A Saturday afternoon well spent....

[Big_Boy_4005]

After over 30 years in the NMRA, and a number of long stretches of inactivity, a week ago last Thursday, I went to the local division meeting. I paid my dues and even got my old number back. The secretary's laptop still knew who I was and where I lived. I was impressed.

I got my new membership card, and a copy of the group's newsletter. I looked around the room and saw a number of familiar faces, but enough time had passed, that I was only able to put names on a few. There were about 60 people in attendance, and I would put the average age of the crowd somewhere over 50. There were only a few people in the room younger than myself, and I'm 43.

I brought my track plan and some photos along, and set them out on an empty table at the back of the room. I couldn't believe how many of the guys stopped by to take a look. They didn't seem to mind when I told them that I was doing it in 3 rail O. The guy who is in charge of setting up the layout tours, even asked if I was interested in hosting. I said gladly, but we both concluded that it was a bit premature given what stage the layout is currently at.

A fun evening all in all, and I am looking forward to attending regularly.

This afternoon was the layout tour. The NMRA held their national convention here in 1999, and as always there were a number of layout tours. At least two of the three that we visited this afternoon, were all featured during the convention. I never signed up for the tours, instead spending most of my time attending clinics, so this was my first time seeing them too.

When I say we, that means my 12 year old son, my 10 year old daughter, Big Girl (Tammy) and myself. We brought the digital camera along, and by the time we had finished the third layout, the kids had consumed the batteries on the camera. All three layouts were in different stages of completion, and all were designed for operation.

I haven't looked at the contents of the camera yet, but I think the kids went crazy at the third layout. That layout has been in operation for almost 30 years, and is almost fully scenicked.

In the end, we had a wonderful time. I think my kids like trains, and it's time to get busy in my basement, and let them help and learn.

I know that we have a good number of younger members here, but this question is more for the older crowd. Do your school age children ever help you with tasks on your layout? if so, what types of projects do you give them to do?

P.S. I checked my spelling, and I don't think this topic will upset the forum "police". See, not all my topics are fluff. Sorry guys, I couldn't resist.[swg]

[jdolan]

My daughters are teenagers now but have been helping on my layouts since they were in kindergarden. They help with running wires, building kits and scenery,and of course running trains. They are now 17 and 15 and still show the layout to their friends.

[Fergmiester]

I had a "heart to heart" with Lisa today about what we should do with the last OT cheque and after we talked about replacing this and that, bills and so on she asked me.....

So how much is DCC gonna cost us anyway?

I thought I had gone to heaven!!!!

Now that's time well spent

[Anonymous]

About a month ago, I started dating a new girlfriend. She is a bit older than me and has three children from a previous marriage. When she asked about the possibility of getting a train. The three of them seemed quite excited by the fact. I am looking foward to the possibility of having a few Jr. Railroaders around to help out with things.

As an aside, In the Aug. Issiue of Garden Railways. The featured garden railroad was built by a Senior Aged couple with a lot of help from a kid who lived a few houses down the street. According to the article, he is such a beg help with things trains arent run, unless he is around.

James.

[willy6]

I'm 50 and my 12 year old son helps with wiring because he can crawl alot better than me and my wife Lisa runs the railroad budget and she vetoed my last request to increase the budget and denied my appeal,but i still love her.

[Hawks05]

hey Elliot, you didn't miss much in Woodbury. the show was nothing compared to last year. my guess is that it's due to the election and the economy. i however did spend a ton, i mean a ton of money today. i brought $175 with me, i've been saving up for almost 2 months so i was ready. i came home with a whooping $4.50. i found enough stuff to make me happy so that was good. i bought 3 ADM centerflow hopper kits, a ADM Atlas centerflow hopper, and an ADM tank car. along with that i bought 2 Railbox boxcars and a bulkhead flat TTX car. can't forget the CNW boxcar to. oh and the 2 C44-9W Athearn locos i bought from my friend i went with. he was setting stuff out on his table and pulled a BNSF heritage 1 and a Santa Fe loco and my jaw dropped when i saw $30 a piece. i asked if i could get the BNSF for $25 and he said sure, by the end of the day the SF wasn't sold and he said take it and pay him later. my goal was to come home with a BNSF loco and i ended up with 2. i almost sprung another $25 and a CP AC4400 dummy loco.

