How do yall handle burnout?

[GearDrivenSteam]

Just wondering.....I have an indoor On30 layout as well as my large scale stuff, and neither has struck my fancy in months. I've tried everything I can think of from building details, structures and whatnot, but nothing's worked. How do yall deal with burnout?

[imrnjr]

While I have not gotten to that point with the railroad, I have been there with other hobbies/projects over the years. 

What I do is set the project aside for a day or week or two and focus on something else (or combination of things) like golf, fishing, a major lawn project....something.

When I get thru with the alternate activity(ies), I don't go back solely to the other project/hobby 100%.  I mix it up..... railroad...golf. railroad, fishing, gardening, railroad,...honeydoo's...., railroad, reading, railroad,  travel, hunting, railroad....

I just don't submerge myself in one anymore,  which helps keep it from happening again.

Good luck hope this helps.....

mark

[Rene Schweitzer]

Robert,

Do you have a friend/relative/spouse who will work with you? Maybe even someone who isn't a hobbyist, who could give you a fresh look at things, ask questions or give opinions, or maybe start you thinking in a new way.

[cabbage]

The problem Robert could not be burnout -but boredom!!! What you need to do is have a look outside your confines as dictated by your modelwork. I would imagine you have a fine american logging style system -just like everybody else....

Myself coming from another part of the world and having seen things, ermmm... (best left undiscussed) when it comes to railway practice -suggest that you look far away from your native roots.

I try here: http://www.trainweb.org/nzgearedlocomotives/

If all else fails I try here: http://www.dself.dsl.pipex.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/locoloco.htm

Have a couple of looks at web rings of different scales. There are things out there that make you think -why did they do that?

regards

ralph

[kimbrit]

Robert, it's not as bad as it seems, it's an everyday happening in all aspects of life. Put it all away in boxes and leave it somewhere out of sight (and mind) for a while, it could be years, it was for me and I did other things, I also made the mistake of selling everything. One day afew years ago I saw the Bachmann Connie and BANG, I was off again. That's the way of it, when you come back all of your previous experience will be there and you will enjoy.

Cheers,

Kim

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Go do other things for a while!   One day the inspiration will strike.   You will be having company over or something like that and you'll think, Gee, I ought to get the trains running, it would be nice to watch them while we're sitting out in the yard having a cold one!

[Rex in Pinetop]

I fly RC and go heavy at it for awhile and then my interest drops off too.  I've done the GRR at a couple of our former homes but after awhile the trains stopped running as often as they did and it was such a hassel to polish track.  Unless I had a fellow GRR buddy come over I just didn't run them much.  Now that I'm retired my plan is to engage the neighborhood kids with the new layout in the front yard instead of hidden in the back.  Kids will either keep you young or drive you to drink.  We'll see what happens.

Good luck,

Rex

[kstrong]

For me, it's a matter of setting little goals that have to be reached. For instance, I've had this bridge sitting in my crawlspace that's been destined for the railroad since I started building it. I know I need to take photos of my railroad for my next column, so that became one of my goals--get the bridge installed as a new feature to use as a photo location.

I try to keep a number of different projects on hand just so I have variety to choose from. And if I'm not in the mood to do any of them, no big deal. It's a hobby, and I have no timeline to get anything accomplished (beyond my usual magazine deadlines). And there are days when I just can't get my brain in gear to work on that, either. I just do other things instead.

My biggest stumbling block isn't so much one of desire, but one of just getting going. I know I want to do things, but there's something I need to buy to get going, or some other roadblock that's keeping me from progressing. For instance, I've got two stations I want to finish, but I haven't gotten around to ordering the veneer siding I need to do the job. Once I do that, I know I'll have them finished in very short order, but it's just taking that one step to clear the hurdles. Maybe I'll swing by Caboose on my way into work tomorrow...

Later,

K

[John Busby]

Hi GearDrivenSteam

That's an easy one grab my Bretonnian army and go and clear out the night goblins or forces of chaos the odd dwarf and undead force maybe kill a dragon or hydra.

Or fix up the gaming terrain that goes with it.

