Seeing what some have recieved, I think that "irritating" is a word that could be used for describing gifts...
But if a person cares enough about you to give you a present, I hope that the giver knows you well enough to research what your likes and needs are.
When I give presents I always try my hardest to make it a "good" one.
As an example, my wife has started out with Dolls house miniatures (and I thought that Model RR:ing was expensive!). As I liked to give her something related for Christmas I had to do some research as I don´t really know much about that hobby.
And that is often the case for our near and dear ones when it comes to our Hobby.
However, some Web-browsing later I knew enough to buy something she could like (wich she did).
So if someone gets the "unwanted" or "irritating" gifts it is either a bit of a shame of the giver, as they didn´t care to research a bit better , or the recipient for not being open enough about his needs and likes.......
I got Miller-engineering neon signs for my layout as a Christmas present, so I guess they know me well by now.
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steemtrayn Y'mean you actually counted 'em?
Y'mean you actually counted 'em?
Thank you for pointing that out so who's the crazy one........hum?
The most annoying MR gift of mine...I'd have to say it was the Baldwin S12 by Athearn. I can't blame the person who bought it for me, simply because I'd picked it out. Anyway, it ran fine first out of the box. But, it soon developed a reputation for having electrical issues. Odd, because I had a pair of Athearn F units and a GP7...which ran fine. After stripping down the entire unit, I eventually found the problem--there was some sort of wax on both truck bolsters! No wonder it didn't run very well! It's since been rebuilt and fitted with nickel-plated wheels. Runs fine now, but sadly, doesn't see much service lately--most of the layout has been mothballed.
None, thats cause I aint never got any kind of MR related gift,
...bad DVD videos, stupid cloths yes, but no train stuff.
Have fun with your trains
Most irritating MR gift i got was this year and from a train i already own. First year i put a display around the tree and was a big hit here all the guests loved watching it. By about 9:30pm xmas eve the train (a Bachmanne spectrum) started acting like it stripped a gear and was too late and had too much to do for the next day to get it running right for the next day. Gota take a look at it and fix it myself or take it in to get fixed.
Allegheny2-6-6-6steemtrayn Y'mean you actually counted 'em? Thank you for pointing that out so who's the crazy one........hum?
How many of you are recipients of train jig saw puzzles?
I have accumulated many of those over the years.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Heartland Division CB&Q How many of you are recipients of train jig saw puzzles? I have accumulated many of those over the years.
I used to have one. I sold it in a yard sale. I hope it wasn't re-gifted to you. HAHA!
Will
Mike C.
wobblinwheelWell at least you guys GOT gifts! I guess I screwed up by telling my live-in-girlfriend that I thought (since we both were a little strapped for cash) we shouldn't spend money on each other for Christmas.
Well, didn't you get exactly what you asked for?
The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, OregonThe Year: 1948The Scale: On30The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com
Heartland Division CB&QHow many of you are recipients of train jig saw puzzles? I have accumulated many of those over the years.
I have several of those. Two Lionel clocks. Numerous T-shirts. Coffee Mugs. Stock Certificates and other "memorabilia". A ton of train-themed coffee-table books. Etc.
But I'm not complaining at all. Happy to receive it. Just wish there was a little more brass to go along with it, if you know what I mean :-)
wobblinwheelWell at least you guys GOT gifts! I guess I screwed up by telling my live-in-girlfriend that I thought (since we both were a little strapped for cash) we shouldn't spend money on each other for Christmas. Of course I figured she would get me something anyway, since this was our first Christmas together, so I got her some pretty decent gifts. Well guess what she gave me?..............NOT ONE %#$@&% THING!!!!
Sorry, but you are the perpetrator, not the victim here. You made an agreement not to exchange gifts and then embarrassed her by buying her gifts in violation of that agreement.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
The most irritating MR gift is the one you don't receive! When you expect that someone will give you MR stuff because they have asked "What do you want for Christmas/B-day?" and then they present themselves with a fondue set! What's with the fondues? Why is there always someone who thinks that a fondue is just what you need?!
