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Annoying Train Show Patrons

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:31 PM

AntonioFP45

Guiys,

One thing though, as mentioned before, we shouldn't turn this into a rivet counter bash thread.  It's because of the many down-to-earth rivet counters that enjoy contributing to the hobby that we have the beautifully detailed models from Athearn (genesis), Intermountain, Walthers, Stewart, Atlas, and BLI. 

Let's look at the flip side of this coin:

There are plenty of non-modelers that are also rude, obnoxious yahoos that visit a train show or a club with friends and family members that are modelers.  Almost immedietly the vinegar starts sloughing out of the mouth "Hey, how much did this train set cost?  What?! $200 for that engine? What a waste of money!" Can't they go any faster?!"  

Good point---

The issue is the behaviour of such a one who could be anyone of us. A police officer, doctor, or summat is not the issue but his/her behaviour that is at issue. There are very nice helpful rivit counting types of hobbiests out there who --- like some bikers, or college students for that matter--get clobbered over the head because of certain BOORS who just happen to be of a certain hobby/job/status. Let us remember that the boorishness of some does not reflect on that sector of the hobby.Smile,Wink, & Grin

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

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Posted by RailfanS on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 5:48 PM

wholeman

I love going to train shows.  I love looking at the displays and browsing the booths.  I was thinking back to one that was held in Tulsa, OK earlier this year.

I have to tell this story that I thought a certain patron was downright rude.  I was watching a display layout from one of the local clubs.  One of the members had a passenger train operating with no lights and was obvious that he just purchased the cars, because I saw him inspect everyone of them before placing them on the track.  They were Walthers heavywieghts and they seemed to take the curves quite well.  The cars had no lighting obviously and no figures for that matter.  I don't think the interiors were painted.  Anyway, I thought it was nice for him to display them.

This other "patron" came over and started telling the guy that it was pathetic that those cars weren't more detailed for this show.  I was watching all of this and my mouth usually gets me in trouble.  I explained to him that this gentleman just purchased those cars and hadn't had the time to detail them the way he wanted.  The "patron" just gave us all a dirty look and walked away.  The owner thanked me and let me operate the train for 30 minutes.

Anyways, the question is has any of you witnessed anything like this?  I am not involved in any clubs but I felt sorry for the guy.  He was allowed to run his new train at the show and someone chastized hime for.

O well,

It happens. It's one of the negatives of shows that I've only ran into a few times over the years. I'm sure It'll happen again Sigh. Some people just take this hobby a little too seriously.

Glad you decided to help...

 

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:01 PM

cnw400

They are just taking "weathering" to another level...

LaughLaughLaugh

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...

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Posted by tomikawaTT on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:12 PM

RailfanS

O well,

It happens. It's one of the negatives of shows that I've only ran into a few times over the years. I'm sure It'll happen again Sigh. Some people just take this hobby a little too seriously.

Actually, they take THEMSELVES a little (!!) too seriously.

As model railroaders and railfans we notice these types at the events we attend, but you will find the same attitude at almost any venue where the draw is the expertise of the participants.

I was at a womens gymnastic competition at a major university a few years ago, sitting next to a highly partisan fan wearing the visiting team's colors.  Toward the end, a gymnast who had been an Olympian competing in one of her best events, pulled off her usually-perfect routine but took a tiny step on landing.  When the score came up, 9.95, he blurted out, "But she didn't stick it!"

I looked over at him (built about like me, or a whiskey barrel, but half a century younger) and said, "In her first-ever NCAA competition, she only scored 20.0 for the meet.  Of course, she only competed in two events."

Didn't hear another peep out of him.  UCLA won by a comfortable margin.  That gymnast is now an assistant coach at ASU.  Only God (and his credit card issuer) knows where loudmouth is now.

Chuck (Jamie Dantzscher fan modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

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Posted by CAZEPHYR on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:40 PM

wholeman
Anyways, the question is has any of you witnessed anything like this?  I am not involved in any clubs but I felt sorry for the guy.  He was allowed to run his new train at the show and someone chastized hime for.

 The club shows can be very good and some of the operators can be just the oposite.  

I have viewed some of the same type of situtions and realized the new persons normally just fade away leaving about five to ten older members to continue setting standards that no one can meet.  We all started purchasing models and most of us learned to add lighting and details as we viewed other models and prototypes. 

Rome was not built in a day and no good model train layout happens overnight.  It is easy to critize everything but you own models, but not so easy to build up others so they can enjoy the hobby.  

