Dusty Solo What about operations - have yiu ever considered that branch of the hobby?
What about operations - have yiu ever considered that branch of the hobby?
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
I wanted to update the power source of my layout. It will be DCC run. I still need to buy a DCC system before I get my Conrail DCC equipped locomotives.
Train layout goals and dreams for the year is set up and fully run a Conrail theme layout by the end of the year. Then Union Pacific and BNSF.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
My goal is operations. I would not be in the hobby if it was only to run trains in a circle.
My goal is to see if I can combine believable detailing with green screen miniature video and create something, different; maybe even be able to ride/drive my trains...mind, the 'believable detailing' has already taken up most of three years, so...
Bayfield Transfer Railway Operations, operations, operations, and more operations. And, for variety, operations.
Operations, operations, operations, and more operations.
And, for variety, operations.
blowdown
I'd say welcome to the forums but it would appear that you have actually been around for a while. So, let me say "Congratulations" on your first post!
Your goal sounds both admirable and achievable. I'm a bit beat up too at 60, but I plan on at least another 20 years in this house, hopefully more. I'm getting close to starting my first real layout and I can hardly wait.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I guess for me the ultimate goal is...being able to stay in the hobby. I am now in my mid 50's and have been in the hobby for 45 years. I've survived one run of cancer but not without resultant body damage, I'm arthritic and have a bad back. My health and work future is dicey at best. Just don't know.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
My goal is to enjoy my railroad and continue to refine and continue my automation projects.
Goals???
Goals would mean to me that the end (finished layout) justifies the means (building the layout)......... In my case, I think the means justifies the end.
But then one could say that my goals are the building (process) of a layout.....
Or not.................
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
NP2626What goal(s) do you have with your model railroading?
- something hand-ons to do in the winter that doesn't have a deadline- something that I can use engineering skills on that I don't use at work- something that reminds me of my mother's stories of the Mahanoy Plane- something that doesn't cost too much
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
Dusty Solo NP2626 Dusty Solo I don't think I have ever set myself goals. I know that a few new words have spring up over the years that we are all supposed to embrace to supposedly live fulfilling & rewarding lives. But I'm to lax to be driven by these new age definitions. There is still a teenager living inside this 67 year old body. Thank God no one has found me out yet and if I can hang on for a few more years, well then, I'll have finaly got away with it all. Having confessed all that I can tell you that as a dreamer full of hope & wishes there is no room for goals. There are plans & the excitement of those coming to fruition on some distant shore, but I think that the ADD/ADHD I have has made a journey of straight lines into a path resembling the contours, the twists & turns of the Appalachian Trail. No room for goals for these take a strong mind & disciplin to see them through to finish. Just flitting from task to task. so that no project is ever finished as the task ahead seems more daunting than the one before. But, I press on doing what I can do the best way I can. The layout I have has been in pkace for over twenty years and it's progress is measured by the short & infrequent bursts of energy & enthusiasm that charaterize my efforts. A bit here a bit there; some kind of progress, I guess & some progress is better than no progress at all. So you see that setting goals is just a sure fire waste of time even though when we start out on our modeling journey there is always implied in that beginning the imaginings of and end. Dusty Dusty, Seeing your aversion to the word GOAL, I've alleviated your (and only your) need for the use of the term! Instead, in your case, please use the term PURPOSE. For you, then, this thread is entitled: What is your Model Railroad’s PURPOSE(S)? Does that work better for you? However, you need to understand that: “What is your Model Railroad’s PURPODE” is plagiarized from motivational model railroading speaker Cody Grivno’s seminar by that name! I have no issue with the word goal in this or any other context. Its just that because of a personality quirk ADD/ADHD, setting a goal is pointless & esentially unachievable. There is no need to substitute the word purpose on my account although I do appreciate your offer to accomodate what is your missperception that I am averse to the word, goal - which I am definitely not. But, what ever word is used, well, that's just fine with me. I have no strong thoughts about that either way. Besides, I think that employing the word, purpose as a synonym for, goal is incorrect. I think that Cody was suggesting a reason for a railways existance. For example a coal road or hauling wheat or phosphate rather than a real life railroad being established just to entertain & amuze the owners & share holders & possibly some of the towns folk living in the areas where the railroad runs. The pupose of my modeling endevors is to give me pleasure and a sense of pride & satisfaction when I do occasionaly finish some long winded modeling project. I think using, "goals" is absolutely fine & I marvel at those people who can set themselves goals & achieve them. For the reasons that I have already 3xplained, I just can't do that. Dusty.
