Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Any young (30 somethings) Model railroaders ??

8223 views
76 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 131 posts
Posted by scole100 on Saturday, November 29, 2003 12:36 PM
I am 37, I have been in the hobby since I was about 7. Always in HO. Like most people I took a break in my teens and twenties for cars/girls etc. I have been Back and involved for about the last dozen years. I am doing my best to get my kids interested, but it is a hard battle to get them away from the computer games. I tried railroad simulator, but that didn't work all that well either.
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 131 posts
Posted by scole100 on Saturday, November 29, 2003 12:36 PM
I am 37, I have been in the hobby since I was about 7. Always in HO. Like most people I took a break in my teens and twenties for cars/girls etc. I have been Back and involved for about the last dozen years. I am doing my best to get my kids interested, but it is a hard battle to get them away from the computer games. I tried railroad simulator, but that didn't work all that well either.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 29, 2003 1:01 PM
I'm 13, started at 12 and know a few people around thirty, but the funny thing is: I keep hearing about a model railroader there, a model railroader here, I can't find them. although I've found five, there are still more, don't be shy, if you see someone suspicious, (Someone with a railroad hat), ask 'em if they are a model railroader.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 29, 2003 1:01 PM
I'm 13, started at 12 and know a few people around thirty, but the funny thing is: I keep hearing about a model railroader there, a model railroader here, I can't find them. although I've found five, there are still more, don't be shy, if you see someone suspicious, (Someone with a railroad hat), ask 'em if they are a model railroader.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 29, 2003 2:16 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by loCAMotives

I'm 13, started at 12 and know a few people around thirty, but the funny thing is: I keep hearing about a model railroader there, a model railroader here, I can't find them. although I've found five, there are still more, don't be shy, if you see someone suspicious, (Someone with a railroad hat), ask 'em if they are a model railroader.
I'm 13, too. The problem with trying to model when I'm this young poses a problem for my wallet. I can't afford much. Hope to get my UP layout started soon.....[|)]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 29, 2003 2:16 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by loCAMotives

I'm 13, started at 12 and know a few people around thirty, but the funny thing is: I keep hearing about a model railroader there, a model railroader here, I can't find them. although I've found five, there are still more, don't be shy, if you see someone suspicious, (Someone with a railroad hat), ask 'em if they are a model railroader.
I'm 13, too. The problem with trying to model when I'm this young poses a problem for my wallet. I can't afford much. Hope to get my UP layout started soon.....[|)]
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Southern California
  • 743 posts
Posted by brothaslide on Saturday, November 29, 2003 3:52 PM
I'm 38, been happily married for 13 years and have two wonderful daughters. I've modeled off and on since I was in grade school. I prefer Western Railroads such as SP, UP, SF (BNSF), & Rio Grande. I may be young but my knees are lower back don't feel so young.
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Southern California
  • 743 posts
Posted by brothaslide on Saturday, November 29, 2003 3:52 PM
I'm 38, been happily married for 13 years and have two wonderful daughters. I've modeled off and on since I was in grade school. I prefer Western Railroads such as SP, UP, SF (BNSF), & Rio Grande. I may be young but my knees are lower back don't feel so young.
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Along the Murphy Branch
  • 1,410 posts
Posted by dave9999 on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 10:43 PM
I'm 34, SOON to be 35 and got back in about two years ago after many years. Most of that time was
spent raising hell and partying. I've settle down now and spend alot of time working .I run my own
constuction business which keeps me busy. But I make time for my modeling. I'm working on my
second layout in two years. Gonna do it right this time. Hope to have major progress by the first
of the year. Dave
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: Along the Murphy Branch
  • 1,410 posts
Posted by dave9999 on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 10:43 PM
I'm 34, SOON to be 35 and got back in about two years ago after many years. Most of that time was
spent raising hell and partying. I've settle down now and spend alot of time working .I run my own
constuction business which keeps me busy. But I make time for my modeling. I'm working on my
second layout in two years. Gonna do it right this time. Hope to have major progress by the first
of the year. Dave
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 12:25 AM
I'm 26, soon to be 27, and have been actually modeling since I was 5. My dad modeled in HO scale already by the time I was born. He had a layout that was built in my room so it was just always there. He bought me my first engine when I was 5. It was an atlas GP38 in UP livery. I've modeled UP ever since. In fact, I still have that engine and it's in good working order.

He is big into Northern Pacific, SP&S, Great Northern, and Milwaukee Road. Basically, all the RRs he saw as a kid. He does the transition era from steam to diesel where I do mostly the modern ear, late 80's to early 90's. I like SD40-2s and GE dash 8s where he is more into F units and Northerns.

