Many have questioned my sanity for possibly again starting another huge sized layout. ( I have never claimed that my possum was fully baked). I'm 76 now, and somehow I just cannot desit from building layouts.
Are there any other relics like me still actively building layouts and traversing stairs several times a day. I'd sure like to hear from you....maybe we can share thoughts and ideas. In a previous posting I solicited advice on where to locate such a railroad and received many fine and intersting thoughts.
Also what do folks think the average age of a model railroad builder is (not collector or accumulator)?
HZ
The day you stop doing things you enjoy and give up is the day you stop living and are just waiting to die. As fast as the last 20 years seem to have gone, it won't be long until I am in your shoes. I was collecting and refining my roster but always on hold, waiting - it was no way to enjoy the hobby. For the past 14 years I have not had a space for a layout really of any size and finally have a little space to be building and gettings stuff out of the boxes and having a bit of fun. For those of you who have space to build a layout of any size, count your blessings! I'm not a relic yet, but maybe some of them will chime in.
I think many of the collector/accumulators may be people like me, who for reasons of living circumstances, failing/ed marriages, economic downturn, etc. did not have a way to "flesh out" the hobby, and could only collect for the day they would be able to use those trains. Collectors have often ben criticized for just collecting stuff, but often they are not that way by choice, but maybe they are doing it to keep the dream alive for when things finally turn around for them. Ironically I've met a number of people in the past year or seen them on forums, people who were dreaming the dream for a number of years, and are now finally starting to build a layout. Model Railroaders in waiting maybe, bursting from the cacoon.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Never too old -- I'm 77 going on 39, as Jack Benny would have said. I belong to a local club that has a large HO scale indoor layout and a rather largish G scale outdoor layout that we're still working on. I also have my own HO scale and G-scale layouts at home.
The day I stop working on layouts, whether at the club or home, will be when I'm too old to get out of bed.
This is the ONLY hobby in the world where age does not count. Matter of fact, though I am no where near the age you are, I do find myself wondering if they make caskets big enough to hold a shelf layout. Live long and prosper my friend!
PM RailfanI do find myself wondering if they make caskets big enough to hold a shelf layout.
That's why they invented Zn3.
Howard,
If building a layout gives your life meaning, then that's what you should do whether you're 18 or 81. For an 18 year old, there's lots of other options and usually more limited resources. For old folks, model railroading may be one of the last things you can still participate in...right into the grave if need be (I like the idea of a portable mini-layout that will fit in the casket )
Besides to give up something meaningful is to give up hope. No need for that as you get older, as there are pelnty of other things to remind us of the alternative. Better to cling to our hobby and our hope as long as possible.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I turned 76 in August of this year. I have an HO layout in my basement - Point-to-Point with an optional run-around. I am using DCC with NCE. What a lot of fun. I had my firt train at the age of 6 or 7. I got hooked on HO Scale when I found a Model Railroader magazine on the news stand at my local railroad station in 1953. I ride on real trains as often as is affordable. Let's hear it for old guys and trains.
I was a bit younger when I started this middle sized layout in the down stairs guest room. It's a bit narrow since I needed to be able to put up the occasional guest.
It needs trees, more ground cover, and details. The coil of wire behind the station is for station lights. It will be connected to a lighting bus.
And here it is after ballasting. There are still endless projects to do, it ought to keep me railroading for a long time. Which is the idea after all.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
Well age is all relative. I am only 61 but can outrun a bus for a few blocks and can outrun all my relatives except for the very young (and I am not a runner). I wear out my neices and nephews and can still do an 8 hour day in heavy construction though I don't have too but am doing a remodel for my sister. Sure you slow down a bit as you age, but I am in better shape than when in my 40's. Only thing that annoys me about layout building is dry times as I am not much of a multi-tasker.
I suppose we could define layout by what size..
At 66 I would be a fool if I thought I could build a basement filling layout and get it up and running
Why?
The desire is no longer there for undertaking such a task not only because of my health issues but,I know all to well how fragile life is and how fast it can end.
