It's not for weaklings
I get so frustrated when I can't fix something on the layout because I have trouble seeing it and my hands aren't steady enough to grasp the object or toolsAbout the only place i can still work is the work bench where the light is goodand I have the Magnifying glass and I can steady my hands on the table
The good news is The layout is completed only minor up grades and maintenance items
but forget about getting under the layout and working overhead while laying on my back
after 36 radiation treatments ruined my sense of balance and a stroke didn't help either there's a better chance of me winning theWWE Elimination Chamber Match
Is it just me or do others have the same problems ?
TerryinTexas
See my Web Site Here
http://conewriversubdivision.yolasite.com/
You are definately not alone. After four joint replacements my time under the layout is all behind me. But I still wake up each morning so life is good.
Terry
I know what you're saying. After a tussle with prostate cancer things were going well until I developed Meniere's disease and now I have bouts of severe vertigo that occur at unexpected times (like when I'm under the layout or in the middle of a painting project). Aging is not for the faint of heart.
Joe
I'm with you guys. Thank god for grand kids, they seem to fit under the layout better than I do.:-)
Things Change(and so does our bodies). I am 65; have had both knees replaced(too much running on hard surfaces), and the 'aches & pains' are there. I have been replacing the ground throws in the staging at the club(on the 36" lower level). Getting up and down to mount the Bullfrog machines takes it's toll. About 4-5 mounted and I am ready to quit for the day. My hands seem to do OK with modeling, but I do seem to 'drop' things more often. And lots of light for us in the 'Optivisor Generation'!
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Considering for many things senior status starts at 55, I think half the people on this forum qualifies - I am over 55 (barely). So half the crowd in the hobby are likely seniors!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Well I'm not quite as bad off as some of you - at least not yet. But I drop things and the arthritis in my hands makes it hard to do many tasks that used to be routine. I've started wearing my optivisor for some layout tasks. And I can't stand for as long as I used to.
But having out lived my father, both grandfathers, and one brother every day is a gift.
Enjoy
Paul
Although I am only 69 and have a few problems life is good. Beings I'm starting a new layout and although I would love to hand lay my track my hands and eyes will not allow me to do it. So I decided to use HO unitrack from Kato, the best out there.
Yes not the most realistic track but with some good scenery it will look pretty good. So for me the whole point is to have trains running and having fun now that I am retired.
At 72, almost 73, I am actually kind of amazed at what I can still do. I trenched a 50 ft drainage ditch by hand last week to save about a $1,000 the contractor was going to charge. Not as fast as I used to be but can still work at a steady pace. I am past working on sloped roofs and tall ladders, however.
I do have degenerative disks in the top five vertibrae that three months of physical therapy taught me to live without pain. Getting under the bench is still doable but hurts a little. I bought a moveable bench light that clamps onto the side of the layout. Helps a lot with the vision thing as I am hand laying all my track. Haven't bought the Optivision device yet but plan on getting one this fall when I plan to get back into more car and kit building. Just finishing up on the third hand fabricated turnout. Should have it done this weekend.
Life is good!
LION is 67 and that is getting old for a LION, I suppose. I just saw a video presentation on aging and senility. The brain has three layers one on top of the other, and while there are of course scientifc names for these parts, the video called them the "Reptilian Brain", The "Mamalian Brain" and the "Cognative Brain."
The Reptilian Brain reacts to things. Sensory inputs that provoke fight or fligh and other reflexive actions. The Mamalian Brain can be imprinted with learning. This was demonstrated by a cat in my mother's back yard. On day one it saw a chipmonk, and ran at it, perhaps thinking of a nice dinner for itself, But the chipmonk ran to a hole in the ground and got away. This happened again on the second day, and that is all it took for the cat to learn that the chipmonk was going to run to the hole. (The chipmonk had nothing to learn from the experience because it got away, right). On the third day the cat came, but did not run toward the chipmonk, but rather ran to the hole and caught the rodent before it got there. The cat learned.
But the cat did not learn enough to recite Shakespear. That requires the human mind.
So for us humans a input may come in to the middle brain, and if it cannot do the project without thinking, it kicks the issue up to the congnative brain for resolution. Problem is that our abilities dissapper in the inverse order in which they were learned. So if the cognitive brain cannot handle the issue, and in my experience it frequentyl cannot, it issue drops down to the reptilian brain for resolution. That results in a loud feral ROAR (usually laced with a few proscribed explitives) that tends to disturb the placid brothers within earshot.
Well, anyway, I have adapted my railroad to my capibilites and not to someone else's count of rivets.
In any event, I have solved the problem of going under the table. This layout was started 10 years ago, and I resolved that there would be no wires under the table. (sort of---there are always wires under there.) All of the wiring would hence forth be on the fascia, and later covered over with a finished fascia.