The layout I built with him while I was still at home was 16ft by 8ft and was a lot of fun. I left that behind with him of course when I went to college. I have only recently started building my own layout as I had 8 yrs of college to finish first.

I've been lucky enough to have girlfriends that have always been supportive of my hobbies as well, so that has never been an issue. I hope to have a family in the coming years and fully plan on sharing my hobby with the next generation. :)

Warren
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 12:25 AM
I'm 26, soon to be 27, and have been actually modeling since I was 5. My dad modeled in HO scale already by the time I was born. He had a layout that was built in my room so it was just always there. He bought me my first engine when I was 5. It was an atlas GP38 in UP livery. I've modeled UP ever since. In fact, I still have that engine and it's in good working order.

He is big into Northern Pacific, SP&S, Great Northern, and Milwaukee Road. Basically, all the RRs he saw as a kid. He does the transition era from steam to diesel where I do mostly the modern ear, late 80's to early 90's. I like SD40-2s and GE dash 8s where he is more into F units and Northerns.

The layout I built with him while I was still at home was 16ft by 8ft and was a lot of fun. I left that behind with him of course when I went to college. I have only recently started building my own layout as I had 8 yrs of college to finish first.

I've been lucky enough to have girlfriends that have always been supportive of my hobbies as well, so that has never been an issue. I hope to have a family in the coming years and fully plan on sharing my hobby with the next generation. :)

Warren
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 8:44 AM
Hi,
I'm 22.... still in the baby group.... I live on the old continent.... and i model both european and US trains in N scale....

I got the virus of railroad modeling from my dad.... but doing train since one or two years.... Before I used to build remote controlled boats and cars.

Bourkinafasso
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 8:44 AM
Hi,
I'm 22.... still in the baby group.... I live on the old continent.... and i model both european and US trains in N scale....

I got the virus of railroad modeling from my dad.... but doing train since one or two years.... Before I used to build remote controlled boats and cars.

Bourkinafasso
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: El Dorado Springs, MO
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by n2mopac on Thursday, December 4, 2003 9:46 AM
This is great to hear. I am 35. I have been interested in trains from my earliest memories, having grown up near MoPac's Sedalia sub in west-central Missouri. I never had opportunity to get into modeling, however, until I was in my mid 20's. I have been modeling RR'ing for 10 years now. I dabbled in HO at frist because--well doesn't everyong--then found N scale. I was attracted to it at first because I could build it portable (I moved a lot at that point) and because I could do so much in a smaller space. My first small layout was a freelanced central Missouri town featuring MoPac in its UP merger era (1983-84, when I was in high school). This was familiar and fun. I am now constructing (benchword stage) my second layout, a 16'x17' layout of BNSF's Wichita Fall sub in north Texas (where I lived for 6 years in my 20's and 30's) set in Summer 2000. I love N scale now and would never go any other route. Well, that is me as a modeler in a nutshell.
Ron

Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado. 

Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy

Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings

 

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: El Dorado Springs, MO
  • 1,519 posts
Posted by n2mopac on Thursday, December 4, 2003 9:46 AM
This is great to hear. I am 35. I have been interested in trains from my earliest memories, having grown up near MoPac's Sedalia sub in west-central Missouri. I never had opportunity to get into modeling, however, until I was in my mid 20's. I have been modeling RR'ing for 10 years now. I dabbled in HO at frist because--well doesn't everyong--then found N scale. I was attracted to it at first because I could build it portable (I moved a lot at that point) and because I could do so much in a smaller space. My first small layout was a freelanced central Missouri town featuring MoPac in its UP merger era (1983-84, when I was in high school). This was familiar and fun. I am now constructing (benchword stage) my second layout, a 16'x17' layout of BNSF's Wichita Fall sub in north Texas (where I lived for 6 years in my 20's and 30's) set in Summer 2000. I love N scale now and would never go any other route. Well, that is me as a modeler in a nutshell.
Ron

Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado. 

Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy

Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings

 

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 11:37 AM
I am 33 and model a HO freelanded, and yet unnamed, midwest class I mainline. My era is the early 1940's which poses quite a challenge since I was never alive for any of it.

I had been out of the hobby since I was in high school, and then college and small apartment, along with no money forced me to be an armchair modeler. I now have a job, a house with a basement, a wonderful and supporting wife and a two year old son. My boy absolutely loves to stand up on a chair and "watch daddy's trains".

We are planning a move to a bigger basement (with a house over it) in the next year so I have modeled a 2' x 11' modular switching layout that will become part of my bigger layout in the future...once I get the basement finished, that is.

It is good to hear there are all generation enjoying the hobby. I recently went to the Great American Train Show in St. Paul, MN and was surprised to see a lot of "30-somethings" shopping and just enjoying the trains.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 11:37 AM
I am 33 and model a HO freelanded, and yet unnamed, midwest class I mainline. My era is the early 1940's which poses quite a challenge since I was never alive for any of it.