Then after a break its back to the trains.

regards John

[spikejones52002]

This is a hobby for relaxation.

Set it aside and let yourself be involve with something else.

Then you will notice new interest and begin playing around with a new idea.

Your will notice you are relaxed and having fun with your railroad again.

Soon you will be enjoying the challanges. You will stand up with a smile and feel good.

[Tom The Brat]

I don't worry about it. It's just something I do for fun. If I feel like doing something else, I do something else and come back to it later.

[tangerine-jack]

I do a very similar to Busby, I run my train over some GI Joes, firecracker a model car in the town (remember the whimsy build off?) and let the chicken take a ride in a gondola.  IOW, I have some fun!  Forget the correct scale color for the air hose that the railroad used in 1964, or that the wheel flanges are the wrong shape, just go have some silly fun and put a smile on your face! 

Lots of fun and goofy things can be done to relight your boiler fire.  Just be a kid and play with your trains.

[GearDrivenSteam]

Thanks for all of your ideas. All of you have been very thoughtful.

[Marty Cozad]

I agree with Ralph

Its more bordem.

 Thats why I keep somethings seasonal. And I envite others over. And I try what others are doing to better my self. 

[GearDrivenSteam]

Robert,

Do you have a friend/relative/spouse who will work with you? Maybe even someone who isn't a hobbyist, who could give you a fresh look at things, ask questions or give opinions, or maybe start you thinking in a new way.

Rene, I don't have any friends who share the interest. My son does, but he is shipping out in the Army on the 27th of June. My wife could care less....about that or anything else.

[Anonymous]

Robert,

Now you say it, could it be your very worried about your son who will serve his nation? I am sure he will do fine as long as he hears what the Sgt. has to say (I did with a CSM.) and look at me now, a train nut

Wife's are abit strange and handle there own stress there own way....you know one of those strasnge things like Area 51.

[Sweet Santa Fe]

Robert, I can't say that I understand, I don't have any kids.  but I would think that what you're dealing with is worry about your son.  He's your buddy in this and I wouldn't blame you for being worried about this.  It has to be hard when someone you love is going into harms way. 

 What you need to do right now is spend time with your son, make a lot of memories to look back on while he's gone.  Go fishing, hiking, whatever.  And know that he will come back to you.  And in the meantime, you can always email me.  I'll talk to you whenever.  

 Wives are hard, some hold their emotions in and some don't.  Sounds like your wife does.  You both need to talk about how this is going to affect you.  

And when the time is right, you will get back into your trains.  It will take your mind off what is going on.  I'm not going to say don't worry, because you will anyway.  But we're all here for you.  You could always help ToadFrog lay his track, he needs lots of help.  

 Love ya sweetie.

 Melissa

[tangerine-jack]

i will probably be shipping out about the same time as your son.  I doubt I will cross paths with him in the sand box, but I assure you that do take very good care of all my soldiers and if I see him I'll do the same.  I've never lost or seriously injured one yet and I don't intend to start now.  I would be more worried about drunk drivers at home, far more people every year are killed by DUI than any war you could name.

Go have some silly, goofy fun with your trains.  Be a kid again!

[GearDrivenSteam]

Thanks, yall. The Army thing really isn't all that bad. He's going to be trained as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter mechanic. No doubt there's a chance he could be deployed anywhere in the world. He leaves for basic on the 27th of June and then goes to AIT for another 19 weeks and then gets assigned. He's only 17, but this is something he's wanted to do for a while now.

[Rastun]

Hi GearDrivenSteam

That's an easy one grab my Bretonnian army and go and clear out the night goblins or forces of chaos the odd dwarf and undead force maybe kill a dragon or hydra.

Or fix up the gaming terrain that goes with it.

Then after a break its back to the trains.

regards John

Someday John we're going to have to talk

 

Jack 

  

[Rex in Pinetop]

The Army has been good to me.  I started out as a plebe at West Point back in '62, graduated in '66, and retired in '93.  The closest I came to a chinook was standing on top of a 155mm to hook it up underneath the hovering bird.  They can really kick up some wind.  The comradary in the Army can't be beat.  There is nothing like it in the civilian world.  I hope your son enjoys it as much as I did.

