Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Funny things non MRRs say

16741 views
82 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Northern VA
  • 3,050 posts
Posted by jwhitten on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 5:18 AM

Philly Bill

wholeman
She started saying things like how she doesn't like steam engines because the are "monochrome."  She showed some of the pictures to some of her friend and they started looking at diesels and judging how pretty they were based on colors. 

 

 

Just goes to show that there's a lot to like in this hobby!  And it seems to me that comments about the aesthetics of various liveries are hardly rare in the literature.

 

 

Sure, and not for nothing, I wonder how many people decide to model Southern Pacific or Santa Fe because of their colorful livery? Especially Santa Fe-- how many colorful train sets have been sold over the years that have gotten kids (or parents) hooked on the Santa Fe? 

Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in the late 50's
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Northern VA
  • 3,050 posts
Posted by jwhitten on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 5:11 AM

Javelina

MisterBeasley

"How fast does it go?"

I think it was Mr. Rolls, or maybe Mr. Royce, who when asked the top speed of his automobiles, replied, "Sufficient".

 

 

I've got a Rolls...

A Rolls Canardly.

Rolls down one hill

Canardly make it up the next

Big Smile Laugh Smile,Wink, & Grin Big Smile Laugh Smile,Wink, & Grin Big Smile Laugh Smile,Wink, & Grin Big Smile Laugh Smile,Wink, & Grin

Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in the late 50's
  • Member since
    April 2008
  • From: Northern VA
  • 3,050 posts
Posted by jwhitten on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 5:09 AM

HaroldA

Has anybody been asked if you make 'choo-choo' noises????  My totally unenlightened brother did.

 

 

Yes, absolutely! And my 2-1/2 yo loves it. And he makes 'Choo Choo' noises too, and I love it.

Tell your brother to get over himself and blow the whistle!

Modeling the South Pennsylvania Railroad ("The Hilltop Route") in the late 50's
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 2, 2010 1:06 AM

 Years ago, a few model railrad friends of mine and I went on a trip to Switzerland. We bought a few lengths of Shinohara HOn3 flex track, some turnouts and a few Lima locos. Returning to Germany by train, the customs officer at the border asked us whether we had anything to declare. We truefully answered, that we had bought a few meters of track, turnouts and locos.

You should have seen his face! He just turned around in disbelief, and left us! Saved us quite a few bucks!

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • 2,751 posts
Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Monday, February 1, 2010 11:44 PM

 One that has happened more then once, I usually wear a N/S or N&W ball cap . Person behind the counter:looks at the hat and say oh do you work for the railroad, Me: no just into model railroading you know the little small one's. Person behind the counter: No seriously do you work for the railroad? Me: Yeah my trains parked around the corner.I couldn't fine a spot out front Person behind the counter: Either stretches their neck looking or say thats cool. Just for the record not a set of tracks for mines.

 

Why do you play with toy trains? Because my wife made me sell the real one's said I was scaring the neighbors

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Monday, February 1, 2010 11:17 PM

You could always allow that a particular diesel model has 'steerable' trucks, just like some of the big diesels.  In that case, the hoggers are paid more 'cuz they have more to do and it takes more skill.

-Crandell

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • 4,368 posts
Posted by Darth Santa Fe on Monday, February 1, 2010 11:14 PM

cudaken

 I was asked "How do you steer them"?

You give the little engineers tiny steering wheels. Isn't it obvious?Big Smile

_________________________________________________________________

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Williamsville, ILL
  • 3,698 posts
Posted by TMarsh on Monday, February 1, 2010 10:52 PM

Though I've never been put down or made fun of, I was asked once. "I think model railroads are neat. But why would you want to do that? I mean, what do you get out of it?" I thought about it for a few seconds and my response was "about the same reason and the same things as you get from watching basketball except it's in my basement and on anytime I want." He understood. Laugh  

Todd  

Central Illinoyz

In order to keep my position as Master and Supreme Ruler of the House, I don't argue with my wife.

I'm a small town boy. A product of two people from even smaller towns. I don’t talk on topic….. I just talk. Laugh

  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Maryville IL
  • 9,577 posts
Posted by cudaken on Monday, February 1, 2010 10:40 PM

 I was asked "How do you steer them"?

I hate Rust

  • Member since
    March 2009
  • 67 posts
Posted by Philly Bill on Monday, February 1, 2010 8:40 PM

wholeman
She started saying things like how she doesn't like steam engines because the are "monochrome."  She showed some of the pictures to some of her friend and they started looking at diesels and judging how pretty they were based on colors. 

 

 

Just goes to show that there's a lot to like in this hobby!  And it seems to me that comments about the aesthetics of various liveries are hardly rare in the literature.

Hanging around Horseshoe Curve
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 4,115 posts
Posted by tatans on Monday, February 1, 2010 8:37 PM

I have to agree with the children who ask operators to make the trains go faster, as they creep around the set-up at train shows at ultra-mega slow ''speed'', any slower and they would go backwards, when did this highly  over exaggerated ultra slow speed start??  seems if one person thinks this is neat, everyone thinks this is the ''norm''.  I asked one operator if he would (could) slightly speed up his train, he did (slightly) and the onlookers actually applauded.

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Shalimar. Florida
  • 2,622 posts
Posted by Packer on Monday, February 1, 2010 8:09 PM

I have a few:

Really attractive young waitress from next door: Do these engines have small diesels in them? I though they were supposed to smoke.
Me: *pauses and check her out* um.. *pause and again check her out, while thinking of something*  Nah, with the price of gas, we'd go broke trying to run them *chuckle* They don't smoke because they are electric. Or at least they aren't supposed to.

