csxns Zandoz with a lot of armchair experience The Cherryville model RR club will love to have you wish you were close.
Zandoz with a lot of armchair experience
The Cherryville model RR club will love to have you wish you were close.
Cherryville, as in North Carolina, the one time home to Carolina Freight, once the largest motor freight company east of the Mississippi?
How cool that Cherryville has a model railroad club.
My father was the Baltimore terminal manager for Carolina Freight from 1968 until 1979.
How is Cherryville these days?
Sheldon
BigDaddy I went to a well known local MR club. Six guys were standing around drinkning beer and talking about a bunch of stuff including railroading. They were all nice enough and I have no objections to beer. Two guys were running trains. I thought they might have been only in their 30's. They were also very nice and we talked about DCC, tho' the club was DC. I expected there would be way bills and train orders but these guys were just going round and round. They had electrical pickup issues in a tunnel. They seem surprised about it, but it left me wondering about track maintenance. It was not what I was expecting. I honestly didn't know whether a formal, waybill operating session would appeal to me. I still don't. The scenery and structures far surpassed my meager abilities, so I cannot say I have higher standards, but I did not see a reason to go back.
I went to a well known local MR club. Six guys were standing around drinkning beer and talking about a bunch of stuff including railroading. They were all nice enough and I have no objections to beer.
Two guys were running trains. I thought they might have been only in their 30's. They were also very nice and we talked about DCC, tho' the club was DC. I expected there would be way bills and train orders but these guys were just going round and round. They had electrical pickup issues in a tunnel. They seem surprised about it, but it left me wondering about track maintenance.
It was not what I was expecting. I honestly didn't know whether a formal, waybill operating session would appeal to me. I still don't. The scenery and structures far surpassed my meager abilities, so I cannot say I have higher standards, but I did not see a reason to go back.
The thing about clubs is, not every club is a fit for every modeler.......
Generally, people find roles to fill at a club, or they don't stay around long.
But every club I have ever experianced had a few key players who set the tone and standards to be followed.
The one club I belonged to for many years, had a seperate meeting night for serious/time table operation. Their "regular" meeting night was always casual "run what you brung".
The round robin group I was once active in nearly always had planned operating sessions, but not everyone in attendance would always want a "job".
All depends on your goals, in the case of the round robin, each layout owner had their own waybill/train order or CTC system of operation. There are lots of different approaches.......
Maybe you could have become established in that group, found a few others interested in operations, been the leader of such a movement......if you have the social temprament for it.
For me all such social ambition is used up......at least for now......
I do appreciate that, and I'd be glad to help out. I've been into model railroading as an adult since the mid 80s. I've lost count of the number of layouts I've started, but each time life intervenes.
Reality...an interesting concept with no successful applications, that should always be accompanied by a "Do not try this at home" warning.
Hundreds of years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...But the world may be different because I did something so bafflingly crazy that my ruins become a tourist attraction.
"Oooh...ahhhh...that's how this all starts...but then there's running...and screaming..."
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
One more thought, a "Lone Wolf", on an internet forum, is the perfect situation for someone who wants to control and limit the amount of time/contact with other modelers.
I know I'm a lone wolf. I don't have friends that are interested in railroading. I have a few family members that listens but not supported. Unless it's up and running for operating.
Amtrak America, 1971-Present.
CGW121 I really wonder if a true lone wolf would read this post much less reply to it.
I really wonder if a true lone wolf would read this post much less reply to it.
Again, it depends on your definition............I choose to have a small social aspect to my modeling, I really consider the social aspect of the hobby completely secondary.......I think that makes me a lone wolf.
Well, I am definately in the camp that does not want others to help me build my layout, I want it to be my work. And, I am fussy, that's why my construction clients hire me to work on their 120 year old houses......
As for the social side, I was once a member of a club, no real interest in that any more. I prefer people in small doses, one on one is best. I was very active in a local round robin group for many years, helped others build their layouts, worked open houses, etc.
But I have to say I have lost interest in most of that. More interested in spending my time working on my own stuff.
Never had much desire to go to meets or conventions, same with train shows, I can scout one for stuff I want and be on my way without spending much time talking to anyone. Don't like noise, crowds, etc.
I do have a few modeler friends in the round robin that I try to keep in touch with individually, but I don't go to the weekly meeting much anymore - too much BS, not enough modeling in my areas of interest. Too many people just buying expensive stuff with sound and DCC, not enough people building anything - or learning anything about railroads............
