georgev Worst comment I had was at an op session on a friend's railroad. When I told this other fellow (not the railroad owner) that I was not following a specific prototype but have a freelanced early 50's coal hauling line set in Appalachia his response was something like "No prototype means you're not a real model railroader - you're just a collector." He had only met me 10 minutes before - hadn't seen so much as a photo negative of my railroad. There weren't many words between us for the rest of the op session. I figure he must be really tired. Imagine having to constantly examine everyone else's life and work so he could criticize it! On the comments - I must be somewhat lucky in that I can't think of anyone who has seen my railroad that made comments about toys or playing, although maybe they did before they saw it! George V.
Worst comment I had was at an op session on a friend's railroad. When I told this other fellow (not the railroad owner) that I was not following a specific prototype but have a freelanced early 50's coal hauling line set in Appalachia his response was something like "No prototype means you're not a real model railroader - you're just a collector." He had only met me 10 minutes before - hadn't seen so much as a photo negative of my railroad. There weren't many words between us for the rest of the op session.
I figure he must be really tired. Imagine having to constantly examine everyone else's life and work so he could criticize it!
On the comments - I must be somewhat lucky in that I can't think of anyone who has seen my railroad that made comments about toys or playing, although maybe they did before they saw it!
George V.
Did he at least show you a picture of HIS railroad?
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
This nimrod must think guys like Allen Mclelland, Tony Koester, and John Allen were not real model railroaders because the layouts they once had were not actual prototypes.
indiana rr Being a high schooler, I get the typical jeers. They don't bother me. But I do remember one particular time when I was invited to hang out with someone who, to say the least, I'm not a fan of. Well, I was in the middle of weathering a freight car and told him I already had plans of working on my trains that night. He got incredibly angry and accused me of making excuses to avoid hanging out with him. He told me, "I won't believe that, no one still has toy trains." He later apologized when he learned I actually do model, but I still couldn't believe the new kid had the nerve to say that to me.
Being a high schooler, I get the typical jeers. They don't bother me. But I do remember one particular time when I was invited to hang out with someone who, to say the least, I'm not a fan of. Well, I was in the middle of weathering a freight car and told him I already had plans of working on my trains that night. He got incredibly angry and accused me of making excuses to avoid hanging out with him. He told me, "I won't believe that, no one still has toy trains." He later apologized when he learned I actually do model, but I still couldn't believe the new kid had the nerve to say that to me.
Thats actually an honest response though. Its not common to find teens model railroading or doing any sort of model building of any kind. Model cars, trains, airplanes, ect. Kids just want to sit around and beat the next level of the hot new X box or Playstation game. I wouldnt take that personal at all, if he never knew you were a model railroader. His response to you not hanging out with him that night is a perfectly understandable one. I wouldnt get bent out of shape over it.
Actually, kids these days can be tough, real tough. As we all know, kids getting picked on, harassed, made fun of, hazed, etc. Has become a well publicized behavior now. In todays world, I would probably think about whom I shared those not so popular hobbies with other teens before saying anything. Youths these days only want to hear about the hot new band or the hot new video game. I could just see some kids having a field day with making fun of another kid in thier class that they think he "still plays with trains" when we all know they arent toys.
I hate to say it and im the first to say one shouldnt be ashamed of being in this hobby. But the bottom line, if you have to explain what model trains really are, sometimes its just not worth it. Especially when it comes to youths.
no doubt you meannUncle Fester......
At club open houses, we get all the usual comments about cost, speed and crashes. Additionally, we seem to get a lot of people at waxing poetic about their old Lionel trains. And for the record, no, I don't bet they're worth a lot of money now.
There was this one guy who came every year and always asked me if I still work for the railroad. As you can well guess, I have never actually worked for a railroad. After several years of trying to correct him, I finally decided I was going to tell him "yes", but he's never come back. :(
The best hobby related comment I ever heard, though, didn't take place at a layout, and isn't even about trains. I was in an LHS run by a crotchety old guy with a heart of gold named Pop. A kid saw a radio-controlled submarine on the shelf and asked, "Hey Pop, does that submarine go in the water?" Without missing a beat or even turning his head, Pop replied, "No, if flies through the air."
Howard
You don't have to invite people to see your layout in order to garner outrageous comments. Take a look at this.
CNJ831 seems to be telling us that this whole forum is a waste of time and that we have nothing to offer. I respecfully disagree!
http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/188187.aspx
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
About your signature...
Another Mythbusters fan!!! Don't you wish they did some train episode (other than pennies on the track, and the suction?)
Boston's freeway system is insane. It was clearly designed by a person who had spent his childhood crashing toy trains.
