The other night I was running trains with my son on our "pink foam" empire. And it was just the two of us and we were having a good time. We're still in the process of building the "real thing" so right now we're operating on our temporary layout and able to go from the little yard "over here", around the bend to "over there". And we have a little city / industrial area we can switch, so its not much at the moment, but we have fun.
And I was thinking-- in one of those odd moments when you catch yourself being aware of thinking-- that it was very peaceful and calming and very much an escape away from the everyday hassles and life. And then I was thinking, for some reason, about the people who might come visit us in our little getaway and that post not to long ago about the funny things non-MRR's say... and thinking about the "Adam's Family Crash 'em" crack... Someone actually said that to me recently. I guess it must be pretty common. And all I could think of in reply-- in my head, not out loud-- was "Gee, you want me to *crash* my trains? The things that give me and my kid so much peace and enjoyment?" (And a couple other things I probably shouldn't repeat). And he was smiling when he said it and I'm sure had no clue what it conjured up in me when he said it.
And I realized in that moment-- while I was being aware of thinking-- that it was an affront to my refuge, our refuge-- the place me and my kid go to have fun and be together and do "Dad & Son" stuff together. And I'm hoping when my other kid gets a little older (he's 11mos the other day, my older kid is almost 3yrs) he'll want to join us there too. I was thinking about the other people I might *really* like to invite into our refuge to enjoy what we have. And the people I would *not* want to visit, except maybe in that "artificial smiling" kinda way that you're glad when they're gone.
I didn't realize I was getting to be territorial about my layout, but I reckon I must be.
So my question today is this:
What about you? How "territorial" are you with respect to your layout? What does it mean to you? Or if you don't have one but are thinking about it or planning it-- your dreams and ambitions-- how important are they. And do you share them with other people? Some people? "Select" people? Nobody? Who do you invite into your layout space? (Or into your plans?) Who would you rather didn't come to visit?
As always, I'm looking forward to your thoughts and opinions!
Let me know what you think...
John
John,
I'm not so much "territorial" about my layout or hobby as I am about who I share my best thoughts ON ANY SUBJECT with. Model railroading, like any other activity that's not widely practiced, some just don't "get". I usually get an idea of where someone's head is at quickly in general conversation. I know who I can discuss MRR'g with and who I can't. It's like "they" always say, "if you have to ask, I couldn't explain". When I used to ride and race dirt bikes in the desert, some folks thought it was crazy, let alone relaxing and zen like. Going down a steep hill on icy snow with a couple of barrel slats strapped to their feet, yeah, that made sense to them. It's all perspective.
Lou
ARRRGGGGHHH! The Addams Family! I so hate that!
Every time I hear that, (and I hear that every time a non-model railroader finds out I'm in the hobby, let alone visits my layout) it is like someone dragging their fingernails down a chalk board!
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
We try to show the railroad to anyone that comes over to our house. That's just part of promoting the hobby. We do get quite a few crash them questions. Our kids friends think they are neat looking, then tell our kids what geeks they have for parents!
As for being territorial, nobody can see what I see in my head. So my wife and I do the work on it ourselves.
We have started to have fellow modelers from our group over to see it. They are appreciative and encouraging. They are waiting for operating sessions to start.
I ask just about everyone that see's it if they would like to run a train. I don't get many takers. The little kids will. I just give them the slowest steamer I have, and being DCC I can always push the stop button.
And it is a big refuge. It's very calming to go into the train room and forget about everything for a couple of hours.
Phil, CEO, Eastern Sierra Pacific Railroad. We know where you are going, before you do!
jwhitten ...and that post not to long ago about the funny things non-MRR's say... and thinking about the "Adam's Family Crash 'em" crack... Someone actually said that to me recently. John
...and that post not to long ago about the funny things non-MRR's say... and thinking about the "Adam's Family Crash 'em" crack... Someone actually said that to me recently.
Actually, I'm wondering how the crew of "The Addams Family" pulled that stunt off, assuming they didn't use pyrotechnics or trick photography. However, it's been a while since I've seen an Addams Family episode, and I can't remember if it was a head-on collision, or blowing up a bridge.
I'm assuming they didn't use a command control system. (Astrac may have been available at the time, but I doubt it was used.)
The only way I could imagine the collision being done was by having the point of impact at an electrical gap between the blocks.
But if I recall correctly, the trains were Lionel 3-rail. I don't know enough about the wiring of 3-rail to know if it's possible to set up a collision.
For the present I don't have a layout. I've mentioned my interest in model railroading to a number of people, and I haven't gotten strange looks or ridicule. One guy said I should sell my trains. Another asked me how they worked. A lady proceeded to tell me about a relative of hers who had a layout. I've also run into a lot of and railfans/modelers. And of course, a lot of stories about the "old Lionel set" get mentioned.