So,in that light I would undertake a smaller size layout that could be up and running in a short period of time.
I also want to get a return on the thousands of dollars I have invested in my models by using them in my remaining life time..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Howard:
I am a youngster of 66, but two of my 84 year old friends are building a layout in one of their basements, and take a small n-scale layout to selected local shows.
If you want to spend time in your layout room, building, wiring,etc then may you enjoy every hour you spend there for many more years.
Dave
IMHO, age is meaningless, if you still enjoy building your layout and it does not become a chore. I am a youngster of 58 years, and there are some limitations I have for health reasons, but what the heck! My heart is still 7
I agree with Riograde5761 I never have a layout, but I do have collection of railroad equipment. My house that I live in doesn't have enough more for one. I been trying to make one for the past 20 years. I even don't have room a short shelf layout. This is the worst way of the hobby.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
I'm 67 and looking forward to retirement so I'll have more time to build.
I would ask, though, if we are ever young enough to have a serious expectation of being able to finish a layout?
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Both my parents were always active and very involved in things. My dad retired and was about fifty pounds over his ideal weight. My mom was fit and a real go getter dawn til dusk. My dad would sit on the couch and wait for her to come home at the end of the day from what ever activity she was involved with that day. He would complain to me that "he didn't sign up to be alone in retirement". I told him if he lost fifty pounds and got in shape he would be doing all these things along with her. She even started to travel on her own. He said his weight had nothing to do with how he felt. I told him he was sitting around waiting to die and he shouldn't expect mom to do the same.
So I made him a bet that he couldn't be active for a day with another 40 pounds and he accepted. I put two back packs on him, one in front one on his back. I put 40 pounds of presto logs in them and boy did I prove my point.
He lost 55 pounds and got in shape. He and mom both traveled the world and were incredibly active in many things until the end. They had a solid twenty years of go gettin til dad died and mom another ten years after that. She had a quintuple bypass at one point and asked if she could borrow my exercise bike to get back in shape after. Didn't take her long.
Energy levels come from conditioning and diet. I can't do a lot of things I really want to just because it hurts to darn much. Getting exercise and eating right are not one of those things and have nothing to do with age. There is always something you can do to stay in shape.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
MisterBeasleyI would ask, though, if we are ever young enough to have a serious expectation of being able to finish a layout?
Yes,when we were young full of spitfire,vinegar and indestructible.Nothing but,nothing could stop us from reaching our goals.
Short answer - NO!!!!!! I've known more than one person who was still building a layout on the day they passed away. I remember one person in particular who made a comment on one of these occasions to the effect that all of that time had been wasted and they (the deceased) had missed all of the fun. My response was - "You didn't know the deceased very well. He had a ball working on his layout and his eyes would light up any time you asked him about anything related to it. The fact that he never got to see it run in completed form is too bad but of no great consequence."
BRAKIE I suppose we could define layout by what size.. At 66 I would be a fool if I thought I could build a basement filling layout and get it up and running Why? The desire is no longer there for undertaking such a task not only because of my health issues but,I know all to well how fragile life is and how fast it can end. So,in that light I would undertake a smaller size layout that could be up and running in a short period of time. I also want to get a return on the thousands of dollars I have invested in my models by using them in my remaining life time..
I am 67 and every day I get up and head for the Basement!
Building a 2500 sq ft Layout has been my project for the last 14 years as I started this one in 2001.
I look forward every day in doing something to the layout - working on Scenery - a building or changing a track arrangement in my one yard (which I just finished up on Tuesday)!
I host an OPs Session every 2 weeks - SO the projects have to be considered that they can NOT leave the layout NOT RUNABLE - which make some very interesting in doing!
If I did not have this monster to work on I probably would be dead as this is what keeps me going.
This notion of not working on a layout - even starting a new one (which I hope to be able to help my Youngest Son when he begain his dream layout) - is sort of one way of looking at dying!
Although everyone is different - I plan on doing something in Model Railroad until I drop dead!
I have been a MRR Club member for over 25 years - I spent a lot more time working there when I was between layouts!
