Women in Model Railroading!

[davekelly]

While there are not as many women involved in the hobby as compared to males, there is a bright side. It used to be that an article in a mag would make it a point to say that the author was a woman. Now, it's not even mentioned. Yes, there are some that think of female participation as an "intrusion" but in my mind the more women that get into this hobby the larger it will grow. The larger the hobby grows, there more products there will be to choose from. More women in the hobby is a win-win situation, with no downside (unless my wife decides to change the era and prototype of the layout).

[cmarchan]

Two names come to mind:

Gail Komar and Elizabeth Allen

Elizabeth Allen is an excellent prototype modeler and scratchbuilder. Some of her excellent work is seen here: http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/sd45x_elizabeth_allen

Gail Komar's involvement and contribution to the hobby is equally impressive. She and first husband Ross Allen built the layout on the cover of MR June 2005.

I have met several modelers who are women. Many of their efforts go unsung. I hope many more join this wonderful hobby.

[twhite]

Believe me, they are welcome in my garage ANYTIME!! I had a birthday last December, and a lot of the faculty at my high school showed up for the party, and we all ended up in the garage running my Yuba River Sub. The wives had as much fun as the husbands, and some of the best questions I got about how I built the layout were from the wives. One thing I found out, though, was that though the husbands really liked it when I was running one of my Yellowstones, the wives REALLY got into it when I ran one of the smaller locos--in fact, my little Rio Grande 2-8-0 was the hit of the evening. It was CUTE! I don't mean that statement to be 'sexist', but I found that most of the women were more attracted to a locomotive with 'personality' than a big bruiser with heft.

Women in model railroading? I say WELCOME and have a ball!
Tom[:D]

[bwftex]

QUOTE: Originally posted by alineb2

I am the only female member in two model railroad clubs and I keep waiting for another female to join.

Why aren't there more of us out there with an intrest in this hobby?[?]

Arline,
I don't know why exactly. My wife likes trains well enough I guess but thinks of them more in terms of art or decoration and then only because she knows that I love trains. But there sure are some model railroading women out there so your not completely alone. Take a look at this gals work ! http://www.pbase.com/tracktime/sd45x_elizabeth_allen&page=10
Bruce

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by man o war

My wife joined the local club with me and for the most part she is accepted however there are a few males who do seem to resent her presence as this is their territory.

I don't know if there was any resentment when I joined the 2nd club but I would at first just sit and talk to the guys about what they were doing and at the same time I was learning how to install decoders, disassemble a locomotive, install kadees. I found that the guys are always willing to be very helpful. I do not do scenery on the layout as that is not my thing even though I know how to do it. I volenteered to be the supply person. I took on the task of keeping other members updated on what is going on in the club with weekly updates by email. I sit in on the board meetings to see what is going on.
We have been there 3 years now and I haven't felt anyone resents my presence.
One thing I like to do is coment on the guys locomotives! And that makes them feel good if I think it is a nice locomotive!

The first club I joined was in need of a secretary so I took over that position and then the next year became the President. After being President for 2 years I went back to being the Secretary.

Sometimes it just takes time to settle in!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by neil_s_wood

Unfortunately my Wife is reluctant to go to model rail shows. She has actually gone in the past but I would be hard pushed to say she enjoyed it. [sigh]

When my husband and I, and sometimes members from the clubs we belong to attend a show in Portland we usually go to lunch afterwards and visit some hobby shops and some fabric stores. I am always on the look out for train fabric as I make a donation quilt every year for one of the clubs we belong to.
One the way home we take the back roads as it gets boring driving on the freeway and that way we get to see some of the county side here in Oregon.
Some times we even stop at this unique store called "Trader Joes" as we don't have one in Salem.
So we come home with trains, fabric and goodies from Trader Joes!

We just make a day of it!

Aline

[Todd McWilliam]

My wife is 25 and very pretty, and to look at her, you would not think she likes to build blue box kits when she is bored.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately my Wife is reluctant to go to model rail shows. She has actually gone in the past but I would be hard pushed to say she enjoyed it. [sigh]

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone! Know I know that there are some of us females out there that enjoy the hobby. I have learned alot buy being a member of 2 clubs here in Oregon.
I might add that if you want to get some one interested in it you can take them to see a live Steam engine or have them run one of your models on a layout.
That's what got me started! I enjoy the steam era and model in European steam as well all in HO.
My husband loves doing scenery on layouts more that running trains.
We have fun together by going to Train shows and train swap meets.

Aline

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kbfcsme
Nothing worse than becoming a grumpy old man growing old in his train room. [:D]

There's plenty. Really hope you never find any of them [:)].

Grumpy Old Railwayman. [:p]

[bjshelbe]

My husband & I are a team at mrring. When our last child left home, we had a heart to heart. I brought the subject of model rr up. That was in 1999. We haven't regretted that decision once. Our LHS loves to see us come. I love that steam & he is deisel so we are HO transition. Also love this forum. Lots of good help. Thanks. Been a member forever just don't say much.
Judy

[Anonymous]

I hope to get my girlfriend into the hobby. She asks alot of questions, but doesnt go near my layout. Shes very understanding, even when I am frustrated about an obstacle in my layout....but she put her foot down when I asked if I could wear my engineer hat to bed.

[bnnrailroad]

Model railroading (or atleast running trains) has been a family tradition for decades in my family. The HO pike I presently have, which was started in 1950 by my grandfather for my dad, used to be torn down in February and rebuilt in october. We used to fini***his thing on Christmas Eve. My mother and grandmother used to paint figures as the pike grew. They would also clean the structures and rolling stock while the men cleaned the locomotive and repaired the wiring. My mom used to help setup the sceens on the pike. She would place the people, houses and trees. My dad and I along with my 2 brothers would set the signs and vehicles around.

