Too many sometimes seem to lose sight of the fact that above all, a hobby should be fun. Luckily, everyone defines fun differently - if they didn't, every time I went to do something fun, it would be too crowded because everyone else in the world also thinks the same thing is fun.
Even those doing futuristic lunar or martian trains - unless you just stepped out of a police call box with a handful of photos showing what the train on mars in 2745 looks like, you have no idea either.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Yes... RAIL ON!
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You can get so much fun from building and running trains. I think most of the nitpicking comes from people who have not built a complete layout.
Once you find out how hard it is to complete ANY layout, suddenly everyone's efforts seem a lot more impressive.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Right on, brother!
While I haven't been put down for my choices of railroad and rolling stock, I feel as though elitism in any community (not just in Model Railroading) is one of the driving factors for why people don't like to join them. I don't understand why people feel as though because they have that one, ultra rare brass boxcar; they can just step all over anyone who doesn't have it. Or just beacuse someone has a fleet of stock Athearn Bluebox or Bachman engines that they are 'inadequate'.
Also, I read somewhere that a person was getting a hard time at school because of their hobby some years ago. That may be another reason why. Students are jerks, and they'll put anyone down if they have an interest that they deem as 'different' or 'odd'.
Although, I can't say anything on that, because my model railroading hobby earned me a nickame (Trainman) and a few more friends at school...
All of this has been spun so dry by now that the folds and creases are permanent.
I just read an article by someone who was getting crap for their choice of rolling stock, locomotive, structures, etc for their model railroad. I also read an article that exclaims the younger crowd is shying away from the rails and the hobby is dying. I have some thoughts on this.
1. If you want to really enjoy this hobby, tell the folks that want to point out your modeling flaws to catch the next train out of Dodge. It's YOUR railroad. I had a similar problem when I got into the hobby and that was my final solution. I have since become fully immersed, found favor among the community, and started my own model railroad vlog on YouTube. Rail-on people!
2. I bought my first train set a couple years ago for under $200. I have since added too many dollars to count, but a person CAN get into this hobby relatively inexpensively so long as Mr. Rivetcounter doesn't give them a load of crap for playing with "toy trains". My point is, this hobby can be expensive but it does not HAVE to be. The BEST part of model railroading is running the trains!
3. I also read that there are some that would love to jump in but they do not have the space. Friends, that is what N and Z scale are for. Seriously, you can pack a whole lot into a SHELF if you use your imagination. My N scale layout started out 12" deep and was 50" above the floor and ran 20' total along two walls of a bedroom. Tons of hours of modeling and operations. Seriously, do not let your perceived limited space constraints keep you away from the best hobby ever created. Rail-on!
4. I live in SoCal and I really wanted to hang out with a model railroad club and do some OPS. I met with a number of clubs at shows and even went to a club meeting. Here's my problem, who the hell wants to only run OPS at a train show? That's not OPS, it's trains running round and round - which I do on my own layout. I am working on putting together an operational N scale club in SoCal. It will take some time to get off the ground but I enjoy OPS, hanging out, and showing off the good stuff! Yeah railers!
If model railroading is going to "die" it will be after I have gone off to the great switching yard in the sky. Until then, I intend to Rail-on until they pull my DCC controller from my cold dead fingers. :)
Thanks and see you at the round house.
On YouTube at It's My Railroad