I have waited most all of my life to be able to go play train everyday - and by danged I WILL!
BOB H - Clarion, PA
I started my layout 7 years ago (hard to believe) when I was 78. Due to physical limitations that have occured since I wouldn't want to start again due to the work involved under the layout.
With that said I am still working on it when the spirit moves me. I get a lot of enjoyment from the work, thinking about what I want to do next, and just walking by looking. It will never be finished and imo that is a good thing.
Go for it !!
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
cmrproductsThis notion of not working on a layout - even starting a new one (which I hope to be able to help my Youngest Son when he begain his dream layout) - is sort of one way of looking at dying!
Maybe having a close encounter with death open my eyes to the vanity of trifles in our lives.I no longer look at life in the same manner as I did before March 27th,2005 and since then I'm a dead man walking..Even my heart specialist is surprise I'm still around with the amount of damage my heart has.I laid near death for 3 1/2 weeks kept alive by tubes,machines,dedication by several doctors, ICU nurses and the will of God.
Again,While I'm not foolish enough to start a Godzilla basement filling layout I would start a smaller one that would be easier for me to build.
I keep busy railfaning,modeling and working on my 1' x 10' ISL which should have been finish months ago.
Howard sounds like you are bored with what you have now. All the major work is done and just some minor things need to be finished. I'm 66 and have a similar sized rr now 22 years old. Fully operational, multi decks, working ctc,it requires a crew of 30 for op sessions , I model two eras to help get rid of boredom BUT my interest in the rr has been slowly going away. I too like to build and once that part is done I get antsy !!! One major problem is at 3120 sq ft dismantling it and building another may be more than my energy level now will allow. Most of the friends that helped me back then have moved on so the help is not there . I have been thinking of downsizing the rr regarding op sessions crew requirements. this would require some major changes to the existing rr but would allow op sessions to become less of a major production they are now. I believe I remember you saying in another post that your rr group has been fading away so that could be the reason for your current thinking.
If you want to build another rr go for it !!! if it gets finished you can enjoy that. If not you will have fun building it to that point. When we are gone they will all end up in dumpsters no matter how complete or finished they are at the end !!!! ---------- Ken McCorry
Howard when you finish that one you can come over and finish mine.
Russell
My short answer would be 'no'. My current layout has been under construction for 15 years. During that time it was moved from one house to another (not something i would recommend) and almost every section has undergone a major rebuild. As I think about this I probably have one more major layout left in me but I think I would incorporate as much of the current one as possible. For the record, I am 67.
There's never time to do it right, but always time to do it over.....
Goodness me, I sure hope not too old for managing to navjgate my way around & still enjoy this hobby.
I don't go fulll tilt at it any more & flank speed is something for the more youthfull among us. I just tend to potter about - that suits me fine at this point in my life.
Sometimes, because of health issues I become aware of my own mortality. The corollary of thaf is a re-evaluation of how much more I need to buy when these and previously made purchases as well as the many models I have built will probably just end up in an auction house with all the other stuff nobody else sees any value in or want to look after once I'm gone. But this malaise is usually only temporary, or at leasr short lived. I'll stay with what I do & what I've enjoyed doing for decades now & that will keep me ticking over until its time to get out the rocking chair & the whittling knife & with the hot sun at my back create a pile of wood shavings for some one else to sweep away.
Dusty - still at it at 67.
Getting old doesn't seem to be particularly fun, so I ignore the signs and keep going. Going up and down stairs is good exercise, so that part is good for you. Thinking about what's next and problem solving keeps the brain active. I'm a little behind you, but in the planning stages of my first real layout larger than a 4x8. There's fun, frustration and fellowship (if you want it). If you give up doing things you like doing, what fun is left?
Have fun,
Richard
Well, I'm 67 and I have a layout under construction in the basement. All the benchwork for the first section (12x31) is done and I am currently laying roadbed. Once this section is done, there's another 1000 sq ft in the basement for future building. My layout is a point to point shortline and I'm building from one point to the other. I don't know how much I'll build, but f I reach the point where it's enough for operations then I'll stop and work on buildings, cars, etc.
