Teens and college students into trains

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ArmyTrainman

.. Another problem I see is many Teen railfans and Model railroaders are "in the closet" as thier hobby is often misunderstood by thier peers and by even there parents. Many see the hobby as playing with toys when they should be worrying about other things. I'll tell you this I was made fun of for this nd many other reasons by my peers but I got over it and had fun because trains were my hobby and they provided me with enjoyment.

I belive this holds alot of truth. I was in a similar postion myself as I was a teen that was getting more and more into High School and into regular teen things. Because of the image that trains are either "played" by little kids or on the other end old people, I didnt want to associate myself with such a thing. Throught High school the train stuff just sat in a corner of my basement and collected dust. I eventually took out an ad in a local paper and sold the stuff a year after I got out of HS.

Same holds somewhat true for college students. However at this point in life, many of them are starting to come out of thier cliques/shells and not care so much about what other people think anymore. However a problem with college students or recent grads as myself to get back into the hobby isnt so much the "toy stigma" attached to it, that barley has anything to do with it. Now involves time money and other life issues that take first priority..

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AndyInserra

If there are any kids out there into trains and model railroading reading this they might like to look into the Teen Association of Model Railroaders [www.tamr.org] or some of the college railroad clubs that are around [they mainly seem to be in the Midwest and East Coast].

Andy

I just turned 13 and I am a member of TAMR. I think it is a great group.

[Anonymous]

I am 16 and am into heavy metal music, guitar playing, SD40-2s, SD60-MACS, C449-W's , In love with the Burlington Northern, Really want to test drive a new GE evolution series or a new EMD SD70ACE sometime

[Anonymous]

I'm seventeen and really like modeling the 1950's it's great the hey day of steam. By the way I think us teens get looked down upon sometimes. I bought a simple plastic kit to hack up and the clerk that rang me up said are you sure you can build this. After building three Roundhouse shays and multiple craftsman rolling stock and buildings......you tell me.

[UPJohn]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dougal

I'm the Northeast Region Rep. of the TAMR.

I'm in the Northeast Region. John who lives in new jersey

John

[waltersrails]

Thanks for the info.

http://ztrainman.tripod.com/

[caboose63]

I am a 42 year old college student at saginaw valley state university near bay city, michigan. we have no clubs around here, but i keep hoping that a student group will perhaps someday start a model railroad club here. in the area near svsu and bay city, we have lake state railway, saginaw bay southern, huron & eastern and csx

[ModelTrainLover]

well I'm a 13 year old from Maine. Lewiston Middle School is were I got to school. 8th grade. Come I've been into the hobby for almost a year now. I've liked trains for 12 1/2 years. I do volinteer work at the local YWCA. there I bring my layout (I use life like power loc track) and run it. and my train still lives!! the 3-4 year olds are facinated by it. I have brought it there numerous times. I do go to the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad ( www.mngrr.org )( www.mngrr.com ) every time I go there I get free cab rides. and on the 26th I'm going down there to help out with a Day Out With Thomas The Tank Engine.I am also a member of the Great Fall Model Railroad Club. ( www.greatfallsmodelrrclub.org )

[coborn35]

Another problem I see is many Teen railfans and Model railroaders are "in the closet" as thier hobby is often misunderstood by thier peers and by even there parents. Many see the hobby as playing with toys when they should be worrying about other things. I'll tell you this I was made fun of for this nd many other reasons by my peers but I got over it and had fun because trains were my hobby and they provided me with enjoyment.

Well, that isnt the case for me,

As the captain of my football team last year, and a prominent leader this year (we dont have captains), as well as a dominant baseball player, I have a say in whats "cool" or not. All my friends think thats trains are ok and especially the girls think modelrailroading is cool.

SCORE!

[ModelTrainLover]

that is always a plus

[RR Redneck]

Have no fear, the redneck is here. How's it going boys?

[mustanggt]

I'm 18 and nearly everyone I know that I've told about the trains think they're cool. The only exception were a few kids back in middle school who called me a dork for "having toy trains".......but that's okay, since they were smoking cigarettes at the age of 13

Dave

 

[RR Redneck]

Yuck, never smoked and never plan to. It is a discusting habit. So how's thangs up north in Massachusetts, pardner?

[ModelTrainLover]

I get teased day in and day out. 75% of my school which has around 700 kids has heard about me or knowns about me being "obsessed" with trains, enjoying country music, eating pineapple and ham pizza, every thing that they find "funny" or "strange" about me like it's open to public scrutiny. even my hight of 6 foot and being skinny they go and say stuff like "your tall" when I'm like a foot tasller than them. but after phys ed I s*ck my gut in reveling all of my ribs for everyone to see. it's my secret weppon.

[RR Redneck]

Colby, you are my buddy, but I didn't want to know that.