NP2626 Dusty Solo I don't think I have ever set myself goals. I know that a few new words have spring up over the years that we are all supposed to embrace to supposedly live fulfilling & rewarding lives. But I'm to lax to be driven by these new age definitions. There is still a teenager living inside this 67 year old body. Thank God no one has found me out yet and if I can hang on for a few more years, well then, I'll have finaly got away with it all. Having confessed all that I can tell you that as a dreamer full of hope & wishes there is no room for goals. There are plans & the excitement of those coming to fruition on some distant shore, but I think that the ADD/ADHD I have has made a journey of straight lines into a path resembling the contours, the twists & turns of the Appalachian Trail. No room for goals for these take a strong mind & disciplin to see them through to finish. Just flitting from task to task. so that no project is ever finished as the task ahead seems more daunting than the one before. But, I press on doing what I can do the best way I can. The layout I have has been in pkace for over twenty years and it's progress is measured by the short & infrequent bursts of energy & enthusiasm that charaterize my efforts. A bit here a bit there; some kind of progress, I guess & some progress is better than no progress at all. So you see that setting goals is just a sure fire waste of time even though when we start out on our modeling journey there is always implied in that beginning the imaginings of and end. Dusty Dusty, Seeing your aversion to the word GOAL, I've alleviated your (and only your) need for the use of the term! Instead, in your case, please use the term PURPOSE. For you, then, this thread is entitled: What is your Model Railroad’s PURPOSE(S)? Does that work better for you? However, you need to understand that: “What is your Model Railroad’s PURPODE” is plagiarized from motivational model railroading speaker Cody Grivno’s seminar by that name!
Dusty Solo I don't think I have ever set myself goals. I know that a few new words have spring up over the years that we are all supposed to embrace to supposedly live fulfilling & rewarding lives. But I'm to lax to be driven by these new age definitions. There is still a teenager living inside this 67 year old body. Thank God no one has found me out yet and if I can hang on for a few more years, well then, I'll have finaly got away with it all. Having confessed all that I can tell you that as a dreamer full of hope & wishes there is no room for goals. There are plans & the excitement of those coming to fruition on some distant shore, but I think that the ADD/ADHD I have has made a journey of straight lines into a path resembling the contours, the twists & turns of the Appalachian Trail. No room for goals for these take a strong mind & disciplin to see them through to finish. Just flitting from task to task. so that no project is ever finished as the task ahead seems more daunting than the one before. But, I press on doing what I can do the best way I can. The layout I have has been in pkace for over twenty years and it's progress is measured by the short & infrequent bursts of energy & enthusiasm that charaterize my efforts. A bit here a bit there; some kind of progress, I guess & some progress is better than no progress at all. So you see that setting goals is just a sure fire waste of time even though when we start out on our modeling journey there is always implied in that beginning the imaginings of and end. Dusty
I don't think I have ever set myself goals. I know that a few new words have spring up over the years that we are all supposed to embrace to supposedly live fulfilling & rewarding lives.
But I'm to lax to be driven by these new age definitions. There is still a teenager living inside this 67 year old body. Thank God no one has found me out yet and if I can hang on for a few more years, well then, I'll have finaly got away with it all.
Having confessed all that I can tell you that as a dreamer full of hope & wishes there is no room for goals. There are plans & the excitement of those coming to fruition on some distant shore, but I think that the ADD/ADHD I have has made a journey of straight lines into a path resembling the contours, the twists & turns of the Appalachian Trail.
No room for goals for these take a strong mind & disciplin to see them through to finish. Just flitting from task to task. so that no project is ever finished as the task ahead seems more daunting than the one before.
But, I press on doing what I can do the best way I can. The layout I have has been in pkace for over twenty years and it's progress is measured by the short & infrequent bursts of energy & enthusiasm that charaterize my efforts. A bit here a bit there; some kind of progress, I guess & some progress is better than no progress at all.
So you see that setting goals is just a sure fire waste of time even though when we start out on our modeling journey there is always implied in that beginning the imaginings of and end.
