train bashing

[DMUinCT]

Also, pull out a photo of President Reagan for your family, he was also a member of the Train Collectors Association (TCA).

[Lloyd2]

A friend and fellow model railroader often says to critics and friends, "I play trains."  I used to be shocked until I remembered that people play cards, board games, baseball, football (i.e., sports) computer games...well you get the idea.  Now, whenever I run into someone who snears at my hobby, I smile at them, kindly ask them what they do for fun, and say, "I'm having FUN!  What's wrong with me having some innocent fun, just like you do?"  Once in a while they will say, "I guess you're right."  Sometimes they just walk away.   Perhaps it takes a little bit of a thick skin to make lemonade (if you don't mind me mixing my metafors.)

[azflyer]

When our friends call on the phone, they ask where I'm at. " just out in the garage playing with his trains" my wife would say. But when they come over to visit, they always want to see what I've added to my model railroad train layout. That is how you keep my friends and critics interested in model railroading. Give them something new to watch, Action, Sound, with three train running at the same time in different directions on "My Classic American Flyer Cabinet-top Train Layout"

Have a Great New Year,

Az-Flyer

[Train-O]

Thank you 11th Street for the great BB King and band Video!!!

Ralph

[Penny Trains]

Personally I think they're just jealous.

Becky

[MPCAnthony]

If you have taken care of all your obligations like a responsible adult should, what you do with the money and time you have leftover is your business.

Let those trains run.

[cwburfle]

What would be wrong with ending the visit when the ridicule starts?

[alank]

     I am 62 years old, and have had trains all my life.   It started wwith my grandfather who was a real railroader, as was his father, and my mother's uncle.

     I remember one time when I was still in my teens, an uncle of mine saying something about me being to old to be playing with trains.  I hurt me at the time, and truthfuly today don't understand it as his sons too had their trains.   In fact his first son, my cousin is still actively involved in model railraoding today, and he is older than I.

     My mother supported me in the hobby when I was young.   She said that when I was in the basement working on trains, she didn't have to worry that I was out on the street getting into trouble.

    My dad supported me by getting me materials to expand and better build my trains.   He also had the sense to ask me what I wanted to do with the trains when I left to go to college.   I am glad I kept them as they developed into a lifetime interest.

    I do not have an operating layout at the time being, and most of my trains are in storage.   However this week, my son set up some trains for Christmas which I have run each night as I come home from work.   Most of my training now is that I always have trains on my workbench that i can tinker with, and my interest range from real trains to models.   That brings me to my next point.

    I work as an engineer for a large computer company.   I and a number of other people I work with or have worked with attribute having our jobs today due to our having our trains when we were younger.  We learned certain skills in working on them and expanded it into our careers.

    At the same time those trains on my work bench, and my trains when I have had a layout have been good for me.    They were a stress relief when I came home from work and needed to wind down.   They keep my hands and mind busy, and let me continue to polish my skills in how I would fix this or fix that, and they let me rest from the business of day, just as other  hobbies and/or activities we do for recreation.   I like to camp, cook, play tennis, walk, read, plant tomatoes and other things too.   As long as they don't interfere with my life, or take food or provisions from my family, why not, they are a good clean hobby.

    So without much more to say, enjoy your trains.   I will be the first to tell you if it becomes a problem that they are hurting your performance at work, or with your family to stop, but if you aren't hurting anyone, enjoy your hobby.   They are a great way to meet people, and as someelse said when people come over they seem to like the trains.   I give thanks for mine and practice moderation.

                                                                                                                  Merry Christmas...

[Milwaukee_F40C]

I know a guy who collects thousands of dollars worth of basketball sneakers such as limited release Air Jordans, Air Pennys, Kobes and so forth.  These things in the boxes took up an entire wall of the room that he was renting.  When he lost his job and ran out of money to pay the rent, he asked me to store some stuff and help him move.  He wouldn't sell the shoes.

Basketball shoes are kind of a main stream hobby these days, but a lot of collectors seem to be in similar situations as my friend.  There's no way something like that is less crazy than collecting anything else.  I'm not going to get in to the release camp outs and fights, but I will mention that these things happen.  You can't even wear the sneakers often if you want them to keep the value, because they will turn yellow.

At least the trains don't just sit there like a bunch of shoe boxes, you can develop some skills, learn history, and using them won't hurt the value too badly.  Its easier to involve friends and family members in the hobby.  Fewer people get stabbed over them.

[Anonymous]

Jeff,

          I get exactly the type of grief that you've described, usually from a particular cousin.  I get questioned whenever I get another train, when I bought my Mustang, or when I rescued a neglected 91 Probe GL from a small used lot.  It was "Why do you need three cars?" and "Why do you need a second Probe?"  just to cite a few.

I don't know if you've had the offenders also ask how much you paid for whatever you bought?  That really gets me.  That cousin of mine asked how much I paid for the 91 GL and my answer was "$1280 off the lot and another $1K on top for the parts that it needed to get things rolling. Can you help me out, because I need more yet and the body is rotten?"  That put an end to that discussion.

The two replies in this thread that really grabbed my attention were Becky's and C.W. Burfle's.  Maybe these people are just jealous, or maybe we need to show them the door.  That would get the point across.

In the end, do whatever you want to do.  Buy as many trains as you want while I work on the most expensive first generation Probe around.

[richhotrain]

Milwaukee_F40C

I know a guy who collects thousands of dollars worth of basketball sneakers such as limited release Air Jordans, Air Pennys, Kobes and so forth.  These things in the boxes took up an entire wall of the room that he was renting.  When he lost his job and ran out of money to pay the rent, he asked me to store some stuff and help him move.  He wouldn't sell the shoes.

Basketball shoes are kind of a main stream hobby these days, but a lot of collectors seem to be in similar situations as my friend.  There's no way something like that is less crazy than collecting anything else.  I'm not going to get in to the release camp outs and fights, but I will mention that these things happen.  You can't even wear the sneakers often if you want them to keep the value, because they will turn yellow.

At least the trains don't just sit there like a bunch of shoe boxes, you can develop some skills, learn history, and using them won't hurt the value too badly.  Its easier to involve friends and family members in the hobby.  Fewer people get stabbed over them.

Oh geez, that is quite a story.

I have an idea.

Introduce this guy to the OP who, in turn, can introduce the guy to his family at a family get together.  Then, the OP's family can spend all day teasing the guy who collects basketball shoes. 

Rich