Model RR club newbie

[Paul3]

Everyone is quick to complain but slow to compliment.  That goes for every day life and model train clubs.  You always hear about the worst parts but hardly ever do you hear of the great parts of being in a club.  I've been a club member for over 30 years now, and I don't regret it at all.

My postive things about being in my club:

1). Life-long friendships.  I have lost touch with all my college friends.  I still see my old friends from high school but we all live our own lives with jobs, kids, and different interests.  I saw them (pre-COVID) about once a month at parties and holidays, but other than Facebook we don't connect that much in person.

However, with my RR club friends, I see them 3 times a week.  We all share one common interest in model trains.  With some, I share other common interests in sports, history, etc.  We always have something to talk about. 

Due to my club friends, I took an overnight train to Chicago, visited the IRM, hung out at Rochelle, IL, got a backroom tour of the MSI layout, and visited the Sears tower.  We took Amtrak to Portland, Maine a couple times and rode the Maine Eastern around 10 other times.  I've been on a club speeder trip, up the Cog RR at Mt. Washington, on the Cass Scenic, rode Amtrak to Montreal, been to Washington, D.C. twice, and New York three times (at least 8 Acela trips all told).  I got a backshop tour of Amtrak's Southampton St. engine facility in Boston, the tour at Steamtown a few times, at the East Broad Top twice and once at the St. Lawrence & Atlantic.

Because of my club friends, I've had cab rides in the following: F40PH, FL9, B23-7, U23B, SW9, S-6, S-4, GP38, GP28, B40-8W, and M-420.  Better still, I was able to get some throttle time on four of them (S-4, S-6, SW9 and B23-7).

Since one of my fellow club members, John Sheridan, worked for Microscale, I was able to influence him to get the proper MBTA purple made as a Trim Film, which Tru-Color later copied for their paint line.  Eventually, I was a helper for him at the Springfield show at the Microscale booth as volunteer labor.  I met Craig Walker there who was in charge at Microscale at the time, who later moved on to Athearn.  Because of my connection from John to Craig, I was able to help Athearn make more accurate NH models.  Later, as John started designing artwork for BLI, Atlas, InterMountain, etc. he would ask me to review his NH art to make it even better.  Eventually, this led to helping design the BLI I-4 4-6-2 model.  When Rapido started making NH models, I was introduced to them by John, who had done some artwork for them.  I was part of the crew that helped Rapido design (IOW, nitpick) the FL9, 8600 coach, NH parlor, NH diner, the EP-5, etc.  About a year ago (and after hiring Craig Walker...small world!), Jason Shron offered me a part-time job working for Rapido as a nitpicker, doing the same thing I did on NH models but for all railroads.  About 2 months ago, Jason asked me to start writing their instruction manuals and expanding my workload at Rapido.  If it weren't for my club, there's no way I'd be a Rapido employee today.

2). Education in the hobby.  I learned how to airbrush and decal from my fellow club members.  Before the internet was popular there was no way to learn these skills unless you knew someone or by trial & error.

I was taught how to install Kadees, how to operate a layout, how to schedule an operation session, how to handlay track, how to make track switch from scratch, how to ballast, how to make trees, how to weather, how to wire a giant layout, how to design a layout and many more things that come with the hobby.

I learned about DCC, how to install a decoder, how to wire in headlights and sound boards, how to fine tune a brass steam engine, how to fix engines and cars that have issues.

3). Maximimize hobby opportunities.  Sure, most of us have designed and built a layout or two, but how many have dreamed of 6,000+ sq. ft. to play with?  I get to do that at my club.  I'm the layout designer, and I've been able to dream big and get it built and running in my lifetime.  I designed a freight/passenger terminal that's 60 feet long.  The passenger terminal is 8 tracks wide and 16' long, plus a 6 track coach yard (12') and 2 track commissary yard.  The freight side has a 5 track arrival/departure yard that's 20' long, a 9-track double-ended freight yard that's 10' long and a 9-track stub yard that's 12' long.  This area also has a 15-track roundhouse and a 9-track transfer table with car, steam and diesel shops.  And this is only one end of the layout.  The other end will be South Station in Boston (alas, in reduced form).  How many other non-club modelers get to do stuff like that?