-Bill Bryson
Likewise. I've been into model railroading since age 6, but it really took off in my middle school years. The teasing is quite common. But once I had them over to see everything I've done/own, they're still in amazement. My friends like anything "gangsta", so when I mention something about graffiti-ing a car, they get all hyped up and won't leave me alone until I've finished. Then they want more. Typical non-railroading teenages!
~Scott
georgev Worst comment ................... his response was something like "No prototype means you're not a real model railroader - you're just a collector."
Worst comment ................... his response was something like "No prototype means you're not a real model railroader - you're just a collector."
(It´s a good negotiating skill being a Swedish Viking, 6´8" tall and weighing 250 pounds )
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
csxns Look,He looks like a child playing with trains,O how cute he looks.
Look,He looks like a child playing with trains,O how cute he looks.
Yep...heard that one too. From a guy yet...
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/
steemtrayn While viewing layouts at the WGH show today, my girlfriend saw a highway bridge that crossed over the tracks and abruptly ended at layout's edge. She asked "Why did they build a bridge that goes nowhere?"
While viewing layouts at the WGH show today, my girlfriend saw a highway bridge that crossed over the tracks and abruptly ended at layout's edge. She asked "Why did they build a bridge that goes nowhere?"
They weren't modeling Alaska were they??
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
thortenneyG Paine, how about more pic's of your layout? looks great, thor
The layout is the display layout at the Boothbay Railway Village in Maine; this is the link to the model RR section of the museum website. The pictures are from late 2009; I plan to update our webpages this spring after our winter's work is done and before the museum opens for the season.
http://www.railwayvillage.org/Model_Railroad.htm
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
Russell
The rights of neutrality will only be respected, when they are defended by an adequate power. A nation, despicable by its weakness, forfeits even the privilege of being neutral. -Alexander Hamilton
I also build plastic scale models and build and fly RC aircraft.
You experience the same levels of comments and derision from people that are outside of the hobby as well when they view what you do. You should hear some of the comments directed towards those activities. They look at you like you're a freak or something.
Oh well, that's their problem.
I've found that too many people in this world are unhappy and dis-satisfied with their own lives that it gives them some sort of sick, perverted pleasure to belittle and demean others that actually enjoy something.
I've found it best to just keep a low profile about sharing my hobbies with others. If they are genuinely interested they will seek you out. I just don't share what I do with others because I know they don't care. It's enough that I am satisfied with what I do....because after all it's for my own enjoyment.
-G-
"How come they move so slow?"
"Look, you build 'doll houses'!"
"That is soooooo cute."
"can I touch it?"
"gee, you still play with toy trains?"
I had told a lie! I previously mentioned that stupid and negative comments do not bother me as I consider the source. I'm an old SOB now so my memory ain't what it used to be. There were two times that I actually tossed vistors out, once bodily (He was smaller than me).
I tried to sell my house in 1993 and contacted a well know real estate firm. Within two hours enters the most obnoxious lady agent in a red business suit, 4" heels, and a $500 coiffure that looked like some one had a serious accident on top of her head. I disliked her from the start and my dislike turned to outright hatred when she commented on the layout....."I can't list this house until all of this crap is out of here!" I had just finished being videoed by Allen Keller (Volume 12) and the layout was pristine and then some. I was upset beyond imagination and asked her to leave immediately. She offered a rebuttal, but I just pointed to the stairs.
Then about a week later during an open house with about 25 visitors, a fellow comments on my paint scheme on two of of my locomotives. (I will not mention the road name as not to offend members of this fine group). I had just finished painting them and this time I actually used color photos taken in 1952 as a guide. He loudly said that this class of loco never had horizontal tender stripes and I was doing a diservice to the historical society by changing history. I was shocked at the seriousness and venum in his attitude. I then should have said that this is my railroad, and if you don't like it, take a hike! But I went upstairs and retrieved the photos, and asked him if he would put some money behind his statement. He agreed to $50. I then showed him the photos and he accused me or others of doctoring in the stripes. What transpired next, you can speculate about, but he was gone in just under a minute. Other members of this group did apologize for his actions, and we then proceeded to run trains and have a fine time. As in a previous note......if the lord made it, at least one of evey kind has come down my basement steps. The good news is that I think this butthead was in a class by himself.
I discovered why I opened this thread .....it was to vent all of the possible anger I had built up over the past 20 years. It does help to write about your experiences as we all share our work. A model railroad is art and art really has little meaning unless it is shared or viewed.
HZ
Howard,You have no idea of the comments I hear and the dumb questions I'm ask.
Some examples.
What does your wife think about you buying and playing with toy trains?
Sir,do you put these away after the fair?
How long did it take to sit this up? They seem shock when I reply over 20 years.
Must be a expensive hobby! My standard reply is its only as expensive as you want to make it.
Oh,look at those small figurines.
Do you guys ever have wrecks?
They look so real.
From teenagers.
