This morning I was in a haste to go to class because the roads weren't in the best condition because of the recent snowfall and ice storm. I had grabbed the textbooks I needed and shoved in my backpack not knowing that I had shoved my March issue of MR. When I got to school, I was taking out the book I needed for one of my classes and there was the magazine. Well, I had time to kill so I began reading some of it. A lady who sits next to me saw what I was reading and asked to look at it.
I was thinking what could she say that would insult the hobby. She started saying things like how she doesn't like steam engines because the are "monochrome." She showed some of the pictures to some of her friend and they started looking at diesels and judging how pretty they were based on colors. I couldn't stop laughing.
I am not making fun of women or anything but it made my day and I thought I would share it with you all.
Will
"How fast does it go?"
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Our club gets these two all the time at our shows.
"Can you make them wreck?"
"Can you make them go faster?"
Carey
Keep it between the Rails
Alabama Central Homepage
Nara member #128
NMRA &SER Life member
MisterBeasley "How fast does it go?"
In regards to that question, I always repeat what my uncle replies when someone asks about his Mustang. "As fast as I want it to go."
Has anybody been asked if you make 'choo-choo' noises???? My totally unenlightened brother did.
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
Funny thing, I get that FAR more from adults than children or teenagers when I'm out in the garage working on the layout and they stop by, LOL!
My favorite is when I'm running one of my Articulateds and someone says, "Wow--look at all the WHEELS!"
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I think it was Mr. Rolls, or maybe Mr. Royce, who when asked the top speed of his automobiles, replied, "Sufficient".
I was always under the impression that the 'sufficient' response was in relation to the horsepower of the motor, which is something Rolls and Bentley never published.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Even though it been several years I'll never forget the elderly lady that ask me this question.
"Sir,Do you guys put all of this away before you go home"?
This was a 33' x22'x58' permanent club layout so,I explain that it was a permanent layout and as a club we meet once a week..
The crowning question was "And your wives doesn't care if you come here and play with model trains every week?"
The innocents of that old women question was beyond compare.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Well, Do they Brakie??????????????? ha Ha ha.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Back in the day, there was a short paragraph (in Bull Session, IIRC) about somebody's wife who paid an unannounced visit to the model railroad club. She wanted to see whether the models were scale, tinplate or blonde...
I won't add the last five words, even though they were published in Model Railroader a half-century ago - something to do with a steam locomotive feature which was an aftermarket add-on then, but standard issue now.
My most un-favorite comment is, "Why don't you run the Bullet Train?" To the mundanes who say that, it just isn't Japan without Shinkansen (which, in 1964, ran from Tokyo to Osaka via Nagoya, and never came within 50 kilometers of the Upper Kiso Valley.)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
BRAKIE Even though it been several years I'll never forget the elderly lady that ask me this question. "Sir,Do you guys put all of this away before you go home"? This was a 33' x22'x58' permanent club layout so,I explain that it was a permanent layout and as a club we meet once a week.. The crowning question was "And your wives doesn't care if you come here and play with model trains every week?" The innocents of that old women question was beyond compare.
I have a few:
Really attractive young waitress from next door: Do these engines have small diesels in them? I though they were supposed to smoke.Me: *pauses and check her out* um.. *pause and again check her out, while thinking of something* Nah, with the price of gas, we'd go broke trying to run them *chuckle* They don't smoke because they are electric. Or at least they aren't supposed to.
A younger kid: How many cars will that consist pull?Me: I'd run out of cars before I ever figured it out. (Genesis F45, 2 P2K SD45s, Atlas U30C)
An older fellow: That's a nice unit trainme: Um, thanks. (the train was a mix-up of different types of cars)
A kid around christmas: Look Mommy, SANTA!!!! *pointing at some Santafe diesels*
Suprisingly I've never been asked how fast it could go.
Vincent
Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....
2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.
I have to agree with the children who ask operators to make the trains go faster, as they creep around the set-up at train shows at ultra-mega slow ''speed'', any slower and they would go backwards, when did this highly over exaggerated ultra slow speed start?? seems if one person thinks this is neat, everyone thinks this is the ''norm''. I asked one operator if he would (could) slightly speed up his train, he did (slightly) and the onlookers actually applauded.
wholemanShe started saying things like how she doesn't like steam engines because the are "monochrome." She showed some of the pictures to some of her friend and they started looking at diesels and judging how pretty they were based on colors.
Just goes to show that there's a lot to like in this hobby! And it seems to me that comments about the aesthetics of various liveries are hardly rare in the literature.
I was asked "How do you steer them"?
