Need fellow MRRers help: survey for presentation

[ksax73]

Hi guys,

I found out today that "Model Railroader" is not in my parent's vocabulary; only "Train Junkie". The key word is junkie. Now to me, the word "junkie" does not gain the same respect as "Model Railroader".

Despite my website, and the ease at which my parents can access it, they have not thoroughly browsed it and it’s apparent as their attitudes have not changed and I called my Mother on it this morning. (I must say I defended the hobby really well so I'm patting myself on the back for that [:D]).

Anyway, you all know the deal (especially those who have read previous treads/topics I've posted in) LOL.

I need your help. Since I treat my model railroad like the real thing, I figured I'd work on my presentation skills (which I'll eventually need in the future for my sought after profession anyway, lol) and take a survey of some kind to put into a presentation for my parents so I can get them to listen, pay attention and hopefully get them to understand that this is not an "obsession" in their context.

If you guys can answer these questions I'd, greatly appreciate it:

1)What is the total number of Rollingstock and Locomotives you have in your roster?

2)How much would you estimate you spend on Model Railroading per year?

3)How often do you operate your layout (Run trains/Operating sessions only), and how long do they last?

4)How often do you work on a section of your layout for maintenance and/or fine tuning?

5)What age range do you fall under? (Optional)
a)Under 15
b)16 - 20
c)20 - 45
d)above 45

6)Do you have your own family (wife & kids)? (Optional)

7)How often do your family members complain about your involvement in the hobby (how much time you spend with it, etc.)

8)How has the hobby benefited you outside of Model Railroading?

9)Opinion: Aside from space and/or money, Model Railroading or having a layout set up can be as constant as having a piece of furniture in the house. You don't have to necessarily operate trains all the time, but they can be out and on the layout ready for operation at anytime, if need be.

Yes or No

I think those are good questions for the survey. If anyone else has suggestions please let me know!

If some of the questions seem too personal PLEASE PM me and let me know and I'll re-phrase or delete the question.

Thanks for taking the time out to read the lengthy post and thanks for taking the time out to answer the questions if you decide to do so!

Looking forward to your responses!

[Leon Silverman]

You don"t say how old you or your parents are.
Have you ever been able to change their opinion on any matter. If not ,you will never change their opinion on this matter regardless of how complete your survey is or how skillful your presentation is. Some parents persist in viewing their children as their "babies" who are incapable of adult opinions. This is the attitude that children are to be seen and not heard. One clue regarding their attention to your thoughts is if the same question is repeated. If they are, it means they don't remember asking the question previously or didn't pay attention or remember the answer .

As for your survey,
1. Exact number of rolling stock is currently unknown because they are packed away in boxes but probably exceeds 200 rolling stock. Locomotives probably exceeds 25.
2 About $2500 to $3000 this year, the majority of it on converting an unheated garage into a trainroom.
3 & 4 NA , conversion has not been completed. Construction is currently stalled do to unavailability of son-laws to help bring in the required 2100 pounds of drywall.
5 Over 45
6. I am an empty-nester, living with only my wife.
7. No complaints. The last time my son-in -laws came down to help me was when I installed a new floor (floating hardwood) in our dining room. This project was completed in time for Thanksgiving.
8. There are only a few television shows that I make a point of watching. Most of the others are effective sleeping pills that also tend to make me want to eat. I find assembling kits (currently the Branchline Heavyweight Passenger car series) energizing and free from a desire to eat, even though this assembly is being done in the kitchen.
9. Not sure I understand this question. Whatever is set up in the trainroom will be left out all the time since it is a separate building. The only thing left on the kitchen table on a permanent basis is a movable magnifying light/glass which does not interfere with either eating or food preparation. In my old house, where the layout was in the basement, my wife complained because it was difficult for her to carry the laundry baskets past the layout on the way to the laundry room. My solution was to mount the layout on wheels so that it could be moved out of the way.
Good luck with your "parenting."

[Big_Boy_4005]

OK, keep in mind that I have been doing this for over 30 years.

1) I have about 60 locomotive and over 1000 cars.

2) Some years I don't spend anything, other years I spend a lot. On average, about $2000.

3) I am between layouts, with a new one under construction.

4) Hard to say, there are times when I don't touch it, and there are times when you can't tear me away. On average, about 10 hours per week.

5) I'm 43.

6) My wife divorced me last year, though it had nothing to do with trains.

7) Never.

8) I've learned all kinds of skills over the years as a result of model railroading.

9) I'm not sure what to say here, except that everyone who is interested in model trains enough to own them should have a layout of some kind, if at all possible.

