It has affected my modeling a fair amount. My evenings when I do my modeling have been quite reshuffled. As a pastor I used to visit one or two evenings a week- I can't do that right now. (But I sure want to) I also used to be up at the railroad club twice a week. Our club has reopened but only once a week and a lot of the guys haven't gotten back. I haven't been nearly as much. In turn I have used a lot of these evenings to get some modeling in- doing a lot of scratchbuilding in my Blackhawk Colorado section.
As for purchases I did get a fair amount of parts for this off Ebay- our hobby shops in the area have reopened but anything for me is 1 hour 15 to an hour 30 in different directions. What I needed was more specific on these projects so I wound up ordering- but I did get a fair amount of parts from Little Choo Choo when they reopened. I really miss the train shows. There was one in Hickory NC in late July but everything else has been canceled (although I am really hoping for the one in Raleigh in November)
One strange side effect- we were not able to have our regular vacation Bible School this year at church. I wound up doing a virtual online one with a train theme (interesting that there was one that came out with that this year) I did video on my layout and the club layout and went down and filmed stuff around the roundhouse at Spencer NC for it. I actually had to get some things done on my layout to get it filmed. Good motivator.
I am not retired just yet, a few more years to go. My work is busier than ever (non Covid related). Usually I slow way down on the model railroad in the summer months for all the obvious reasons. With the lockdown back in the spring (as an essential employee I still worked but stayed home when not working) I was glad to be able to turn to the model railroad.
While not back to normal life goes on, it seems I have stayed focused on the layout over the summer, I bought a couple of new locomotives and added sound so some enjoyable projects to work on. My LHS is 50 miles away but I have made the effort to get there more than I usually do this time of year. I also got my airbrush out and done a few long overdue weathering projects.
So no question I have turned to, or stayed with, the model railroad throughout the summer yet I did not make a concsious decision to do so. My wife too has been more involved in her hobbies.
My daughter struggles with her kids and the new school arrangements I feel sorry for her as the struggle between her work, kids, and their school is real. I also wonder what it must be like for those with no hobby to turn to.
As for Amazon, to say they come to our house frequently is an understatemen, they could easily justify stopping by to pick up the empty boxes.
I have been retired for 16 years. I have a 14" x 18" basement layout that has been under very slow construction for 10 years. That is partly because I am also a woodcarver/woodworker. People want my woodcarvings, they are not interested in my trains. So when covid hit and shut down all of the shows that I would have attended to sell woodcarvings this provided me with more time to work on my layout. But I still managed to make 60 crosses, a carving of an elephant for my son, and 90% completion of a Santa for my daughter. But I am spending a lot more time on my layout, completing some buildings that were just shells before, making over 100 fir trees to cover a large hill. putting in some roads and laying down a lot of ballast. I pretty much only go out to buy groceries early on weekday mornings and to go to church (drive in style, never thouht I would see that). Ocassionally order food to pick up and then go to a park to eat it. Things are different for us but I feel grateful because I don't have to worry about going to work or school or sending my children to school.
wdcrvr
davidmurrayI miss taking part in area train shows, and we are worrying as restrictions are tightening in this area that our November show may be cancelled.
Hi David,
The Barrie Allandale Railway Modellers have already decided to cancel their February 2021 show. That means a huge loss of revenue but fortunately the club has money in the bank thanks to the efforts of previous members. They will be able to pay the rent for a while, and most of the money for their 'new' (started in 2017) layout has already been spent.
When I was the President of the club the Secretary and I put a motion forward to increase the annual dues by about 35%. Of course there were objections, but we pointed out that all we needed was one bad show and the bank account would be depleated seriously. They grudgingly agreed. Guess what?!? They are going to be short by about 75% of their 2021 projected income. The raised dues now seem like a bargain!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I'm 67, retired 2-1/2 yrs ago after 49 yr in construction, 39 yrs self employed. After retiring I finished my wood shop, just finished helping my oldest daughter build a house. I mow 2 acres and have 20 acres of fields to care for. I just started getting into railroad modeling. My biggest inconveniences have been two weeks quarantine this month after having to travel from upstate NY to Sarasota and back for prostate cancer check up (all good) and the fact that the Canadian border is closed so we haven't be able to use our camp. It's a good time to be retired. My wife is able to work from home and will retire next year. I can't imagine how hard and stressful this has been on people less fortunate than most of us here.
I moved 170 miles in mid September. I am still looking for things. I threw away 4 hammers before I left, kept 3 and can only find 1.
It's a new house and there are all sorts of little things that need done, don't work or other complications, like getting the voice mail on your doctors office to transfer your medical records.I moved the two modules that I had built, but nearly everything else MR is still in boxes. I did not make a record of everything that went into each box, so every box will need to be unpacked before I find my Power Cab and rail joiners.