to top the day off we headed down to Newport and made a stop at Tunicci's (sp?, i know its wrong). we got their and the crew from the 2 SOO Line switcher locos were inside eating, so while we were outside i snapped a few pictures of the 2 locos. just as soon as we sat down after ordering a Montana Rail Link and an ICE train went through with the ICE loco on the lead and the MRL 2nd. i was so ticked that i missed that one as i've never seen a MRL loco in person before. after we got done eating we sat out in the vehicles and waited for some trains to go past. we had a BNSF double stack heading north and then about 10 minutes later we had a BNSF tanker train going south. that was the last one we saw while we were there. we left and headed south to cross over at Prescott and see if anything was happening there. i tried to take a picture from the truck while we were passing the train, the pics didn't turn out all that bad. overall it was a good day. oh, as we were coming down 94 a CP autorack train was going by, i wish i could have gotten out and taken some pictures. next time though i'll get some shots. i plan to take a trip down along the Mississippi sometime in the coming weeks to take some pictures again.

anyways, that was my saturday afternoon well spent. now i'm off to my train room to look at my next stuff. my mom wasn't to happy with how much i spent though, she'll get over it, it's my money and my hobby.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I'm glad you had a good time Jim, I guess your afternoon was well SPENT too. [swg]

If you came home with $4.50, I guess you have seed money for next time. I think maybe you have enough engines for your layout now.

I always loved that feeling of an empty wallet, and a layout full of new stuff.

[Hawks05]

ya it was definately a good show for my when it comes to bringing stuff home, but for my friend who was selling it didn't go so well. the worst part was i by 11:30 or so i had spent close to $140 and we were still there for another hour and a half. i managed to find some deals on some cars and what not so it was alright. the worst part of the day was paying $10.12 for 4 pieces of chicken and a bottle of milk at the restaurant. what a rip off.

depending on what i do tomorrow i'll maybe try and send some of the pictures i took today to you. i have a couple good shots of the 2 BNSF trains. also i might try and set up a train on the layout and take some shots of that.

[JerryZeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005



I know that we have a good number of younger members here, but this question is more for the older crowd. Do your school age children ever help you with tasks on your layout? if so, what types of projects do you give them to do?

My twin daughters (11) will be helping me Gesso my rock face tomorrow, and after that dries, start applying acrylic washes. Then we have ground cover to apply, and trees to make.

We also have two Intermountain O scale 55 tone hoppers in the works, we started them two weeks ago.

regards,
Jerry

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

I know that we have a good number of younger members here, but this question is more for the older crowd. Do your school age children ever help you with tasks on your layout? if so, what types of projects do you give them to do?

Elliott
My two oldest sons, ages 15 and 13 have helped do scenery before, from hot wire tools to brushing on ground cover adhesive and sprinkling ground foam. I was a bit apprehensive at 1st, until Sweetie told me to relax, "If its not perfect, you can work on it after they go to bed". Again, she was right![:D]
My 13 year old has developed more into the Model Railroader, and has displayed a real talent for kit assembly. He started with Athearn and MDC kits, and has graduated to Branchline and others. Ever the little hustler, he'll charge you a few bucks to assemble most kits![;)]
The 8 year old has figured out how DCC works, and wants to be the next Gomez Adams[:O] [#dots] I hope he grows out of it soon![}:)]

[tomwatkins]

Elliot, it sounds like a day very well spent. I'm glad that the visit to the NMRA meeting went well. The division meetings in my area are just over a 2 hr. trip (one way) so that's tough to do. The local club I'm in has about 30 active members, is fairly local, and is a really good group of people. Joining has added a lot to my enjoyment of the hobby.

Neither Louise or Shawna are model railroaders. They both have other interests. But when friends come over to the house one of the first things they do is show off the railroad. Last night Shawna's boyfriend's parents came over. They were up from Valdosta ( about 5 hours south of here). It was Kyle's birthday, so we had them all over for birthday pie and coffee after dinner. The first thing Shawna wanted them to see was the railroad. That was pretty cool. It really makes you feel good when the people whose opinions matter the most think that your hobby is worthwhile and they are proud of what you're doing.
Have Fun,
Tom watkins

[Anonymous]

Good Morning:

Yesterday was a good day as I spent most of it building a CMR turntable and piddiling around the train room.

Ya'll have a blessed day and remember SANTA FE ALL THE WAY
Bob

[Paul W. Beverung]

Well, I had to work. [xx(] That's the way it is in the theme park bis. By the time I got home wife mate was ready to go to town. After we got back I didn't feel like doing much of anything. I had to work today too , but I may get to the basement and at least putter a bit.

Paul

[Anonymous]

If you are interested in getting your children interested in model railroading - let them work with you and approve[^]their efforts. I've already started my two Grand Children and they enjoy [:)] working with Grand-Pa "on his trains".
They are the future - OH LORD[:D][:)]
Norman