After a day at work, I enjoy opening a beer and sitting down at my workbench to make a bit of progress on structure models. Both activities are relaxing, and I generally don't feel that I'm "modeling under the influence" with just that first cold one. However, if I'm doing really fine paint work, I save the beer until after I'm done. And, of course, alcohol and solder do not mix.
Like anything else, know your limits. And don't push them.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Great topic. Fun to read all of your comments. As for me one of the things i enjoy about the hobby is it gives me something else to do besides sit in a bar with my buddies talking about things i have done, Or things i am gonna do. I have great friends and while most of them are sitting on a bar stool talking about things they are gonna do. I am home doing things, plus on saturday or sunday morning i still have all that money in my pocket that i can use for trains, tools, home projects, fun stuff. I hope that make sense? I remember what Rod Stewart said in his interview in the December 2010 issue of MRR, On page 59 he says "Relaxation can go too far i've learned the hard way that i can't build after a couple glasses of wine-the results are never good!" After seeing his layout i would have to say i think he must know what he is talking about? It's your life do what makes you happy. Thayne,
While I grant that this doesn't have anything to do with model railroading specifically, I don't see where this is going to spoil the minds of children and lead to them being alchoholics.
I'm working on getting over my own devil but reading posts like this didn't make me that way, nor did watching tv or movies. No it was a family thing, still is.
That said, over the last few years I've gone from a 12 pack a night to a 6 pack a week, pretty good I think. Lately though there's been lots of family stress to deal with, a dying grandfather and a non functional father, and sad to say I'm kinda back at it.
To answer the OP, yes I do have a coulpe beers while working on the layout, it's a relaxation thing. And while I can't say anything bad has happened I can actually say it has helped on a couple occasions. There's been some times when I was trying to figure out track arrangements and had so many ideas and possibilities running through mymind that I needed some "clarity" , slow down and think time.
No I don't condone drinking to excess, that'swhy I'm trying to quit. But I have no problem with folks who do enjoy responsibly. And let's face it, we all have a vice, be it smoking, OCD, collecting toy trains etc, everyone has something they do that other people don't understand and wonder 'why/how do they do that?"
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
I drink tea (or sometimes coke) when I'm working on or running my trains. I totally quit alcohol many years ago due to my gout and can say I don't miss it. I have learned that relaxing without alcohol is not only possible, but it's better. Since any alcohol affects you, I would not use tools when drinking. Even if you don't hurt yourself, you increase the chances of screwing up whatever you're working on.
Enjoy
Paul
Mark (Forty Niner) makes some good points. The post was started with the intention of permitting for some light humour.
Since it has turned to the more serious, in some cases, then let me be the one to close it out.
It certainly is "interesting" to watch the pendulem swing back and forth from complete apathy to complete intolorence.
As someone said earlier, moderation is the key to almost everything. I have seen some people who are dangerous to themselves and anyone around them after "1" beer, and others who can do in a 12 pack and you'd never know it. I've seen happy drunks, sad drunks, mean drunks, and crazy drunks, they come in all sizes and shapes and while drinking and driving happens everyday I certainly don't approve of this activity.
Some people just have an "addictive" personality while others don't so to condem drinking alcoholic beverages because of them is like saying that airplanes should be banned because some of them crash and kill people.
I guess it all boils down to how far do you want to take being "politically correct".
This conversation can and probably will go on forever and nothing will ever be resolved except that someone will end up stepping "over the bounderies" of common sense at some point.
My suggestion is to drop this thread and get back to something more closely related to what this forum is about, "Model Railroading", and leave this debate where it belongs. On one of those crazy forums where people call each other names and make wild threats to each other.
Mark
WGAS
I don´t claim to be a teetotaler and I do admit that I enjoy the occasional glass of wine to round up a good meal. Aside from that, alcoholic beverages play no role at all in my life.
I find it very regrettable, that alcohol abuse has turned into the # 1 drug addiction among teenagers in my country, despite the raising of the legal age and banning of any advertising in public. I agree with Sheldon that we should not present a picture of "drinking + model railroading = relaxation at its best" in this forum.
I have enough trouble not stabbing myself with an exacto knife when I'm sober never mind with a few drinks in me. I have no problem with those who do have a few of the beverage of their choice if thats what they want to do and if they are of AGE! so lighten up Sheldon and the others who think that the younger generation of modelers who are not of drinking age don't know what goes on in the real world. they are perhaps better aware and better educated on the subject then any of us in the old & crusty club ever were. I have known many artist over the years painters airbrush artist pin stripers etc. who used to be more relaxed with a drink or two and therefore do better work,not my choice and not advocating it what so ever but if your a model railroader who is of legal drinking age or above (which most of us are way above the legal drinking age) as long as you do it in moderation thats should be the only issue. Moderation is the key to everything in life, except model railroading of course.
I'm not sure why everything needs to be so polarized.
There are a significant number of people who can enjoy one or two alcoholic beverages without getting smashed, blottoized, or whatever word you'd like to use.
There are also a significant number of people who are able to enjoy one or two alcoholic beverages over a course of time without killing themselves or anyone else, especially while they are in their basement or workshop.
I happen to be one of them.
I can even drink a beer and hand lay track, and no one suffers. I know this is the case because I've done it on many occasions.
For people who are concerned about kids reading about adults in their own private homes responsibly consuming alcohol while they enjoy other activities, really? This is what's going to push them down the devil's dark path?
And here I was thinking television commercials would have that impact. Silly me.
I'm trying to model 1956, not live in it.
MerrilyWeRollAlong I really enjoyed the pics of some forum member's bars but I have noticed that none of them seem to have anything train related in them. No pictures/paintings, models, signs or memorabilia. Just an observation.