I also have room to significantly expand the layout, but haven't gotten around to planning what to do, like Mr B. analysis paralysis.
We have met a few people, walking in the neighborhood, but have only had longer conversations with our immediate next door neighbors.
My wife's niece and sister live here. We went to the nieces' home for her birthday. Her kids are close in age to the kids across the street and the two families eat dinner together every night. That family had an older daughter in the local college, who was Covid positive except no one knew it at the time.
AFAIK no one else has gotten sick.
I miss Timonium. I know people who have not left their homes since February and won't open their mail for a week and I know people who refuse to wear a mask.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
gmpullman riogrande5761 Mostly nice and quiet only disturbed but the now and then N-S or Amtrak train passing through. That kind of "disturbance" I could go for. The B&O branch that went through my nearby town was pulled up in '82. I can still hear the CSX (NYC) trains running along the Lake Erie shoreline when conditions are right. Regards, Ed
riogrande5761 Mostly nice and quiet only disturbed but the now and then N-S or Amtrak train passing through.
That kind of "disturbance" I could go for. The B&O branch that went through my nearby town was pulled up in '82. I can still hear the CSX (NYC) trains running along the Lake Erie shoreline when conditions are right.
Regards, Ed
We live near both the PRR (AMTRAK) and B&O (CSX) mainlines here in the northeast corridor.
Both run right thru the two nearby towns, we see and hear trains all the time in our daily activities.
Several resturants we frequent (not as often right now) have nice views of both lines as they cross the mighty Susquehanna River. Amtrak and MARC trains are moving all day.
Sheldon
riogrande5761Mostly nice and quiet only disturbed but the now and then N-S or Amtrak train passing through.
gmpullman Hello, The "social distancing" mandate hasn't affected our lives very much. ... enjoy our solitude living at the quiet end of a cul-de-sac in a semi-rural area.
Hello,
The "social distancing" mandate hasn't affected our lives very much. ... enjoy our solitude living at the quiet end of a cul-de-sac in a semi-rural area.
Not retired but moved to a semi-rural area also, tiny town with a few developments around it. Mostly nice and quiet only disturbed but the now and then N-S or Amtrak train passing through.
So the "lockdown" hasn't made much difference in our activities. We both enjoy cooking delicious meals, some might say better than any restaurant fare. Train shows were becoming tiresome for me but I used to attend them because it was a time to get together with a few friends. I have years-worth of modeling supplies/projects but whatever need arises is easily met with on-line sources. The UPS, USPS and Amazon trucks parade to my house on nearly a daily basis. Regards, Ed
Hah hah. Pretty much the same here.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Retired Canadian here. Our club shut down except for small groups to work on projects, so not much there. Started ops sessions two weeks ago with a limit of eight to ten people, weating masks.
Summer is yard time for me, plus my dog likes his two walks a day. We back unto a green belts with sports fields and a park nearby, so social distancing is no problem. If there is only two of you within 200 feet, talking at ten feet is no problem.
I miss taking part in area train shows, and we are worrying as restrictions are tightening in this area that our November show may be cancelled. Time will tell.
Gave my garden shed its twice yearly cleaning today.
The "social distancing" mandate hasn't affected our lives very much. Mrs. Pullman and I are both retired and enjoy our solitude living at the quiet end of a cul-de-sac in a semi-rural area.
We both have small circles of friends but visits are not very frequent. I have several "train-friends" that I still see on occasion and sometimes visit the layout for operating and we try to observe safe distancing practices and masks.
Hand washing was never a problem for me as I was somewhat of a fastidious hand washer before the virus came along. I observe people and their hygene habits and shake my head in dismay.
Both my wife and I have our respective hobbies/activities. Some we enjoy together and others are individual. I manage to spend at least four hours a day on model RR activities, considerably more on days of inclement weather.
So the "lockdown" hasn't made much difference in our activities. We both enjoy cooking delicious meals, some might say better than any restaurant fare. Train shows were becoming tiresome for me but I used to attend them because it was a time to get together with a few friends. I have years-worth of modeling supplies/projects but whatever need arises is easily met with on-line sources. The UPS, USPS and Amazon trucks parade to my house on nearly a daily basis.
Model railroading is just about the ideal hobby for us "basement dwellers" and I enjoy all the aspects of the hobby, the creativity, electronics and kit building and the historical research that helps to guide me toward more accurate modeling.
I hope everyone out there isn't impacted too seriously. I have heard of the passing of several modelers and rail historians on other forums and I do appreciate the seriousness of the pandemic that is among us.
So what this has done is improve my income as I don't shop near as much and since resterants don't allow indoor seating, that expence has gone. Also I invested some money when there was blood in the streets, those who know investing will get that, shuld have invested more though. Most relatives are teachers or other essential workers so they were not affected much, I'm retired. Wish I could comment more. See, I din't even mention the "V" word.
