How long have you been in the hobby?

[barrister2u]

I have a train gene. So does my son. I got it from my father. In tracing my family history, I learned a great uncle from my home town, was a railroader (D&H) and was listed as such in the 1920 census. I also found out that other distant relatives on my father's side, whom we had no contact with and who lived in Michigan, were railroaders (steam engine engineers). For me, railroading represents the taming of the frontier: bringing civilization into the wilderness, but in a way not to disturb the environment. It is the human desire to impose economic order in a beneficial way. I do know this to be true: I am the benevolent leader of an entire society in my basement served by rails through about seven towns in a rail subdivision of mostly Lionel trains.

[barrister2u]

I have a train gene. So does my son. I got it from my father. In tracing my family history, I learned a great uncle from my home town, was a railroader (D&H) and was listed as such in the 1920 census. I also found out that other distant relatives on my father's side, whom we had no contact with and who lived in Michigan, were railroaders (steam engine engineers). For me, railroading represents the taming of the frontier: bringing civilization into the wilderness, but in a way not to disturb the environment. It is the human desire to impose economic order in a beneficial way. I do know this to be true: I am the benevolent leader of an entire society in my basement served by rails through about seven towns in a rail subdivision of mostly Lionel trains.

[Anonymous]

I jumped back into the hobby after I bought my son a Lionel NYC Flyer set for Xmas about 7 years ago. Once I started reading about the technological advances in the hobby, I jumped in full hog.

[Anonymous]

I jumped back into the hobby after I bought my son a Lionel NYC Flyer set for Xmas about 7 years ago. Once I started reading about the technological advances in the hobby, I jumped in full hog.

[Anonymous]

I had my first Lionel train set in 1930, started reading the Model Railroader in 1938, built my first HO locomotive, an American Flyer Hudson in 1940 and my first HO layout in 1941. My second locomotive, a Mantua goat ( 040) in 1941, I still have and it still runs well.

[Anonymous]

I had my first Lionel train set in 1930, started reading the Model Railroader in 1938, built my first HO locomotive, an American Flyer Hudson in 1940 and my first HO layout in 1941. My second locomotive, a Mantua goat ( 040) in 1941, I still have and it still runs well.

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby now for about 20yrs strong. Most of my past layouts have been Pennsylvania (allegheny mountain) railroading. My current layout is a ficticious Conrail layout. (17x20). Hopefully I will be able to make this one worthy of being photographed in Model Railroader. Perhaps this may pull more of you fellow Conrail modelers out of the woodworks! Afterall you couldn't ask for a better place to model than "Pennsylvania" (Home of the Standard Gauge Railroad of the World!!!!)

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby now for about 20yrs strong. Most of my past layouts have been Pennsylvania (allegheny mountain) railroading. My current layout is a ficticious Conrail layout. (17x20). Hopefully I will be able to make this one worthy of being photographed in Model Railroader. Perhaps this may pull more of you fellow Conrail modelers out of the woodworks! Afterall you couldn't ask for a better place to model than "Pennsylvania" (Home of the Standard Gauge Railroad of the World!!!!)

[JeremyB]

Hi there

I have been in the Hobby since I was 11 years old and Im 22 now, thanks for the poll

Jeremy

[JeremyB]

Hi there

I have been in the Hobby since I was 11 years old and Im 22 now, thanks for the poll

Jeremy

[thor]

Almost 50 years, on and off. I have had layouts based on Hornby Clockwork, Trix Twin System, (the original) Hornby Dublo, Playmobil - I'm so sorry they dropped it.

My favourites for playing with were the clockwork Hornby because I could build Meccano mechanisms to interect with the trains and the Playmobil because they were fun to play with with my son.

I tried being a scale model purist, I have the skills but the general atmosphere was too 'dry'. I even joined a club but got turned off when they wouldn't allow me to run my Hornby Dublo because it wasn't fine scale.

I'm unapologetically in love with toys! I'd really like to build a G scale railroad of my own devising a sort of cross between Roland Emmett, GWR and Thomas theTank Engine. Make believe railroads are more fun but I do love the GWR's livery and rolling stock.

[thor]

Almost 50 years, on and off. I have had layouts based on Hornby Clockwork, Trix Twin System, (the original) Hornby Dublo, Playmobil - I'm so sorry they dropped it.

My favourites for playing with were the clockwork Hornby because I could build Meccano mechanisms to interect with the trains and the Playmobil because they were fun to play with with my son.

I tried being a scale model purist, I have the skills but the general atmosphere was too 'dry'. I even joined a club but got turned off when they wouldn't allow me to run my Hornby Dublo because it wasn't fine scale.

I'm unapologetically in love with toys! I'd really like to build a G scale railroad of my own devising a sort of cross between Roland Emmett, GWR and Thomas theTank Engine. Make believe railroads are more fun but I do love the GWR's livery and rolling stock.

[Anonymous]

Ive been in the hobby since I was 10 years old. my next door neighbor gave me an old set of lionel C&O diesel with cars and some track. I still have the set and many many many more!!. It is the most relaxing hobby I know.

[Anonymous]

Ive been in the hobby since I was 10 years old. my next door neighbor gave me an old set of lionel C&O diesel with cars and some track. I still have the set and many many many more!!. It is the most relaxing hobby I know.

