59, Currently in the midst of the fifth rebuild of a track plan originated by Linn Wescott that was first published as "HO Railroad That Grows". Each generation has lasted about 10 years on average before I find myself starting over again. Still working with the original piece of 4"x8" plywood, still running DC, though I have a strong sense of how operations would be improved by migrating to DCC.What I now have with my little Cascade Valley RR is a homage to the days in the 70's and 80's when branch lines were being shed by the major lines. This railroad now is a mythical shortline/ bridge line/ interchange line that survives on the cheap, tucked in between the UP and the old BN. Best description would be freelanced with a healthy dose of prototype as it might have been built into the overall plan.
Merry Christmas to all,
Don H.
Age 42, Approx 35 years in the hobby. HO Scale Recent DCC convert also. PRR all the way.
Sam
I must admit when I was in my teens I gave up on model trains for a few years, 4-5 the most, and re-enter in my 20. I have spent many sleepless nights looking at others HO modelers layouts pics, websites, and videos to carve and design my own layout design. I'm putting my HO layout up at the end of this year heading into the new year.
I'm 21 years old, freelance
4--6 (before 16 yrs old)
2-present (after 16 yrs old)
HO and DCC as of 12/24/2010
47, first layout at 12. Back in the hobby for about 10 years, still no permanent layout yet though. (Making some progress though)
However, a comment about the "Young Blood" part- having a zillion years in the hobby is *NOT* an indicator of young blood (though still young at heart :-)I don't think trains are pulling 'em in like they used to-- even in the "computer" and "gaming" age-- games like "Trainz", "MS TrainSim", "Railroad Tycoon", "TrainPlayer", etc. just aren't getting huge sales. Sure they did get enough to barely squeak out some sequels but not enough to be considered blockbusters of runaway hits.
John
I was doing some last minute shopping yesterday and heard a mini-documentary of a toy factory that was started by a shop skills manager at a Canadian prison. They interviewed the creator of the programme as well as some of the inmates. One clear stand-out observation they had was that, if they wanted to, they could make toy trains year round and sell all they made. They agreed that for some reason, toy trains run like red blood cells in everyone's blood....even today. Everyone is a sucker for a toy train they said.
I don't think the hobby can do poorly when that anecdote is heard. It may not do much directly for scale trains and 'serious' modeling, but...perhaps in time some of these people move up to it.
Crandell
I'm 22, have been in the hobby for about 14 years (only seriously the last 2 or 3), HO scale, DCC-ready but currently DC, and protolance but want to make my eventual layout fairly prototypical.
selector I was doing some last minute shopping yesterday and heard a mini-documentary of a toy factory that was started by a shop skills manager at a Canadian prison. They interviewed the creator of the programme as well as some of the inmates. One clear stand-out observation they had was that, if they wanted to, they could make toy trains year round and sell all they made. They agreed that for some reason, toy trains run like red blood cells in everyone's blood....even today. Everyone is a sucker for a toy train they said. I don't think the hobby can do poorly when that anecdote is heard. It may not do much directly for scale trains and 'serious' modeling, but...perhaps in time some of these people move up to it. Crandell
Prisoner #One: Whatcha in for..??
Prisoner #Two: Modeling a Pennsy M1a with Stephenson valve gear and a Wootten firebox.
Prisoner #One: (with a low whistle) Oh, a lifer, eh?