How long have you been in the hobby?

[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

[Anonymous]

As long as i can remember. I inherited my trains from my father and remember running them when i was 5 years old. Trains are a great way for us to use our imagination and skills, not just plug it in and boot it up. it is also a great way to involve the whole family or if single a great way to involve girlfriends. i applaud trains dot com for such a great website.

[Anonymous]

As long as i can remember. I inherited my trains from my father and remember running them when i was 5 years old. Trains are a great way for us to use our imagination and skills, not just plug it in and boot it up. it is also a great way to involve the whole family or if single a great way to involve girlfriends. i applaud trains dot com for such a great website.

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby (mentally) 50 years and physically off and on for 8-10 years.
Still get that excited childlike feeling each time I go to a toy train show or enter a train
model store. I've been a flyer fan all my life, and now that I've retired I can spend more
time on this great hobby.

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby (mentally) 50 years and physically off and on for 8-10 years.
Still get that excited childlike feeling each time I go to a toy train show or enter a train
model store. I've been a flyer fan all my life, and now that I've retired I can spend more
time on this great hobby.

[Anonymous]

I received my first train for Christmas in 1936 and I've been hooked ever since.

[Anonymous]

I received my first train for Christmas in 1936 and I've been hooked ever since.

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby seriously now for about 10 yrs.My first set was the k-line circus set. I've been involved with trains since i was a little kid. My father was really big in trains.

[Anonymous]

I've been in the hobby seriously now for about 10 yrs.My first set was the k-line circus set. I've been involved with trains since i was a little kid. My father was really big in trains.

[Anonymous]

My first set to [play with was my sisters 1934 set (standard gauge ) in 1945or 46(age 5).Back to it in 1975 for a small layout of HO for my sons.Again back to them in 1989 with HO and changed to O gauge in 2000(easier to see and more fun).I'm in love with MTH and will stand with them for ever I thinkl.

[Anonymous]

My first set to [play with was my sisters 1934 set (standard gauge ) in 1945or 46(age 5).Back to it in 1975 for a small layout of HO for my sons.Again back to them in 1989 with HO and changed to O gauge in 2000(easier to see and more fun).I'm in love with MTH and will stand with them for ever I thinkl.

[Anonymous]

I have been enjoying trains in one form or another since as long as I can remember. They have always been a part of my life. Heck I still have my first set that my mother bought me when I was about six months old. A Lionel set #11420. Sits on my mantle to this day.

[Anonymous]

I have been enjoying trains in one form or another since as long as I can remember. They have always been a part of my life. Heck I still have my first set that my mother bought me when I was about six months old. A Lionel set #11420. Sits on my mantle to this day.

[Anonymous]

My DAD, got me started in 1949,2020 enginer/with tender,log car, milk car,oil tank car, & caboose,late in 1949 ,My DAD bought me a single Alum vista-dome passenger,my passenger train is now called "THE FUNKY PASSENGER SERVICE",1 alum dome car,1 K-line Club passenger car,two dark green( don't recall name on sides)1 obervation,car with light on back,1baggage car & 1 amtrak freight car,I have retired the ,2020 steam engine.............

[Anonymous]

My DAD, got me started in 1949,2020 enginer/with tender,log car, milk car,oil tank car, & caboose,late in 1949 ,My DAD bought me a single Alum vista-dome passenger,my passenger train is now called "THE FUNKY PASSENGER SERVICE",1 alum dome car,1 K-line Club passenger car,two dark green( don't recall name on sides)1 obervation,car with light on back,1baggage car & 1 amtrak freight car,I have retired the ,2020 steam engine.............

[Anonymous]

I've been "in" the hobby for around 12 years now. My first two sets were the Freight Flyer (that was in '91 I think), and the Cannonball freight (possibly '94). I've always found it faintly amusing that it's the same consist for both practically. I'm now 17, and along the way I've kept at it, collecting what I've been able to on a teenager's allowance. I've even been lucky enough, thank the stars, to acquire a long-stripe 746 in good, working condition for $60 at a garage sale (and that was a with at least $300 else of rolling stock!). No layout right now, though I keep trying to find a spot for one in our apartment...

I also have Battery-Op G-scale, a fair bit of starter-set HO, and quite a bit of L(ego)-gauge.

-Stefan-

[Anonymous]

I've been "in" the hobby for around 12 years now. My first two sets were the Freight Flyer (that was in '91 I think), and the Cannonball freight (possibly '94). I've always found it faintly amusing that it's the same consist for both practically. I'm now 17, and along the way I've kept at it, collecting what I've been able to on a teenager's allowance. I've even been lucky enough, thank the stars, to acquire a long-stripe 746 in good, working condition for $60 at a garage sale (and that was a with at least $300 else of rolling stock!). No layout right now, though I keep trying to find a spot for one in our apartment...

