I know I'm taking MRR'ing way too SERIOUSLY when...(fill in the blanks):

[Anonymous]

Every now and then I discover that model railroading is less like a hobby and more like an all-consuming addiction. Sometimes it gets so bad I even start asking myself, Is this really worth it?

What got me thinking of this is, I've set artificial deadlines for myself as to when I'll finish laying/wiring my track. I know I can't rush it (learned that lesson the hard way), but every time my wife (or one of my kids) wants me to devote some time to them, I start worrying "I'm never gonna finish my layout [banghead]"! My mood sours because I let my priorities get screwed-up.

I'd like to hear what experiences the rest of you have to share, about what might make you think model RRing is not always "fun"?

[scole100]

This last summer we moved, and as a result I am now working on yet another layout. Projects of this size are overwelming if you let them. I promised myself that I would do something each day to work on the railroad. As long as I know that there is some progress, however slight., I know that someday it will get done. Keep the faith!

[SpaceMouse]

When the fricker-racker front end won't set on the track.

[SilverSpike]

Ken,

I have the same experience, seems like when I set a goal for the MR to reach a certain "deadline" other things come up that just push all my plans out the window. Seems like "scope creep" rears it's ugly head in the hobby more often that not for me.

As far as fill in the blanks, "I know I'm taking MRR'ing way to seriously when I just have to buy that one structure, or one piece of rolling stock and I still have no benchwork done yet." I have a hugh stack of unbuilt kits just waiting in the wings!

- Ryan

[mustanggt]

When I lose a whole bunch of those microscopic micro-trains springs and have to use the springs from HO kadee couplers replace them. And those fly away too!

[tstage]

You know your taking MRR'ing way too SERIOUSLY when...

You start sculpting the mashed potatoes on your plate into a mountain range and planting broccolli to simulate trees.

(Never did the above personally but I definitely look at the world a bit different now, since getting into MRRing.)

Tom

[howmus]

You know you're taking Model Railroading too seriously when:
1. You are convinced the center of the universe is Milwaukee, WI.
2. You're Patron Saint is John Armstrong.
3. If your truck is too small to pull your trailer, you just have your wife push it from behind with the car.
4. Your son hides his copy of Model Railroader from you.
5. You think a reefer is a kind of frieght car.
6. The folks at Loy's Toys recognise your voice on the phone.
7. Your favorite recordings come already to play in your BLI.
8. Your favorite movie is "The Great Train Chase".
9. Your plans to remodel the bathroom include a helix up from the basement so operations can continue.
10. Hearing a Steam Whistle makes you cry uncontrollably!

[Javern]

I've resorted to playing with trains as a winter hobby, then Im cooped up in the house for the most part anyway. Granted now and then on a simmering hot august day i can be found in the cool basement playing trains. This way I can keep up with my gardening and other summer activitis and also by the time fall/winter rolls around Im really geared up for working on the railroad.

[johncolley]

I know I have the makings of a serious addiction when I think my car sounds like an old Baldwin switcher from the '50's, and with our old streets rides like it too! (been there, did that) But I remind myself things are not too bad yet, it doesn't smoke like an Alco.

[Anonymous]

You know you're taking model railroading way too seriously when you refer to driving your minivan straight ahead as "operating short hood forward".

[Anonymous]

Ya I just wi***hat I had a layout to run my Locomotives.
BNSFrailfan.

[siberianmo]

Ken,

You know you're taking MRR'ing way too SERIOUSLY when:

(1) You don't crack your knuckles, you couple them.[:)]
(2) You don't inventory your things, you place them in consists.[:D]
(3) You honk your car's horn at every intersection.[:)]
(4) You shout, "All aboard" at the most inappropriate times![}:)]
(5) You refer to the colors of your house and car as livery.[:D]
(6) You tell your favorite woman that in order to get started, a little momentum would help![}:)]
(7) You like referring to your adult pastime as "laying track."[}:)]
(8) You insist on getting your ticket "punched" at the theatre.[:D]
(9) You swear that FRED doesn't mean F-----G Rear End Device![}:)]
And
(10) You realize you can't drive a railroad spike with a tack hammer![}:)]

All but #10 are "Originals" just for you from Siberianmo![tup]

[mondotrains]

Ken,
I'm going to try to help you though your struggle and by "speaking" to you, maybe I can help myself. You see, I can get compulsive and set unrealistic deadlines myself and then I too wonder if the hobby is "worth it".

We all must remember that a hobby is something we do to relax and which often enables us to use skills that otherwise would go untapped. I was a senior executive before I retired and found that model railroading enabled me to tap the creative side of myself. However, it's been difficult for me to avoid attacking this hobby like I would attack a multi-million dollar IT project when I was working. What do we expect? How can we just erase those attributes that we've developed elsewhere? How can we just drop those skills that made us successful? We can't.

Therefore, we need to keep using those skills and reminding ourselves that model railroading is a journey. Enjoy the journey and don't set deadlines. Remember that we really don't want to "finish" the layout anyway, because then what would we do? Why ru***o finsish wiring because trust me, when you finsih it, you'll be a little disappointed that the "wiring phase" is done and you won't have the fun of wiring any more. I just put in the last of my sidings and am a little sad that I won't have any track laying to do any more.

Ken,
Regarding your wife and kids requiring attention....give it to them not only because they're important people in your life and need your attention but think of it this way. Every time they take you away from MR, they're helping you to stretch out the time it will take to "finish" your layout. They also offer a great diversion from moments when you might be getting a little too compulsive about the hobby.