[Anonymous]

Hmm. I viewed your topic with a sense of wanting to "smile" because my parents were supportive of us kids in the hobby. I was allowed to play with the O scale trains as a child and was given HO scale set as a starter later on.

Trips to the hobby shops were regular and trainshows rounded out the experience. Learning about what things cost and why? is pretty educational too. My brother was allowed a layout "Train table" they called it. It seems at times the whole neighborhood would come visit to run trains.

So as for me, my family was supportive of trains. It kept us "out of trouble"

The money it costs to be in the hobby does not have to be very much. A few magazines, a loop of track or even a workbench to build kits on. Where it gets really expensive is the HO engines I buy once a year (Read "Once" sometimes twice) and I have sold off a few engines that may find a better home elsewhere. I believe trains are made to run, not sit in boxes.

I try to find these engines at a good price. It is increasingly difficult to stay on top of the various currents of change in the hobby... Lionel's recent retail of the Challenger and the latest Athearn Challenger which I think is a better engine for half the cost. However that is a subject for another thread entirely.

My wife is happy as long as I stay within my budget and get things on sale. I am not worried about the small stuff like the rolling stock, paints, tools etc.. it is when you get motive power or DCC systems with sound is where things get very expensive.

I dont yet have room for a pernament space however a small amount of room is being created little by little.

As to the number of engines and rolling stock I guess about half steam and half desiel out of 12 or so and 100 peices of rolling stock, much of which is yet uncompleted.

[Anonymous]

You have an interesting post, one thing I've come to appreciate is the fact that I'm a train geek,fanatic, freak.... Our society loves labels and there are alot worse ones like drunk, druggie, bum, freeloader to name a few.
On to your survey:

1) I'm not sure of exact numbers but I do know that I have all the engines I've bought over the last 20 years I'm guessing around 20 diesels and 1 steam for excusion traffic but I have 6 Kato's coming in Feb. Car roster would be a hand full each of covered hoppers, falt cars, and tank cars. Probably 300 ore cars and a dozen cabooses (I still love them)

2) I'm not sure how much a year I spend do I need to include tools and lumber needed for layout construction. It is harder now to budget with limited releases but I've just recently increased my spending to around$1,200-1,900 per year.

3)I don't run my trains near enough, especially this time of year, I've got masking tape coverring the rails but when scenery is soon done my 7yr old daughter and I run trains at least 2-3 hours a week.

4.) Contantly

5.)C and I like the breakdown.

6)and 7) I am married and have a daughter my wife definately thinks I spend too much time and money on the hobby, if she didn't think I spent too much I would keep orderring. there is nothing more exilarating than sneaking a new engine in the house and having her find it 6 months later. "Oh that engine, I've had that for awhile."

8) I used too take a small simple layout to a local train show once a year, I loved the interaction and questions I would get, I liked to be out front with the spectators as they will ask more questions, I probably enjoyed those small layouts and running trains for two straight days as much as anything I've done since.(money isn't everyting)

9)Trains definately need to be out on the railroad, it's way to easy to damage them if your always putting them away, however the living room isn't going to be an option in your parents house, creative ways to find space is a skill every MRer soon learns.

Good luck, there are no wrong ways to be a Model Railroader, choose what you do and CAN enjoy, there's always time to dream of your next step.

[willy6]

Okay i'm game.

1.12 locomotives and 250 plus rolling stock

2. about $300

3.run a train about 4 times/week

4. as needed and in the mood

5. 5 x10

6. wife ,two teenagers,boy/girl

7.wife will mention i'm collecting dust.

[:(!]

8. ?

9. yes

[Noah Hofrichter]

Well, I'll give here a try:

1. about 7-10 working locomotives, and around 75+ frieght cars.

2. A year? Around $500, some years more, some less.

3.Well, my layout is currently in the process of some serious mainline maintinece, and an adding of a few sidings, but up to a month ago, two a week with me as the only operator.

4.All the time, as needed and when I want to add something.

5. A

6. Nope, just my parents.

7.Never really. My parents are total encouraging, they listen to me rant about my stuff, although they don't always understand it. My dad also helps me with alot of the capentry work on the layout.

8. I've made a few friends, both here and in my town.

9.yes, I'd agree entirely with that statement.

[Anonymous]

I admit it. I'm a "train junkie". There is no known cure. So learn to live with it.

1.56 steam locomotives, 213 deisels, 381 passenger cars, and 1267 freight cars.

2. Between $5000 and $8000 a year.

3.Run a train about once a week for about an hour. Operating session once every 8 weeks for 2 hours.