The finished fascia is held in place by powerful magnets glued to wooden stand-offs. It works real well. If in need accest to the wire I just lift off the fascia ant there is the wire. LIONS do use a lot of wire, eh? Well the layout is 14 miles long with 43 platform edges that require train stops, plus the working block signal system, and the whole thing is fully automated with over 300 relays.
And did I tell you, there is no wiring under the table, other than drops that are pulled out to the edge for connection on the fascia.
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
I now have the basement back, after my wife passed away. Once some usable space is cleared, there will be about 15x22 available for a layout, that I hopefully will see to almost completion before I join her (just turned 70). The problem is, my biceps have mostly become unceps (moved to the underside of the arms), and my 6-pack turned into a 12-pack, then a case, and now, finally a keg. I think I still have my mind, at least most/some of it. So, we'll see what develops.
Your not alone. I have my things going on to. Imy eyes are not what they use to be. Also the back make things harder to do. But like a couple others have said, I wake up, so its
Will be a pretty good day. I just know what my limits are and do my best to stay with in them.
Sean, the unknown train travler,
JAMES MOON At 72, almost 73, I am actually kind of amazed at what I can still do. I trenched a 50 ft drainage ditch by hand last week to save about a $1,000 the contractor was going to charge. Not as fast as I used to be but can still work at a steady pace. I am past working on sloped roofs and tall ladders, however. I do have degenerative disks in the top five vertibrae that three months of physical therapy taught me to live without pain. Getting under the bench is still doable but hurts a little. I bought a moveable bench light that clamps onto the side of the layout. Helps a lot with the vision thing as I am hand laying all my track. Haven't bought the Optivision device yet but plan on getting one this fall when I plan to get back into more car and kit building. Just finishing up on the third hand fabricated turnout. Should have it done this weekend. Life is good! Jim
I am not quite a senior...but getting there. I did a run of cancer a few years ago and did 8 weeks of rad treatments...seriously affecting the right leg. Moderate levels of arthritis in the lower half of the body especially in the lower back. Definitely makes working on the model railroad a challenge at times. Things like that can make aging come quicker, at least seemingly so. Your not alone...many of us here are with you and completely understand.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
I'm 67 and still do pretty good even though I have limited use of my right hand due to a stroke back in '05 and some days my shaky shake hands limits what I can to so,I spend more time switching cars on my ISL.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I'm pushing 70 and am glad most of my layout, passenger and freight cars are finished. This was a goal to for me so when I'm "really" old and eyesite failing, everything look better on the layout. But so far I'm doing well and still model building.
Don't get the LION started on eyesight.
Him had cateract surgery x2, and thought this is great I can see again. (NOT).
My primary specticles are no-lines. I tie them on a string so that I can drop them off to read.
Then I got another pair for working the computer, what with four monitors about 30" away etc.
Then I got some 1x readers for closeup work , and of course the optivisor for working on the railroad.
Oh well, I can manage.
Technically speaking, I am not a senior, being only in my 59th year. I am right now recovering from a stroke that left my left body rather useless. Each day I can handle a few tiny things better than the day before, but it is still a long and windy road to reach a status where I can enjoy life again.
At one day, I´ll be able to pick up MRRing again, but for sure I´ll have to accept quite a few limitations. So what! I am happy to be still around.
Coming up on 78, and being reminded of all the things I shouldn't have done earlier in life. Like Lion, I moved all the electricals to the fascia line, along with switch point and drop-magnet movers. I have no problem reaching in and down, but spelunking under the benchwork is no longer an option.
Incidentally, Brother Elias, I use the hook end of a straightened coat hanger to fish wires out to the aisleway. What system do you use.
My eyesight and fine control seem to be resisting the flow, but I've finally given up on my right hip joint. Preop visit is Monday...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
OK, technically speaking I've been a senior for 19 years (turned 74 last week) and it is finally beginning to dawn on me that I am that old. Actually, a lot of things are dawining on be; eyesight (keeping 8-10 pair of various strength glasses around the house, layout and computer helps), knees (shattered one knee cap years ago but it keeps reminding me!), back (3 degenerative discs and 5 years of chiropractor visists), and now I am trying to keep up with my 5 year old great grandson (but he loves trains as much as I do!).
I realized that my craftsmanship and painting skills aren't as good as I thought when I see them on the computer, magnified 10 times. So I lower my standards in finishing the layout; some things are just OK that a few years ago I wouldn't have passed inspection. I am about to try my hand at building a curved turnout to replace a straight one that is located in the middle of a very large sweeping curve (probably 6-8 feet in radius). I hope my eyes and hands are with me on this one, it is the last turnout that needs repair/replacement. I can still do most tasks, they are just a little more demanding on me. But as others have mentioned, I do get up each morning and that is a good thing. Old age has one benefit; we know what we should have done back when we thought we knew what we should do! As my avitar byline says: Life is what happens to you while you are making other plans!