A younger kid: How many cars will that consist pull?
Me: I'd run out of cars before I ever figured it out. (Genesis F45, 2 P2K SD45s, Atlas U30C)

An older fellow: That's a nice unit train
me: Um, thanks. (the train was a mix-up of different types of cars)

A kid around christmas: Look Mommy, SANTA!!!! *pointing at some Santafe diesels*

Suprisingly I've never been asked how fast it could go.

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.

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: central Ohio
  • 478 posts
Posted by tinman1 on Monday, February 1, 2010 7:48 PM

BRAKIE

Even though it been several years I'll never forget the elderly lady that ask me this question.

"Sir,Do you guys put all of this away before you go home"?

This was a 33' x22'x58' permanent club layout so,I explain that it was a permanent layout  and as a club we meet once a week..

The crowning question was "And your wives doesn't care if you come here and play with model trains every week?"

The innocents of that old women question was beyond compare.

Whereabouts is your club layout at? Do you do any openhouses for people to ask other odd questions?
Tom "dust is not weathering"
  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Southwest US
  • 12,914 posts
Posted by tomikawaTT on Monday, February 1, 2010 7:38 PM

Back in the day, there was a short paragraph (in Bull Session, IIRC) about somebody's wife who paid an unannounced visit to the model railroad club.  She wanted to see whether the models were scale, tinplate or blonde...

I won't add the last five words, even though they were published in Model Railroader a half-century ago - something to do with a steam locomotive feature which was an aftermarket add-on then, but standard issue now.

My most un-favorite comment is, "Why don't you run the Bullet Train?"  To the mundanes who say that, it just isn't Japan without Shinkansen (which, in 1964, ran from Tokyo to Osaka via Nagoya, and never came within 50 kilometers of the Upper Kiso Valley.)

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

  • Member since
    August 2006
  • From: Saskatchewan
  • 2,201 posts
Posted by last mountain & eastern hogger on Monday, February 1, 2010 7:21 PM

Whistling

Well,  Do they Brakie???????????????    ha Ha ha.

from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North.. 

We have met the enemy,  and he is us............ (Pogo)

  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:37 PM

Even though it been several years I'll never forget the elderly lady that ask me this question.

"Sir,Do you guys put all of this away before you go home"?

This was a 33' x22'x58' permanent club layout so,I explain that it was a permanent layout  and as a club we meet once a week..

The crowning question was "And your wives doesn't care if you come here and play with model trains every week?"

The innocents of that old women question was beyond compare.

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Reading, PA
  • 30,002 posts
Posted by rrinker on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:34 PM

 I was always under the impression that the 'sufficient' response was in relation to the horsepower of the motor, which is something Rolls and Bentley never published.

                                        --Randy

 


Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's

 

Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Sonoma, California
  • 331 posts
Posted by Javelina on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:29 PM

MisterBeasley

"How fast does it go?"

I think it was Mr. Rolls, or maybe Mr. Royce, who when asked the top speed of his automobiles, replied, "Sufficient".

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Carmichael, CA
  • 8,055 posts
Posted by twhite on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:29 PM

MisterBeasley

"How fast does it go?"

Funny thing, I get that FAR more from adults than children or teenagers when I'm out in the garage working on the layout and they stop by, LOL! 

My favorite is when I'm running one of my Articulateds and someone says, "Wow--look at all the WHEELS!" 

Tom Big Smile

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Flushing,Michigan
  • 822 posts
Posted by HaroldA on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:25 PM

Has anybody been asked if you make 'choo-choo' noises????  My totally unenlightened brother did.

There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Southeast Kansas
  • 1,329 posts
Posted by wholeman on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:15 PM

MisterBeasley

"How fast does it go?"

In regards to that question, I always repeat what my uncle replies when someone asks about his Mustang.  "As fast as I want it to go."

Will

  • Member since
    August 2003
  • From: Alabama
  • 1,077 posts
Posted by cjcrescent on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:14 PM

 Our club gets these two all the time at our shows.

"Can you make them wreck?"

"Can you make them go faster?"

Carey

Keep it between the Rails

Alabama Central Homepage

Nara member #128

NMRA &SER Life member

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
  • 21,484 posts
Posted by MisterBeasley on Monday, February 1, 2010 6:10 PM

"How fast does it go?"

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

  • Member since
    August 2008
  • From: Southeast Kansas
  • 1,329 posts
Funny things non MRRs say
Posted by wholeman on Monday, February 1, 2010 5:13 PM

This morning I was in a haste to go to class because the roads weren't in the best condition because of the recent snowfall and ice storm.  I had grabbed the textbooks I needed and shoved in my backpack not knowing that I had shoved my March issue of MR.  When I got to school, I was taking out the book I needed for one of my classes and there was the magazine.  Well, I had time to kill so I began reading some of it.  A lady who sits next to me saw what I was reading and asked to look at it. 

I was thinking what could she say that would insult the hobby.  She started saying things like how she doesn't like steam engines because the are "monochrome."  She showed some of the pictures to some of her friend and they started looking at diesels and judging how pretty they were based on colors.  I couldn't stop laughing.

I am not making fun of women or anything but it made my day and I thought I would share it with you all.

Will

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!