4. As required or on average once a month.

5. I'm 43

6. 1 wife, 3 boys (17, 10, 6) 1 girl (8)

7.Wife thinks I have OCD (Obsessive Complusive Disorder) but puts up with me anyway. What is an Obsessive Complusive Disorder anyway? I don't know, but I'm sure buying another train will make it better.

8. It has helped me at work when I had to make a model of an aircraft cockpit for a presentation to a customer. It has taught me how to use power tools. I can now fix and build almost anything.

9. Yes. My layout is very permanent. It takes up the whole basement. In fact, it was built with the idea of it being permanant and the bench work has a nice finished look to it as if it was a piece of furnitue. It is also well constructed and can be used as a tornado shelter in case of emergency.

Hope this helps

[Texas Zepher]

I've used trains and model railroading for object lessons and examples in church, office, and school. The railroad's invented and enabled life in the U.S. as we know it today, the best example is the time of day. Until the 1960s it was "Railroad Standard Time."

1)What is the total number of Rollingstock and Locomotives you have in your roster?
Rolling Stock – can’t count that high. I have most of them packed in a room approx 10x10 filled floor to ceiling.
Locomotives – 600 to 700.

2)How much would you estimate you spend on Model Railroading per year?
$5000

3)How often do you operate your layout (Run trains/Operating sessions only), and how long do they last?
1 Run trains 1/month, operating sessions 1/month. The running trains is open to public and lasts for approximately 3 hours. The operating sessions begin at 7:00 p.m. and go until everyone gets tired. Usually done by 11:00 p.m. but sometime 1:00 a.m. PLUS I go and operate on other people’s layouts. Twice per month.


4)How often do you work on a section of your layout for maintenance and/or fine tuning?
When it needs it.

5)What age range do you fall under? (Optional)
d)above 45

6)Do you have your own family (wife & kids)? (Optional)
Yes, 4 children of my own, in the process of adopting 3 more.

7)How often do your family members complain about your involvement in the hobby (how much time you spend with it, etc.)
Never. My children belonged to “Youth in Model Railroading” for several years. It will be required for the new ones.

8)How has the hobby benefited you outside of Model Railroading?
Understanding of electricity, electronics, physics, mechanical engineering, chemistry, etc.
Development of artistic and craftsmanship talents.
Development of business skills.
As a child kept me home and away from influence of drugs / alchohol (other than as cleaning fluid) etc.
Taught respect for property and proper handling of delicate things, and value of money.
History, and how to research history.

9)Opinion: Aside from space and/or money, Model Railroading or having a layout set up can be as constant as having a piece of furniture in the house. You don't have to necessarily operate trains all the time, but they can be out and on the layout ready for operation at anytime, if need be.

Yes, Model Railroading can be a regular part of life. See “For Better or Worse” comic strip.

What you didn’t ask is if model trains consumed ones entire life. The answer is no. In addition to trains, I have a full time job, am in graduate school (working on 3rd masters degree), have annual skiing pass, am on the board of directors for several organizations (public and private), director of science fair, judge of state/regional science fair, involved with church, was on City Council, play computer games, have an active home theater (always someone over watching movies), three dogs, raise exotic fish, huge rock collection for which I go on expeditions every summer to expand, have annual pass to National Parks, etc… This form however has been consuming an inordinate amount of time.

[johncolley]

I'm a 67 year old "Railfan" and Model Railroader. I have aproximately 80 freight cars, 14 passenger cars, and at present 6 locomotive units, although I am expecting another one to start shipping in late January. I spend an average of $500 per year and either work on my layout or run trains about 8 hours a week. I am a 24/7 caregiver to my disabled wife of 47 years. My hobby time is usually when she is resting or napping during the day. I go to a couple of train shows a year when I can arrange for our dughter to stay with mum. I sometimes am able to go to friend's houses and operate on their layouts. Good luck with trying to convince them, but I would strongly suggest you "do your own thing" and enjoy your hobby. Happy Holidays, John

[Anonymous]

I'm still working on finishing my layout and making it all work, so what is here may change over time, but you don't have to tell your parents that.