[Anonymous]

Let's just say I was born into it. My family has always collected and operated trains. In my home town there was an argument, Atlas HO or Lionel O/O27, and that would be.....Hillside NJ. I grew up a scant few blocks from the Lionel factory. I felt bad for the kids who had to buy their trains in a sterile store environment. I got to touch and feel everything I bought. Every day I walking home from Christ the King school, my freinds and I would divert to the Atlas dumpsters to find goodies. (Lionel's were better guarded and had to have a plan to get in there). My heart was broken when I found out that the plant was to close and Lionel was in trouble, but what can a 12 yro boy do? My wife, son and I now operated the set. There are trains in my collection back to almost Lionel's start.

[Anonymous]

Let's just say I was born into it. My family has always collected and operated trains. In my home town there was an argument, Atlas HO or Lionel O/O27, and that would be.....Hillside NJ. I grew up a scant few blocks from the Lionel factory. I felt bad for the kids who had to buy their trains in a sterile store environment. I got to touch and feel everything I bought. Every day I walking home from Christ the King school, my freinds and I would divert to the Atlas dumpsters to find goodies. (Lionel's were better guarded and had to have a plan to get in there). My heart was broken when I found out that the plant was to close and Lionel was in trouble, but what can a 12 yro boy do? My wife, son and I now operated the set. There are trains in my collection back to almost Lionel's start.

[Anonymous]

For almost fifty years. My father bought my first set when I was 1 years old, a B & O 44-tonner set. After every Thanksgiving, my father would build a new layout for me in the basement. Then we would have the ritual cleaning of the engine and cars on the kitchen table. I can still hear my mother complaining about the messy newspapers and the smell. He took care of them every year and stored them in their original boxes. Every Christmas he would get a car or an accessory to add to the layout. My father is gone now, but I still have those wonderful memories of him when I run my layout.

[Anonymous]

For almost fifty years. My father bought my first set when I was 1 years old, a B & O 44-tonner set. After every Thanksgiving, my father would build a new layout for me in the basement. Then we would have the ritual cleaning of the engine and cars on the kitchen table. I can still hear my mother complaining about the messy newspapers and the smell. He took care of them every year and stored them in their original boxes. Every Christmas he would get a car or an accessory to add to the layout. My father is gone now, but I still have those wonderful memories of him when I run my layout.

[Anonymous]

Been in the hobby for about 15 years seriously. Started in HO and dump it for
O and O27. Now have a board that I travel to 5 -6 train shows in the fall of the year
with. Great time for me and it's fun watching the kids at the shows. I always get lots of
questions and am able help new comers get started in the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Been in the hobby for about 15 years seriously. Started in HO and dump it for
O and O27. Now have a board that I travel to 5 -6 train shows in the fall of the year
with. Great time for me and it's fun watching the kids at the shows. I always get lots of
questions and am able help new comers get started in the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Been in the hobby for about 15 years seriously. Started in HO and dump it for
O and O27. Now have a board that I travel to 5 -6 train shows in the fall of the year
with. Great time for me and it's fun watching the kids at the shows. I always get lots of
questions and am able help new comers get started in the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Been in the hobby for about 15 years seriously. Started in HO and dump it for
O and O27. Now have a board that I travel to 5 -6 train shows in the fall of the year
with. Great time for me and it's fun watching the kids at the shows. I always get lots of
questions and am able help new comers get started in the hobby.

[Anonymous]

I just enjoy trains and toy trains.

[Anonymous]

I just enjoy trains and toy trains.

[IRONROOSTER]

Since December of 1971. My level of activity has waxed and waned over the years, but I have usually had some kind of layout and I'm always buying for the future. I've always been scale, but my wife gave me a Lionel set this past Christmas and I've added a few pieces to it. Now I need some layout space for it. Maybe when I retire in about ten years I can use it all.
Enjoy
Paul

[IRONROOSTER]

Since December of 1971. My level of activity has waxed and waned over the years, but I have usually had some kind of layout and I'm always buying for the future. I've always been scale, but my wife gave me a Lionel set this past Christmas and I've added a few pieces to it. Now I need some layout space for it. Maybe when I retire in about ten years I can use it all.
Enjoy
Paul

[mackb4]

I have enjoyed the hobby since my dad introduced me to model trains around 1975.We have collected mostly "O" gauge .I get to play with the real thing when I go to work,I'm an engineer on the Norfolk Southern.My dad is retired from the CSX.His Dad got him in the hobby when he was my age,and I have also passed on the tradition with my two sons.I'm proud to say I'm a fourth gen.railroader (Great Granddad,Granddad and my Dad all worked on the railroad)and my boys are fourth gen.hobbists in the best "generational hobby" out there !

[mackb4]

I have enjoyed the hobby since my dad introduced me to model trains around 1975.We have collected mostly "O" gauge .I get to play with the real thing when I go to work,I'm an engineer on the Norfolk Southern.My dad is retired from the CSX.His Dad got him in the hobby when he was my age,and I have also passed on the tradition with my two sons.I'm proud to say I'm a fourth gen.railroader (Great Granddad,Granddad and my Dad all worked on the railroad)and my boys are fourth gen.hobbists in the best "generational hobby" out there !

[Anonymous]

Since I was able to identify what trains looked like. I'm 38 now. My
father furthered my healthy addiction. I cut my teeth in N and later HO. About a decade ago, I bought my first Lionel trains. Today, I am now working part-time in a local hobby shop ( THE TRAIN SHOP ). This is my way of giving back to the hobby that has so much given to me.

Howard M. Hirsch