I am also the operations chairman, and the satisfaction of designing a session from scratch that uses over 20 people to run a scheduled session is enormous.  How many non-club modelers get to design and run 20+ person operations?  And have everyone happy at the end of it and can't wait to do it again?

I won't deny there can be friction at a club.  You get 65 people in a room with 65 opinions, you're going to have put up with a certain amount of static.  But I would not give up my friends for a lone-wolf existance.  Good friends are worth their weight in gold, and life-long friends are beyond any value.  Don't be so quick to dismiss a club.  Granted, there are some toxic clubs and not everyone is meant to be in a club, but if you can be social and the club isn't full of crackpots, give it a try.  You just might have the best fun of your life.

[TheFlyingScotsman]

 

PRR8259

 the other model RR clubs I have seen were not really worth my time.  Too many stupid rules, too many hassles

 

 

My experience too.

[PRR8259]

I had a great experience as a member of the Penn State University Model RR Club during the years I was in State College (1990-1992).

However, with that shining exception, the other model RR clubs I have seen were not really worth my time.  Too many stupid rules, too many hassles:  they said my very well-behaved son was not welcome due to his age.  If they don't accept my son they don't get me.  (I am told that due to declining membership, and after a battle over dcc after which the people who actually did most of the work on the layout were thrown out of the local club, they are supposedly a better group now.  I'm just not buying it). 

So I am a lone wolf modeler today, with a couple friends that I do run trains with on occasion.  Maybe I will get to help them build their own private layouts.

Oh--and that son the club wouldn't accept subsequently lost his interest in trains and is working very hard at college baseball (pitching).  Maybe perhaps if the one club had allowed us in back in the day when I inquired politely, things might have been different.  Score -1 for the hobby continuing.

Actually -2 because I have another son, who was always less interested in model trains than the first one.

I did everything I could to keep them interested in model trains.  Son #2 has a fantastic 2-8-8-4, Genesis 2.0 big UP diesels, and a DDA40X coming on pre-order.  However, he doesn't run them very much at all.

John

 

[jjdamnit]

Hello All,

"I would never join a club that would have me as a member."- -Groucho Marx

Joking aside...

The previous responses have been great!

One thing to consider is...

What do you want out of membership?

It's OK to admit you just want to run trains on a great layout.

For others, it's the fellowship.

While some enjoy the modeling aspect.

There are many motivators to participating in a club. Understand what your's might be and pursue those paths.

Most clubs have a charter and a code of conduct.

Get copies of these, read them and, if necessary, contact the club with any questions and/or concerns before showing up to your initial orientation session.

Currently, I am a lone wolf modeler- -not by choice but by geography.

Someday I will become a volunteer engineer at the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greely, Colorado.

I have the list of requirements and volunteer application.

At this time I am not able to meet the training prerequisites.

When I have the time, and with the backing of "She Who Must Be Obeyed!", I will fulfill those requirements.

Then I will be able to fulfill my goals of...

•Running trains on a great layout

•Exploring the electronics side of this hobby further

Thank you for asking our opinions.

Hope this helps.

[hornblower]

Although I was unable to join the club due to a conflicting commitment, I have been a regular guest operator with the LAMRS club in Los Angeles.  This club's membership includes a great bunch of people who have a lot of fun while hosting rather ambitious operating sessions.  Although the club has recently lost it's layout, they are planning to build a new layout in another location (tbd). As each member tends to have differing talents and specialties from the other members, the club has always benefitted from taking advantage of the member's differing talents.

When joining a club, let the membership know what you do especially well.  That way they can put your talent to best use and, if you are indeed as talented as you think, you will be asked to participate even more.

[richhotrain]

It is always interesting to read threads about model railroading clubs. There sure seems to be a lot of negatives and downsides.

A lone wolf I am, and a lone wolf I shall remain.

Rich

[snjroy]

hon30critter

Hi bedell,

When I was the President of my old club, the thing we feared the most was having some 'know-it-all' idiot walk in and tell us how much better his methods were or how he could fix all our 'mistakes'. Please don't go there.

