How do you find time for model railroading?

[Texas Zepher]

How do you guys make time for your trains?

What do you do between 2 & 4 a.m. everyday?  Seriously, don't take time reading and posting messages on forums.   Oh really serious this time: The less busy I am, the more time I waste.  So when I am not busy I look for the unimportant things I am doing and take that same time to use for trains.  

[shawnee]

I put time in a drawer.  That way I know where to find it. 

Seriously, hobby time can be challenging.  I thought I'd be farther along than with my "final" by now.  It's been about a year now since I started building, and I'm still in the throes, but at least have the track up and running at elevations, though I haven't done much yet with scenery or new model building. 

Lately, weeknights when I'm out all day working and come home, don't have the energy to dive the project. I do a lot of looking at it and "considering".   Weekends have been tough in the summer with other commitments.  I think that I'll tend to spend more time now that winter is descending upon us. 

Now if I'd just stop staring at my layout and making changes to the plan, it might go faster too.  Maybe I've got to stop "considering" it with a glass of wine in my hand.   

[BRAKIE]

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

 

And life will pass you by with zeal and gusto at lightening speed.

I'll soon be 60..Seems like yesterday I was 30..

[steamage]

I try to spend a little time each day working on some modeling project. I use a TV tray in the living room to work on while spending time with my wife watching TV or a movie. I don't want my wife to become a model railroad widow because I'm in the train room. Even 30 minutes a day can add up to a lot of modeling time a year.

[canazar]

I feel your pain amigo.  I run my own business and its a drag.   I am on my feet all day in more or less a welding shop.  Plus, I got a family too.  There are times when I have gone 3 weeks with out going into the garag.  It can be tough but I have learned to make time.  Go out for half hour before bed, maybe a few minutes before work.  Even if I just re arrange the trees or adjust a building, i did something. 

My other trick is to go for the day-long fest.  I spend wll week getting excited, make arrangments and Iw ill get a day out there on Saturday or Sunday and everyone knows in the family, Im off the clock. I usually get a long afternoon or mornign out of it.

Good luck.

[jesrr]

  I am also retired. I try to work on my layout everyday. I take Sundays off from MRR,ng.

[C&O Fan]

I'm retired

Still working on the layout seriously interferes with my nap time

 

[John Busby]

Hi SD60M

Well I tend to do what I can when I can and as the notion takes me.

Its garden season now

So the indoor trains take a back seat and the work on the garden has to be done clear, the weeds from the track more crusher dust for ballast consult the domestic authority as to what new plants she wants

Have to rewire garden railway mice got into the wiring where does she want this village that don't fit what I want to do in the garden what else needs doing in the garden.

And work for a living as well I see the railway all day every day that who I work for.

You must find some time for your hobby but also for other things as well, it will all work its self out once you have got into the work routine, and can see where you can find time for your hobby.

regards John

[GAPPLEG]

I agree with lots everyone has said. But with snow falling today in Erie PA. thus begins the "train season". But lately I have spent a lot of time doing a project that has eaten up 4 hours a night for the last week or so.(link to post below) When I get the bug to do something , I just keep at it like an addict. Other times I may just sit back and stare at it.

http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/1255014/ShowPost.aspx

[topcopdoc]

Over the years I have been too busy working and going to college to do model railroading.

I have been buying RR books and HO trains over the years just for the day when I stopped working so I could build another layout. Well the day is here and I am still busy and don't know how I had the time before to hold a full-time job. If you read Rod Stewart's article in MRR you would see his idea for finding more RR time. He builds his RR models when he is on the road working or singing.

I have not figured out yet how I can build any models while mowing 3 acres of grass but I am working on it. Fortunately the Summer is over and my property maintenance is almost zero except for occasionlly plowing snow off the long driveway.  

I plan to designate one day a week for model railroading and stick to it as if it was a real job. Maybe that way I might have a chance to complete this layout before "The Lord" gives me a more permenant job. 

Doc

[aloco]

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

[sleeper33]

 I myself work nights so take a small kit in with me to do during quiet times. Why not take a item into work with u and if u get a lunch break try doing a bit there. it may take a bit of time but what's the rush?

