When I was in a model railroad club back in high school/early college, there were two types of people who would come through during our open house that always drove me crazy with keeping an eye on them. The first was the people who weren't content to just look at the layout. They had to keep reaching over and putting their fingers on the track or scenery, sometimes even the trains themselves. The other people I saw that would drive me nuts are the ones who would come in with food and sit their food, usually drinks on the layout so that they could eat and watch the trains.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
My wife just reminded me of her only visit to the Timonium train show with me in Maryland. It wasn't really an obnoxious patron but more of a comical one.
Off to the side in one of the building where they display the live steam loco's, and the some of the larger club layouts up front where all the live steam stuff was displayed they had a manikin dressed as a conductor, a skinny old caricature with more wrinkles then carter has pills and who was supposed to be as old as time it self. Well this frail old gentlemen who had to be in his late 80's or even 90's dressed in his own train show garb, asked the dummy what time it was as it was holding a pocket watch in it's one hand. Of course there was no answer so he asks again!, no people are watching this spectacle and still nothing comes out of the dummy's mouth so he asked one more time raising his voice, what the Blank! dammed time is it you blank! when he did not get his answer a slew of curse words came out of his mouth that would have made a Teamster blush and he just moseyed on his way. Myself and a couple of guys next to me were crying we were laughing so hard.
Call me overly logical, but there are times when even passenger cars travel empty and if a train of empties is running at night, who would be on it to turn on the lights?
I was at a trainshow a little while ago near Hamilton ON where I came across a large collection of 40' boxcars that were the very ones that I needed for grainboxes for my granger shortline. Came across a fellow who was wearing bright neon yellow spandex pants and a polka dotted orange and purple ladies top--- this on a 400lb+ frame----and crowned with a tinfoil hat and carrying a little pink handbag---. This fellow was going around making little "choo choo" sounds. Had basically no hygiene to speak of----I kept looking around for his mum----
Sometimes I wonder if these people do not have someone to really look after their needs----
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/
Jim,
You tactfully said what I wanted to say!
ENJOY,
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I've been going to big regional train shows for a lot of years now. I notice that Saturdays can get very crowded and it takes real concentration, discipline and determination to accomplish any business in the face of all that population pressure. I don't see much rudeness, just different folks trying to cope with a solid wall of humanity. On Sundays the shows are much quieter and you can stroll around and take your time. That's when I get most of my purchases done and folks are more affable. My one real peeve is people who bring small children and infants to a really crowded show. The noise level is high, the place usually smells bad, it's hot and sweaty and after a while the little ones just loose it and start crying and screaming uncontrollably. I don't blame them. It's nasty and scary and they want out of there. The thing is they should never have been there in the first place, especially riding in a bulky and awkward stroller. Parents need to use more common sense about what age groups can and cannot benefit from a show that features mostly scale trains and equipment.
Hi!
I used to hit every train show that came to my SE Texas area, but over the last few years I've passed over the major shows. My biggest problem was they were way too crowded, and the situation was made significantly worse by the plethora of large strollers - some the size of small SUVs (or so it seemed). Anyway, dodging them and their sometimes rude owners just took a lot of the fun out of the show, and I quit going.
Obviously the shows may introduce to hobby to some folks, and that is a good thing.
CTValleyRRAbout 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!
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
I was 12 years old 4 years ago at Springfield... Hm.
Alex
Guilford Guy CTValleyRRAbout 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?
And, um, what show was this?
Hopefully, not one you were attending!
Seriously, I'm not sure -- I attend quite a few regulary in both Willimantic and Cheshire, CT, and one every January at the Eastern States Expo Center in Agawam MA (although I'm sure it wasn't that one),.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
The reason why I only attend the Allentown PA train shows once every few years are the people with the leaky depends.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
You know that person seems to find me where I go, weather it's a car show, motorcycle show or train show there is always one very opinionated big loud mouth that has way too much to say. Oh and as mentioned he is usually the guy holding court in the LHS too. If you listened an believed what he says you would think wow this guy is God's gift to model railroading, where in most if not all cases if he even does have a layout it borders on pathetic. I was at the Timonium show on year having a conversation with one of the hobby's premier builders next to Howard Zane's table another icon of the hobby and a very humble and extremely nice individual. I actually stood next to a guy who did nothing but trash talk about HZ's modeling, and this wasn't right and they never used that color on that train. If anyone knows Howard Zane even by reputation he is a stickler for accuracy and detail but still has fun doing it and treats everyone with equal respect.
For guys like the trash talkers my mom used to have a saying "people talk because they have a mouth"
some just need to shut up.
These are the very people that keep me away from clubs, and such.
wholemanI 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 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. :)
TA462 andrechapelon reklein You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com . You're evil. Andre Well thats an hour of my life I'll never get back, lol. I just couldn't help myself.
andrechapelon reklein You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com . You're evil. Andre
reklein You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com .
You guys need to check out peopleofwalmart.com .
You're evil.
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?
Arjay1969blownout cylinderSeen 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--- 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.
blownout cylinderSeen 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---
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.
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!'?"
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.
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.
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!...
Modeling the Rio Grande Southern First District circa 1938-1946 in HOn3.
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
Geared SteamArjay1969There'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.
Arjay1969There'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.
That sounds like him, yes. Amusing, no?
Robert Beaty
The Laughing Hippie
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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
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 more Where are you going to be hanging out ...?
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 more
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 more
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--
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.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I have seen that site. It almost made me sick to my stomach.
Will
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 !
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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
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"