Dan
For now, my refuge is MY refuge. It won't be that way forever and people do get to peek in. However, there really isn't much to see other than an unfinished room, several boxes/drawers of MRR stuff, a make-shift work table, stored Christmas decorations and a Free-Mo module. Once the layout starts going up and trains running, I will be happy to share it with others, even if it means some ribbing or comments about replaying scenes from classic TV shows.
Ricky
Hi John,
First... I'm a John Whitten as well. Small world.
I have been building my current HO layout for around a year and I can tell you it has been a blessing and a curse. My wallet screams 'Ouch", but my refuge from the winter blahs has been wonderful. I actually looked forward to rainy weekends... no guilt for working on the railroad. I have really enjoyed learning new skills, the history lessons of researching my prototype and the satisfaction when it works right!
Most of my circle of friends don't quite get it but that's okay... cause I do!
While I don't hide the hobby, I am careful not to push it on those who aren't interested.
I'll show off whatever I have done to anyone who comes by the house if they're interested - not usually.
I'll also talk about model railroading and what I am doing if someone seems interested - most aren't.
Currently, I am moving from our house of 30 years to our retirement house. So the old layout has been dismantled. I have a temporary 5'4" x 12 ft layout in the new basement. It's on wheels so I can move it around while I finish the basement. It uses sectional track with roadbed
I work on it by myself and run it by myself. My family's not really interested in it. But that's okay. I love it and as you say it is my refuge from the world.
Sam Powell had a very good piece on the hobby's therapeutic benefits in the December NASG Dispatch.
Enjoy
Paul
If layout I am planning to build turns out half as good as I see it in my mind I would want everyone to see it. With that in mind everyone gets to see the layout once and from that experience I will decide if they get invited back. Not everyone is going to get model railroading and that is understandable. However, there are people who will be generally interested it your hobby and will listen and show interest, others may look down on you for "playing with trains." To me it does not matter, I am going to enjoy the hobby regardless of what others think.
Sean
I echo Ironrooster Paul's sentiments. Well stated.
With four kids (including an active and curious 4-year-old) and two cats, I've been forced to become less territorial with my layout than I would like to be. There's so few things that are "mine," I'd really like the layout to be prominent among them. It really is my therapy and escape - my wife realizes this fact as well and at times will actually encourage me to go to the basement for a while.
In times past I would eagerly show off the layout to friends and family who visited the house. Their initial reactions were always "Wow, this is huge!" (it's only a modest 9'x17'), but after that it would become pretty apparent that nobody really "got" the concept of model railroading and interest would quickly wane. I don't show off the layout any more unless some one asks to see it. I consider it to be along the lines of my musical tastes - big bands and bluegrass aren't exactly smack in the center of the popular mainstream so I tend to be somewhat private in listening to them. My hobby is the same. I'm in it for my pleasure and so I don't wave it around for others unless they bring the subject up.
Jim
"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 can tell you my layout (6x16, nothing fancy) is as much about my kids and I working and running tains as it is about the hobby itself. I get great joy out of watching my 6-year-old son run two trains around the table, his eyes as big as saucers. It's great stuff.
JavelinaGoing down a steep hill on icy snow with a couple of barrel slats strapped to their feet, yeah, that made sense to them. I
Yeah, I never got the barrel-slat thing either...
Yeah, I'm always like-- let's see what happens when we pour sugar down the gas tank of your hand-restored 57 Chevy...
RedGrey62 For now, my refuge is MY refuge. It won't be that way forever and people do get to peek in. However, there really isn't much to see other than an unfinished room, several boxes/drawers of MRR stuff, a make-shift work table, stored Christmas decorations and a Free-Mo module. Once the layout starts going up and trains running, I will be happy to share it with others, even if it means some ribbing or comments about replaying scenes from classic TV shows. Ricky
Like Ricky, it is my refuge. When I start building etc, I'll be happy to show pictures of it to people who are interested, but I don't necessarily want others to come in and view my efforts. Perhaps this is a difference on cultures, but I do value my privacy, and just want to be left alone to pursue my interest. Possibly this is why forums like this one are so popular, because we can share photos, trackplans etc, without having our personal privacy intruded upon.
Dennis
Sierra Man It's very calming to go into the train room and forget about everything for a couple of hours.
In find it remarkable how much time passes sometimes when I'm down running trains. I go down to the layout room to run 'em for "just a few minutes" and the next time I look up several hours have gone bye :-)
AltonFan The only way I could imagine the collision being done was by having the point of impact at an electrical gap between the blocks.
