How to get Dad back in action!

[Anonymous]

Hi

I would like to ask how you persuede somebody to set up a railway?

The reason i ask is because before i go and layout hundreds to set up a railway (yes,i still live at home!) I would like to ask my dad to set up his. He had it set up in Canada ,it was a massive Ho layout but then he moved to australia and now everything is in boxes. I think he would really enjoy railroading again after all these years but he just wont budge!He said he wants to do it after he retires.

He has got 5 big boxes of track and trains and 2 boxes of accesories and wiring stuff,so he does have everything he needs.He still has 18 packs of those pre-wired left & right hand switches that are still unopened and thousands of pieces of track!

I think if he saw a railway being used it would motivate him to re setup his but with my luck after i have built my 3x5 he will go and set up some huge garage layout!!!!!!

What do i say to him?

Cheers

Pavariangoo[:)]

[Anonymous]

For starters right from his computer take a trip to www.msichicago.org click on exhibits, click on great train story, click on tour.
Also have him visit our Web Cams at the top of our trains.com
All free & riskless.

[Anonymous]

Why not ask to go to a train show together, or visit a local club?

[Anonymous]

Ask him to help you with something on the layout ,mabe he will get the itch back

[davekelly]

Scratch b rules has a great idea. I know I'd bite if my son tried that on me!!

[tatans]

Take him down to the sleasiest bar in town and have him look around at all the rum soaked rummies drooling in their glass and tell him they have been doing this for 20 years, and mention the alternative could be model railroading, I'm pretty sure I know which lifestyle he will choose.

[tatans]

I'm back again---tell your father that a statistic on retirement in Canada showed that in 70% of cases of people with no hobbies or interests BEFORE they retire, will NOT take up a hobby in retirement, it just doesn't happen very often, I can verify this with a lot of my friends, yes, some are still sitting in bars, how sad.

[Anonymous]

Helping with stuff on the layout definitely works, my dad's a computer programmer and he got pretty involved after I had him help with the wiring. And yes, Great Train Story is AMAZING!!!!

[Jetrock]

You can't really convince someone back into the hobby, you just have to lead by example. Let him see how much fun you are having and get back into it on his own, rather than trying to pressure him.

[Anonymous]

Ok

I've got him thinking about it!

The only problem is that there is a 15ft trailerboat in the way. Does anybody think that modules maybe a good idea?Can you build a garage layout on modules?-or does somebody have a better idea?

We have about 4x15 on both sides of the boat.What should we do.I was thinking link them somehow?

MAny thanks

pavariangoo[:)]

[chateauricher]

Linking the 2 halves shouldn't be too big a problem. (I'm presuming you're thinking of an HO-scale layout.)

A single track only needs about 2.5 inches of clearance (3 to 4" would be better), so you should easily be able to squeeze that in between the wall of the garage and the trailerboat. You may even have to raise or lower the track to get the necessary clearance. Just be sure your grade isn't much more than 2%.

The narrower the shelf, the more limited you will be when it comes to adding scenery; but then again, you could leave the "link" as an un-scenicked part of your layout.

What I am suggesting would work well along the back wall of the garage. Crossing the main door is a much more difficult challenge to overcome, and something I would recommend you avoid. Any lift-out or swing-away section would be very large, heavy and cumbersome. A step-over would mean that the trailerboat will be rolling over the tracks and very likely damaging them. Not to mention the risk of someone kicking or tripping over a train. A duck-under, while possible, would require some hefty grades (or helixes) on both sides of the door (as would a step-over).

[Anonymous]

yes i am modelling HO if i do it in the garage.

i just spoke to my dad and he said that the power pack would not work in australia so what would be a good power pack for a big layout.If it is mrc what model for alot of trains.he has about 12 i think.

many thanks for the advise and a link along the back of the garage should work.

thanks again

pavaraingoo[:)]

[Jetrock]

You should be able to get a voltage converter to allow you to use an American powerpack in AU.

Any MRC powerpack should work--no matter how many engines you have, you'll generally only be operating one at a time! Unless you want to get into two-cab control or DCC, but if you're as frightened of soldering anything as you say you are, you won't even want to go there.

My advice: Build your 2x4 N scale layout. Let your dad get back into the hobby on his own, rather than trying to cajole him into it, by seeing how much fun you're having. That's what I am doing--my dad got out of the hobby, but whenever he comes over to visit I show him the progress on my layout. So far he has purchased another basic train set, and after that I returned to him some of his old rolling stock that he lent to me when I got back into the hobby--fully tuned, with metal wheelsets and Kadee couplers.

[siberianmo]

I'm a Dad and GrandDad. I only wi***hat any of mine would be so interested in getting me interested in something as worthwhile as model railroading. I applaud you for what you are trying to do!

Now - here's a thought. Since he is in Austrailia, why not get some first hand skinny from Ausies? Post a question on a couple of links requesting some advice regarding HO model railroading in their country. I think you'll be able to quickly get to the power requriements (conversion, etc.) in no time.