Neat! Looks like fun!
How fast/slow will they go?
and my all time favorite from preteens..
Is Gomez Adams a member here?
--------------------
The shocking thing is some of the serious questions asked by teenagers about how the scenery was made,where the closest "train shop",does all locomotives come with sound effects etc..
We had one kid to return last year and he was telling me that him and his mom went to the Marion train show and he bought a Atlas GP7 and said "my Dad and I built a 4x8 table layout."
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
My current layout isn't quite ready for prime time, but on a previous layout out I had in my garage in Oak Harbor, WA I got some of the comments already mentioned:
-Do you take it down after Christmas?
-How do you get your car in here?
-At your age, you're still playing with toy trains? (To which I answered, in my best Maxwell Smart impression, "And... Loving it!")
-George
"And the sons of Pullman porters and the sons of engineers ride their father's magic carpet made of steel..."
I've really enjoyed reading this thread. I think it would be hard for me to remain civil if some of those comments were directed at my layout. What surprised me was the number of rude comments made by fellow model railroaders. One would think they could appreciate what they see more than "civilians" could or at least offer constructive criticism.
I guess I'm lucky. I've never been the recipient of crass comments. Of course, to be honest, my layout is still under construction and few people see it. A good friend of mine who just likes to tease me and yank my chain (what are best friends for?) keeps saying that I spend so much time building that I won't live long enough to run trains. Most of the people who see my layout are family and friends and they enjoy looking at it and commenting (favourably) on the scenery and structures. My teenage granddaughter, who has helped me with the scenery over the years, always goes downstairs to look over the layout whenever she's in town. If she's got her current boyfriend with her, she takes him down to look at the layout too. I've had some of the technicians who come to service the furnace and A/C look over the layout too and none of them have made disparaging comments or even asked how much it costs.
It's probably the same with any hobby whether it be model railroading, hot rods, classic cars, stamp collecting, whatever, there will always be those with the stupid and negative comments and questions. As an amateur radio operator, it really galls me when people refer to my rig as a CB set. Not to put down CB'ers but there's a world of difference. I'm sure the hams in the group can relate to that. The most common question asked is "how far can you talk on that thing" and I can reel off a number of far away places I've contacted that will leave them silent.
I guess the bottom line is that it's MY hobby and I indulge in it for MY enjoyment, not yours, and we can have a laugh at their expense.
..... Bob
Beam me up, Scotty, there's no intelligent life down here. (Captain Kirk)
I reject your reality and substitute my own. (Adam Savage)
Resistance is not futile--it is voltage divided by current.
HaroldA Oh yeah....the comments. I was dating a woman who 'couldn't get over' the fact that I built everything but also told me that I was 'out of my mind' for spending the amount of money I did on a monthly basis. Needless to say, the break-up was quick and painless.
Oh yeah....the comments. I was dating a woman who 'couldn't get over' the fact that I built everything but also told me that I was 'out of my mind' for spending the amount of money I did on a monthly basis. Needless to say, the break-up was quick and painless.
After purchasing a Blueline Big Boy, my ex-wife (notice the EX part), asked me how many locomotives did I need. My reply, I have less locomotives than she had diamond rings. She never asked again.
Bruce;
IN the words of the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield:
"Ooh death; where is thy sting?"
Re: Mona Lisa;
Did you ever wonder what it was she has in her left hand, given the "stoner" smile she has plastered across her face? I remember artist Jim Beaman once did a Playboy cartoon of her sporting a syringe... (stona Lisa?)...
Hit the mark, eh Jim?
Rich
yellowjacket EF-3
I knew an elderly lady minister who said she had always wanted a "train set" but she grew up in a time when little girls didn't play with trains. (Before the Lionel robin's egg blue and pastel pink set?) I surprised her one Christmas with a small portable N scale layout thast I tried to make a little more special than a generic "train set." She took one look and said -"THIS is where I grew up!!"
She was amazed t the "co-incidence." Of course, it had been my intention to model
And she "got" it. Neat!
I also build plactic models.I get the "you still play with little cars"I answer yes i do.
I must be lucky. If anyone is saying things weird or bad about my hobby, they are not saying it to my face. The most common comment is "Wow; How long have you been working on this?"
Slightly off topic:
I keep reading all these comments about wives and girlfriends supporting, not supporting or tolerating your hobby. I see no comments about husbands and boyfriends supporting or not. Are there so few ladies in model railroading, or are they just too busy working on the railroad to hang out in these forums? I know at least one, there must be others.
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I am really lucky I have Audrey...she has everything sorted when it comes to me and my hobbies.
I have really had no majorly coocoo comments coming out of any non-modelers except for that one who was very strange himself...his wife had to guide him away from the layout telling him that he was rude...I just thought he was a bit of a
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....