I hate Rust
Though I've never been put down or made fun of, I was asked once. "I think model railroads are neat. But why would you want to do that? I mean, what do you get out of it?" I thought about it for a few seconds and my response was "about the same reason and the same things as you get from watching basketball except it's in my basement and on anytime I want." He understood.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.
I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk.
cudaken I was asked "How do you steer them"?
You give the little engineers tiny steering wheels. Isn't it obvious?
_________________________________________________________________
You could always allow that a particular diesel model has 'steerable' trucks, just like some of the big diesels. In that case, the hoggers are paid more 'cuz they have more to do and it takes more skill.
-Crandell
One that has happened more then once, I usually wear a N/S or N&W ball cap . Person behind the counter:looks at the hat and say oh do you work for the railroad, Me: no just into model railroading you know the little small one's. Person behind the counter: No seriously do you work for the railroad? Me: Yeah my trains parked around the corner.I couldn't fine a spot out front Person behind the counter: Either stretches their neck looking or say thats cool. Just for the record not a set of tracks for mines.
Why do you play with toy trains? Because my wife made me sell the real one's said I was scaring the neighbors
Years ago, a few model railrad friends of mine and I went on a trip to Switzerland. We bought a few lengths of Shinohara HOn3 flex track, some turnouts and a few Lima locos. Returning to Germany by train, the customs officer at the border asked us whether we had anything to declare. We truefully answered, that we had bought a few meters of track, turnouts and locos.
You should have seen his face! He just turned around in disbelief, and left us! Saved us quite a few bucks!
HaroldAHas anybody been asked if you make 'choo-choo' noises???? My totally unenlightened brother did.
Yes, absolutely! And my 2-1/2 yo loves it. And he makes 'Choo Choo' noises too, and I love it.
Tell your brother to get over himself and blow the whistle!
JavelinaMisterBeasley "How fast does it go?" I think it was Mr. Rolls, or maybe Mr. Royce, who when asked the top speed of his automobiles, replied, "Sufficient".
I've got a Rolls...
A Rolls Canardly.
Rolls down one hill
Canardly make it up the next
Philly BillwholemanShe started saying things like how she doesn't like steam engines because the are "monochrome." She showed some of the pictures to some of her friend and they started looking at diesels and judging how pretty they were based on colors. Just goes to show that there's a lot to like in this hobby! And it seems to me that comments about the aesthetics of various liveries are hardly rare in the literature.
Sure, and not for nothing, I wonder how many people decide to model Southern Pacific or Santa Fe because of their colorful livery? Especially Santa Fe-- how many colorful train sets have been sold over the years that have gotten kids (or parents) hooked on the Santa Fe?
My favorite gripe:
Seems like EVERY time I would run one of my Great Northern articulateds 2-6-8-0..2-8-8-0..2-8-8-2
Someone asks.....IS THAT A BIGBOY?
Use to explain the difference between road name and wheel arrangment,now just say No!
jwhittenEspecially Santa Fe-- how many colorful train sets have been sold over the years that have gotten kids (or parents) hooked on the Santa Fe?
Boy you ain't a kiddin' there. It's a bit of an exaggeration, but you almost have to weed through the Santa Fe's at times to find what you want. Whether Santa Fe used it or not. ( I gotta admit, the War Bonnets are pretty cool)
Lionel is more realistic than HO
Hi!
The worst comment I ever heard came during a time I was "between wives" and had started dating a very well to do woman. When I showed her my layout, her first - and only significant - words were "how much did all this cost?" Needless to say, we lasted only a couple of months.
What bugs me - but I've learned to properly address - is folks that call everything on the track "a train". I finally got my wife to understand there are locos, cars, and "cabeese", and the definitition of a train.
What bothers me is how folks typically under 40 have no idea regarding the difference (other than color) between those "black engines with a coal car attached", and those smooth sided multi colored engines. Ha, I've got three boys in their early '40s that are just now catching on...........
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
When people ask my wife about the time I spend doing Model Railroad related stuff she simply says, Atleast I know where he is and what he's up to.... never fails to get a knowing nod of the head...
tinman1 BRAKIE Even though it been several years I'll never forget the elderly lady that ask me this question. "Sir,Do you guys put all of this away before you go home"? This was a 33' x22'x58' permanent club layout so,I explain that it was a permanent layout and as a club we meet once a week.. The crowning question was "And your wives doesn't care if you come here and play with model trains every week?" The innocents of that old women question was beyond compare. Whereabouts is your club layout at? Do you do any openhouses for people to ask other odd questions?
Tom,Check your pm box.