1. 11 locos, about 30 good rolling stock
2.$1000
3.20 times a week, about 5 minutes each time, don't have long spans of time to work on it at once.
4. Anytime I get the chance, still trying to make it all work
5.b
6. not that old yet, got one picked though[:D]
7. not much
8. little
9. Yes

Hope this helps,
Greg

[Anonymous]

1)What is the total number of Rollingstock and Locomotives you have in your roster?
I have over 250 freight cars, 20 or so passenger, and 52 locomotives of which five are steam.
2)How much would you estimate you spend on Model Railroading per year?
Probably between $500 -$700 a year. Recntly, I became disabled so I have to watch my budget..
3)How often do you operate your layout (Run trains/Operating sessions only), and how long do they last?
At least every other day for approxiamately an hour.
4)How often do you work on a section of your layout for maintenance and/or fine tuning?
I usually do this when I operate. My layout is not finished so there is always something to do.
5)What age range do you fall under? I'm 40 years young.
6)Do you have your own family (wife & kids)? Divorced.
7)How often do your family members complain about your involvement in the hobby (how much time you spend with it, etc.) As long as I keep her some food and water she hasn't complained. Her name is sissy and she is a 10 year old bench-legged fiest.Canine species.
8)How has the hobby benefited you outside of Model Railroading? It has helped me work through a really bad accident that left me in a wheel chair.
9)Opinion: Aside from space and/or money, Model Railroading or having a layout set up can be as constant as having a piece of furniture in the house. You don't have to necessarily operate trains all the time, but they can be out and on the layout ready for operation at anytime, if need be.
It has a room dedicated to it plus several display cases, so yes.

[bluepuma]

Train Junkie or Modeler?

Guess at this point, I'm more of a junkie since I haven't built my layout yet, but have been running them off and on for 4 years, and do have a nice collection of N scale locos, and buildings unbuilt but waiting for a home on their own lot.

I'm more of a music junkie, lots of records and CDs, but not since moving here and finding trains to spend on instead. With music, it was 1 or 2 records/CDs a week since about 1969, except when I spent on computers and games a while.

All my trains are loved, some less than others, those I run to remind me not to buy more like that. Lots of locos, many in A/B or pairs, and I hope I spent less than 500 this past year, another PA/B and RS1, SD40 pair, buildings, tools, finally a track cleaning car. I'm about done with most purchases, except track and materials for
layout. Not sure when I got the FA2/FB2, maybe the SD70 set was this year too.

I'm over 45. married, kid grown, but grandkids, wifes sisters grandkids.

It's a waste of time to try convincing anyone anything, justifying to parents when you're grown. Just do your own thing.

Anyhow, it could be worse, car collecting, modification, etc. or making wood gifts in your shop... boozing, running around... Tom

[Texas Zepher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ksax73
I found out today that "Model Railroader" is not in my parent's vocabulary; only "Train Junkie". The key word is junkie. Now to me, the word "junkie" does not gain the same respect as "Model Railroader".
...
If you guys can answer these questions I'd, greatly appreciate it:
...
Looking forward to your responses!

So are you going to post your presentation? I would like to see it and possibly use it to help others with similar questions.

[Anonymous]

Don't they realiuze that you could be doing something "FAR" worse than this!!!



Thats sad!!!!!!!

[ksax73]

Very interesting responses guys, and thank you!!!!!!!!!

Keep 'em coming!!!!

[Anonymous]

Ok, I'll take a crack at it.

1. 10 Locomotives, over 100 rolling stock.

2. I probably spend close to $1000.00 on this hobby every year.

3. I try to run my trains everyday, usually for about an hour at a time.

4. I improve my layout whenever it needs to be improved or fixed. Times on this can vary.

5. I'm 14 years old.[8D]

6. I live with my Mom, Dad, Brother and Sister.

7. My brother is somewhat into trains, my Mom shows intrest and even my Dad and sister like them sometimes.

8. I've made a lot of good friends[:)]

9. Definant YES!

[DavidH]

1. about 20 locomotives and 200+ freight cars.

2. Not counting finishing the basement room in our new house to house the pike, about $2000 to $2500, I would think, but I am still in pike construction phase.

3. Depends. Sometimes not for a month, other times every night for varying periods of time. Sometimes just run, sometimes switch. Pike is only partially completed.

4. A lot!

5. Above 45.

6. Wife of 21 years, three step daughters, a daughter and a son, all adults.

7. Nobody knows any other hobby for dad, so they're all pretty tolerant of it.

8. I've been in the hobby since I was 12, which is 40 years. To paraphrase, Robert Fulghum, everything I needed to know about life, I learned from model railroading.

9. Model railroading is not a hobby. It's a way of life and a state of mind!

David

[simonjeff1]

QUOTE:

1)What is the total number of Rollingstock and Locomotives you have in your roster?


2)How much would you estimate you spend on Model Railroading per year?

3)How often do you operate your layout (Run trains/Operating sessions only), and how long do they last?

4)How often do you work on a section of your layout for maintenance and/or fine tuning?

5)What age range do you fall under? (Optional)
a)Under 15
b)16 - 20
c)20 - 45
d)above 45

6)Do you have your own family (wife & kids)? (Optional)

7)How often do your family members complain about your involvement in the hobby (how much time you spend with it, etc.)

