Bakersfield, California
For me its switching cars,then super detailing my industrial buildings and adding believable industrial miniscenes. I add limited details to my freelance SCR and Summerset Ry engine.
That's what keeps me ticking in the hobby and wasn't for that I would have quit the hobby years ago.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I guess that it is the building and operating the layout(s). The research, the construction, the scenery and the operation. Sounds like I like it all doesn't it. Ah, no, I can't stand the ballast operation!
I have built a layout in my basement since 1983. I kept increasing it's size, tore parts out and replaced them until I had a 14' x 13' x 7 1/2' x 8'. When I finished that, I decided I needed another track under the tree coveed hill. I had room. I worked it in without touching the hill.
Ah, I'm done? No, I found other things to do and I'm now involved in layouts at the History Center here in Anderson IN.
It never ends!
Roger Hensley= ECI Railroad - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/eci/eci_new.html == Railroads of Madison County - http://madisonrails.railfan.net/ =
I'm in your boat also Mel. Just moments ago I was thinking the same thing looking at the Proto 2000 thread, and the trend toward mostly RTR. I do like running my equipment for sure, but building something and making the scene is most enjoyable for me.
Bob Bochenek
I like running the trains the most. I also enjoy building the layout - benchwork, laying track, and wiring it. I enjoy building kits and scratchbuilding as well, but that's secondary to getting the layout operational.
Enjoy
Paul
Building structures and scenes is what I enjoy the most. I don't mind building benchwork and laying and wiring track, but that is more of a necessary evil to get me to "the good stuff!"
Mike
My Dad is the one that inspired me. His favorite author and modeler was John Allen. The three layouts that my Dad built, he tried to imitate a little of what John had done, and I feel this has worn off on me.
He passed away three years ago, and each year at Christmas time I run a train that features his pikes name. I chose that time of year because that is when we both became Model Railroaders...the Christmas of '72.
This year, I will need to construct a different car since I am currently building a small layout in HOn30. No sweat...I have a few Mount Blue HOn30 kits and at least one is begging to be lettered for the Squaw Valley.
As for my interests, I model in all sorts of scales and gauges. Whatever peaks my interest at any given time. I do, however, seem to always resort back to the John Allen, and my Dad's, way of modeling for inspiration.
One of these years I'll put my Sn3 stuff to good use with my Dad's style of layout!
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
I would have to say that building the layout is my favorite part.I definately want my trains to run well but the scenery is by far my favorite part.If I do operate I do it by myself which Ido enjoy a bit.
The prototype research. It takes forever to track down usable photos of some of the key structures I need to model. I will not go forward on a structure until I am reasonably sure nothing more is to be found. The time I ignored that rule I regretted it -- better pictures showed up months later and boy did I get it wrong. Nice model, but wrong.
Oddly enough I am nowhere near that fussy about rolling stock. Close is good enough there, and I am very liberal about what constitutes "close." But structures and scenes? If I do not have it nailed with info and data I just will not move forward.
Dave Nelson
RR_MelI was wondering if there are more weirdo’s out there like myself.
More than you could ever imagine!
I would have to say that my main goal or inspiration in this hobby is to recreate some of the many memories that I was SO fortunate to have experienced as a young boy and teen. Thats what makes ME tick... thank you very much!
I was very fortunate during the late 1960s and through the '70s to be active and involved in many railroad activities. Thanks to my dad I was involved in a railroad historical society that had many passenger cars and a steam locomotive (the GTW 4070 as in my avatar) and this group ran several excursions during the year which gave me the opportunity to ride on many miles of trackage that is, sadly, now long gone.
I can now recreate some vignettes on my basement layout that harken back to some of these wonderful memories... and then some which I never had the chance to see, like the Century running in several sections with J-3a Hudsons in charge or troop trains making critical movements of men and material for our Nation's defense.
Nothing pleases me more than spending hours at my workbench, while the snow piles up outside, building a new kit (I love the smell of the fresh styrene when I first open a new kit package!) or just sitting back as the trains make their way around the layout... and that's when I might see a signal change or hear a bunch of EMD 567s dig in for the attack on the grade (Yes, I enjoy the additional sensual enhancement that sound has provided in modeling) or seeing the glowing windows of a passing passenger train, always full of little people on my layout!).
