how old are you?

[Anonymous]

26 years old but becuz of my job I feel like Iam 40 no offence to that age!

[deevs]

I'm 74

[Anonymous]

I'm 62 and have been in this great hobby since 1947.

I started with a wind-up 2 rail set because we didn't have electricity on our farm.

When we moved to the big city in 1948 I switched to Lionel 3 rail.

In 1956 I changed to HO scale and when "N" scale came along I switched once more.

About 1983 I lost interest in modeling but continued to "railfan" for almost 10 years.

Then my wife and I saw a Large Scale coach in a hobby shop window and have been in the back yard ever since.

However, my HO infection never did clear up, so now I have started a small HO scale CITY style switching layout in a room 7'x11'.

Having fun all the way.....OLD DAD

[cacole]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see so many young people in the hobby. As a general rule, you could expect more older people to be in the hobby because we now have the money to invest and not have to rely on parents or paper route money. I'm 66, and have been in and out of the hobby several times over. I had American Flyer trains when I was young, and then got into HO scale in my early 20s (1964-67). Because I was in the Army at the time and moving around a lot, I got out of the hobby for awhile. When my son was old enough and we were in Munich, Germany between 1975-78, I bought some HO items and built a layout for him. It had to be discarded when we moved back to the U.S. in 1978 and I never got serious about modeling again until after I had retired from the Army in 1986. In 1989, I discovered the local HO scale club, joined it, and have been adtively modeling since then. We have 5 young people in the Cochise & Western Model Railroad Club in Sierra Vista, Arizona, ranging in age from 8 to 18.

[CP5415]

Pushing 35 next month

Gord

[EL PARRo]

I'm 17

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy

QUOTE: Originally posted by rsn48

I'm glad this question was asked. I thought this forum was skewed to a younger modelling audience - now I know. This is not intended as a value judgement, just an observation.

I agree, so now that there's such a large number of younger people here. We older guys keep saying how the younger people won't be able to afford getting into the hobby because of the wildly rising prices on all the RTR stuff, high cost DCC systems, lack of kits, etc. So what do you say? How are you "yutefull" people managing it? Expecially teens and students on limited incomes?
(Looking to learn here, not to start flames . . . necessarily!)

I buy an awful lot of trains and have a basement full of stuff. The reason I have as many trains as I do is because probably 95% of my trains have been bought used. The only new trains I buy are the President's Choice train sets that come out each year here in Canada (see the thread I started on them) and the odd cheap freight car. I'm able to find many amazing bargains at antique stores, pawn shops, flea markets, garage sales, etc. If I bought all I have brand new I'd be dead broke many times over. Besides HO, I also have prewar and postwar O and S gauge tinplate trains, which obviously can't be bought new. Also, having generous parents helps a great deal!

[Anonymous]

42 and holding! Not getting any older!!! I've had enough!!![:D]
Been MRRing since I was 4 (Lionel HO, and I still have it). Yes, I am starting to use "reading" glasses to do detail work, and there are times I would rather take a nap that work on a kit, but I persevere, and am turning out better stuff that I did 10 years ago.

[eastcoast]

I started modelling at 13.
I have been doing this for 18 years.
Doing the math, flip the 13 !!!!! (31)

[Anonymous]

41 to 46 age been in the hobby for about 11yrs after a long time away from it.

[Hawks05]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy

QUOTE: Originally posted by rsn48

I'm glad this question was asked. I thought this forum was skewed to a younger modelling audience - now I know. This is not intended as a value judgement, just an observation.

I agree, so now that there's such a large number of younger people here. We older guys keep saying how the younger people won't be able to afford getting into the hobby because of the wildly rising prices on all the RTR stuff, high cost DCC systems, lack of kits, etc. So what do you say? How are you "yutefull" people managing it? Expecially teens and students on limited incomes?
(Looking to learn here, not to start flames . . . necessarily!)

being 17 and in high school i have a part time job. also when i was in 8th grade through the beginning of last school year i think i had a job and i saved every single penny almost from that. i wish i could get some money back that i spent. like i wish i could sell my paint ball gun. i never use it so why have it. anyways back to topic. my parents are not getting involved with this so its all my money that i'm spending. i make probably $250 a month if i'm lucky. like my last pay check was only $98. i put that all into checking. then i had this gallon jug of change that i cashed in today for a total of $409.68. i took like $193 out so i could make a car payment and then have $100 for a show this weekend that i'm going to. i guess what i do is spend wisely now. living like 2 blocks from school i don't waste a lot of gas going to school. i only drive around town during the week. my town has like 2200 people living here. so i don't have to waste a lot of gas. then like going to this show on saturday i'm not driving so i don't have to use up gas. i haven't had to put gas in my car for almost 2 weeks i think and i still have half a tank. its awesome. i'm a penny cruncher so to say now. i try and make every dollar worth it. also i've only bought one thing new so far and that was a RTR CSX boxcar brand spanking new for $5 normally like $13 i think at a show 2 weeks ago. thats the only thing i've bought new. i got my track used, i got the power pack thing used/brand new. its never been used but i still got it for $20.

how do i get so much you ask? buy used, make every dollar count, buy things that are needed, and ask for money from my parents even though they aren't helping. (being an only child rules)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Scottydog

I am, in what they call the golden years, 66. I'll be damned if I know why they call them golden, it seems like a bit of the body kind of gives out or gets arthritis with each passing year over 55. You kids are in your golden years so enjoy them, old age comes way too soon.