Dusty
However, you need to understand that: “What is your Model Railroad’s PURPODE” is plagiarized from motivational model railroading speaker Cody Grivno’s seminar by that name!
I have no issue with the word goal in this or any other context. Its just that because of a personality quirk ADD/ADHD, setting a goal is pointless & esentially unachievable.
There is no need to substitute the word purpose on my account although I do appreciate your offer to accomodate what is your missperception that I am averse to the word, goal - which I am definitely not. But, what ever word is used, well, that's just fine with me. I have no strong thoughts about that either way. Besides, I think that employing the word, purpose as a synonym for, goal is incorrect. I think that Cody was suggesting a reason for a railways existance. For example a coal road or hauling wheat or phosphate rather than a real life railroad being established just to entertain & amuze the owners & share holders & possibly some of the towns folk living in the areas where the railroad runs.
The pupose of my modeling endevors is to give me pleasure and a sense of pride & satisfaction when I do occasionaly finish some long winded modeling project.
I think using, "goals" is absolutely fine & I marvel at those people who can set themselves goals & achieve them. For the reasons that I have already 3xplained, I just can't do that.
Dusty.
Dusty, that entire response to you was meant as tongue-in-cheek!
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Dusty, I'm pretty laid back too, out of necessity. I realize despite my own desires to build and run trains that remind me of the 70's and 80's around northern California and in Colorado, usually things like "real life" have blocked me (divorce, job layoffs, moving frequently, no place for a layout), and even when things seem to come together, there tend to be things which frequently get in the way and delay progress. Ideally I'd have track down and running by now but stuff continues to push back progress.
Moral of the story, what works for one may not work for another. For some, it's good to have goals but I try not to formalize those things too much it keeps me from being disappointed when goals are not achieved. Hope, now thats something else - I had no place for a layout for 15 years straight, and could have been accused of being a (horrors) collector - but it did help keep hope alive!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
CSX_road_slug NP2626 Simple enough question! What goal(s) do you have with your model railroading? It depends. I have short-term and long-term goals. The short-term goals are: 1) To de-clutter my layout and aisles; 2) Re-locate a standing freezer from the garage to the laundry room; this will free-up an extra 20ft of wall space. 3) Restore some of the structures that have been packed away since I tore down my old layout and built this new one. 4) Resume having op sessions. Long-term goal: To be satisfied with what I currently have, and stop comparing my layout to those of Tony Koester, Howard Zane and other mega-pikes and losing interest in my own.
NP2626 Simple enough question! What goal(s) do you have with your model railroading?
It depends. I have short-term and long-term goals.
The short-term goals are:
1) To de-clutter my layout and aisles;
2) Re-locate a standing freezer from the garage to the laundry room; this will free-up an extra 20ft of wall space.
3) Restore some of the structures that have been packed away since I tore down my old layout and built this new one.
4) Resume having op sessions.
Long-term goal:
To be satisfied with what I currently have, and stop comparing my layout to those of Tony Koester, Howard Zane and other mega-pikes and losing interest in my own.
Except for the part about relocating the standing freezer, I could have written this post myself. Every other one applies to me and my layout although I recently completed step one. I'm now working on decluttering by two work benches.
Dusty Solo I don't think I have ever set myself goals. I know that a few new words have spring up over the years that we are all supposed to embrace to supposedly live fulfilling & rewarding lives. But I'm to lax to be driven by these new age definitions. There is still a teenager living inside this 67 year old body. Thank God no one has found me out yet and if I can hang on for a few more years, well then, I'll have finaly got away with it all. Having confessed all that I can tell you that as a dreamer full of hope & wishes there is no room for goals. There are plans & the excitement of those coming to fruition on some distant shore, but I think that the ADD I have has made a journey of straight lines into a path resembling the contours, the twists & turns of the Appalachian Trail. No room for goals for these take a strong mind & disciplin to see them through to finish. Just flitting from task to task. so that no project is ever finished as the task ahead seems more daunting than the one before. But, I press on doing what I can do the best way I can. The layout I have has been in pkace for over twenty years and it's progress is measured by the short & infrequent bursts of energy & enthusiasm that charaterize my efforts. A bit here a bit there; some kind of progress, I guess & some progress is better than no progress at all. So you see that setting goals is just a sure fire waste of time even though when we start out on our modeling journey there is always implied in that beginning the imaginings of and end. Dusty
Having confessed all that I can tell you that as a dreamer full of hope & wishes there is no room for goals. There are plans & the excitement of those coming to fruition on some distant shore, but I think that the ADD I have has made a journey of straight lines into a path resembling the contours, the twists & turns of the Appalachian Trail.
