"Playing With Trains" -- new book by Sam Posey

[dknelson]

Today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a brief mention of a new book by former race car driver Sam Posey who writes about his Colorado Midland layoutand the role toy and scale model trains have played in his life, and continue to play now that he has Parkinson's disease. The book is published by Random House which is a major major publisher. Expect to see other mentions of this book in the mainstream (i.e., non-model trains) press. While the "playing" part may make us insiders wince, it is too late to fight that battle with the world.
The cover has a shot of what looks like an excellent scale model steam locomotive.
Dave Nelson

[bcammack]

He was on "WindTunnel" on SpeedTV a week or so ago talking about it and his career in racing. I plan on picking up a copy at the first opportunity.

We can call it "neurosurgery" amongst ourselves, but the general public will always conceive of it as "playing with trains", so if we cannot change their terminology, we can at least strive to redefine it's meaning into something we're more comfortable with. Perhaps this book will help.

[egmurphy]

If you go to Amazon.com you can read a couple of short paragraph reviews of the book. It does sound interesting.

Ed

[Paul3]

The word "playing" doesn't bother me, as any number of people play all the time. Golf, baseball, poker, computer games, etc.

It's when they use the word "toy" (as in, "Playing with toys"). That bothers me.

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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[CBQ_Guy]

I read a rather negative review of this book recently but can't recall where, though I'm thinking it may have been the Washington Times. I remember while reading it that the reviewer, IMO, just didn't seem to get it, so naturally he had to take a judgemental, condescending attitude toward the book. I read it online from a link someone in another Forum provided, so maybe someone here can find it if interested.

[bcammack]

I ordered it from Amazon last week. Looking forward to receiving it shortly.

[vsmith]

I'm reading this book right now!

So far its easy reading. I am only at chapter 4 when he started his Colorado Midland layout. And he's starting to discuss other modelers and approaches. More as I continue with it.

[conford]

This is great! Some people play music, some people play golf. We play with trains. There is nothing wrong with that. This book is so mainstream that my library has bought it. So I'm planning to borrow it and read it. Thanks for the heads up.

Peter

[vsmith]

I beleive the title refers to something Posey keeps reiterating in the book, when he gets overwhelmed or frustrated with the work, he just reminds himself, "Hey it doesnt matter if it takes X long to fini***his or do that, after all, I'm only 'playing with trains' " IOWs its a hobby and hes going to enjoy it and not let it make him angry or frustrated at it. So he reminds himself that he is afterall "Playing" at his hobby, like playing baseball or playing cards.

[IRONROOSTER]

I have the book. I'm about a third of the way into it. Jonathan Yardley in the Washington Post had a rather negative review , he also had some rather negative things to say about the hobby and how it was going to wither away. Personally, I find the book a rather easy enjoyable read about how Sam got into the hobby and his experiences with it. I wish it had some pictures, but then it is not a how to book.
Enjoy
Paul

[vsmith]

OK Folks almost thru with the book and ITS GOOD!

READ READ READ the second half of the book is the most interesting, he meets and talks with some of the all time great model railroaders including the reclusive Malcomn Furlow! and visits the Franklin & South Manchester along with several others. The olny bad thing about this book is... NO PICTURES!

This is a great education on the state of model RRing today. Theres only one question...

Are you an Operator or a Scenicer....

[aiireland]

race car driver writes a book about model trains! instant classic!

[conford]

I read the book in two days. It was a lot of fun, providing insight into why someone would hire a professional model railroader (it comforts my wife that I do not hire one). POsey also talks about the different "camps" within the hobby, and takes a short tour of the camps by visiting well known model railroaders in the latter half of the book. For pictures see the articles in MR, 2/95 and 12/01. The second article was reprinted in "Scenery Tips and Techniques"; it discusses using composition to make scenery (and photos) more interesting. I enjoyed the book and recommend it.

Cheers,
Peter