Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Looks like I'll be spending more time on the layout

3599 views
50 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Looks like I'll be spending more time on the layout
Posted by John-NYBW on Friday, March 13, 2020 8:58 AM

With the current health crisis encouraging people to stay home as much as possible and so many other activities being canceled, that means more time in the layout room. It's good to have something to occupy our time until this situation passes, which I'm sure it will. Nobody is immune from this but we can lessen our chances of getting infected by taking common sense steps. It's not practical to avoid all contact with the public so whenever I go out, I keep a large bottle of hand sanitizer in the car which I use before and after contact with others. Our bowling group is still hitting the lanes every Tuesday and Thursday and golf season is just around the corner. With sporting events beign canceled, there isn't much else to do but walk the dogs, watch movies on cable, and work on the layout. 

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Harrison on Friday, March 13, 2020 9:45 AM

My life got cancelled the other day due to the coronavirus, so I'll be spending more time working on my layout too. Even the St. Albans train show this saturday was cancelled. Crying 

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 13, 2020 10:02 AM

Everything, everywhere seems to be getting cancelled.  The list grows constantly, same here in WI.

I've got plenty to do with out going anywhere!  Just the normal trip to the local grocery store.

Train time!  Yes

Mike.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 869 posts
Posted by davidmurray on Friday, March 13, 2020 10:14 AM

I just learned that the Kingston, Ontario train show this weekend has been cancelled.

Our club is planning an open house in April, and our president, a retired Paramedic and biological emergency co-ordinator  feels no need for us to cancel it.

 

David Murray from Oshawa, Ontario Canada
  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Posted by Brammy on Friday, March 13, 2020 10:29 AM

I honestly don’t know what to do. I went to the club last night and the usual people were there. I want to go tomorrow when it’s only going to be a few people. I can’t tell if I’m tempting fate and being irresponsible by going, or giving in to herd panic by staying home.

 

I expect Greenberg at the end of March to be cancelled. RailRun is also cancelled.

  • Member since
    January 2018
  • From: Douglas AZ.
  • 635 posts
Posted by Little Timmy on Friday, March 13, 2020 10:46 AM

Who would have thought, that model railroading could save our lives ?

" I'm not playing with trains ... I'm preventing the spread of Coronovirus! " 

Rust...... It's a good thing !

  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Wyoming, where men are men, and sheep are nervous!
  • 3,392 posts
Posted by Pruitt on Friday, March 13, 2020 11:09 AM

Unwarranted fear is a powerful thing.

More people in the US died in car accidents yesterday morning than have died in the US from COVID-19, but I don't hear about people refusing to drive because of that.

Be careful, yes. Take common sense precautions, yes. But stop living in the meantime? No way.

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Friday, March 13, 2020 11:10 AM

Harrison

My life got cancelled the other day due to the coronavirus, so I'll be spending more time working on my layout too. Even the St. Albans train show this saturday was cancelled. Crying 

 

I knew it was apocolyptic when they canceled March Madness. I think the only thing that would be bigger news than that would be if they canceled the Super Bowl. I'm just a casual basketball fan but the gut punch for me was the Masters announcing they were postponing the event until an as yet unannounced date. If I could watch only one sporting event a year, it would be the Masters. It's my understanding Augusta National closes after the Masters and doesn't reopen until fall. The summer heat is too stressful on the strain of grass. I wouldn't be surprised if they schedule it for the week after the Ryder Cup since all the top European players would be over here.

I have some strong opinions about all these closings but since they don't like these threads becoming political, I'll keep them to myself. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: North Dakota
  • 9,592 posts
Posted by BroadwayLion on Friday, March 13, 2020 11:25 AM

Corona Virus ??? WAKE UP, 90 people  die in car crashes every day and you are worried about a little bug with a 2% chance of dying after contracting?

 

Get a GRIP, the WORLD is not going to end over this!

The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.

Here there be cats.                                LIONS with CAMERAS

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Friday, March 13, 2020 12:10 PM

Little Timmy

Who would have thought, that model railroading could save our lives ?

" I'm not playing with trains ... I'm preventing the spread of Coronovirus! "

 
Best comment of the day.  I need to go talk to my wife.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    December 2014
  • 443 posts
Posted by Wolf359 on Friday, March 13, 2020 12:17 PM

BroadwayLion

Corona Virus ??? WAKE UP, 90 people  die in car crashes every day and you are worried about a little bug with a 2% chance of dying after contracting?

 

Get a GRIP, the WORLD is not going to end over this!

 

Well said Lion!Bow This whole thing has turned into a tempest in a teapot. Can we all just get back to the trains and leave the woes of the world, (real or imagined) to other sites/forums?