You readen this Paul, I'm 58, got a hernia, bad knees, and hemeroids, other wise I feel great. Be d@&%*$ if I can figure out why these are called the best years of our lives, I know they're the most painful. Anyway, look what you younger guys have to look forward to. [:D][:D][:D][:D]By the way ***, your first words may have been TRAIN, mine was GAAA,GAAA, and that was when I was eyeing this great looken little number from next door.[}:)][:D][:D][:D]Paul, I hope you and I can arrive at 66 in better shape than we are now, that is if your paying for the abuses of your younger days like I am.[:D][:D][:D]

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rsn48

I'm glad this question was asked. I thought this forum was skewed to a younger modelling audience - now I know. This is not intended as a value judgement, just an observation.

I agree, so now that there's such a large number of younger people here. We older guys keep saying how the younger people won't be able to afford getting into the hobby because of the wildly rising prices on all the RTR stuff, high cost DCC systems, lack of kits, etc. So what do you say? How are you "yutefull" people managing it? Expecially teens and students on limited incomes?
(Looking to learn here, not to start flames . . . necessarily!)

[Anonymous]

I'm 20, soon to be 21, and I've been a railfan since I was tiny - my parents have a photo of me "operating" (with assistance) dad's OO scale GWR (Great Western Railway) layout aged about 1!

[dave9999]

34, been in the hobby about 2 yrs now.

[Anonymous]

Old enough to know better, but not old enough to care. ;p

[Anonymous]

heck im 29 and i'd still go for raquel welch!

[therailnut]

I am 26 getting ready to 27 on friday.

[AltonFan]

40 this year, been interested in trains as far back as I can remember, model railroading on and off since I was 5 or 6.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Z For Me

Me I'm 43!
Became addicted to model railroading at the ripe age of seven. From the first time I laid eyes on my friends dad' layout that ran between two rooms and that little brass swichter that was arranging cars in the yard I was hooked.
To this day I can't explain the atraction to the lure of model railroading and trains and forget about trying to explain the hobby to a person that has zero intrest in our world is something that I just can't do. Anyone here know how to inform me of why we are addicted to the hobby? Please inform me!
Take care, Mark in Nevada

Mark, my opinion about our addiction (and what better addiction to have? [:D]) is that first and foremost we find the prototype fascinating. Sitting at a grade crossing in the pick-up truck with my grandfather as a kid, watching that s-l-o-w moving freight train with it's many different boxcars, hoppers, etc. was never boring. I'd stare, as did my granddad, in rapt fascination. My grandfather loved trains and shared that love with me. So that's one way I became hooked for life. Later in life, my grandmother took me on my first train trip from Chicago to Memphis during my summer vacation break from school. While awaiting our train, I was mesmerized by all the activity both inside and outside the terminal: the passengers scurrying towards gates to catch their outbound trains...the train personnel engaged in conversation with one another about, I suspected, trains [:D]...watching other trains crawl into the station as we waited for ours to be called, and watching the people disembark, wondering where everyone hailed from. It was the excitement of the hustle & bustle that awed me--not to mention the actual train ride itself--and which ultimately lead to my unwaivering love for passenger trains, both prototype and replicas. So that's another reason, I feel. Finally, I think we revisit memories from our childhood and we want to recreate them in miniature to have forever. Sadly, so much of what fascinated me as a kid is now gone. It's like eating your favorite hearty meal--you never seem to grow tired of it, nor do you ever want to have to be without. Of course, memories alone doesn't always cut it--the real allure is one's absolute fascination with trains themselves. But man, what an allure! In modern times, where computer games and technology seem to overwhelm us at every turn, it's really cool to escape all of that and return to a favorite pasttime of old...its like escaping to a slower, simpler space in time. I'm 41 years YOUNG [:D], and wouldn't give up my trains for all the computer gadgetry in the world. Well, that's my twenty-five cents worth. I wonder what other modelers think?

[Anonymous]

I'm 43, just starting out in this hobby with my husband.

Cindy

[IRONROOSTER]

I'm 56 and have been in this hobby 32 years next month. Started in HO, switched to O, and the last ten years I've been in S. It's been fun all the way.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

i think the addiction is due to our childhood i (dont know about the rest of u) beleive if u grow up with trains in the house it sought of pemanently singes itself into your head so u are more likely to take it up if grew up with it than if u didnt!!!!!!!
CodyR
12Y/O
New Zeland

O===(;:;:;:;:;>

[Z For Me]

Me I'm 43!
Became addicted to model railroading at the ripe age of seven. From the first time I laid eyes on my friends dad' layout that ran between two rooms and that little brass swichter that was arranging cars in the yard I was hooked.
To this day I can't explain the atraction to the lure of model railroading and trains and forget about trying to explain the hobby to a person that has zero intrest in our world is something that I just can't do. Anyone here know how to inform me of why we are addicted to the hobby? Please inform me!
Take care, Mark in Nevada

[Anonymous]

wow and i thought i was the only one im 12 and have always loved trains my gramps has a massive HO layout and i have a board with that pre ballasted track its more about the building and getting the trains working to me than the scenary plus i cant nail into the board it my dads
Codyr

New Zealand (u know under hawiai and to the right of australia)

[Anonymous]

I'm old enough to know better[8D]...and yet too young to care![;)]

[Anonymous]

I am suprised to see that the majority of modelers that have voted to this point are from 20-40 years of age after all that we've heard about modeling railroaders becoming an aging group. I suspect though that this is due to many older generations lack of interest in the internet and computers in general.

[krump]

approximately 14,429 days, and 14 hrs (however leap years might change the #s a bit), but then again, who's counting

[Anonymous]

I am 24 soon to be 25...althought i usually feel 74 soon to be 75. I have been into trains since my eyes opened, and have been into this hobby in depth since i was about 14. As for Rachel Welch or Britney Spears???? I dunno call me crazy but i think im just the right age for Jessica Simpson (and not to sound concieted but i think im a lot better lookin than Nick Lachey) LOLOLOL