WOW!! What a Great Hobby!,or an analogy.

[mpzpw3]

First, let me warn you that this is a long post!! Today I got to slow down a little. No overtime at work, no computer problems, no schedule. This hobby has sure changed for me.

I began running trains on Christmas 1975, I think. My Dad gave me a starter set that year, and then when we went to my Grandparent's house, we picked up his old scout set. Later a friend loaned us his train stuff, so I had a major empire going. A sad thing later happened, about 5 years later, when the friend wanted his train stuff back. Dad then took me to the only real train store around here, and I bought my first diesel engine. Dad then set up some plywood in the basement, and bought some camoflauge material, put wadded up newspaper under it for mountains, built a tunnel, and stapled it all down. I was in heaven!

Later, Dad fixed up the big room in the basement, and built a table of 3 four by eight sheets of plywood. Huge (bigger than I have now)!! Lot's of trains running on O-27 used track, all of them of the starter set variety. Scenery was becoming more and more important to me, but girls were becoming more important!

Fast-forward to about 5 years ago. I now have a wife, good job, and some extra money. First I started buying all the MPC Lionel I had dreamed about as a kid. Second, I started working on making realistic scenery. From there we bought a house, finished the basement, and the current layout began. I pride myself on the scenery, although the layout is still "toy". Almost all the scenery is done now, and trains run problem free.

Well, about 2 months ago, I started re-lettering and re-painting rolling stock. I got lucky and found a couple old Williams kits, and some undecorated cars, and have been able to paint and re-letter to my favorite railroad.

Just when I think I have done about all I can do, I find something else that interests me. My layout is small, but I think I can add an On-30 line somewhere, just to finish the scene... I think that this hobby will always be here, as long as Fathers and Grandfathers work with their kids to build an empire. I could be wrong, but looking back, I think it was the time I spent with my Dad that made trains so special to me. I now look up specific roadnames, and try to either buy them, or build them as accurately as possible, but, they have to go through the old O-31 switches...

[Dr. John]

Nice of you to share your story. It's one many of us can probably relate to. I got my start back in the early 1960s with a Marx windup set, followed by a Marx Allstate set. (Lionel was a little pricey for us back in those days.) Had fun with the Allstate set, received extra cars, track, switches, etc. for birthday and Christmas, set up on a 4x8 sheet of plywood in the garage. Scenery was paint, green-dyed sawdust, dirt, and plaster over chicken wire. Pretty messy, but I liked it. Even added a few Lionel accesories.

Then, like you and many others, the teenage years hit. Cars and girls replaced trains and bicycles. Mom sold both original train sets in a yard sale for $10! The accesories for less than a dollar each!!! Of course, in those days it didn't bother me much, but how I wish I had those old trains and accessories. I kept the Lionel starter set I bought my son about 18 years ago. He never showed a lot of interest in trains and still doesn't, but maybe one day . . .

[Frank53]

looking back, I think it was the time I spent with my Dad that made trains so special to me..

I know that is what brought me back . . .

[Jumijo]

I got into the hobby so that my kids and I could share some wonderful times together, and I have not been the least bit disappointed. I hope one day they will look back on these times fondly.

[92hatchattack]

I think this story is one that most of us can relate too. I know when i was younger every christams the 4x8 xmas layout would come out, with the tree right in the middle. I looked fowarrd to my dad bringout out the trains for weeks!!!

 

But, as i got a little older, and wanted to party and do the girl thing, it faded.............  But now im 24, and i have a son, and as soon as i had my little boy that comming christmas i was so into trains it was like i never stopped.    My son is now 2 and loves trains. Whenever he sees a picture its always "choo choo"  I cant wait to see his eyes when the trains come out this holiday season!!!