Becky, "Classic TOY Trains" was certainly a perfect compromise. We O and S gaugers don't agonize over our trains, we PLAY with 'em!
Yep, I'll sit there with a cuppa coffee and a smoke and watch 'em go 'round and round. Remember getting down on the floor under the Christmas tree and watching 'em come right-at-cha? I still do it! Although it's harder to get up now, for some damn reason...
What can I say? I'm easily amused.
Wayne
Heck we all do that! I think. Sometimes I even put on my very authentic CPR conductor blazer and the cap. Now to get up, and this applies to being under a module as well to fix something, you put out one arm and grab something solid, like a chair. Then the other hand the same but different, maybe the edge of table. Then move one leg out bent at the knee. Take deep breath. Wait at least one minute and think positive. Haul yourself up. Take a 5 minute break. If this fails then go to "help I've fallen and get get up mode" which involves waiting a long time. Oh by the way keep the smokes and lighter nearby, maybe shirt pocket, very important.
If any of this applies to you then you are Classic Era. If not then that's the dividing line. Simple
Wayne--
I've been an HO guy most of my life but I fail to understand why they are genereally so picky and in utter denial that they are in fact playing with toys.
I'm playing with brass Alco/MLW Century and M-series units, but I freely admit they are just toys and yes, I do actually play with them on the layout. They earn their keep just like anything else. In fact, I'm told that properly tuned and cared for brass diesels will actually outlast the plastic ones!
They are all just toys, though, and reflect the minor compromises necessary to scale things down. "Model" is just a fancy name for "toy".
John
PRR, I like your attitude!
You see, every once in a great while I look in on the "Model Railroader" Forum, and let me tell you some of those guys take this stuff WAY too seriously!
For example, on one occasion there was a guy agonizing over where to prototypically put the air conditioning vents on top of a passenger car of an obscure railroad! Cryin' out loud man, who cares?
If it gets to be a burden, it ain't fun, unless you're a masochist!
Some of them seem to be working overtime reenforcing the popular public perception of model railroaders as social misfits, but that's another story.
Anyway, I found this neat short video, plenty of "Classics" in it from several eras, enough to keep everyone happy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DhzACiHwfA
My take, as an outsider, is that toy trains are those like Lionel that don't even look close to being modeled after a real prototype while model railroads are those whose equipment looks (sorta) like real equipment, just shrunk down. So, if you have a Lionel train on the floor with 3 rail track and no scenery, it's a toy train. If you have a fully landscaped HO set with accurately numbered and detailed locomotives, it's a model railroad.
Another take on the definition of the "classic era"...it's whatever period each individual looks back fondly on as better and nicer. It's usually the time before we got caught up in real life and responsibilities.
Backshop My take, as an outsider, is that toy trains are those like Lionel that don't even look close to being modeled after a real prototype while model railroads are those whose equipment looks (sorta) like real equipment, just shrunk down. So, if you have a Lionel train on the floor with 3 rail track and no scenery, it's a toy train. If you have a fully landscaped HO set with accurately numbered and detailed locomotives, it's a model railroad.
Good points Backshop, and well put.
But if you think Lionels ain't prototypical you haven't looked at 'em for a while. Take a look at this...
http://www.lionel.com
Have a look at MTH too...
https://www.mthtrains.com
Mind you, the prices on some of these things hardly qualifies them as "toys," unless you look at the starter sets, but some of them are pretty darn authentic.
Welcome to the 21st Century world of "O" and "S" gauge!
PS: Don't worry if you feel heart palpitations looking at the prices of the "high-end" articles, I get palpitations too!
Flintlock76 Backshop My take, as an outsider, is that toy trains are those like Lionel that don't even look close to being modeled after a real prototype while model railroads are those whose equipment looks (sorta) like real equipment, just shrunk down. So, if you have a Lionel train on the floor with 3 rail track and no scenery, it's a toy train. If you have a fully landscaped HO set with accurately numbered and detailed locomotives, it's a model railroad. Good points Backshop, and well put. But if you think Lionels ain't prototypical you haven't looked at 'em for a while. Take a look at this... http://www.lionel.com Have a look at MTH too... https://www.mthtrains.com Mind you, the prices on some of these things hardly qualifies them as "toys," unless you look at the starter sets, but some of them are pretty darn authentic. Welcome to the 21st Century world of "O" and "S" gauge! PS: Don't worry if you feel heart palpitations looking at the prices of the "high-end" articles, I get palpitations too!
Remember - the difference between men and boys is the price of the toys. Added to that is the addage - If you have to ask the price, you can't afford it!
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
PRR8259so picky and in utter denial that they are in fact playing with toys
If you take 5,280 and divide it by 87 you get 60.6896551724. That means you need 60+ linear feet for one HO scale mile. Most railroads don't run just one mile point to point and zero railroads run in a circle or oval. Even a dogbone track arangement wouldn't be prototypical in less than 20 scale miles, or 1,213.79310344 feet. I don't think I've ever seen a model railroad that ran 20 scale miles point to point in even the smallest of scales. Who has that kind of room? There are some very large structures on the market like defunct shopping malls but they'd be out of reach to most modelers.
No, I think that apparently some feel the need to justify their hobby by putting down those who choose to enjoy the larger and often VERY un-scale-like trains. There are a lot of nick-names out there both flattering and derogatory that I try to stay away from. Like the song says, "It's your thing, baby. Do what you wanna do."
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
I have a model railroad by your definition--but I realize they are all just toys--it's just that my model trains may be more accurate models than some are. So what. I'm still running them around a (folded dogbone) glorified circle of track. Mine are just higher priced toys...
Most important thing is that you enjoy them.
Watching a PBS documentary on the Voyager space craft that were launced in 1977 with the missions to get gravity assists from Jupiter, Saturn and the other outer planets of the Solar System to speed the crafts exit from the Solar System (that has taken about 37 years or more). The craft contain a 'golden record' that contains images and audio from what constitutes 'Earth People' as they existed at the time - one of the images is Amtrak's Turbo Train ... Ironic!
It's a shame. If and when the golden record is ever found there's going to be some disappointed alien steam freaks!
BaltACDWatching a PBS documentary on the Voyager space craft
That was a good one. I especially like the story about how the last time the planets aligned perfectly for a mission like that, Thomas Jefferson was in the white house and "he blew it".
Penny Trains BaltACD Watching a PBS documentary on the Voyager space craft That was a good one. I especially like the story about how the last time the planets aligned perfectly for a mission like that, Thomas Jefferson was in the white house and "he blew it".
BaltACD Watching a PBS documentary on the Voyager space craft
I guess that sending Lewis & Clarke across the continent 2 centuries ago was about the equivalent of today's interplanetary mission.
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