I have gotten tired of not running trains, and have a full PRR passenger rosterl I had to do something. We rent both sides of a duplex and the other side is vacant guess were ol Diesel set up his layout? It gives me a get away from the ordinary world. Right now it's a 4x8 with a double loop. I am in the process of building some styro foam rock faces and tunnels covered with thinned sheet rock "mud". My grandson who is not quite 2 likes to watch Poppy's trains go round and round never too soon to get him into the hobby. It keeps me off the streets and the wife can just knock on the wall when supper's done! Keep up the hobby, keep up the good work.
Diesel