I sitting here playing with the trains, installing decoders. Then I wondered what my true train goals are? I live with in 2 miles of one of the best HO layouts in the US, 61 X 80 foot with over a mile of track , so why make mine bigger?
Is it to have the most engines and rolling stock? At 52 engines and over 300 rolling stock, how many more do I need? From what I have read, I would need 500 engines and 2000 rolling stock to have a great collection.
Is it to have the most expense engines, well I have yet to get in to brass, but still have 2 $600.00 engines. At one point I swore I would never spend more than $65.00 for a engine! Then I found steam with sound, first one was $320.00, so the jump to $600.00 was, well can say not that bad?
This week I have spent $150.00 on decoders, but what is my goal?
So tonight I have set a goal, to pull 100 cars on my bench and 150 cars on K-10 Model Trains bench. I will add with not one engine!!!!!!!!! It will test my ability to build good rolling stock and my track laying skills.
What are your goals and why? Being a Car Guy, I still measure accompanist by power and that = pulling power in the train world.
So what keeps you going, what is your quest?
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
My goal is to have all my engines equipped with DCC Sound and pull at least 15 cars each. ( I'm a "Dreamer")
BTW Cudaken, check your pm's.
- Luke
Modeling the Southern Pacific in the 1960's-1980's
I'll never have the biggest collection, best layout, or whatever. But I'll be having fun (that's my goal).
Does having trains being able to go down track without being used as golfballs by Spring count as a goal?
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
To finish my layout started in 1988, (well, that is done now), to create a feeling of the Santa Fe in Oklahoma (northern and western), and visitors tell me I have done that, and to have operating sessions for the enjoyment of the fellowship and the challenge, well have done that, so I guess my final goal is to add to, maintain and improve on what I already have as needed, a work in progress, and to keep living long enough to really enjoy the fruits, (also in progress).
Bob
For my n scale to go around my layout 6 times without derailing.
I don't know who said this first, but one of the wisest sayings I ever heard was this. Success isn't a destination, it's a journey. I have a clear concept of where I want my layout to go and I am a long way from achieving that. But every time I complete a scene or add a new operational feature to my layout, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and that is what keeps me going. I don't know what my layout will look like a year from now or 10 years from now, but the process of working towards fullfilling the vision is what it's all about for me.
cudaken I sitting here playing with the trains, installing decoders. Then I wondered what my true train goals are? I live with in 2 miles of one of the best HO layouts in the US, 61 X 80 foot with over a mile of track , so why make mine bigger? Is it to have the most engines and rolling stock? At 52 engines and over 300 rolling stock, how many more do I need? From what I have read, I would need 500 engines and 2000 rolling stock to have a great collection. Is it to have the most expense engines, well I have yet to get in to brass, but still have 2 $600.00 engines. At one point I swore I would never spend more than $65.00 for a engine! Then I found steam with sound, first one was $320.00, so the jump to $600.00 was, well can say not that bad? This week I have spent $150.00 on decoders, but what is my goal? So tonight I have set a goal, to pull 100 cars on my bench and 150 cars on K-10 Model Trains bench. I will add with not one engine!!!!!!!!! It will test my ability to build good rolling stock and my track laying skills. What are your goals and why? Being a Car Guy, I still measure accompanist by power and that = pulling power in the train world. So what keeps you going, what is your quest? Cuda Ken
I can tell you what its not. Ruining my loco's by pulling hundreds of cars
I've been in the HO side of the hobby for 20 years and I've only got 16 engines and about 90 train cars.
You've got quite a haul there for only starting, what....a year ago?
My goals are to complete my 11X8 layout in as museum quality as my paltry skills can handle. And to use a car card waybill system to actually run the layout and have some fun. That's pretty much it.
I'm with Corbett on this one. Well said!
I've been in modelling for about 50 of my 60 years; both HO and R/C. I think for me my outward goals are to have a good running layout that looks well executed and is thoughtfully rendered. Inwardly I think I've always had a drive to be creative, inventive and curios about what I can fashion in miniature. Together these inward and outward traits form the basis for my goals in modelling.