8)How has the hobby benefited you outside of Model Railroading?

9)Opinion: Aside from space and/or money, Model Railroading or having a layout set up can be as constant as having a piece of furniture in the house. You don't have to necessarily operate trains all the time, but they can be out and on the layout ready for operation at anytime, if need be.

Yes or No

I think those are good questions for the survey. If anyone else has suggestions please let me know!

If some of the questions seem too personal PLEASE PM me and let me know and I'll re-phrase or delete the question.

Thanks for taking the time out to read the lengthy post and thanks for taking the time out to answer the questions if you decide to do so!

Looking forward to your responses!

[simonjeff1]

[quote
1)What is the total number of Rollingstock and Locomotives you have in your roster?
Approx. 50 engines; 200 freight cars; 50 passenger cars

2)How much would you estimate you spend on Model Railroading per year?
over $10,000, but I'm just getting back into it in the last 2 years

3)How often do you operate your layout (Run trains/Operating sessions only), and how long do they last?
Just building layout now

4)How often do you work on a section of your layout for maintenance and/or fine tuning?
Every day, but that's construction, not maintenance

5)What age range do you fall under? (Optional)
a)Under 15
b)16 - 20
c)20 - 45
d)above 45
I'm 51 years old

6)Do you have your own family (wife & kids)? (Optional)
no

7)How often do your family members complain about your involvement in the hobby (how much time you spend with it, etc.)
My family thinks I'm going to turn into the moleman, but they can't keep their hands off!

8)How has the hobby benefited you outside of Model Railroading?
Better group of friends, contacts with many talented people, and improved skillset (woodworking, electrical, painting, etc). Also, you tend to develop a lot of patience and a deep knowledge of the period you are modeling.

9)Opinion: Aside from space and/or money, Model Railroading or having a layout set up can be as constant as having a piece of furniture in the house. You don't have to necessarily operate trains all the time, but they can be out and on the layout ready for operation at anytime, if need be.

Yes: I just bought a house based on my need for a good basement. I intend for the layout to be as important as a living room. It will be a permanent part of my life, and already my non-railroading friends and visitors want to see the trains as soon as they walk in the door.

[simonjeff1]

In addition to my previous post, I should add that, if you are into DCC as I am, your computer understanding and skills will improve with your immersion in this subset of the hobby. I am a programmer by trade, and still am learning from railroading.

[edblysard]

Hi KSAX,
Ok, here goes..
#1: Rolling stock, 200+ each based on a prototype, weathered.
Locomotives, 15, all diesel, mostly switchers, also heavy detail to match prototypes.

#2; Some years, next to nothing, some years, quite a bit...average $1000.00 per year...

#3: When the last layout still exsisted, once a week with a few friends, it was a switching layout based on the railroad where I work.

#4: Hard question, it was built well, so "tune up" was simple and few.

#5: I am 45.

#6: Yes, wife and three daughters.

#7: No, my 11 year old is a train fan, goes train watching with me often, has run a real Dash 9, and a MK1500D switcher.

#8: Other way around, my job,(I am a swtichman the the PTRA) benefits my hobby, I have a prototype I get to see every day.

#9 Yes, a layout can be considered a piece of furniture...when my last one exsisted, I had a section on the front edge where the locomotives were "tied down" in full view, with a small spot light shining on them, to show off my handiwork and my hobby,,,a scratch built UP SW10 right up front.
Keep in mind I had a purpose built room for this, but still, you invest a lot of time and effort into a layout...if you were a wood carver, and had hand carved a few sculptures, wouldnt you want them on display?

Ed

[ksax73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Texas Zepher

QUOTE: Originally posted by ksax73
I found out today that "Model Railroader" is not in my parent's vocabulary; only "Train Junkie". The key word is junkie. Now to me, the word "junkie" does not gain the same respect as "Model Railroader".
...
If you guys can answer these questions I'd, greatly appreciate it:
...
Looking forward to your responses!

So are you going to post your presentation? I would like to see it and possibly use it to help others with similar questions.

Sure I would be more than happy to; however my presentation is going to be geared to my railroad specifically so if you'd like to use it, you will have to change quite a bit. I'm planning on using figures and those numbers may or may not have to be altered. I would think that a majority of it will be useful if I do it right though.

[ksax73]

QUOTE: Originally posted by simonjeff1

In addition to my previous post, I should add that, if you are into DCC as I am, your computer understanding and skills will improve with your immersion in this subset of the hobby. I am a programmer by trade, and still am learning from railroading.

Thanks! I'll be sure to note that as well!

If anyone hasn't posted on this thread yet, don't be shy, LOL[:D]