I also have Battery-Op G-scale, a fair bit of starter-set HO, and quite a bit of L(ego)-gauge.

-Stefan-

[Anonymous]

I've loved model trains all my life. My first was a wooden train, probably a Strombeker since I was only two or three years old. I got my first set in 1949 when I was about six. It was a Lionel 225, a Shell tank car, a tinplate boxcar, a dumpcar and a caboose. It came with a 97 coal loader. I don't remember much else about that Christmas, but it was the start of a lifelong addiction to trains....I am 60 now. I have at various times worked in N, HO and now back to three rail where it all started. Odd_d

[Anonymous]

I've loved model trains all my life. My first was a wooden train, probably a Strombeker since I was only two or three years old. I got my first set in 1949 when I was about six. It was a Lionel 225, a Shell tank car, a tinplate boxcar, a dumpcar and a caboose. It came with a 97 coal loader. I don't remember much else about that Christmas, but it was the start of a lifelong addiction to trains....I am 60 now. I have at various times worked in N, HO and now back to three rail where it all started. Odd_d

[Anonymous]

I received my first train, a Marx steam set, for Christmas 1956. I was 6 years old. I still have it and it still runs. I got back in the hobby about 2 years ago at the suggestion of my new wife. I have some nice Williams, K-Line, Lionel , and MTH, but for fun I have several old Marx trains. I don't have a "layout", I have a 4X8 table that I constantly rearrange track on.

[Anonymous]

I received my first train, a Marx steam set, for Christmas 1956. I was 6 years old. I still have it and it still runs. I got back in the hobby about 2 years ago at the suggestion of my new wife. I have some nice Williams, K-Line, Lionel , and MTH, but for fun I have several old Marx trains. I don't have a "layout", I have a 4X8 table that I constantly rearrange track on.

[Anonymous]

I have loved trains since 1946 my whole life was trains even though I was from a poor family I managed to do odds and ends for money. Today I give train sets to my grandchildren as I did to my three boys when they were growing up. So you can see trains is my whole life from the days I worked as a paper boy after school.
RUSS D'ALLURA

[Anonymous]

I have loved trains since 1946 my whole life was trains even though I was from a poor family I managed to do odds and ends for money. Today I give train sets to my grandchildren as I did to my three boys when they were growing up. So you can see trains is my whole life from the days I worked as a paper boy after school.
RUSS D'ALLURA

[clinchfieldfan]

I have had a life long facination with trains, and their models. Although I only became a "serious" hobbiest in the last five years or so.

[clinchfieldfan]

I have had a life long facination with trains, and their models. Although I only became a "serious" hobbiest in the last five years or so.

[Anonymous]

I have been in the hobby since 1950. I have my original Lionel set ( #671 steam loco).
My collection includes Lionel, Williams and MTH. I am presently working on a 22 x 14
room in my basement. I love toy trains.

[Anonymous]

I have been in the hobby since 1950. I have my original Lionel set ( #671 steam loco).
My collection includes Lionel, Williams and MTH. I am presently working on a 22 x 14
room in my basement. I love toy trains.

[Anonymous]

I've been obsessed with trains all my life. My first real train was a Playmobil G scale set and later I got HO. I still accumulate HO. As for toy trains though, I had always wanted a Lionel set as a kid. My uncle had a Scout set when he was young and I saw pictures of it. My first O gauge train was a Marx 4-wheel plastic set I got when I was about 9 years old. Later on I got more Marx stuff. I got my first Lionel train when I was about 11 (an M-K-T NW-2 with grey base and yellow handrails). I've just kept collecting and now have a very large collection and layout of tinplate O and S gauge trains of many different manufacturers, prewar and postwar. I'm 17 right now.

[Anonymous]

I've been obsessed with trains all my life. My first real train was a Playmobil G scale set and later I got HO. I still accumulate HO. As for toy trains though, I had always wanted a Lionel set as a kid. My uncle had a Scout set when he was young and I saw pictures of it. My first O gauge train was a Marx 4-wheel plastic set I got when I was about 9 years old. Later on I got more Marx stuff. I got my first Lionel train when I was about 11 (an M-K-T NW-2 with grey base and yellow handrails). I've just kept collecting and now have a very large collection and layout of tinplate O and S gauge trains of many different manufacturers, prewar and postwar. I'm 17 right now.

[Anonymous]

Hobbyist all my life. With trains and railroading sets, on and off since 10 (25 years). Thanks for the poll!