I still need to get my layout back together.
I had thought of joining a local train club, but they're all shut down for the duration.
I'm probably suffering from analysis paralysis getting the layout back up again. It will need significant restructuring and rearrangement, and I've already realized I will need to sacrifice stuff I like to put it up again. Oh, well, building is more fun to me than running, anyway.
At least we can go to restaurants, sit down and take off masks, so we can see others smiling.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
York1People are much nicer and better than what we see on the news.
Thank God for that. The news (MSN, CNN etc.) is very "corrosive" these days (and social media can be too). My desire to know what is going on in the world is usually met with, "I wish I didn't know that" and the world is so full of bad people or deluded people or " *sigh* Gene Roddenberry's vision of the future where humans overcome their differences and get along in harmony is so dead wrong. But I still enjoy throwing my brain out the window and watching Star Trek to forget about the ills of society. And of course, trains.
As for trainshows, it's a love/hate kind of thing. I think most of us hate crowds and strollers, but sometimes I go to Timonium and it's not too bad and I can enjoy myself perusing the tables and watching some trains run on those big modular layouts. I had the date wrong and missed the Feb Timonium show and was all ready to go in April and of course everything shut down - funs over. I just got an email for their contact address change. The Oct show was canceled a few months ago and we'll have to see about Feb 2021.
kasskaboose Wow! I miss these discussions.
Wow! I miss these discussions.
Me, too, although it's more like that "Whatever happened to YBobby? He hasn't posted in about six months." Suddenly, there it is....what's missing. He and all the others who have drifted, left, or Really Left.
kasskaboose ... I too feel that summer zoomed by and seeking on having fall do likewise. It seems that shorter days, the fall encourages more time indoors. Am I wrong?
...
I too feel that summer zoomed by and seeking on having fall do likewise. It seems that shorter days, the fall encourages more time indoors. Am I wrong?
Not in my books...you're quite right. We were all cooped up, we got to know our confines really well, we spent a lot of time in deep thought and self-absorption, and when the summer came by, it was pretty much same-same....with one notable exception: a bunch of us were finally called back to work, and that's when time began to fly. Truly, the past eight months have whizzed by for me, but I'm retired and my days all blend into one big Think.
My garden railway provides some diversion but in some ways I wish it was a little earlier in it's development. Not watching the news is a good idea but I liken it to passing a car wreck and not looking over. I always like Father Ted references. One of the best comedies to come from that side of the pond. Beware if you have strong religious tendancies.
F A D G!
I'm retired for the past 9 years but did work PT jobs off and on. But since the pandemic started in around February I have not Worked or dined out since march.
Being im the last of my family and only 73, the rest have past away so if not for my Trains this pandemic would have been much worse.
I do miss talking to people at shows and people in general. I have gone for weeks without seeing or talking to another person. But i do hang out on the train forums which is a big help.
Stay safe and stay healthy everyone,
Some things have changed and some have not.
I hate train shows, I see no reason to pay to get in to buy something. I order most online, but have only purchased new items from Scaletrains, Rapido and Athearn.
Our club was shut down for 5 months as it is in the Strongsville Historical Society grounds and they shut down and are still shut down for the forseable future. We were allowed to meet but only 4 people at the layout at a time. We are all on a schedule as to what day and time we attend. This means we cannot have an operating session as we need 8-10 people to fully operate these sessions.
I am an avid bowler, leauges have started up this fall but we have only 75% of the bowlers back who bowled last year and we are practicing social distancing.
I have been going out to restaurants at least once a week now, I did a lot of take out orders to support the restaurants when they could not seat anybody but most were from my niece's restaurant in Ohio City.
Did cut down on traveling and my daughter insisted that we not fly out to California to see our new grandson.
My youngest son is getting married next month, but the guests will be low as many are afraid of traveling and the covid.
Thats it for me.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
Wow! I miss these discussions. Anyway, I probably order a bit more to help pass the time. That is not from retailers but from the HO swap site. Part of that also stems from focusing on working on freight cars now that the trackwork and scenery's done. Of course that doesn't include ballast.
Trainman440 riogrande5761 I went through many years of life due to circumstances moving often, living in small apartments, etc. where I was a "collector", that evil word... I dont think "collector" should have any negative connotations to it. "hoarder" is where I draw the line
riogrande5761 I went through many years of life due to circumstances moving often, living in small apartments, etc. where I was a "collector", that evil word...
I went through many years of life due to circumstances moving often, living in small apartments, etc. where I was a "collector", that evil word...
I dont think "collector" should have any negative connotations to it. "hoarder" is where I draw the line
It's not hoarding, it's being well supplied.
And I am very well supplied - in 3 scales yet.
Paul
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Thanks for starting this thread, Brent.
Like some of you, I'm retired, so I find very little difference from before the virus.
Probably the thing that changed the most was church and my men's Bible study. Those are both getting back to normal now.