Rex

[Anonymous]

Just wondering.....I have an indoor On30 layout as well as my large scale stuff, and neither has struck my fancy in months. I've tried everything I can think of from building details, structures and whatnot, but nothing's worked. How do yall deal with burnout?

 

Sit back, relax, read a book.

It is very similar to sports!  Ever heard of "overtraining"? - the harder you push when you're in a slump the deeper the slump gets.

 

Sit back, relax, read a book!

 

Oh... and when you find the time, do some low key railfanning i.e. go for a drive, look at everything, structures, landscape and trains. No, it doesn't hurt to have a camera along!

 

Relax! It isn't a race! 

 

ER 

 

 

 

[John Busby]

Hi Ratsun

Goes into gaming mode

How dare you Sir!! bring such an uncouth unchivalrous contraption to battle we are Knights of Bretonnia not Orcs or worse.

Not a bad model as you can guess I am a fan of the older rules with no war machines and a decent lady's blessing, It will not stop me getting one one day the Pegasus knights first I think

Still cannot get quartering right for the heraldry

regards John

[Anonymous]

I did remember something I do, I go to a day spa. Ok, I can hear the LOL'N.....but it works

[markperr]

Robert,

Make sure you tell your son the next time you talk that there are a lot of vets out here who are very proud of him and his willingness to take up arms in defense of the greatest social experiment known to man.  I sleep very well knowing that brave young men (and women) like your boy are on watch.

As for the trains, I'm in the same boat.  Been bugged by the neighborhoos kids for about a month since the snow stopped flying to run trains.  Not particularly motivated to do it.  It's a quandary, I admit.  Did some weeding of the railroad the other day.  Cute neighbor lady helped me.  Said her kids and the ones she babysits all want to see the trains run.  Usually happens when I'm at work.  Told her as soon as I get everything set up for the year, that I would give her the remote and show her how to run it for them.  I can park the loco's in a tunnel so nothing to worry about with the weather.  Her and her husband and the wife and I are really good friends so I'm not worried at all.

Mark

[Anonymous]

Make sure you tell your son the next time you talk that there are a lot of vets out here who are very proud of him and his willingness to take up arms in defense of the greatest social experiment known to man.  I sleep very well knowing that brave young men (and women) like your boy are on watch.

Mark

Could not say it better my self Mark!

[dwbeckett]

Move and start over, I resently had to move before burnout, NOT BY CHOICE, we had a upstairs plumbing malfuncation, so now we are in a motel for the next few weeks. So the OUT iN Back Ry (ONBR) is on hold. The track I need to work with for This road and the My indoor RR at our Reno Home went in storage, when the contract Movers went nuts and removed my storage shelfs from the garage ( wall next to flooded area ). so now I can only sit and wait till we can move back in to the Oakley house.  But I am getting burntout sitting in this room with only a laptop and a TV. BTY I had real burnout once, work related, I did a 28 day strach of 12hr shifts plus a 3hr round trip comute had to take a 10 day vacation to get my head strate. Thats when I built the first DNRR.

[kstrong]

...For instance, I've got two stations I want to finish, but I haven't gotten around to ordering the veneer siding I need to do the job. Once I do that, I know I'll have them finished in very short order, but it's just taking that one step to clear the hurdles. Maybe I'll swing by Caboose on my way into work tomorrow...

Follow up--

I stopped by Caboose Hobbies, and they were out of the sheets I needed. So, Friday night, I went to Precision Products' website and ordered 4 sheets of 6" lap siding. They arrived this afternoon, and have already been cut, glued, and are drying as I type. It really is strange the things that can motivate a person.

So, don't sweat the burnout. It, too, shall pass. These two stations were started in August of '05, and just hit a stopping point. The wood hopper cars in my "Staff Pages" article in the current GR were also shelved midway through for a few years and just recently completed.

Later,

K

[FJ and G]

burnout? who, me, burnout?

 

 

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Another way would be to try something you haven't done before, like try to install a sound system, convert to led lights, superdetail, or something like that for your railroad!