CZ 

 

 

 

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Posted by Guilford Guy on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 6:54 PM

CTValleyRR
About 4 years ago, I took my then 4 year old to a train show.  One of the operators was a boy of perhaps 12-13 years old, with really long hair, but no facial hair yet.  My son's comment:  "Hey, Dad, look what that girl is doing!".  Yikes!  Next booth.... quickly!

 

And, um, what show was this? Smile

Alex

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Posted by Packer on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:02 PM

Can the vendor who charges MSRP or higher be considered annoying?

I've only gotten a few remarks about my stuff at shows that some might consider negative. Every one of them was about a good portion of my equipment being too clean, yet the rest of the stuff is weathered really well... I always thank the people for the comment, then explain that I'm from a small town where the LHS doesn't ever stock dullcote unless you ask for it...

Vincent

Wants: 1. high-quality, sound equipped, SD40-2s, C636s, C30-7s, and F-units in BN. As for ones that don't cost an arm and a leg, that's out of the question....

2. An end to the limited-production and other crap that makes models harder to get and more expensive.

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Posted by CP5415 on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:07 PM

Wow, I'm definately going to take my 4 yr old son to future train shows. I didn't encounter any of this nonsense. I was at the Whitby Show on Sun with Liam, ran into a bunch of people I know, including TA462. I brought a small step ladder for Liam so I wouldn't have to lift him up & down so he could see the trains. I think bringing the ladder annoyed a few people with small children. Sorry, got the idea from other parents a few years ago at other train shows.

I go to shows to check things out mostly. Ask a few questions & see if I can get an answer. All of the people I chatted with were great.

Liam was even allowed to run TA462's GO train which kept Liam stationary for at least 30-45 mins. That in itself is amazing.

Gordon

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:17 PM

CP5415
I brought a small step ladder for Liam so I wouldn't have to lift him up & down so he could see the trains. I think bringing the ladder annoyed a few people with small children. Sorry, got the idea from other parents a few years ago at other train shows.

I think that is a great idea--usually the people who have issues with the ladder tend to be people who do not have children and back problems. Once it is explained why it is there the crabbing goes away--Smile

We are having a show in London ON on the 29th of November at the Centennial Hall downtown--think I'll check out the deals there---as if I need moreWhistling

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

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 6:01 AM

The only "rude" comment I heard was last year during our train show open house was:

 "Nobody runs or even owns Athearn GP7s these days!" I turn to face this loudmouth(I had a wisecrack comeback) and lo' and behold there was a old acquaintance of mine I haven't seen in many moons.

 

I find 99% of our visitors has positive comments and those that are rude is simply ignored as loudmouths..

Larry

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Posted by 1train1 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:00 AM

TA462

retsignalmtr

 We also get our share of people who don't know what soap and hot water are for.

Ya, what's with that????  Every show we go to we run into a few people like that.  There is nothing worse then talking to someone who hasn't had a shower in three days and who's teeth haven't seen a tooth brush in years.  

 

 What is with the ( for example ) extremely faded and worn out " I road the Columbia and Toltec Railroad" T- shirt with 5 rips circa 1967 ?

BUY A NEW SHIRT !

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:08 AM

1train1

TA462

retsignalmtr

 We also get our share of people who don't know what soap and hot water are for.

Ya, what's with that????  Every show we go to we run into a few people like that.  There is nothing worse then talking to someone who hasn't had a shower in three days and who's teeth haven't seen a tooth brush in years.  

 

 What is with the ( for example ) extremely faded and worn out " I road the Columbia and Toltec Railroad" T- shirt with 5 rips circa 1967 ?

BUY A NEW SHIRT !

Seen a few with even weirder outfits---the pale blue polyester leisure suit. With the 4 rips and tears---and smell so bad one smelled them before SEEING them---ShockWhistling

They spent all their $$$$ on the latest locomotives-----no $$$ for hygiene---Dead

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/

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Posted by Arjay1969 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:46 AM

blownout cylinder
Seen a few with even weirder outfits---the pale blue polyester leisure suit. With the 4 rips and tears---and smell so bad one smelled them before SEEING them---ShockWhistling

 

There's a guy who does the train show circuit in Texas who frequently wears leather.  Leather boots, leather jacket, leather vest, leather pants.  Fortunately for all, he does know what soap and water does.