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, March 13, 2020 12:41 PM

I lost my job at exactly the right time!

All I need to do is stay home with my wife, play with trains, and prevent the spread of the virus.

I am doing my part.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, March 13, 2020 12:52 PM

BroadwayLion

Corona Virus ??? WAKE UP, 90 people  die in car crashes every day and you are worried about a little bug with a 2% chance of dying after contracting?

 

Get a GRIP, the WORLD is not going to end over this!

 

With your connections, you probably know the end-state?  That's good because the rest of us don't know what it will be.  The information coming from governments is spotty at best, and the infection rate is about ten times what the flu is (if you are inclined to doubt that figure, go to Joe Rogan's Experience on youtube and see the video from yesterday or the day before with the expert on disease tracking, Michael Osterhomme.  He came up with that figure.)

Look, by the numbers, few of us have to go crazy and buy all the AA batteries our plastic will buy for us, or all the (Good Lord!!) toilet tissue.  But anyone with a conscience who is outward oriented, and community minded, will know that our actions might save the life of a vulnerable person.  That's what society offers...mutual protection.  By taking some prudent precautions, fewer of our vulnerable neighbours might suffer or pay the ultimate price.

  • Member since
    November 2013
  • 2,771 posts
Posted by snjroy on Friday, March 13, 2020 1:04 PM

Yeah well, thanks to the Internet, I will be teleworking when the peak hits, so no break for me.

But what really got me mad yesterday, was the fact that they ended the amateur hockey season in our province right in the middle of my boys' playoffs. I am NOT pleased about that!

Simon 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 869 posts
Posted by davidmurray on Friday, March 13, 2020 2:42 PM

Lion and Selector:

2% is the death rate for all corona-19 cases.  Older. over weight, diabetic, smoker, of all three it goes up to close to ten percent.

Don't panic, but this is a herd defense thing.  If you think you are sick, stay home and try to arrange a test.  If a neighbout is sick, do their grocery run for them, and set it on their porch, and ring the bell.

The monestary will do much the same as this for a sick member.  Try to help.

 

David Murray from Oshawa, Ontario Canada
  • Member since
    October 2001
  • From: OH
  • 17,574 posts
Posted by BRAKIE on Friday, March 13, 2020 3:03 PM

Pruitt

Unwarranted fear is a powerful thing.

More people in the US died in car accidents yesterday morning than have died in the US from COVID-19, but I don't hear about people refusing to drive because of that.

Be careful, yes. Take common sense precautions, yes. But stop living in the meantime? No way.

 

Every year there is a new germ to kill us.. Recall all the viruses over the years and how 2000 and the Malaysia calender was going to kill us all?

All through that time I went to work,attended the local railroad club meetings and enjoyed life.. I'm not overlyconcerned about this new virus.

 

Larry

Conductor.

Summerset Ry.


"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt  Safety First!"

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Friday, March 13, 2020 3:06 PM

davidmurray

Lion and Selector:

2% is the death rate for all corona-19 cases.  Older. over weight, diabetic, smoker, of all three it goes up to close to ten percent.

I'm not sure that is accurate. We know the number of deaths but we are guessing at the number of cases there are because not everyone who has the virus has been diagnosed. Without knowing the denominator, you can't calculate the percentage. The death rate might be significantly lower or it might not be much lower at all. We just don't know. 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • 869 posts
Posted by davidmurray on Friday, March 13, 2020 5:22 PM

John-NYBW
I'm not sure that is accurate. We know the number of deaths but we are guessing at the number of cases there are because not everyone who has the virus has been diagnosed. Without knowing the denominator, you can't calculate the percentage. The death rate might be significantly lower or it might not be much lower at all. We just don't know.

This is very true.  I was using the data coming out of China.  The total deaths in Italy are also scarey, no matter the percentage.

 

David Murray from Oshawa, Ontario Canada
  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 2,572 posts
Posted by John-NYBW on Friday, March 13, 2020 5:46 PM

BRAKIE

 

 
Pruitt

Unwarranted fear is a powerful thing.

More people in the US died in car accidents yesterday morning than have died in the US from COVID-19, but I don't hear about people refusing to drive because of that.

Be careful, yes. Take common sense precautions, yes. But stop living in the meantime? No way.

 

 

 

Every year there is a new germ to kill us.. Recall all the viruses over the years and how 2000 and the Malaysia calender was going to kill us all?

All through that time I went to work,attended the local railroad club meetings and enjoyed life.. I'm not overlyconcerned about this new virus.