For your question - be sure to identify that you want to "talk" to Australians - ex: Calling all Australians - might work.

Good luck!

[Javern]

Trainagra

[Anonymous]

Well, in my case all it took was my first Grand Son to get my wheels spinning again to get a layout and take that next step. Now I'm not telling you to go out, get married and start having children, but I was in the same mode as your Father. I didn't have much interest, and I always thought that there would be time later.

But due to some illness in my wife's family, and now a new Grand Son, I figured that time was wasting away. I was shocked when I got back into this hobby. I have to re-learn so many things!

1) Whats the difference in Snap Switches, Customline and Super Switches...???
2) DC vs. DCC???
3) They have Digital SOUND now???

Oh my goodness, What fun I'm having, and I can use my Grand Son for the excuse to buy stuff! LOL!

Good Luck!

Chris

[Anonymous]

Guess what!

For the first time in 14 years my dad has taken his train boxes out of the garage!

We are going to look through them tonight, I am so looking forward to it that i feel like a kid on christmas morning waiting to open presents!

I had a quick look but i will have a good look when dad is with me. So far i have discovered a still in the box MRC Tech II !!!!!!!!! How cool is that. It is to bad that it runs of canadien power.

Also you maybe interested to know that we no longer have the room to set-up problem because today he went out and bought chains and locks and has taken everything of value out of the boat.He is going to take it out of the garage and park it outside on the lawn!!!!!!!

Although he has not definetly said i do think this is so he could setup the railway!

Anyway i will keep you informed as to what we find and do!

Many thanks

Pavariangoo[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]

[Anonymous]

UPDATE!!!

I was speaking with dad and he said that if he gets back into it he will be modelling the 1930's to the 1940's. Will my flying scotsman fit this era?

He said he likes the Steam engines and early Diesels.

We discovered another box of flextrack.

Many thanks

Pavariangoo

[Anonymous]

Very Cool.

I hope your Dad and yourself have some fun together doing this. Late Steam, Early Diesels, sounds like you have something for everyone!

GOOD LUCK!

Chris

[red p]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NYC56

I was shocked when I got back into this hobby. I have to re-learn so many things!

1) Whats the difference in Snap Switches, Customline and Super Switches...???
2) DC vs. DCC???
3) They have Digital SOUND now???

Well thats kinda where Im at with things.
When I hired out on the railroad several years ago.I was talking to another "buff"(thats what we call railfans on the NS).He told me that railroading would ruin the hobby. I didnt believe him.
I developed a real bad attitude and got to the point where I hated trains,couldnt stand the sight of them,partly becuase I was sitting on an engine 12 hours a day.So I got out of the hobby compleatly for a few years ,and im just getting back into it again.
What got me back into the hobby was the historical aspect.modern day railroading does nothing for me.
So as far as getting someone back into the hobby I would say.Find that one little nitch that they love more than anything else.For me it was 1st. and 2nd. gerneration motive power.

[howmus]

I gave up actively working on my pike 18 years ago after my wife died. Guess I just lost interest and got involved with a lot of community groups.. Church, Boy Scouts, Matrin Luther King Committee, etc. The layout just sat down there gathering dust all those years. Three years ago the Boy Scout Troop that I had been Scoutmaster for decided to plan a trip to Steamtown USA in Scranton, PA. I jumped in headfirst and helped get a lot of details together to help the boys. Went with them that weekend and once again got "hooked". I am now more excited about the hobby than ever! Get him to some shows as has been mentioned before, go on an excusion, or just start building your layout. he will probably get the bug. If not I am sure he would enjoy "helping" you with yours.

Enjoy your trains!

[Anonymous]

UPDATE!

Hi

Today we looked throught the boxes and can run all canadien stuff too because we have a tranformer.

Anyway as for rolling stock we found

150 rolling stock
20 cabooses
20 loco's

The loco's are

4 big silver and red sante fe diesels
4 blue and yellow sante fe diesels
2 steam engine and 1 that blows smoke
assorted other diesels
fire engine/shunter

an tone of track and flex track and unbuilt buildings as well as switches,wires and other stuff

Cool

Pavariangoo

[Anonymous]

Hi

We talked about setting up the railroad. Now i know my dad and if he does something he does it in a BIG way!

He said he is going to go to bunnings and buy 5 4x8 sheets of wood and he will make a big U shaped layout. He also said that if i wanted a 4x8 for my railway he would get me one. I am free to use his railway but i want to try building my own 4x8 from scratch as he wants to for his.

We will then probably link them for a total of 6 4x8's!

I am going to find a 4x8 plan with minimal track and a yard because i mainly want to focus on scenery and dad mainly wants to focus on trains so together we will make a good team!

MAny thanks

Pavariangoo

[Anonymous]

just make sure that you have at least one track that goes to the edge and he has one so you can connect them together. Preferable located where they should be to be placed together for a smooth operation of the layouts.