However, you need to understand that: “What is your Model Railroad’s PURPOSE” is plagiarized from motivational model railroading speaker Cody Grivno’s seminar by that name!
NP2626Simple enough question! What goal(s) do you have with your model railroading?
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
Simple! To operate a train on the B&O in the 1920s, basically my layout is a time machinge.
But I'm too lax to be driven by these new age definitions. There is still a teenager living inside this 67 year old body. Thank God no one has found me out yet and if I can hang on for a few more years, well then, I'll have finaly got away with it all.
NP2626:
That depends on whether you use it once or twice.
Tom
Are you saying Tardis or Re-Tardis?
LensCapOn Phoebe Vet MisterBeasley So, I guess my goal is to build a time machine. And you know what? That is fun. My layout has a Tardis. Will that do? An image of that is so required. Please provide one. (And offer an article on building one to the publisher of your choice) Which Doctor are you using?
Phoebe Vet MisterBeasley So, I guess my goal is to build a time machine. And you know what? That is fun. My layout has a Tardis. Will that do?
MisterBeasley So, I guess my goal is to build a time machine. And you know what? That is fun.
So, I guess my goal is to build a time machine. And you know what? That is fun.
My layout has a Tardis. Will that do?
An image of that is so required. Please provide one. (And offer an article on building one to the publisher of your choice)
Which Doctor are you using?
Matt Smith is the grandson's favorite.
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
My goal will be get a layout back up. Mine has been down since October due to prepping our house to get it on the market. My wife and I should close on our new house next month and we have an offer on our current home so I should be have a little extra $$$ to put towards the new layout. I do get the garage which is about 450 sq feet. I am starting to plan and looking at different photos to get an idea of what I want.
DCHOCould not have said this any better.
First of all DCHO, welcome to the forums, if nobody has welcomed you before!
When you write a response to a specific post, you have the option of quoting who your responding too. This helps others understand what or who your talking about.
Great thread/question. I have a bunch of goals/motivators/reasons.
First, do something for me. I've been making life decisions with others in mind for a long time (not that long, I'm 34). Then there are a lot of other smaller sub-objectives. My personality type likes to be challenged with new things. I didn't know anything about model railroading, so I've enjoyed learning about it, teaching myself, and (eventually) executing a layout to "completion". I enjoy art and I enjoy being creative; I enjoy creating. I see this as being the largest art project I've ever worked on. Most of my art projects take an hour or so to complete. I regret not getting to keep a painting I did in high school that took a couple weeks. This model is also meant to be a connection between my children and their great-grandfather/family. I never really knew him as my grandparents were all gone when I was very young. The layout will sort of be a gift to my mother and her brother, as a symbol of their father still being present in our lives. Of course, my 3 year old son loves trains which gave me the idea to start a layout in the first place. I also want it to be something our family can do together away from a digital screen. We can build it, decorate it, and run it together, learning patience, dedication, problem-solving and all those good qualities model railroading gives us.
I read something (probably on this forum) where someone mentioned we were creating a world we could control. It made me wonder if that's the real and subconscious reason I'm doing this. I had/have some family issues that prompted me to start seeing a therapist/counselor. Long story short, this relates back to my original goal of doing something for me, but it seems deeper than that, as I could've chosen any number of activities "for me." The time I wake up, how I dress, the length of my hair, where I live - these things are decided by other circumstances in my life. 23 hours of the day, the world is telling me what to do. But for that one hour I'm working on the railroad, I decide where the mountain goes; I decide when the train leaves the station.
The word "goal" has such a sense of finality about it. I hope I am never finished as it is the journey I am enjoying. Maybe saying "what direction do you tend to follow as far as the hobby goes". There are so many different things we can focus on in the hobby and we all have our favourites.
My goal is to enjoy the hobby. I reached that goal the day Dad introduced me to trains.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."