I'd have to say that I enjoy every aspect of the hobby — even the social interaction that I enjoy here on this forum, which is not really a substitute for having "in-the-flesh" visitors, but look at how the forum and the internet in general has brought us all together, from the far reaches of the globe, to share thoughts and ideas, such as this thread, and be able to use this information to our benefit to expand our own interests and enjoyment.
I truly don't know how some people cope who do not have some kind of hobby or activity to keep themselves involved. I can not seem to find the time to devote to all the interests that I have or want to get involved in... but, the ONE hobby that will be my friend and companion to my dying day will be model railroading!
Thanks for asking Ed
what gets me is seeing big articulated steam engines running thru nice scenery. It is almost hypnotic to watch all the valve gears moving.
I only run steam and I just love seeing them run with the proper cars they may have pulled.
Watching a big boy, challenger, Y6b, DMIR Yellowstone, cab forward or any other I may have running on my layout for hours on end is my thoughts of being in nirvana. Does not get better.
DAVID FORTNEY what gets me is seeing big articulated steam engines running thru nice scenery. It is almost hypnotic to watch all the valve gears moving. I only run steam and I just love seeing them run with the proper cars they may have pulled.
While I model 70's and 80's, and don't have any steam, I am thinking about picking up an Intermountain cab forward, just because I would like to run a little steam for fun. While I was born too late, I did grow up in the cab forwards ol stomping grounds in the Sacramento to Donner Pass area so it seems appropriate that I get something related.
As for what makes me tick, I haven't had space for a layout for over 15 years so I spent much of my time researching models so I could build a fleet of models that represent the D&RGW in the 70's and 80's, so I could run trains that look like the real thing, car for car - as much as possible.
It is a challenge to afford nice models, so that has been an incentive for me to do the research so I could spend what limited money I can budget on mostly accurate models. So I guess research is what makes me tick - although hopefully I'll be able to shift that focus to starting to scenic my layout this fall/winter,
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
SP&S modeler, 1960's give or take a decade or two for some equipment.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SGTDUPREY?feature=guide
Gary DuPrey
N scale model railroader
I like to have something that looks complete and runs well so I can watch it come to life during op sessions. Watching my friends having a blast running the layout as it was designed to do is rewarding.
Here's a local freight operator running his visiting Mo Pac power, and a yardmaster at work behind him.
Here's a westbound through train heading downgrade toward a block swap, and another yard guy getting the block ready for him.
All the benchwork, track, wiring, scenery, etc. sets the stage for us having fun running trains.
Rob Spangler
I like to run trains and switch cars on a great layout with high quality scenery. Everything that comes before that is a means to an end to me. All the time that I have spent over the last 30 years has been to build skills to make models and scenery acceptable to my standards (I am my own worst critic) around which to operate prototypically. I don't really enjoy building benchwork or kits, I'm not enamored with creating scenery, painting and weathering are a pain. but, I do it all the best that I can so that I can run that train through a good looking layout.
Coffee.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Rum for me
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I like the build and test. The research. The experimentation. And my layout...is really just an elaborate and detailed test track for model trains I make and collect.
I do run trains for the sake of running trains on those rare occasions when I have a visitor.
Mark H
Modeling in HO...Reading and Conrail together in an alternate history.
I enjoy running my trains but I get a great amount of enjoyment from trying to solve problems with my layouts. For example, I wanted a folding table so I built a table with a marine actuator so it folds up at the touch of a button....
I didn't want to lose out on running my DC locos, so I wired both my layouts for dual control....
This is the kind of things that keep me interested in the hobby.....
