"Playing with Trains" by Sam Posey

[eastcoast]

About two months ago, I was in a bookstore at a mall.
I came across a small sized hardback by the above title.
After giving it a quick glance, I perceived it to be a book that
would ridicule or criticize model railroading. I left it and went on
my way. THAT VERY DAY, the issue of MR arrived in my mailbox
and behold, a book review of Sam Posey's book. I did read the
article to see exactly what a different opinion was formed. I was
completely beside myself to find that I formed an opinion before
reading this book thoroughly. Well, guess what ? I marched back
to the bookstore this last Sunday and went directly to the rack and
purchased it. I have not read one derogatory thing, in fact, I am
enjoying Mr. Posey's recollections of how he came into the hobby
and his inspirations for the Colorado Midland. Being in the middle
of the book thus far, may I send out a huge recommendation to all
to pick up and read this book as it is EXCELLENT.
Thank You Model Railroader for your article and for turning my view.

[vsmith]

Where have you been, we've been talking about this book for quite a while...

Here are two of the longest discussion threads based on the book.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21134

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=21898

Yes its a good book I like the second half more so than the first part.[:D]

[brothaslide]

I recieved this book for my birthday and enjoyed it very much. I sure could use a Rolf helping me with my layout and modeling.

[CBQ_Guy]

I got his book for Christmas and read halfway through it last nite. I got the impression early on in the book that about all he was interested in even trying himself was scenery, to the point where I almost put the book down in disappointment. He mentions reading stuff by Westcott, McClannahan, Selios, et al, and then decides it's too *hard*, or complicated, or whatever, and proceeds to re-invent the wheel, instead of standing on the shoulders of these giants and just learning how to do it himself. He then proceeds to hire a carpenter to build the layout, an electrician to wire it, and a guy from his LHS to do everything else on the layout *except* the scenery. Even with that he had his wife, who apparently is a "renaissance woman", with artist as a list of her accomplishments, advise him on scenery stuff, too. He also would take pics of the layout and then have them critiqued by a couple professional photographers...I'm surprise he just didn't hire them to take the photos, as well.

Oh well, I'll probably stick with the book to the end since I'm so far into it. Maybe it will get better.