To get this darn Athearn SD40-2 running right It seems to have a mind of its own, good thing because I am losing mine.
To finish my current layout and write down and record all that I've learned so far. This way I'll be better prepared for my next layout and it shouldn't take me quite as long to complete. (Yea, right! )
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
To plan and build a layout in my new 14X25 space that captures at least the essence of the Q in Nebraska. Looks good, runs reliably, and offers some fun to 4 or 5 operators. The last part being the most important, sharing the hobby with close friends.
Rick
Three words:
To have fun.
Dr. Frankendiesel aka Scott Running BearSpace Mouse for president!15 year veteran fire fighterCollector of Apple //e'sRunning Bear EnterprisesHistory Channel Club life member.beatus homo qui invenit sapientiam
I'm getting tired of buying and building. I would prefer to just sit back and watch them run.
My goal is to enjoy the hobby by what I love doing the best..Prototypical operation-short line style..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
jecorbett I don't know who said this first, but one of the wisest sayings I ever heard was this. Success isn't a destination, it's a journey. I have a clear concept of where I want my layout to go and I am a long way from achieving that. But every time I complete a scene or add a new operational feature to my layout, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and that is what keeps me going. I don't know what my layout will look like a year from now or 10 years from now, but the process of working towards fullfilling the vision is what it's all about for me.
Ditto and Amen to John's quote.
My main reason for my present layout is my grandson John. As I've said here before, he is my pride and joy, and anything that makes him happy and enables him to learn something I will do to my utmost ability.
I have several goals. Some long-term and ethereal, some more tangible. Here they are, generally:
1. To build out the next phase of the layout. I have a lot of temporary track that allows me to operate, but these involve a lot of compromises that get more and more frustrating each time I operate. Primarily I need to build out Elkins and the rest of the Thomas Sub so I can put my coal hoppers to better use, and get them out of the main freight yard.
2. To flesh out the freight car fleet a little more. Even though I'm currently tipping the scales at more than 300 pieces of rolling stock, I have a significant lack of gondola and tank cars. I probably need to add between 5 and 10 of each to get a more representative mix.
3. To host 4 ops sessions a year. I live in a relatively remote area, and it takes most of my crew about 2 hours to get here. But we all have fun, and the better the layout gets, the more I want to run it with a full complement of crew.
4. To build out Cumberland as the kind of busy urban scene that's currently missing from the layout. It's in the final design, and part of the next phase build out.
5. To continue to detail and photograph the layout so I have a good record of it. Nothing is forever, so take pictures!
6. To always be open to learning something new. It's fine to say you want to do it your way, or to just have fun, but I'd rather not keep a bag over my head and keep running into walls just to say I did it my way... I love the challenge of trying to develop my skills, whether it's weathering a freight car, installing a working signal, or figuring out a switching puzzle.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
To build my layout and models to the best of my ability and vision, and no one elses.
Namely, if I'm happy with the results, thats all that matters. This is important to remember when your a renegade freelancer.
...the latest N.K.P. kitbash thump-on-nose to wabid wivet-counters everywhere.
Have fun with your trains
My goal? I model the New Haven RR, so I want to get one of everything they had in every paint scheme they had. If you know anything about the NH, you know that's a tall order (but it's a lifetime goal).
I also collect the NH. So things like paperwork, china, lanterns, lighters, playing cards, signs, etc. are all of interest to me. I'm never going to be as into it as my friend Marc is(http://www.gis.net/~fm/museum.htm), but then he isn't collect or build train models.
Since I'm also into Operations, I'm also into realistic train & car movement. It's what makes model railroading interesting vs. other hobbies like stamp collecting or plastic modeling for autos, ships, planes or armor.
Paul A. Cutler III*******************Weather Or No Go New Haven*******************
My goal for my trains is to have them there when I want to escape the pressures and complexities of Life. Make things look and run as nice as I can care to, and not be beholden to anyone but myself for the results. To that end, it's been so far, so good.