At some point, when he's old enough, I hope to build a layout with my grandson. He's 3 and thrilled with the Thomas the Tank layout I have for him.
Enjoy
Paul
I too had a brush with my maker and HE slapped me up side the head to straighten out my ways.
I got it in time and had NO Heart damage!
SO I have had a different view on life -
Nothing is too much anymore as tomorrow may be my last - SO - I am having as much fun as I can!
I go with the I-80 Operations Group to anyones layout to run on.
If I am going out - I hope it is with a Throttle in my hand! ;-)
OR!
Building a layout - or my sons Garage - rebuilding my Bucket Loader Cub Cadet - anything that strikes my fancy !
I was given another chance!
As long as your physically able it's never late to build a layout. I'm 67 and work on my 50' x 20' single level layout every day from early fall to late spring. I put in approximately 6 -8 hours a day working on a variety of projects. It keeps me sane over the course of very long winters.
Frank
KemacPrr Howard sounds like you are bored with what you have now. All the major work is done and just some minor things need to be finished. I'm 66 and have a similar sized rr now 22 years old. Fully operational, multi decks, working ctc,it requires a crew of 30 for op sessions , I model two eras to help get rid of boredom BUT my interest in the rr has been slowly going away. I too like to build and once that part is done I get antsy !!! One major problem is at 3120 sq ft dismantling it and building another may be more than my energy level now will allow. Most of the friends that helped me back then have moved on so the help is not there . I have been thinking of downsizing the rr regarding op sessions crew requirements. this would require some major changes to the existing rr but would allow op sessions to become less of a major production they are now. I believe I remember you saying in another post that your rr group has been fading away so that could be the reason for your current thinking. If you want to build another rr go for it !!! if it gets finished you can enjoy that. If not you will have fun building it to that point. When we are gone they will all end up in dumpsters no matter how complete or finished they are at the end !!!! ---------- Ken McCorry
Ken,
I have never visited your layout, but I have the Keller video in addition to the varoius articles about it. I'd consider your pike among the all time greats. I did not become bored, nor do I think you are....possibly a change of something would help.
Many things in my life are changing.....all quite good, but still change just the same! As mentioned, we are considering a move from yuppiedom to breathing and driving space. Then there was my brief love affiar with narrow gauge after visiting Durango and Silverton, and now I have gone full circle and I've converted my pike to what I knew and loved during my early years.....Erie, NYC, and PRR steam era. I really enjoyed Appalachian modeling, but my major lament was never having seen prototypes for what I was playing with other than in print or in video. When I got into the hobby in 1962, I began with SP/T&NO as I had briefly worked on that railroad...then Erie, but during that period, not much was available...only an LMB Tri-plex and a K-5 Pacific from Max Gray....and a completely wrong caboose kit from Silver Streak. So I gravitated to PRR as I had an uncle who ran a K-4 (yup, I rode with him in addition to an adopted uncle who ran a K1 and K2 on the Erie commuter lines to Jersey City....and I rode with Uncle Ike many times). PRR was and is great, but during the 60's almost every modeler I met in NJ was a PRR nut. I needed something a bit different.
Now that I have a sizeable roster of Erie, NYC, and PRR equipment (financed by selling my Western Maryland, C&O , etc. toys) .... I'm again really enjoying getting again into the layout. I have also sold all of my plastic rolling stock, and have rebuilt almost the entire frieght and passenger roster with wood or flat resin kits. Actually there is now no plastic...locos or rolling stock except for a few upgrade hoppers. This really captivated my interests, and as I cannot build a kit to look anywhere as good as an RTR Kadee, Intermountain, or Spring Mills Depot offering, I take tremendous pride in knowing that I built these.
Boredom??? Nah! Change??? You Bet!!!
If you are ever down in Columbia, do stop in and we can play with the electric trains....also anyone else on this discussion group. Art ain't got no meaning unless it is shared. Also it is quite refreshing to know that there are other relics besides me in this hobby. Note: My wife has upgraded me to a "collectible".