Hey I was just wondering if this is an only hobby for any of you. I generally don't engage in the face-to-face aspects of model railroading - mostly because I have so many friends already that I can't maintain those relationships the way I'd like to from other hobbies.
Other than MRR, I play D&D (Dungeons & Dragons), and the occasional computer game (either D&D-related or Train Simulator 2016). I also paint a lrage number of miniatures for use in my D&D games (funny how the modeling supplies for this and MRR overlap!)
I used to be into working on old computers and cars, but there is only so much time in a day/week/month/what have you.
Anyone else in the same boat (too many hobbies makes too many friends?)
Julian
Modeling Pre-WP merger UP (1974-81)
My other hobbies include railfaning,reading Western novels and playing RPG video games.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
With money being as tight as it is for my family and me, I am glad I can stay in this one hobby at all, but only on less than a shoestring budget.
No other hobbies for that matter!
I am 63 and disabled, probably about the nominal age group for MR. I was spending all my time working on the layout. But I just got a part-time job as a merchandiser for a very well known "greeting" card company. It will be only about 15 hours a week so I still will have plenty of time doing MR things.
Also since the age of 10 I have been involved with photography. Back in the day I actually got a gig taking pictures of computers and other equipment for catalogs. Very lucrative. I had my own darkroom at our house but when I went to ASU I lost all my equipment. I put it away until November last year when I got a new digital camera and lenses. Now it is just a hobby.
I am also lucky because the RR Museum is here in San Diego with layouts galore. I am a contributing member. I get a lot of ideas from being there.
Way too many (expensive) hobbies: scuba diving, nature photography, underwater photography, boating, fishing, RC boats, long range precision/tactical shooting.
My hobbies
Modeling an HO gauge freelance version of the Union Pacific Oregon Short Line and the Utah Railway around 1957 in a world where Pirates from the Great Salt Lake founded Ogden, UT.
- Photo album of layout construction -
Too many hobbies and not enough time is my motto. Model railroading, gardening, woodworking, playing the piano, something I try to devote at least an hour a day, fishing, photography and reading.
Main hobbies were model railroading and photography and I have recently taken up rc flying. I would emphasis that I fly airplanes and not any of the very popular drones.
My photography costs have dropped noticeably thanks to digital technology, no more dark room, although I did keep a couple 35mm film cameras which I still use on occassion.
My model railroad costs have not dropped at all and like most other items have risen.
Remote Contol flying is not quite as expensive as RC auto racing, typically cars are far more detailed and costly than airplanes. Only problem I have is living in a small house with no basement my new problem is storage, RC airplanes take up a fair amount of room.
With my RC flying I spend far less time with my model railroad layout during the summer, winter was when I would spend just about all my time with my model railroad layout, but then I came across skis for some of my planes so can fly during the winter on nice calm days.
Im 16 so I've got many other hobbies, like robotics, photography, railfanning, cooking (dont question :P) and computer games. Model railroading is my favorite though
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Modeling the PRR & NYC in HO
Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/@trainman440
Instagram (where I share projects!): https://www.instagram.com/trainman440
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Model railroading is pretty much just a winter hobby for me. During the "outside" seasons, I am building a place on our property in northern WI., along with fishing, and I also fix up old garden tractors.
Before:
After: Mike. EDIT: BUT....no matter what season it is, I always have an eye out for trains.
After:
Mike. EDIT: BUT....no matter what season it is, I always have an eye out for trains.
Mike.
EDIT: BUT....no matter what season it is, I always have an eye out for trains.
My You Tube
Trainman440 cooking (dont question :P)
cooking (dont question :P)
Why don't question? Are you cooking people or something? Otherwise that's a pretty usual hobby.
Computer game WOT, too much time, not enough hobbies.
Before I moved to Virginia in 2009, (2000-2009) I did play old fashioned D&D with some friends but it was kind of a game night I did while I was single and had some good friends to hang out mainly. I wasn't super into the game itself but more the fun of playing with a particular set of friends. Since I moved away from there, I no longer play it. One of my friends who knew the game super well did all my character setting up anyway; it's too much bother for me.
I used to scuba dive, backpack, snow ski, photography etc, and travel and lots of other things but for the past 15-20 years with child support and now a daughter in college, one hobby is all I can can afford right now. Believe me, with the prices of the newer trains, I can't afford another hobby. If you can, be thankful!
Before I met my 2nd wife, I used to play a lot of video games too since I didn't have space for a layout; in fact thats how I met her - but now that she is over here and we've been married and both working full-time, thats fallen by the wayside. After we were married, we did still play that game together for a couple years, but it's gone down hill since and sadly gone to crap so we are no longer happy with it.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Outside of my railroad operations, I enjoy computers, collecting model cars, airplanes, boats, constructing stuff with legos and judo.
Yes Model Railroading is my only hobby.
Russell
Golf season began in the Chicago area this past Friday. That pretty much brings model railroading to an end for me until mid-November.
Rich
Alton Junction
Nope
I hate Rust
In my situation (kids in college) it's the only hobby I can currently afford, otherwise I'd also take up golf and fishing.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
I'm 70 and retired so only MRR is it for me, year round. It has been my only hobby since I was young.
I also do woodworking and astrophotography. You think MRR is a money pit, try doing some astrophotography! On a side note, our friends here at Kalmbach also publish Astronomy Magazine.
Scott
Model Railroading is my main hobby.
Space and airplanes are my secondary hobbies, but haven't bought anything for them. I do watch space shows like the History Channel's The Universe.
I play some video games depending what my brother has. I really don't play much it doesn't really fascinates me.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
Currently I sing in one group, play in two town bands, garden (some vegetable and some flower) as well as my model railroading. I'd like to set up my dad's power tools to have a wood shop, which would be handy when ready to build the new layout.
Thought retired as a dairy farmer, couldn't give it all up, so summers are spent haying for my small herd of beef cattle. Drive school bus to support the farming habit.
Whatever you are doing - Have fun,
Richard
Model railroading is my main hobby at the moment. I have been known to occasionally build a sci-fi plastic model or two though, and I used to do internet streaming radio.
Robert Beaty
The Laughing Hippie
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The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!
Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the
end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming
your way. -Metallica, No Leaf Clover
Model railroading, playing an ovation 10 string (12 string, but two octave strings broke- long story), rail photography and some computer gaming.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
Muscle cars.........a 1970 camaro ss 396 comes to mind!!
I like to go to the driving range.
Honestly, I grew up out in the country and was pretty lower middle class. So were my friends. We couldn't afford to do much more than sit around and watch TV. Not much interests me, for some reason. Its a pretty boring life.
Now I'm still largely the same because my rent is murderous.
Railfanning, oil paintings (which are for sale), photography, ghost hunting.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
I got my first public library card in second grade, haven't stopped reading since. Grow a few tomatoes, and some flowers in the summer. My dog figures a day without a walk is wasted. I know the names of more dogs in this neighbourhood than I do people.
I also play games like Civilization on the computor.
Dave
Model Railroading and reading are my main hobbies, but I also do some woodworking, video gaming, and board gaming. I'd like to get a little more into photography but don't seem to have the time. My wife and I also have our grandchildren - boy and girl, 4 and 2 - over 2 or 3 days a week. I have got him into trains. Her in another year or so.
Enjoy
Paul
Before I retired in 2014 it was model railroading, slot cars, weed wacker boats and computers. Now its still the model rr and slot cars but like Paul I have a grandkids 4 and 2 and we also take care of them 2 days a week. Neither into trains but love my slot cars 1/32 scale and digital.
TomO