Actually, the trains were pulled by wires that were routed though a hole between the rails at the point of impact, thus assuring a head-on collision at a predetermined location.
Dave
Just be glad you don't have to press "2" for English.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ_ALEdDUB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hqFS1GZL4s
http://s73.photobucket.com/user/steemtrayn/media/MovingcoalontheDCM.mp4.html?sort=3&o=27
AltonFanjwhitten ...and that post not to long ago about the funny things non-MRR's say... and thinking about the "Adam's Family Crash 'em" crack... Someone actually said that to me recently. John Actually, I'm wondering how the crew of "The Addams Family" pulled that stunt off, assuming they didn't use pyrotechnics or trick photography. However, it's been a while since I've seen an Addams Family episode, and I can't remember if it was a head-on collision, or blowing up a bridge. I'm assuming they didn't use a command control system. (Astrac may have been available at the time, but I doubt it was used.) The only way I could imagine the collision being done was by having the point of impact at an electrical gap between the blocks. But if I recall correctly, the trains were Lionel 3-rail. I don't know enough about the wiring of 3-rail to know if it's possible to set up a collision. For the present I don't have a layout. I've mentioned my interest in model railroading to a number of people, and I haven't gotten strange looks or ridicule. One guy said I should sell my trains. Another asked me how they worked. A lady proceeded to tell me about a relative of hers who had a layout. I've also run into a lot of and railfans/modelers. And of course, a lot of stories about the "old Lionel set" get mentioned.
My guess is they used pyrotechnics.
As long as you aren't recreating Bobby Baccalieri's dive into the train table!
I am proud of my layout, and I like to show it off to everyone who comes over. My college-age daughter's friends sometimes find it interesting, sometimes just incomprehensible. My wife usually hates it, but the other day she had a bit of an epiphany....
She's recovering from a "barrel-stave" accident which claimed her left collarbone. A friend came over, her hairdresser, and was absolutely fascinated with the layout. So, I've got newly-found "rail-cred" over this. This friend is a member of the local Thai community, and both she and my wife (who is Irish, but, well, these things happen) take part in supporting a group of Thai monks who have built a monestary and temple in town.
Now, it looks like at some time I'll be showing my layout to a group of Thai monks, who have led a very isolated and oddly-sheltered life, given the odd prohibitions of their religion. They can use computers, but not bicycles, for example. My wife's friend has informed me of their interest in building a scale model of their monestary and temple grounds, as she was impressed by this combination of pink foam, plaster cloth, Gypsolite and various Woodland Scenics products.
So, in a short time, I'll get to give a group of Bhuddist monks a Moment of Zen....
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
My layout is located up in the attic, which ironically was the first room to be completely renovated after I moved here 12 years ago... It's definitely my refuge. Like lots of people, I recently lost my job, which has pretty obvious drawbacks. But on the up-side, I've gotten a lot of work done on my layout!
My philosophy has always been to stock up during the good times so there's plenty of work to occupy me during the lean times. My main experience is in residential construction, so I've been through a few of these downturns, and this practice has always served me well.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
TravelinJohnnieFirst... I'm a John Whitten as well. Small world.
DAD !?!!? What are you doing here???
(Just kiddin! )
I haven't met too many John Whittens in my life but you know what they say....
Many men live by Wisdom and Wit but very few by Whitten Wisdom!
TravelinJohnniethe history lessons of researching my prototype
So what is your prototype? Whatcha modeling?
steemtraynAltonFan The only way I could imagine the collision being done was by having the point of impact at an electrical gap between the blocks. Actually, the trains were pulled by wires that were routed though a hole between the rails at the point of impact, thus assuring a head-on collision at a predetermined location.
I'm thinking that at sometime in the past I've seen a "behind the scenes" type thing where they showed how they did it but I can't find it anywhere-- tried YouTube but nada...
I'm all ready finished my 1st lay-out started it in 1992 just finished it in 2008. Let me tell you in all those years I took a lot of flack from all of my friends, but I never let it bother me, because when ever I was down the basement working on my lay-out, I always felt very relaxed and peaceful. When ever any of them came over to visit, I never offered them to come down to take a look at the progress at any time.They might ask how you doing with your trains? Do you still play with them? Ya, I'm doing OK I say, but still never brought ant of down to see, because none of ever pressed the issue. Now that the lay-out is finished,and It got approved to be featured in Model Railroad Mag. very soon. The fun poking has pretty stopped. They all have begged me to see it, and asked if they can bring their children & grand-children. Now a few of them are starting to show real intrest. In fact one of ask me when am I going to my next train show and if he could come along? The more the merryer
MisterBeasleya group of Thai monks who have built a monestary and temple in town. ... My wife's friend has informed me of their interest in building a scale model of their monestary and temple grounds, as she was impressed by this combination of pink foam, plaster cloth, Gypsolite and various Woodland Scenics products.