I really enjoyed the pics of some forum member's bars but I have noticed that none of them seem to have anything train related in them. No pictures/paintings, models, signs or memorabilia. Just an observation.
Au contraire mon ami. The bar area is where the extra rolling stock is held, along with my small collection of Railroad themed books. Close to the lazyboy.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
On the plus side of drinking and modeling:
The worst you're going to do is stick yourself with an x-acto blade or completely ruin that neat resin kit you're building. It'll be awfully difficult to kill someone.
If you choose to be "stupid", please do it intelligently.
Ed
I noticed that too. I have to agree with the other poster about the drunk artist, drunk mechanic, etc. You don't want to mix any kind of alcohol with your profession or hobby. If you all remember the old country song "I'm Going to Hire a Wino to Decorate Our Home" then you sure don't want a drunk interior designer.
I really don't drink all that much, but it is usually a beer in the summertime after mowing the yard or on my birthday or wine at Christmas and New Years.
Will
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Having seen and experianced first hand the damaging effects alcohol abuse by others around me has caused, I decided several decades ago to set a different example. And, since this is an all age group forum, and an all age group hobby, I question whether or not this is an appropriate topic? To be clear, I have no issue with those who drink responsibly, but again, is this really appropriate? Sheldon
Having seen and experianced first hand the damaging effects alcohol abuse by others around me has caused, I decided several decades ago to set a different example.
And, since this is an all age group forum, and an all age group hobby, I question whether or not this is an appropriate topic?
To be clear, I have no issue with those who drink responsibly, but again, is this really appropriate?
Sheldon
Sheldon I am on the same page with you on this subject. I have had five , yes five family members killed by idiots behind the wheel who have had a "couple of drinks" One idiot T-boned my uncles car and killed him and my cousin after he ran a red light because he was to drunk to understand the light was red. I do not have much patience for those who lift up drinking and getting high via beer and booze as a great way to live life. In fact I get a little Ticked off. To many families have been torn apart, damaged, hurt, suffered unmeasurable agony by drinking alchol. I will not be joining any toast on this subject.
Well I would like to add my two cents as well, as this is an item that I have given serious thought to.
Not that I was ever a heavy drinker, I think I was only drunk three times in my life. But I noticed that I seemed to have quite a few friends visiting us often and I thought that was odd. They really seemed to like our booze, our bar-b-que, my boat and snowmobile. After discussing this with my wife we decided that we really didn't feel the need for alcohol and probably wound not miss it, so in 1977 I poured every drop we had in the house down the toilet and have not touched a drop since.
The result was that about half of the so called friends disappeared, so they weren't real friends after all.
We ended up with extra cash on hand and over the years it has been a great help for some things that have cropped up in our family (my boys), House renos, deposits, etc. Now it comes in handy for train items and anythings else we find interesting.
It proved to us who our real friends were and have continued to be. And also that for health reasons or any other approach you wish to take there just is not any NEED for alcohol.
If you wish to partake, please do so prudently.
Do not drink and drive.........or .
Johnboy out........................................... and off to bed.
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
After 3 serious alcohol and prescription drug reactions this bar hasn't seen any alcohol since !!
Happy Railroading
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
Reference: Rights of Trains, Peter Josserand:
General Rules - G
The use of intoxicants or narcotics by employes subject to duty, or their possession or use while on duty, is prohibited.
I don't claim to be a teetotaler. A glass of fine wine is a wonderful accent to the taste of a gourmet meal, and nothing beats a cold beer when the temperature climbs into the triple digits. Still, if I've gotten outside of any ethanol, I won't try to operate anything more complicated than a TV remote. All those hopeful law enforcers waiting at sobriety checkpoints are doomed to disappointment when it comes to recording my name on a DUI citation. Just isn't going to happen.
So, what do I imbibe while running trains or working on the layout? Pepsi.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
that is for sure. i may not drink as much coffee as i once did but i enjoy it more, different roasts and grinds, not to mention the beans, a Kenya AA dark roast will really get you going
Owendubya Sheldon raises an interesting point. while the vast majority of us are well into our majority, there are still some minors that view the Forum. Perhaps it isn't an appropriate topic, but what serious avocation CAN be done while inebriated? can you see a drunken gardener? an artist? an auto restorer? a golfer? personally all i drink while working is coffee . man does not live by bread alone, but if i don't get my morning coffee, i get real grouchy, the better half can attest to that. been married 30+ yrs as we say were still wondering why.
Sheldon raises an interesting point. while the vast majority of us are well into our majority, there are still some minors that view the Forum. Perhaps it isn't an appropriate topic, but what serious avocation CAN be done while inebriated? can you see a drunken gardener? an artist? an auto restorer? a golfer?
personally all i drink while working is coffee . man does not live by bread alone, but if i don't get my morning coffee, i get real grouchy, the better half can attest to that. been married 30+ yrs as we say were still wondering why.
Caffeine withdrawal can be a bear, right? I should know, it's my drink of choice when working on the railroad. I gave up alcohol 25 years ago. All areas of my life, including working on my trains, function much better without it.
I only drink very rarely...like 2 a year...and then one beer/wine
Diabetes does funny things to your system don't you know....
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
The only thing I drink while working on the layout is coffee, for some reason I never could finish the whole cup. I seem to get so involved in what I'm doing, by the time I get to take my next sip its to cold to drink
Sam.
Here's the Bar in my Trainroom. I don't drink much, maybe one or two glasses of wine a day with dinner or while watching the Canucks on the tube. Or I'll sit in the lazy boy contemplating how to go about solving a Railroading problem. I usually wake up with the solution. Isn't retirement wonderful?
I'll drink to that
Springfield PA