[tomikawaTT]

Between having to sleep and taking time out for meals, it's difficult

That's the advantage of being completely and totally retired.  Then, there's the balancing disadvantage:

• Brain  "Okay, gang, let's attack this thing with great gusto!"
• Body  "Beg Pahdon.  Are you addressing ME?"
• Eyes  "You expect me to see THAT?"
• Fingers  "Maybe we can, with the proper tweezers, but, boy, are we stiff..."
• Legs  "On a hard concrete floor?"
• Feet  "Get your fat (Democratic party symbol, three letters) OFF me!!!"

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - when I feel up to it)

[BRAKIE]

Since life is uncertain I decided years ago to enjoy it to the fullest and that includes sitting time aside for the hobby,slot car racing and at one time fishing and hunting..My late wife (pass at the age of 45) also sit time aside for her hobbies.

My wife carried a card with these words:

You may get up in the morning and tie your shoes and the undertaker may untie them that night.

 

 

 

[superbe]

"Ever since i started working at my new job ILS Warehouse it's been hard to do anything with my trains!" 

When I first started building the layout I was impatient with any thing that interfered with my work. I soon learned that disrupting the family routine was going to be counter productive. When I started backing away I found that it gave me more time to think of what I was doing and what I wanted. Now I just work on it when time permits. but I'm thinking about it a lot. Also I believe that my main enjoyment may be in building the layout rather than running it after it's "finished", if ever. Maybe that's why I'm so patient.

Bob

[ARTHILL]

I am fortunate that the trains are in the basement and so is my bathroom. Everytime I walk by I try to get 10 minutes in. I have 3 or 4 projects going at a time. It is amazing how much you can do with out ever really working on it.

[R. T. POTEET]

I ignore paying the electric bill, eating, talking to my wife, going to work, feeding the cats, etc. Operating a model railroad and running an 0-5-0 switcher by candlelight is a very unique experience; my wife went out for bread and milk six weeks ago but I expect her back any day now. I just wish my cats would stop biting me on the ankle whenever I come in the door! Now that really hurts!!!

All kidding aside, I'm armchairing at this particular moment!

[Railphotog]

When you're retired (like me!), every day is Saturday!  But I actually did way more modeling when I was working.  Go figure.

 

 

[on30francisco]

I work on it when I'm in the mood. If I'm not in the mood, I usually do a crummy job and/or get frustrated. Sometimes I'll work on it for hours and other times maybe several minutes or not at all. I have alot of free time to work on it almost anytime I choose, however, I'm not in a hurry to finish anything.

[trainfan1221]

I have a small room and its usually a mess.  I work on my trains when I can actually get over to them.  Its okay if you aren't doing it all the time, many people need times when they feel inspired or just are in the mood to do some layout work.

[MisterBeasley]

It's not a race.

When I have time for the layout, I can work on it and enjoy it.  When I don't, well, there's always tomorrow.

Hopefully, you can set up a workspace where you can leave things out, and do a few small things whenever you can.  Otherwise, there's a lot of "overhead" involved with pulling out tools and supplies, and then putting them away again.

Winter is coming.  While others will fidget and say "There's nothing to do!" and many will plant themselves in front of the idiot box, you'll have a better alternative.

[Robby P.]

I work third and I don't feel like doing much at all when I get up.  I work on my layout some on the weekends.  I try to do some weathering during the week, when I feel like it.  Since work is in there peak season, the next few weeks will be pretty tiring.  Also, since winter is coming maybe I will stay in more, and do some of everything.

[secondhandmodeler]

I own a small business, so I don't have time or money.  I spend maybe twenty minutes every other day on the trains.  Fortunately, I'm working on scenery which involves drying time.  I'll glue something, or paint something and let it dry for a day or two.   One thing that's ironic is the amount of time I have to think about trains.  I don't do a whole lot during the day at work.  I have hours apon hours to play on the computer.  The little amount of time I have works well as far as funding goes.  It may be weeks before I need to spend any money.  The down side is when I can't progress because of a hold up in the appropriations committee!

[Printer]

I'm "Permantly and Totally Disabled" according to my Doctor. So that's how I find the time to at least fantasize and read about trains. I'm having to give up and cut back or eliminate many things that I used to take for granted due to the NEW lack of money.

So I have plenty of time but can little afford to use it.

Scoot

[SD60M]

Ever since i started working at my new job ILS Warehouse it's been hard to do anything with my trains! I work 8 hours and im so tired when i get home! How do you guys make time for your trains? BTW the only good side to this besides the fact of more money, BNSF's Tennessee yard is only 4 minutes away.