... My wife's friend has informed me of their interest in building a scale model of their monestary and temple grounds, as she was impressed by this combination of pink foam, plaster cloth, Gypsolite and various Woodland Scenics products.
Cool, what scale?
Maybe you should get them a train to go with it and call it the Shaolin Express!
wm3798 My layout is located up in the attic, which ironically was the first room to be completely renovated after I moved here 12 years ago... It's definitely my refuge. Like lots of people, I recently lost my job, which has pretty obvious drawbacks. But on the up-side, I've gotten a lot of work done on my layout!My philosophy has always been to stock up during the good times so there's plenty of work to occupy me during the lean times. My main experience is in residential construction, so I've been through a few of these downturns, and this practice has always served me well.Lee
Sorry to hear about your job. That's a bummer. But look on the bright side, now you have a lot more time to model! :-)
(P.S. I hope you find a new one very soon!)
ollevon I'm all ready finished my 1st lay-out started it in 1992 just finished it in 2008. Let me tell you in all those years I took a lot of flack from all of my friends, but I never let it bother me, because when ever I was down the basement working on my lay-out, I always felt very relaxed and peaceful. When ever any of them came over to visit, I never offered them to come down to take a look at the progress at any time.They might ask how you doing with your trains? Do you still play with them? Ya, I'm doing OK I say, but still never brought ant of down to see, because none of ever pressed the issue. Now that the lay-out is finished,and It got approved to be featured in Model Railroad Mag. very soon. The fun poking has pretty stopped. They all have begged me to see it, and asked if they can bring their children & grand-children. Now a few of them are starting to show real intrest. In fact one of ask me when am I going to my next train show and if he could come along? The more the merryer
That always seems to be the way-- no interest until some outside third party shows an interest and makes it "okay"-- maybe we should form "validation committees" and go around "validating" everyone's efforts!
How "territorial" are you with respect to your layout?
----------------------------
I'm not when I have a ISL anybody is welcome for a look see...I love showing off my models..
-----------------------
John,I enjoy the company of like minded people that's why the majority of my friends are modelers or railfans..I enjoy running my trains during the club's open houses and the 8 day county fair.I just like watching the visitors reaction.Some are like kids and their eyes light up while others-well I'm still trying to figer that out.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
BRAKIEHow "territorial" are you with respect to your layout? ---------------------------- I'm not when I have a ISL anybody is welcome for a look see...I love showing off my models.. ----------------------- John,I enjoy the company of like minded people that's why the majority of my friends are modelers or railfans..I enjoy running my trains during the club's open houses and the 8 day county fair.I just like watching the visitors reaction.Some are like kids and their eyes light up while others-well I'm still trying to figer that out.
That sounds like fun. I'm waiting to get to that point. My biggest reaction so far is "It's Pink! I didn't expect it would be so Pink. Is it always going to be Pink? Oh look, there's a train..."
(sigh)
Capt. GrimekCalling John Wittens...I've been wondering for some time now if either of you lived in Riverdale, N.J. as a kid and I actually knew you? I used to plow my trains into each other as a kid (repeatedly I'm ashamed to say) when I ran 0- 27 Marx Trains. Things were sure "kid proof" back then. I would faint if I had even an accidental head on collision with my present BLI/Bachmann Spectrum, etc. locos! I think in the '50s and '60s "purposeful head on collisions were VERY common with kids in my neighborhood. We just didn't let our parents know! I had to wait until I retired to spend lost of time in my train room/build a layout. I sometimes think that if I'd had that form of relaxation while working it would have been great, but the nature of my profession (school teacher) kept me "on the job" pretty much 24/7 with lesson planning, grading, constantly being sent back to school myself, on my own dime yet- worrying about politics on the job, etc. So...maybe wouldn't have gotten much done back then. Now I just have to live long enough to make up for that lost time in this great hobby.
Sounds like fun, and I must admit to smashing a few 027 gauge trains when I was a kid, but nope, that was in Bristol VA and not Riverdale NJ.... but perhaps it was my recently-discovered doppelganger? They were my Dad's when he was a kid-- unfortunately, "were" is the operative term here. They did not make it past my childhood. I'm not 100% certain what happened to them though-- I don't recall tearing them up or anything.
I've got a lot of respect for School Teachers. A very under-appreciated profession if there ever was one. Molding and shaping each generation of kids is an awesome responsibility. Thanks for all your hard work-- oh, and remember that time you sat on the tack in 5th period...??? Wasn't me!!!