I had been out of the hobby since I was in high school, and then college and small apartment, along with no money forced me to be an armchair modeler. I now have a job, a house with a basement, a wonderful and supporting wife and a two year old son. My boy absolutely loves to stand up on a chair and "watch daddy's trains".

We are planning a move to a bigger basement (with a house over it) in the next year so I have modeled a 2' x 11' modular switching layout that will become part of my bigger layout in the future...once I get the basement finished, that is.

It is good to hear there are all generation enjoying the hobby. I recently went to the Great American Train Show in St. Paul, MN and was surprised to see a lot of "30-somethings" shopping and just enjoying the trains.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 1:15 PM
I'm 38 with three small sons. I'm getting started again after a long layoff. This weekend I'll be praticing by getting my old 4'x8' layout going again.

I hope to begin the transition from Thomas the Tank engine and with my oldest son it's started. He's pointing all the railroad tracks to me between my house and Grandpa's

DT
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 1:15 PM
I'm 38 with three small sons. I'm getting started again after a long layoff. This weekend I'll be praticing by getting my old 4'x8' layout going again.

I hope to begin the transition from Thomas the Tank engine and with my oldest son it's started. He's pointing all the railroad tracks to me between my house and Grandpa's

DT
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 1:54 PM
I'm 38 and married with no children. I model passenger trains of the railroads that served KCMO Union Station during '68-'70. There are a few modelers in eastern/south central KS that I know whom are in late 20s to 30's
Ch
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, December 4, 2003 1:54 PM
I'm 38 and married with no children. I model passenger trains of the railroads that served KCMO Union Station during '68-'70. There are a few modelers in eastern/south central KS that I know whom are in late 20s to 30's
Ch
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Kansas
  • 350 posts
Posted by TRENT B on Saturday, December 6, 2003 11:29 PM
I'm 33 and I'm modeling so you are NOT alone!
Trent
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Kansas
  • 350 posts
Posted by TRENT B on Saturday, December 6, 2003 11:29 PM
I'm 33 and I'm modeling so you are NOT alone!
Trent
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Sunday, December 7, 2003 12:00 AM
I'm 42, and have been seriously into model railroading for over 30 years. Over 25 years in the NMRA, and over 20 in the TCA (Train Collectors Assn.). Its not the 30 somethings that most interest me in this poll. Its the teens and 20 somethings that make me happy. For many years it seemed I was the youngest one in the model railroading crowd. This hobby needs fresh blood.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: St Paul, MN
  • 6,218 posts
Posted by Big_Boy_4005 on Sunday, December 7, 2003 12:00 AM
I'm 42, and have been seriously into model railroading for over 30 years. Over 25 years in the NMRA, and over 20 in the TCA (Train Collectors Assn.). Its not the 30 somethings that most interest me in this poll. Its the teens and 20 somethings that make me happy. For many years it seemed I was the youngest one in the model railroading crowd. This hobby needs fresh blood.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 7, 2003 12:42 AM
I am 26 and it is extremely difficult to find anyone my age that is into trains period, in my area. Most of the people my age around here go to bars to pass the time.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 7, 2003 12:42 AM
I am 26 and it is extremely difficult to find anyone my age that is into trains period, in my area. Most of the people my age around here go to bars to pass the time.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 7, 2003 12:42 AM
I'm 34 and have been interested in trains for as long as I can remember. I collect N scale trains. Had a small layout built in the previous house I lived in. Cork roadbed and track on plywood. Never got around to any scenery, just liked to watch the trains go around. I model mainly Chessie Systems transition into CSX. The Chessie color scheme, to me, is one of the best ever. I also buy pretty much whatever suits my fancy at the time. Which has gotten expensive at times. I have 2 small children, a boy and a girl. Both like to watch daddy run the trains. My son shows interest from time to time. He seems to think that he has outgrown his wooden Thomas trains, yet they see light of day from time to time on the living room floor. Maybe an HO train in the future for him.[^]
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, December 7, 2003 12:42 AM
I'm 34 and have been interested in trains for as long as I can remember. I collect N scale trains. Had a small layout built in the previous house I lived in. Cork roadbed and track on plywood. Never got around to any scenery, just liked to watch the trains go around. I model mainly Chessie Systems transition into CSX. The Chessie color scheme, to me, is one of the best ever. I also buy pretty much whatever suits my fancy at the time. Which has gotten expensive at times. I have 2 small children, a boy and a girl. Both like to watch daddy run the trains. My son shows interest from time to time. He seems to think that he has outgrown his wooden Thomas trains, yet they see light of day from time to time on the living room floor. Maybe an HO train in the future for him.[^]

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!