The great thing about this hobby is that there is always more to do. It goes on endlessly. I'm building sturctures and adding lights to them. Scenery is only partly complete. The last bit of bird crap has not been put on the roofs yet....in fact, that's a long, long way off and until then, I'm going to enjoy the journey.

Hope this helps.
Mondo

[twhite]

Everything's been planned beforehand. Everything!! You're like the director Alfred Hitchcock, who has the movie all in his head, all he has to do is film it. Everything goes as planned--it's almost boring how everything fits together. You stand back and smile, look at this incredible empire you've built, get a God complex. And then--
--I could have put a double-crossover there in the yard so that I don't have to back the train onto the siding--
--oh man, that looks like a GOOD place for a viaduct--how come I never saw THAT in the plans?--
--I could have put a turntable and an engine facility over there--
--how am I going to scenick that long stretch of parallel double-track on different levels?--
--if I expose half the hidden return loop, I can increase the radius from 32" to 35", but that means building an extension on the other end that's JUST going to clear the automatic garage door--

And guess what? You're doing it ALL over again!!
Oh, and the cat steals one of your cabeese.
Sheesh!
Tom [:D]

[IRONROOSTER]

you replace your car horn with a locomotive bell.

I have always tried to keep the priorities straight, which is why the layout is still under construction after 10 years. But that's okay, it's a hobby and it's far enough along that I can run a train.

Enjoy
Paul

[cheese3]

when...i have not come out of my train room for 3 days straight!

[Anonymous]

When you have more invested in your trains than you do your home and automobile!
(sad to say that's me)

[GerFust]

I know I'm taking MRR'ing way too SERIOUSLY when...

• I shape my hand into the shape of a coupler to grab a door handle.


• After a stressful day at work I fall asleep with visions of track plans in my head.


• When you start buying engines you don't need (new addiction just this spring).


• You start talking about track plans with people who don't give a rip.


• On an Amtrak ride you introduce the lady next to you to the conductor to help you introduce her to the wonderful world of trains.


• You meet someone at church and say "don't I know you from the hobby shop?"

[Anonymous]

Thanx everyone, great answers! I'd like to offer another one:

. . . when the latest issue of MR arrives, and lo and behold, there's a Kato [or Atlas, or Athearn Genesis, ...] ad announcing a georgeous loco that I never dreamed would become available. And in bold red letters is the advice: Limited Run Item - Reserve Yours TODAY! Oh well, so much for "not spending more than I earn"...! But this will be the last time I ever have to do this, because now my roster will be complete...REALLY...![:I]

[Anonymous]

I know I'm taking MRR'ing way too SERIOUSLY when...

1. People find track plan sketches on the back of every scrap of paper in the house.
2. You actually budget your grocery bill to accomodate the price of that new kit, rather than vice-versa.
3. You start giving plasma to get money for train stuff (because your wife has taken over the grocery shopping and won't let you divert funds anymore).
4. You get online every half hour to check responses to your posts on the MR forum.
5. You're working on your layout, which is temporarily housed in a shed with no heat, in the dead of winter, with so many layers of clothing on you have barely enough range of motion to reach up and place a car on the track.

Of course, I've never been in any of those situations, so it's not a problem for me...[;)]

[GMTRacing]

When my driver goes to look at his lap time sheet and instead finds the plan for my latest siding.
Ken, there is lots of good advice above here, and keep in mind the trains can wait, you won't have that much time before the people you care for change, grow up, or move on. We all get fustrated, but we do this to relax and above all I marvel at the community of people out there that share the passion. J.R.

[locomutt]

[#ditto] to most of the above.(guilty also)
It's really great when yor wife(girlfriend) is a railfan also.

[mersenne6]

1. I start thinking about quitting my job and relocating to Pennsylvania so I can have one of their great special interest railroad preservation license plates on my car.
2. My wife sends me to Blockbusters for a video and I spend over an hour looking for train tapes.
3. I can't understand why the rock group AC/DC never seems to have songs about the trials and tribulations of model railroading.
4. When working on a computer schematic I see the abbreviation "IC" and start thinking about the Panama Limited paint scheme.
5. I make it a point to take routes to work that will most likely result in my having to wait at a train crossing.

[orsonroy]

...when I'm looking at my stash of resin freight car kits, trying to figure out which ones to take along on my honeymoon! (I decided NOT to bring any. But I did find a nice hobby shop in London, and well...)

[Anonymous]

ON the way home from my honeymoon, I saw a plume of smoke in the distance and took a detour to watch a consolidation switching freight.

[selector]

You receive a brass Big Boy, with sound, from your LHS owner at Christmas. Inside, the note says, "Thanks, and Merry Christmas. This one's one me!"

[trolleyboy]

I know when I have it bad when I give three horn blasts to back up and two to go forward in my car. Also I've started seriously thinking of asking the neighbours for some "trackage rights" for a new garden layout through all three yards. Rob

[Anonymous]

...when you take your car back to the dealers and ask if they can look at the dynamic brakes, as they don't seem to be working.

...when they then realise you're using the air conditioning system as a braking device (only works on manual transmission but pretty effective - aircon on, engine revs drop, car slows down!)

...when you start looking for a 3-tone horn, bell, and folding sunshades

...when you spend a measurable proportion of your time surfing ebay looking for the widget that you've been unable to find for (choose suitable length of time).

...when one of the main CDs in your computer is "Train Sim" or similar.

[Anonymous]

I know I'm taking MRR'ing way too SERIOUSLY when...

You start kitbashing your wife and take your trains out to dinner.[:D][8D][;)][:o)][:)]

[Anonymous]

when you start to work on your rr at 8:00pm fri and don't come out till 10:00pm sunday.




done that a few times.