So for me, the Lone Wolf thing is about purposely limiting the social aspects and giving more of my time to the modeling aspects.....
With me it's not a choice. I moved out in the country when I retired and live a long way from my friends in the city. I have one friend who has a large Lionel layout whereas I model HO. I have another friend who is a railroad buff but not a modeler. I haven't met anyone where I live now who is into MR. It would be nice to be part of a regular operating group but it's just not an option for me.
Zandozwith a lot of armchair experience
Russell
Medina1128, you are spot on, that's my position also, there's two club layouts that I like to visit, and I get great ideas from them also, and oh yes from MR magazine!!
Now that I have the heard fro the community, I feel that it's okay to be a Lone Wolf at times, I'm just so proud of our hobby (and my layout) that I just want ot share it with my family, friends and fellow modelers, I know that when we do have visitors, mostly kids,I find myself kind of nervey, the Mom's would tell the kids, " now look don't touch" I would just smile, and tell them to be careful, I have to remember that this is a hobby, not a contest on who can get there layout done the quickest!!! all will be well, the layout will progress, and when I really need the help, I know I can get it from here on the forums as well as my Hobby shops, please keep the comments coming!!
I, too, am a lone wolf. But, there's a model railroad club not too far. I like to make it there from time to time, if for no other reason than to pick up on ideas. Layout pics in MR are great and I've gotten great ideas from them, but they can't cover an entire layout, whereas, seeing a club layout, you can see the little details.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I am a bit of each. At home, I do it all myself, so a lone wolf. I also volunteer at Boothbay Raiway Village to work on the layout there and bring projects home to work on. We have a core group of 5 to 7 who work on various layout projects.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
I am a lone wolf modeler. I don't like other people working or touching my layout. They can look and comment but no touch.
I have been this way for 40 plus years and not about to change now.
I do have freinds in the hobby and I enjoy going to shows. I'm having fun.
TrainsRMe1I would like to have a operation session, or a contruction session, fellowshiping with fellow modlerailoders, sharing ideas, stories, tricks to the hobby, how would one get this idea off the ground???
A good first step would be to join the NMRA. Railpass trial membership is $9.95 for six months. During that time, take advantage of local meetings to meet some folks. You may choose not to continue NMRA membership after the trial (although I would), but it would be a way to start to make connections.
For Operations, the Operations SIG has a callboard program and a members list that can connect OpSIG members with local operating layouts. Ten bucks per year with on-line magazine delivery.
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
carl425To paraphrase George Thorogood: Ya know when I model alone, I prefer to be by myself.
As far as my own modelling and layout-building, I'm definitely in agreement with Carl on this one.
However, I do socialise with other local modellers, several of whom are good friends, and have worked with some of them on their layouts when they asked for assistance.I've also made a great many friends through on-line train forums and met many of them in person, too, so I'm definitely not anti-social.
I do attend a few train shows and participate (as a spectator only) in layout tours held locally or nearby. My wife, like Chuck's, isn't keen on strangers visiting, especially those nutty train people.
Forums such as this are especially useful for those of us who are less comfortable, for whatever reasons, in face-to-face social settings, and provide a good place to exchange knowledge and display our work.It also affords us lone wolf types of all sorts to control contact and exposure to whatever degree best suits each individual, in much the same manner as most of us control the modelled reality on our layouts....my world my way, your world yours.
Wayne
When it comes to working on my layout, by choice I do it. However if starting over at my age, I would need help building benchwork.
For operating, I have fellow modelrailroaders come in on Monday evenings. Suggestions are sometimes made, and may be acted on, or not.
I was in a club of twenty years, some good people, some learning done, some things to be desired.
Dave
I always took the phrase "lone wolf" modeler to mean a guy who did not associate with other modelers. I think lots of guys prefer to work on their layouts by themselves but nonetheless go to meets, clinics, layout tours, trains shows, and so on, and pal around with modelers and railfans.
I work on my layout by myself but hardly regard myself as a lone wolf modeler since I go to just about any rail or model rail event or show that I can, give as many clinics as I can find NMRA divisions who want me, and most of my closest friends are fellow modelers.
I know one guy who in my estimation really is a lone wolf. It was by pure happenstance that I even learned he was a model railroader. He never goes to shows, or meets, slide evenings, or layout tours. He has never seen another person's home layout evidently. He does not subscribe to any model railroad magazine (and obviously is not an NMRA member or member of any rail historical society, even though he models the Rio Grande in N). He buys by mail and never goes to any of the local shops.