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I turned 65 last December. I have severe arthritis in my right knee and mild arthritis in my left knee. Just today I got gel injections in both knees as cortizone isn't working anymore. Fortunately my layout is 48 inches off the floor and my DCC buss is mounted on the front facia. No bending to work under the layout. It is also only 1 foot deep so I can do all work and operate it while sitting on a stool. I planned and built it 11 years ago with thoughts of my golden years ahead.
Now that I can kneel a little, several members (over 65+) of my club and I are going to wire an N scale layout for a gentleman of 90 who is no longer able to do it himself so he will be able to run the layout in the time he has left.
At 66 and just six months and 18 days from official retirement (who's counting?) I've adopted a new "life mantra" - I don't move as fast as I used to and I don't move as far as I used to so I need to move smarter than I used to. At least until I catch myself doing something dumb. Again.
Hi,
Yup, add me to the list of "oldies but goodies" who play with trains. I just turned 71 and deal with bum knees, osteoarthritis in the shoulders/elbow, and eyesight that is no longer what it was only a couple years ago. Most of it I can deal with, but getting on the layout to do scenery on the outskirts has been a major problem the last couple of years.
I purposely built the room filling layout "wider than I can reach", and it wasn't that much of a problem to get on it and do what needs to be done. Now, it is holding me back - and hopefully not for long.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
Sir MadogAt one day, I´ll be able to pick up MRRing again, but for sure I´ll have to accept quite a few limitations. So what! I am happy to be still around.
The good news there are things in the hobby that will help you model..My two favorites is a foam locomotive/car craddle and a three prong holding device which is very nice for holding small detail parts and screws.
BTW..10 years after my stroke I'm still happy to be going along like a old shoe thanks to the grace of God,good doctoring and good nursing...I can even joke about being a "Dead man! Dead man walking here!".
Well I guess I'll join the club....although all similar age problem's, eye's etc. I am a disabled Vietnam Vet,1967...so I had to learn a long time ago how to cope with what I had to work with, 5 op's of reconstruction surgery to my shoulder, tumor surgery on chest, that turned out to be a piece of schrapnel that I carried around for 10yrs, bladder cancer surgery...recovered..stroke in 2007..took almost 3yrs to be able to walk without falling down and left hand to stop shaking...all in all, at 73, I thank the good Lord for the day and do what I can with a smile on My face....takes less energy to laugh, than to cry and complain.....no one really listen's anyway...LOL. ''Never..Give Up'' Winston Churchill.
Take Care, All!
Frank
Well, I'm halfway through 75, and still clicking along. I went back to teaching last year after two VERY BORING years of retirement, and plan on heading back this coming August. My knees are a little creaky, and I could stand to lose about 40 pounds, and I've only got 31% kidney function (enough to keep me off the machine I was on for six months), but other than that it's not too bad. I think it was the actress Bette Davis who said "Old age ain't for sissies," and Miss Davis is spot on, as far as I'm concerned.
My hand-eye co-ordination is still good--my profession has always included playing the piano--so I don't have too many problems working on models, as long as I have good light and a magnifier that I can attach to my glasses. The layout is about 80% finished, which is good enough for me, right now. I have some scenery changes to finish up, and so far, no major electrical problems have cropped up on the layout (I've kept it DC and simple). In fact, I just got my year-end check from the school, so I celebrated today and picked up a Sunset Z-8 Challenger from my local hobby shop (well, it looked LONELY in the brass case!), and as soon as it cools off in the garage, I'm taking her out for some break--in runs.
So as long as I pace myself, I seem to be doing just fine, both in life and the hobby. And the hobby is the LAST thing I plan on giving up! I live by the old adage: "Girls give up their Barbie-dolls about age 11, boys give up their toys--RELUCTANTLY--on their death-beds!"
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
tomikawaTTIncidentally, Brother Elias, I use the hook end of a straightened coat hanger to fish wires out to the aisleway. What system do you use.
The LION is in love with 1/16th" welding rod. Him uses it for everything. bend a hook at one end and you are half way there. Need it longer, solder two of them together. I also have a 3' long grabby thingy with a siccsor type dohickey at one end and a little set of jaws on the other.
They say misery loves company so here's my medical history.
1. Baloon angioplasty in 92
2. Total knee replacement 97
3. Tumor removed from salava gland 2001
4. 5 way bypass 2003
5, Injured rotator cuff while building bench work for first layout 2007
6. Tore achilles tendon 2013
7. Experiencing shortness of breath, had echo cardiogram and am waiting for my doctors appointment. 2015
None of the above has affected my layout building as negatively as my sleep disorder.
By the way I'm 86 and not ready for the rocking chair.
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up