Phoebe Vet wobblinwheelWell at least you guys GOT gifts! I guess I screwed up by telling my live-in-girlfriend that I thought (since we both were a little strapped for cash) we shouldn't spend money on each other for Christmas. Of course I figured she would get me something anyway, since this was our first Christmas together, so I got her some pretty decent gifts. Well guess what she gave me?..............NOT ONE %#$@&% THING!!!! Sorry, but you are the perpetrator, not the victim here. You made an agreement not to exchange gifts and then embarrassed her by buying her gifts in violation of that agreement.
No, I don't think that he is a "perpetrator". I think that he's just a young man who has not yet learned one of life's important lessons.
Anyone who has been married for awhile knows very well that when any such agreement is made he will get exactly what he asks for. He also knows that he darn well better get the other party some decent gifts, lest he get something he didn't ask for!
mononguy63 As for the tie, well, let's just say I've not worked up the courage to wear it to church just yet...
As for the tie, well, let's just say I've not worked up the courage to wear it to church just yet...
I taught part-time at a national technical institute this fall, and they said that I could wear any tie, as long as I was wearing a tie. I wonder if this one would make them re-think that statement?
Gaudy looking sweat shirts that my grand mother gives me on birthdays and sometimes X-mas.......things I do not wear.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
I keep getting locomotives for Christmas, all of them european prototype, all of them 3 rail. They've got the steam ear right, and I've actually converted several of the "gifts" to run on two rail track and to include DCC equipment so they can run with my other locomotives. The conversions were made to keep peace with the family, they only run on the layout when the gift givers are around my layout. It's just a pain, and the conversions take time I would prefer using for other modelling efforts. I'm starting to wonder if model railroading is for single guys, preferably hermits.
A few years back my cousin got me Sam Posey's book"Playing with Trains" as a joke. I had been looking for it when I opened her gift. And when I said "Boy, just what I was looking for" I got a startled look and "You were?". It was then I realized she thought it was a joke. BILL
Phoebe VetI have never felt the need to go into a public forum and whine about a gift that someone who cares about me gave me in good faith.
Absolutely agree.
Phoebe VetCheck the title of your thread. Sure sounds like whining to me.
Again, absolutely agree.
reklein A few years back my cousin got me Sam Posey's book"Playing with Trains" as a joke. I had been looking for it when I opened her gift. And when I said "Boy, just what I was looking for" I got a startled look and "You were?". It was then I realized she thought it was a joke. BILL
My local library has a copy of that book and I've read it several times. a very well written piece that also motivates me to get workin on my layout every time I read it, lol.
Sawyer Berry
Clemson University c/o 2018
Building a protolanced industrial park layout
Hey I have one just like it. It has two bats. one for the clock and one for the sound. Guess which bat I have in mine!
Greg
I keep a Christmas wish list on my computer. On the list is model railroading stuff with exact make, model or catalog numbers, etc. This works out really well to get mr things I cal use.
Yours In Model Railroading,
John
Littleton, CO
Mark, I am new here, but have one of those clocks too with the loco on the front and a crossing signal next to it that choos, chugs, and has track joint noise. I love it, but everytime I turn around, someone who stays over is complaining of it going off in the middle of the night. So, out come the batteries again. :-( I have another train clock that has the train that goes in circles, and am sure all of you here have experienced the inadequate motor switch that eventually goes bad and the train either goes off at the wrong time, or doesn't move at all. Exchanged it four times, and decided to use it stricktly for a clock. :-) :-) The absolute clincher is that the clock that doesn't work has a night sensor on it so that the train (which never works anyway) won't run at night. Ha ha.
Ah yes, the wonderfulness of itself.
Jack
B.T., I realize all those locos and cars can be a real burden. Here is my address for next Christmas-------------------------------:-).
Wow, what a treat. I hadn't seen or heard anything about the Phoebe Snow since it's disappearance in the sixties when I lived in Binghamton, New York.
I dunno if it counts as a gift or not, considering that it was in one of several boxes of "Keep what you like and discard the rest" stuff we recieved from my ex wife's great aunt after her husband died-
The Avon Christmas Train Wreath.... I mean the man was an avid Model Railroader, someone had gotten him this thing, and the racket was awful. The gesture was I'm sure benign, and full of love, but this thing was tacky to say the least...
I hung it on the wall for one Christmas, so it could be observed by said aunt... The following year it went to Goodwill, and the wife was released from duty... The two circumstances were not related...