Bob Berger, C.O.O. N-ovation & Northwestern R.R. My patio layout....SEE IT HERE
There's no place like ~/ ;)
RR_Mel I was wondering if there are more weirdo’s out there like myself. I enjoy building and modifying stuff more than running my trains. Don’t get me wrong, I want my trains to run perfectly without any problems but working on my layout on the scenery and accessories is far more fulfilling than operating my trains. I find making everything look as close to real as I can is much more fascinating to me, I really get into lighting and animation. I’ve never had the talent of a John Allen but always tried my best. John was and is still my Model Railroad Mentor. It was a four page John Allen article in a 1951 Fawcett Book #133 that got me started in HO when I was 14 years old. Looks pretty good for a 64 year old paper back. As I get on in age it’s even harder to do good work on very small details as well as frustrating when it doesn’t turnout like I expected or wanted. There’s nothing like a good kitbash project to take away the pains of growing old. What makes you tick? Mel Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951 My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California
I guess I'm the polar opposite. For the most part I found layout building slow and tedious. I want to operate my railroad in a realistic setting and layout building for the most part is a means to that end. If I could snap my fingers and have the railroad I want I would do it in a heartbeat and not miss the grunt work at all. If I could afford to pay someone to build the railroad of my dreams I would do so as well. Since neither is an option I am taking the long slow route to get to where I want to go.
I like building the layout. At least I used to. Since I replace my Digitrax junk with NCE equipment, it's more fun to operate the trains. I have a lot of areas of my layout that need finished, but I spend all my time running trains.
I also enjoy having my own rail roads. I have engines for the South Penn RR ( a stillborn rail road started in the 1880s ) and the Blacklog RR. The Blacklog is a fictitious rail road that runs from Port Royal to Chambersburg Pa. But I didn't model the towns and scenery of that portion of Pa.
You can also see Western Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York Central on my layout. Why? Because it's my rail road and my rules. I can change it to what ever I like.
Yep, I'm a weirdo.
South Penn
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Hi Mel:
My primary source of pleasure is scratch building HO critters and rail cars. I also get a buzz out of installing DCC in very small switcher engines, with sound if possible. I have also recently undertaken the construction of a McKeen motor car kit from Funaro and Carmelango, and I am having a ball detailing it. Adding lighting to anything is also fun.
That's what makes me tick. Of course the other side of the coin is what makes me ticked off. That might be a subject for a whole new thread. Anyhow, I have been waiting patiently for my son to move out of the house and take his exercise equipment with him which currently occupies most of my layout space. Now, grudgingly, we seem to have made the decision that it would be ok for him to stay a bit longer so he can save up enough money to buy a house instead of paying rent. I'm really torn between supporting him and telling him that the layout space is now mine. Sell the exercise equipment and join a gym!
Oh well, life goes on. Sorry if I hijacked the thread.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I may be an oddball here, but I like to design small layouts: Over the years, I have designed so many layouts, I could certainly fill a book. I am proud that quite a few designs I made for friends are actually getting built!
My latest design is a small layout I wish I could build for myself. It´s a model of an actual location in Switzerland - the Stugl/Stuls station on the Albula Line of the Rhaetian Railway. This line has been included in the UNESCO World Heritage register.
It´s actually a rather simple layout with the operation limited to letting just trains run, but that´s fine for me, as I am more of a rail fan type than the guy in the engineer´s or conductor´s seat.
The setting of layout is closely following the prototype, only the length is compressed to fit the space I have.
What makes me tick? A few things. 1'st: I have a soft spot for big, high horepower diesel loco's and long train cars, such as 89 foot autoparts boxcars, as well as EMD E units. 2'nd: music. I love to lissten to rock music, my favorite musician is Mark Knopfler, and my favorite band is Dire Straits. I also like girls. What 18 year old guy doesn't like girls, I mean come on?
I'm one of those people that likes to build engines, cars and buildings. Part of those goes to the fact I freelance, so I have to paint most of my own equipment (and my road engines are a kitbash themselves). Another part is my actual layout sits in an upstairs corner of a shop building on the ranch where I grew up and I live in town and do not drive. (I don't remember the last time I actually ran a train on my layout.) I have more engines and cars than I have track to run them on. Even worse, the last swap meet I went to, I ended up getting 7 freight cars (6 of which will actually be used. One was warped bad enough that it wasn't usable except for a few parts.), a new engine that I really didn't need (will end up running 5 of the freight cars as a unit train), and a new caboose (again for the unit train).