 

 

My hunch is you are right. When this all settles down, it may prove not to be any worse than previous pandemics. Apparently the people who are making decisions to shutdown so many activities are doing so out of an abundance of caution. It doesn't help that the media seems to be fanning the panic flames. It's good for ratings. I'm taking what I consider to be prudent precautions but I'm not going to cocoon in my house for the next two months. Life goes on. 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: west coast
  • 7,667 posts
Posted by rrebell on Friday, March 13, 2020 8:46 PM

What is really happening is this is the first time we have been able to track a pathagin back to patiant zero or close to it. This is scary for some as they see how viruses spread, all viruses.  Funny (not) but this is what every horror fan has expected, only more deadly. Imagine if it was the Spanish flu.

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Ontario Canada
  • 3,574 posts
Posted by Mark R. on Friday, March 13, 2020 9:04 PM

People who just stick their head in the sand are in a prime position to get their ass kicked. Smile, Wink & Grin

Mark.

¡ uʍop ǝpısdn sı ǝɹnʇɐuƃıs ʎɯ 'dlǝɥ

  • Member since
    June 2002
  • 569 posts
Posted by drgwcs on Friday, March 13, 2020 9:18 PM

Well just got word that we have to even cancel out train club meetings for the next two weeks as all city buildings are shut down. The Greensboro show has shut down. We have not shut down church services yet as there is no case near us. If we do I guess I will get ahead a couple of weeks on sermons (I'm the pastor)  and build some kits.

  • Member since
    December 2017
  • 64 posts
Posted by drciesel on Friday, March 13, 2020 9:21 PM

snjroy
But what really got me mad yesterday, was the fact that they ended the amateur hockey season in our province right in the middle of my boys' playoffs. I am NOT pleased about that!

Imagine that! Cancelling the boys' amateur hockey playoffs! Could it get any worse! Good to see some self-absorbed parents are on high alert.

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Friday, March 13, 2020 9:39 PM

Here we go!  Whistling

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2011
  • From: NS(ex PRR) Mon Line.
  • 1,395 posts
Posted by Jimmy_Braum on Saturday, March 14, 2020 6:14 AM

The best news Ive heard was: Asthma is NOT an increased  risk of contracting or proving fatal.  I've got asthma so that concerned me. Obviously, I'm not gonna do anything stupid (still wipe all surfaces with wipes, stay away from sick people, keep up my vitamen C,etc), but im not going into hiding unless it gets seriously bad. 

  In any rate, im going to scenic express tomorrow (division meeting), and LOADING UP on scenic supplies- just in case my workplace closes or the quarentine is put in place. 

Keep up the good fight all

(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).  

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Saturday, March 14, 2020 10:58 AM

I would just observe that model railroading in general has a disproportionate population of the risk population for the virus - older, overweight, and in many cases frail elderly.

In any event if we are going to hunker down and concentrate on model trains instead of going to sporting events, concerts, plays, and meetings that have been canceled, it is a good thing that our model railroading techniques do not utilize toilet paper or potatoes, because the local grocery store has been out of both for several days now.  At least gas costs less as we drive from empty store to empty store ...

But a friend who works in a hobby shop did tell me that the last couple of days have been busy.  People are stocking up!   This is no time to be running out of ACC or plastic solvent cements, but don't panic about it.    

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 2,360 posts
Posted by kasskaboose on Saturday, March 14, 2020 3:20 PM

SeeYou190

I lost my job at exactly the right time!

 

 
Terribly sorry that you've lost your job.  Another one is very close.  Having been there too many times, I encourage you to not allow the setback to impact your daily life.
 
Speaking of, I agree that doing trains is a great way to avoid public places.  Most of the country's major public events are cancelled, so we have to find alternative plans.  Anyone want to babysit my three kids?!
  • Member since
    February 2008
  • 8,853 posts
Posted by maxman on Saturday, March 14, 2020 3:56 PM

rrebell
Imagine if it was the Spanish flu.

Imagine if it was the Spanish Fly.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 4610 Metre's North of the Fortyninth on the left coast of Canada
  • 9,352 posts
Posted by BATMAN on Saturday, March 14, 2020 4:03 PM

Suddenly all those kits on my shelf look pretty appealing and my guilt complex is fading.Laugh

Brent

"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, March 14, 2020 4:23 PM

kasskaboose
Terribly sorry that you've lost your job. Another one is very close. Having been there too many times, I encourage you to not allow the setback to impact your daily life.

The job loss is not a set back, and not bad news. I want to avoid getting into the details here, plus there is an NDA, but it was much better than keeping my job.

I am going to take 1-3 years off, finish my stalled house remodel project, and start my layout.

If I live frugally, I might never need to go back to work.

John Allen managed to live frugally and build the GORRE & DAPHETID for twenty years. It would be a dream to get to do that. But, John Allen was not married to my wife.

I'm just so glad I did not buy that $400,000.00 house that was tempting me. I would be in a much different situation now.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!