Robert Beaty

The Laughing Hippie

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the

end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming

your way.          -Metallica, No Leaf Clover

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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Posted by BRAKIE on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:55 AM

1train1 wrote:What is with the ( for example ) extremely faded and worn out " I road the Columbia and Toltec Railroad" T- shirt with 5 rips circa 1967 ?

BUY A NEW SHIRT !

------------------------

Ever think that's their "lucky" shirt?

I carry a "lucky" silver dollar that I found  laying face up on the street 14 years ago and I won't leave home without it.

Larry

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Posted by reklein on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:03 AM

You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com  .

In Lewiston Idaho,where they filmed Breakheart pass.
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Posted by wholeman on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:13 AM

reklein

You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com  .

I have seen that site.  It almost made me sick to my stomach.Dead

Will

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Posted by Geared Steam on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:23 AM

Arjay1969
There's a guy who does the train show circuit in Texas who frequently wears leather.  Leather boots, leather jacket, leather vest, leather pants.  Fortunately for all, he does know what soap and water does.

 

LOL, I think I smelled, ran into him at the FT Worth show, was he selling prints? What caught my attention was my disbelief that someone would actually dress that way in public, at first I thought it was a joke/prank/clown, then I realized he dressed that way purpose. Shock

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

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Posted by 1train1 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:31 AM

blownout cylinder

We are having a show in London ON on the 29th of November at the Centennial Hall downtown--think I'll check out the deals there---as if I need moreWhistling

 Where are you going to be hanging out  ...?

 

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Posted by Trynn_Allen2 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:35 AM

My fav's are the one's that tell my wife, "girl's don't run trains."  Usually issued by older members of the visiting public and one club member that does just to get a rise out of the wife.  I hearby renounce all claim of the mode of violence issued, but I will hold the track nails while she pounds them in.  The goal is to get you to stay in one place, so it's going to take a lot of track nails.

On the other hand when the little girls run up to thier parents and say, "See, she has a train." it does make taking the venting a little easier.

I think all layouts get obnoxious rivit counters.  It goes with the hobby. You can't spray for them (though I hear they are working on it, something about compressed air and hammers), you can ignore most of them, and you can outwit all of them.  Humor is disarming, tact is useful, and asking to see which clubs will take them as members is even more delightful.

On the other hand, 2 years ago at Mad-City on Sunday when the radio said stay home, I had a long and pleasent conversation with a rivit-counter on making a couple of engines more proto (a BLI Milw 2-8-2).  He even went down and got the parts for me that one of the dealers had, when I told him that even though there was nobody attending I still had a shift and a half yet to run. So they come in all shapes, sizes and temperments.

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Posted by blownout cylinder on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:36 AM

1train1

blownout cylinder

We are having a show in London ON on the 29th of November at the Centennial Hall downtown--think I'll check out the deals there---as if I need moreWhistling

 Where are you going to be hanging out  ...?

 

If'n I'm lucky and don't end up working all day-----probably wherever I find good deals----I'm really not sure--Whistling

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...

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Posted by Arjay1969 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 10:50 AM

Geared Steam

Arjay1969
There's a guy who does the train show circuit in Texas who frequently wears leather.  Leather boots, leather jacket, leather vest, leather pants.  Fortunately for all, he does know what soap and water does.

 

LOL, I think I smelled, ran into him at the FT Worth show, was he selling prints? What caught my attention was my disbelief that someone would actually dress that way in public, at first I thought it was a joke/prank/clown, then I realized he dressed that way purpose. Shock

 

That sounds like him, yes.  Amusing, no? Smile

Robert Beaty

The Laughing Hippie

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the

end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming

your way.          -Metallica, No Leaf Clover

-----------------------------------------------------------------

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Posted by RedGrey62 on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 2:19 PM

While I've heard a few over the years, my favorite was last year at NTS in Anaheim.  A buddy was running his MKT train when a patron came up, with his son in tow, and loudly exclaimed that my buddy was running a bunch of Union Pacific (fill in your own word here)!  My friend quickly explained to him that this was the pre 1983 UP, Missouri, Kansas and Texas in all of its splendor.  You could just tell that the guy wanted to keep arguing but realized that his knowledge of RRs other than the ones he liked (we have no idea) and the one he hates (UP) was lacking.

Ricky

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Posted by Dave Vollmer on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 6:54 PM

I've had my layout at many train shows. Overall the experience is usually positive,. However, it's not so much the individual comments that detract from the experience, but the overall social ineptitude of a sizable contingent of the patronage that makes me less enthusiastic for the next show.