Since 1993, I've lost my grandparents, my dad and 1 brother (he's not dead...it's a long story and another forum). In 1999, my wive and I became parents of a girl. She is following in her dad's footsteps!! I come home now and she either says "are we going to run the trains tonight?" or "are we going to start the new layout soon?"

Hopefully, she will carry on the family tradition of Model Railroading!!!!

[rolleiman]

You guys with wives participating in the hobby of model railroading, I've a question.. Would they be interested if you hadn't introduced them to it? Or did they introduce you to the hobby (could happen [:D])??

[tcf511]

My wife is interested in the hobby and helps me out. She has a good eye for detail and builds building kits. Twice at large train shows, she spent more than I did. God I love that woman.

[Anonymous]

My wife joined the local club with me and for the most part she is accepted however there are a few males who do seem to resent her presence as this is their territory.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 8500HPGASTURBINE

1. They wouldn't be able to use nail polish on weathering rail cars.

2. Who would make supper.

3. How would you get anything done with all the complaining going on.

4. Can you imagine a new brass engine barreling down the rails and hitting a fake nail that fell off on the tracks.

5. Hand Cream on the airbrush would drive me nuts.

6. She's trying to get romantic while you have 3 pushers helping a 100 car coal train round a dangerous curve.

[:D]

Just kidding.

Gas,
You MUST be single! ROFL!![(-D][(-D][(-D]
We have had, and still have a few women in our club, and experience has show they are sticklers for the detail of still life. They really don't care (for the most part) what the difference between and GP-40 and a GP40-2. But they will remind you that the details of a scene, flowerbeds, dumpsters, cats, dogs,street signs etc. ALL have a place, and they will tell you where! As a soon to be remarried male, I say ENJOY it! Nurture it. Plus they might show you a new thing or two. I never used acylic craft paint until my ex dragged me kicking and screaming into a Jo-ann fabrics one day so she could buy some material. Since then I've found paints, chalks and dried plants all suitable for the layout all within easy reach, and open 7 days a week!
Nothing worse than becoming a grumpy old man growing old in his train room. [:D]

[brothaslide]

QUOTE: Originally posted by alineb2


Why aren't there more of us out there with an intrest in this hobby?[?]

It's the same reason that most men aren't into scrapbooking (The 2004 SIA survey on scrapbooking estimates annual industry sales at $2.551 billion, representing a 27.8 percent increase from 2001.) I've said it before; the mrr industry could learn a thing or two from the scrapbooking industry. My wife and her friend started their own scrapbooking business with "webisodes" www.kariandgina.com The only "webisodes" I've found for mrr are on the Model Railroader website - and those are mostly product demos. Let's face it guys, we need to stop being basement geeks (I include myself in that comment) and get out there and start evangelizing for mrr!!!

[tatans]

Does anyone care if a hobby prefers men or women, each gender drifts toward their area of interest, it would seem not too many females are attracted to model railroading, hence the very few women in the hobby, I'm sure they would be welcomed at most organizations and probably rejected by a few jerks, If I, (a big strong hairy male) wanted to learn how to sew, I would go to a class on sewing, but NOT be surprised if I was the only male there, and would not care as long as I learned how to sew. welcome ! !

[Anonymous]

I would of put the just kidding up front. :) hahaha

Man I love that Turbine. I don't model UP.

I ran my friends at a show last year. The sound was awesome. People asked me tons of questions which of course I did my best to answer.

I did really well until I was distracted by a beautiful blond in the distance and ran into the back of another train. Very embarrassed. No damage done. SP guys had a good laugh.

QUOTE: Originally posted by 8500HPGASTURBINE

1. They wouldn't be able to use nail polish on weathering rail cars.

2. Who would make supper.

3. How would you get anything done with all the complaining going on.

4. Can you imagine a new brass engine barreling down the rails and hitting a fake nail that fell off on the tracks.

5. Hand Cream on the airbrush would drive me nuts.

6. She's trying to get romantic while you have 3 pushers helping a 100 car coal train round a dangerous curve.

[:D]

Just kidding.

[cwclark]

My wife's into MRRing...I tell her i need to go to the LHS and she takes me down there...[:D]...chuck

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by zgardner18

..... My wife still thinks that we are crazy, but I'm hoping to get her interested in helping me when it come times to build my layout when we move into our new home. We plan on having more kids and if I do get a daughter, then I will try to get her interested too.

If I've learned anything about women, it's that they're good at details. With all the nit-picking that goes on around my home there's no small detail that goes un-noticed.
If you want your wife to get interested in the layout, ask her if she'd like to add details to a structure and place figures in and around it. Tell her it's kind of like a doll house, but smaller. Scenery can be a part of that too.
Then, when she's hooked, Explain to her that you can get more figures and details for less money, but they need to be painted. Maybe she'll take up that part of the hobby too. Remember if you want her to be crazy too, it has to be relaxing and enjoyable for her. Save all the frustrating and tedious stuff for yourself and the boy.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by gsetter

Hi Aline
Maybe some folks feel their skills aren't good enough and are shy to talk about it or ask questions.
...
I believe most, if not all, forum members don't care what level of skills someone has and no one should worry about asking a stupid question.

[blue]If you don't know the answer there's no such thing as a stupid question... what is foolish is not to ask. ... Ask any woman whose partner refuses to ask the route in a strange town...[/blue]

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