"I am lapidary but not eristic when I use big words." - William F. Buckley
I haven't been sleeping. I'm afraid I'll dream I'm in a coma and then wake up unconscious. -Stephen Wright
I love this hobby, always something to do. Rewarding if I get something "done", some things I thought were "done", tore it out and redid it, now it's "done". LOL.... has anybody ever really finished ? I added to mine, bought too many building kits, now I have to redo my subway so it comes out plumb with the new additon. Right now I'm redoing my map with all the switch's and added track. Hooray the trackwork on the top is "done" I think!
Also I tore up some brass track and am replacing with NS, I got about 10% brass still in the yards and sidings. Brass never gave me much of a problem, but I feel better with the NS, looks better! Glad I didn't get to balast before that, hard enough doing it with scenics mostly done in some area's, tunnel's and hard to get to area's I used NS code 100 when I built it, awful glad I did it when I built the main part.
My goal, don't really know if I have one, seems everytime I think I know what to achieve, I read something here on the forums, or see something in MRR mag, and everthing changes. At least I know what era and sort of line to reproduce, which I didn't have before. The Susquehanna, Erie Lacawanna line, 40's to 60's impress's me a lot!
cudaken So tonight I have set a goal, to pull 100 cars on my bench and 150 cars on K-10 Model Trains bench. I will add with not one engine!!!!!!!!! It will test my ability to build good rolling stock and my track laying skills.
Then what?
"Pulling power" isn't really a long-term goal in model railroading.
How about "to build the most realisitc models possible" or "to accurately build a layout depicting ___(prototype)" or something like that?[
Midnight Railroadercudaken So tonight I have set a goal, to pull 100 cars on my bench and 150 cars on K-10 Model Trains bench. I will add with not one engine!!!!!!!!! It will test my ability to build good rolling stock and my track laying skills. Then what? "Pulling power" isn't really a long-term goal in model railroading. How about "to build the most realisitc models possible" or "to accurately build a layout depicting ___(prototype)" or something like that?[
My personal goal is to model the appearance and 'feel' of prototype operations in a place that I know and a time that I enjoyed - and to have fun while working (at glacial speed) in that direction.
Note that my place (Upper Kiso Valley of Central Honshu, Japan) is unlikely to be anyone else's place.
Note, too, that I consider the building process to be just as much fun as the final result is likely to be.
If I didn't enjoy this hobby I'd be doing something else. (What else? That's for me to know and you to wonder...)
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
cudakenAt 52 engines and over 300 rolling stock, how many more do I need? From what I have read, I would need 500 engines and 2000 rolling stock to have a great collection.
What are your goals and why? ... So what keeps you going, what is your quest?
I still measure accompanist by power and that = pulling power in the train world.
My goal is to spend time doing what I enjoy. Building the layout, making it look as good as possible to my eye, to learn a few new things and to have fun.
Mainetrains
'there's something happening here, what it is ain't exactly clear' Modeling the Hard Knox Valley Railroad in HO scale http://photos.hardknoxvalley.com/
In the NMRA (National Major Rugby Association) finals, have the Steamers beat the Diesels by a score of 3-2! :+)
Sorry, couldn't help myself.
Blaine's
Commit random acts of kindness and senseless beauty.
Blaine's Trains In the NMRA (National Major Rugby Association) finals, have the Steamers beat the Diesels by a score of 3-2! :+) Sorry, couldn't help myself.
WE WAZ ROBBED
cudaken..., what is your quest?
1. To enjoy this hobby one day at a time, while I'm able to do so.
2. To run trains at least once a week.
3. To host operating sessions at least once a month.
4. To gradually improve the appearance of the layout.
5. To get a few more years of enjoyment from my current layout, before tearing it down to build a better one (refer to items 1-3).
6. To learn more about my prototype(s) and how they operated, and apply that knowledge.
7. To stop viewing the hobby as a competitive sport, but still challenge myself to keep improving.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)