For one weekend in Raleigh I had a "groupie" that interjected himself into my every conversation for the entire show, at one point insulting a handicapped child in front of his father. He eventually began taking credit for my layout, telling folks that "we" had done this or that... I'd never met him before. That was my last show in Raleigh.

Folks, model railroading already has enough stigma associated with it... Please, by all means, when you're at a train show, behave like civilized, socialized adults!Big Smile...

Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.

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Posted by bigiron on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 8:39 PM

Interesting topic! I have had my wife and friends make some comments on these same concerns. Society sees all walks of life. Even in this hobby. At least they are not out robbing,selling crack, making meth and car-jacking. God bless'em.

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Posted by Last Chance on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 11:12 PM

There were times long ago a few words might have sufficient power to stop trains as a hobby.

I try hard to keep mouth shut and enjoy the trains, tables etc at a show.

I look forward to the next show and hopefully the experience there will be positive as it has been in the past. A happy show is worth returning to.

I view train hi-jinks and occasional malfunctions as part of the hobby. Something to be worked out and learned from. The last time I was at a show I backed several flatcars into the sawmill lake. I took some friendly ribbing and even a photo of it. It was a very public derailment. Why did it happen? Who knows? It was explained to me later on why it happened the way it did. No worries.

Knowledge is like food. If you meet people that know their stuff and take the time to explain or teach you from their experiences, it can be a beneficial addition to your hobby.

 


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Posted by R. T. POTEET on Wednesday, November 25, 2009 11:29 PM

R.T.Poteet's squelch to this idiota would have been "Sir, I just became aware that when looking into your eyes I am seeing the back of your head" or "Why is it that your lips are moving but all I hear is 'Blah! Blah! Blah!'?"

From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet

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Posted by andrechapelon on Thursday, November 26, 2009 12:17 AM

reklein

You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com  .

You're evil. Laugh

Andre

It's really kind of hard to support your local hobby shop when the nearest hobby shop that's worth the name is a 150 mile roundtrip.
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Posted by Milepost 266.2 on Thursday, November 26, 2009 8:44 AM
Arjay1969

blownout cylinder
Seen a few with even weirder outfits---the pale blue polyester leisure suit. With the 4 rips and tears---and smell so bad one smelled them before SEEING them---ShockWhistling

 

There's a guy who does the train show circuit in Texas who frequently wears leather.  Leather boots, leather jacket, leather vest, leather pants.  Fortunately for all, he does know what soap and water does.

There used to be a guy at the local computer show I called the spandex bandit. Head to toe. Always matching, wether it be snakeskin, US flag, or whatever. Still wasn't as shocking as the cross dresser. As for train shows, Caboose Charlie takes the prize there. Scruffy, overweight, and going on and on about how no manufacturer puts lights in cabooses.
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Posted by blownout cylinder on Thursday, November 26, 2009 9:30 AM

TA462

andrechapelon

reklein

You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com  .

You're evil. Laugh

Andre

Well thats an hour of my life I'll never get back, lol.  I just couldn't help myself.

Oh bother---did you have to?LaughLaughLaugh

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...

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Posted by fafnir242 on Thursday, November 26, 2009 9:38 AM

wholeman

I love going to train shows.  I love looking at the displays and browsing the booths.  I was thinking back to one that was held in Tulsa, OK earlier this year.

I have to tell this story that I thought a certain patron was downright rude.  I was watching a display layout from one of the local clubs.  One of the members had a passenger train operating with no lights and was obvious that he just purchased the cars, because I saw him inspect everyone of them before placing them on the track.  They were Walthers heavywieghts and they seemed to take the curves quite well.  The cars had no lighting obviously and no figures for that matter.  I don't think the interiors were painted.  Anyway, I thought it was nice for him to display them.

This other "patron" came over and started telling the guy that it was pathetic that those cars weren't more detailed for this show.  I was watching all of this and my mouth usually gets me in trouble.  I explained to him that this gentleman just purchased those cars and hadn't had the time to detail them the way he wanted.  The "patron" just gave us all a dirty look and walked away.  The owner thanked me and let me operate the train for 30 minutes.

Anyways, the question is has any of you witnessed anything like this?  I am not involved in any clubs but I felt sorry for the guy.  He was allowed to run his new train at the show and someone chastized hime for.

 

I hope this guy isn't there when my friend and I debut a project we plan on working on sometime soon.  We're going to try to find an undecorated DD40X and paint it in Amtrak's Phase III scheme, just to kind of tell realism where to shove it. :)

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