I have offered him back issues of NMRA magazines or the loan of some of my model railroad books and magazines and catalogs and he refuses. Not rudely. I asked to see his layout and he flatly refused, again not rudely, but firmly. I socialize with him in another context (both retired from the same employer, as is his wife whom I have met) and he is very sociable and funny, and no hermit. But clearly he does not regard model railroading as an interest to be shared with anybody, anywhere, anytime. Music yes. Golf yes. Model railroading no.
Now THAT is a lone wolf.
Dave Nelson
Due to my choices, prototype and methods, I am the ultimate lone wolf. Health problems (including recent surgery on a cancerous colon) and my wife's distrust of strangers limits visitors to family members, none of whom are model railroaders.
As for inviting others to assist in construction, almost everything I do is non-standard and some of my better tricks are counter-intuitive. I would spend more time explaining what I want done than I spend doing it myself.
I have gone the club route. In fact, I've held just about every elective office and several appointed offices. What I took away from those experiences is that my way is always at an angle to the majority, that a lot of people like to argue for the sake of argument and that I don't suffer fools (or foolishness) gladly. If this makes me an elitist, so be it.
OTOH, I am NOT anti-social. Nor am I a hermit. These forums provide a way to compensate for limited mobility, and have provided me with a source of information about materials and techniques that have improved my (admittedly mediocre) work. They also provide an occasional smile, and opportunity to use my almost 79 years seniority as a model railroader to give others a helping hand. Being able to do that is well worth the price of entry...
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - NYC before that, but no longer)
I am a lone wolf modeler. That is not to say I wouldn't appreciate some help, but the very few people I know personally, who are into trains, are all pretty busy with their lives. I've offered to help one friend when he gets to the layout stage, but he's not there yet.
For home, lone wolf. I live in an area where there is very little parking for visitors anyway. But I do some modular club running occasionally too.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I belonged to club one time. I found the attention to detail when building just the benchwork was NOT the same among club members and building sessions ended up being more counter-productive than productive sometimes.
I set a pretty high standard for myself. While I try to be patient and not foist that on others, it's hard when certain specifics end up affecting overall layout design and functionality. For this reason I tend to be a lone wolf in that respect. And, if something goes wrong, there's only ONE person to blame - me.
That said, I very much enjoy gleaning and dissiminating modeling information that proves to be beneficial to me, as well as to others. So, maybe I'm more a 70%/30% lone wolf. Otherwise, I wouldn't hang around this forum at all.
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
Johnboy is definatly a Lone Wolf, until hopefully, when my Grandson gets old enough to take a bigger part in building and operating.
I do love the Forums though and have gleaned much from the contributors on them.
Thanks again and always to our Hosts at Model Railroader for their Forums for us.
Johnboy out.....
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Living in a town of 292 and the nearest hobby store is 100 miles away, I am forced to be a lone wolf. I would love to have someone to talk to about trains. Thank goodness for the forum.
If I was building a layout, I'm not sure if I would want help with it. But, I have many local friends that I see all the time. We see each other at NMRA monthly meetings, train shows or just have lunch once in a while. I also can call them at anytime to discuss an idea or to ask for help with a problem. I met most of them at the local hobby shop or through the NMRA when I joined. I've been friends with some for about 35 years.
It's a lot more difficult to meet folks at hobby shops these days since most of them have closed around me, but I still meet new folks at NMRA events. It really only takes meeting or two people who can introduce you to others.
I don't want to turn this into a pros or cons of the NMRA, but it may be a way to meet a few people. It's also an easy way to observe folks to see who may have the same interests as you. I resisted joining for years until one older friend asked me to attend a local NMRA mini-meet with him. As it turns out, during dinner, I was seated across the table from a fellow who built a trolley layout I had been drooling over for years after seeing it in RMC. I had no idea he lived in the area and we've been friends ever since.
I don't think I would have enjoyed the hobby even a fraction of what I have if it wasn't for all of the friends I've made over the years.
Jim
I'm a lone wolf but not by choise. My freinds that were in the hobby have mostly left the area or been forced to quit the hobby. All the local hobby shops are gone and so are the clubs. Clubs futher out always seem to have issues and little common sence and they always seem to turn a blind eye to the realitys of life, same problen of all the clubs that were close by, that is why they are gone now.