The other issue is that we don't get to see the children and grandchildren as much, although we still do see them. A planned vacation with all of them this past July was changed to a different place -- it was a good vacation, but not what I had been looking forward to.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has cut the news-watching to zero. I feel, at my age, that I only have a few years left, and I don't want to spend them getting upset at the TV and the bad vibes of the news.
People are much nicer and better than what we see on the news.
York1 John
Not much impact on myself, my wife still does the shopping, we very rarely went out before and slightly less now for me it's Doctor time. We are sorta loaners and we have never been ones to party much, only with family. Here the problem is old age, at 83 if it doesn’t hurt then it died and fell off.We both retired December 2007 and shortly after that I stopped watching or listening to the news. No news is much better than the bad news on TV. We have a great collection of DVDs, no commercials no news. Lots of mysteries (Murdoch, Ellery Queen & Nero Wolfe) and railroad type DVDs.I quit watching sports when they did their refusal of the National Anthem, didn’t watch sports much before that because of their strike. When my Arthritis permits I work on my layout when it doesn’t I work in our hobby room at my workbench. Lots of old projects to work on. I really like tweaking my model railroad stuff, really got into the tiny SMT LED and Arduino thing.
Other than that just enjoying being here and not pushing up grass.Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
I'm not a total introvert, but enough to go through this challenge without too many scars. My biggest problem is that I have been kept very busy at work - busier than usual for some odd reason. But because most services were closed in the spring, I did have the opportunity to spend a bit more time in the MRR rooom in the basement. Made progress on some structures and my lumber mill scene. On the other hand, our MRR club was pretty much closed for three months. A few guys go every week since July, but I have gone only a few times to limit my exposure. So it's the MRR club social life that hurts the most.
Simon
I tend to be a social hermit so any lockdown went pretty much unnoticed by me. Traffic was a bit lighter in the early weeks, so it made my weekly/daily errand runs more enjoyable....bring on more lockdown!
Personally, a job change to Georgia 4 years ago impacted my life more than any pandemic. Like Kevin, I used to travel frequently to on site jobs and work with a team of collegues. A move to GA turned me into a basement dwelling teleworking analyst with social interaction consisting of emails and phone calls. The pandemic has made that worse, but I was about 75% there already.
But, working in the basement office puts me three steps from the train room.
Coffee breaks are more frequent and last longer than the boss knows...shhhh.
I miss train shows, but the shows in ATL were never as frequent or fruitful as the shows in Indiana, so its not a big loss.
I've been clearing out stuff that I will not run on the layout to fund purchases of better stuff, so buying has been rather heavy during 2020, which would have happened regardless of the pandemic.
My wife is a nurse (used to work with mental health patients, Sheldon, I can relate to some of the challenges) and we are concerned about precautions at work, but it does not seem to have impacted her life or frequency with which she wants us to visit her (our?) friends over in Lake Martin Alabama.
Hobby life has been pretty much the same for me though.
- Douglas
I will try to be brief.
Personally it has not effected me much, it has actually had pluses and minuses.
Real Estate here is booming, so it helped us do well selling two properties, and maybe a third soon. Part of our retirement plan, sell the big house and the rental properties.
It has required us to help a little more with grandchildren, that is a plus and minus all in one.......
My work is booming, so layout progress remains slow. I need complete several home improvement projects at my own home to allow layout construction to start. I am working on those projects now.
My wife is a retired mental health professional, with more than her share of physical health issues. The pandemic has had only minor impact on our life style.
But we both predicted the mental health toll on the population in general right from the start.
While I am still working right now (I like my work), I do plan to scale back to semi retirement soon, and possibly dabble in some other small business ideas.
I don't miss train shows one bit, I do miss some of the new old stock bargains from train shows, but I'm not much for the crowds and the strollers........
I have not been buying much, until layout construction gets underway, there is little I need or want that I do not already have. I did pick up another trolley bus set on ebay this week.
Happy to be in our quiet little neighborhood, in our quiet little town, and staying away from most people.
tstage peahrens Now that fall is here, it is time to be preparing again for the volunteer tax program. I wish I had the option of voluntary tax.
peahrens Now that fall is here, it is time to be preparing again for the volunteer tax program.
I wish I had the option of voluntary tax.
Time for a father Ted meme:
peahrensNow that fall is here, it is time to be preparing again for the volunteer tax program.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I am getting more done on the layout.
With several risk factors for my wife and me, we're staying home except for doctor's visits.
I do miss going to the train shows with my middle son who is into Lionel trains in a big way. And I miss the family dinners with all 3 of my sons, daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren. And I miss breakfast once a week with a couple of friends.
But I look at it as trading 1-2 years staying at home for 10-20 years more of life. And truth be told it's a nice house on 2 acres with woods in the back. So I don't find this too onerous.