I also had to bite my own tongue when it came to the work that some of the members had done. In my opinion the scenery was hideous. Everyone else seemed to think it was great.

Unfortunately I had to quit the club due to personal conflicts. Hopefully that doesn't happen to you.

Dave

 

Some spots on our layout are also horrible, and our standards appear to be going down. I quit the Board at some point, and never regretted that. I stick around because there are a few members who are good friends. The others I try to ignore...

Simon

[maxman]

hon30critter

Unfortunately I had to quit the club due to personal conflicts.

And if I remember correctly I believe that I "told you so" way back when.  But did I ever get thanked?   Nooooooooooooooooooooo.

[hon30critter]

Hi bedell,

When I was the President of my old club, the thing we feared the most was having some 'know-it-all' idiot walk in and tell us how much better his methods were or how he could fix all our 'mistakes'. Please don't go there.

I also had to bite my own tongue when it came to the work that some of the members had done. In my opinion the scenery was hideous. Everyone else seemed to think it was great.

Unfortunately I had to quit the club due to personal conflicts. Hopefully that doesn't happen to you.

Dave

[snjroy]

First of all, congrats for your initiative. Clubs need new members to stay alive. I hope you enjoy your experience. I've been a member of a club for several years and I find it's a great opportunity to learn things, make new friends, and share the joys of this great hobby.

I agree with what was said: It's a good idea to observe and listen. Each group will have its own dynamics.

What outsiders won't always be aware of is that there can be a pecking order among members. Some members are more influential than others, and there can be tension. It's related to the fact that there is basically only one mainline, and that involves sharing a common space, and decisions about how the layout is built, who builds what, etc. That involves delicate relationships between members. Open conflicts can happen. Of course, you want to stay out of these as a newbie.

And may I add that when you join a club, be aware that some members may have dedicated decades on work on the layout. They feel like they own it... Not totally true, but not totally false either.

Simon

 

[selector]

Take time to listen...a lot.  By observing and listening more than attempting to ingratiate yourself, or to insert yourself into their midst (meaning their 'culture'), you are more likely to be welcomed and 'groomed' to be a full-fledged member.

As a previous responder said, do try to make yourself useful.  Take on chores that are obviously not something most people would relish doing.  Cleaning track, dusting, putting things away in boxes, sweeping the floor....whatever will signify that you are willing to work your way into a responsible and helpful, and valued, member.

[dknelson]

Make sure you you have a decent grasp of basic club rules and understandings as to standards, era, speed of trains, operations, and such.

Learn to take constructive criticism even when it is not phrased in the most kindly way possible.   No scenes, no tantrums, no insults.

Try to really analyze what things you feel you can do to an acceptable level and what things you admit to yourself you are not sure of.   Most older model railroaders have a good grasp of their talents.  But things like electronics and technology they are more likely to admit might be the domain of younger/newer members.  If you're lucky you have talents that they want help with, just as they have talents where you need their help.

Ask to be shown how to do things you don't know how to do.  Ask how you can help with things you feel you can do.  If you don't understand the radio or other communications vocabulary, ask.  If you don't really understand the timetable or car forwarding paperwork, ask.  The point is, ask.  Better to ask than to blunder.

A decent interval should go by before you use the club layout to run your stuff, assuming that is welcomed in terms of era and roadname etc.

Are you expected to bring your own tools?  Don't borrow to excess.  At the very least have your own NMRA standards gauge but a tool box is a good idea.  Put your name on your tools

Dave Nelson

[7j43k]

"Make yourself useful."

"Find something that needs doing and do it." (with permission)

"Don't touch other people's stuff without asking."

"If you broke it, you bought it."

 

 

Ed

[tstage]

Every MRRing club operates differently.  I think I would have asked those questions to the club before joining.  Better to get it directly from the horse's mouth...

Tom

[richhotrain]

Why not ask your new fellow club members for advice?

Rich

[bedell]

Just joined a club for the first time.  Any hints, suggestioins, etiquette rules etc?

Any feedback would be appreciated.