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How do you get your funding for your railroad?

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  • Member since
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  • From: Chicago
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Posted by simonjeff1 on Friday, February 4, 2005 1:12 PM
Oh, I hate to do this, but.......

I have a great job, and after normal expenses I just go to the LHS and buy whatever I want. And the guys there are great. They set aside everything they know I would want, and when I show up on Saturday morning, they retrieve the bin with my name on it and I pony up.

Life's too short to ration happiness. And my trains are my therapy.

Anyone buying this......anyone.......anyone........Beuller
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Posted by vsmith on Friday, February 4, 2005 12:14 PM
How do you get your funding for your railroad?


Selling body parts to medical science...what? doesnt everybody do this?[(-D][:-,][D)]

   Have fun with your trains

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 4, 2005 12:10 PM
We are looking into chocolate trains! I`ll keep you all posted!
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  • From: Fairmount (Syracuse) NY
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Posted by JPowell on Friday, February 4, 2005 9:38 AM
I ask the CFO how the books are looking. Usually I get a 'great' out of her...and then a 'Why?' Once she hears train table, she gives me a figure to not exceed and then off I go. Usually I stay WELL below my alotted amount!
JP

//signed// John Powell President / CEO CNY Transportation Corp (fictional)

http://s155.photobucket.com/albums/s303/nuts4sports34/

Hunter - When we met in January of 2000, you were just a 6 week old pup who walked his way into this heart of mine as the only runt in the litter who would come over to me. And today, I sit here and tell you I am sorry we had to put you down. It was the best thing for you and also the right thing to do. May you now rest in peace and comfort. Love, Dad. 8 June 2010

I love you and miss you Mom. Say hi to everyone up there for me. Rest in peace and comfort. Love, John. 29 March 2017

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Posted by SteelMonsters on Friday, February 4, 2005 9:36 AM
Can I pay my Visa with my MasterCard?

[xx(]
-Marc
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  • From: Rhode Island
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Posted by davekelly on Friday, February 4, 2005 9:19 AM
Visa is such a good friend. When I was deployed to Mogadishu Somalia as part of Restore Hope, the first mail I received was from Visa! I guess they were just hoping that I was safe and sound. What great guys! (Oh yeah, they wanted my monthly payment also lol).
If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
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Posted by SilverSpike on Friday, February 4, 2005 8:56 AM
QUOTE: [i]Originally posted by Darren[i/]
Ok..just to let you all know..Our new site url is up and running www.samschocolate.com


Model railroading and chocolate? Hummmmm........

Chocolate.... railroad.... chocolate.... railroad..... chocolate..... railroad..... railroad.... chocolate.....

Oh, where was I.....
........day dreaming of a railroad made of chocolate!

Now that is one food group I left off the 'favorite food' poll post!!!!!!!

Hey, I bet a chocolate shaped loco NPR berky would be neat!

Oh, my wandering mind........

Back to topic!

I use my trusty Visa, MC, American Express....... Don't leave home without it, .... err them!

- Ryan

Ryan Boudreaux
The Piedmont Division
Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger era
Cajun Chef Ryan

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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 4, 2005 7:41 AM
Ok..just to let you all know..Our new site url is up and running www.samschocolate.com
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 9:44 PM
I work in the sewage ditches on Qualan 4. After several years or so, I have enough to buy a woodland scenics tree. Sometimes two!
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  • From: Rhode Island
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Posted by davekelly on Thursday, February 3, 2005 3:47 PM
Jer,

Sounds like the Controller there should be the CEO. Hopefully the Controller gets rewarded with such bonuses as dinner out, flowers etc. I hear they like that.

Tim,

As a newbie you sure catch on fast!!

As for me. Well, the railroad had a managerial split (divorce) a couple of years ago which saw the budget increase quite a bit (perhaps too much lol). Revenues however have decreased significantly (lost job) but the railroad's perspective CFO (fiance) seems to be very very receptive to at least a reasonable budget.

If you ain't having fun, you're not doing it right and if you are having fun, don't let anyone tell you you're doing it wrong.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 3:34 PM
I get my money from allowance.
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Posted by howmus on Thursday, February 3, 2005 3:30 PM
As CEO of the SLO&W, I go to the board of trustees and propose a bond issue through our local VISA fund. So far I have never been turned down! Of course, I am the only voting member of the committee. I do have to admit that some months the mortgage, heat and light, taxes, and sometimes little extras like food reduce the amount available for expanding the empire. I try not to let it bother me! LOL

It is a lot easier being retired on a good pension rather than 20 years ago trying to raise a family and get permission from my wife to spend money on "toys". There was "our money" which I earned (and she managed), and her money which she earned (which of course was HER MONEY!). "Our Money" paid all the bills, and "her money" went for extras that she got to decide. After all it was (I think I already mentioned) "her money"!

Ray Seneca Lake, Ontario, and Western R.R. (S.L.O.&W.) in HO

We'll get there sooner or later! 

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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 3:18 PM
Works well for me. Just me, the lady, and our cold-blooded pets with a big old house all to ourselves. We have seperate budgets (splitting the cost of our shared bills) and a shared savings to back us up.

Considering neither one of us shoulders the burden of any given bill we're free to spend our extra money as we please. After I've contributed to various accounts that make sure I won't have to live in a gutter after I retire I am able to give myself $300-$600 a month to spend on railroading...if I ever get to a point where I need more than that I think it's time to step back and do a reality/priority check!
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  • From: Cherry Valley, Ma
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Posted by grayfox1119 on Thursday, February 3, 2005 2:57 PM
I retired!!! There was little time or $$ when I was raining 4 kids, and then later it was 8 grandkids, 5 of which lived with us 7x24 for a period of time. Now, I can plan and budget for two people, a cat and a dog......AAAAANNNNND MRR'ing , Yessssss!!!
Dick If you do what you always did, you'll get what you always got!! Learn from the mistakes of others, trust me........you can't live long enough to make all the mistakes yourself, I tried !! Picture album at :http://www.railimages.com/gallery/dickjubinville Picture album at:http://community.webshots.com/user/dickj19 local weather www.weatherlink.com/user/grayfox1119
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 2:54 PM
I have a decent jobs, a stay-at-home wife, a three year old and one more on the way. To fund my spending, we sat down with our budget, and found how much we could afford each month (It turned out to be $80/month). On the first of the month, I transfer that money to my Paypal account and go from there. It works, and I never have to feel guilty when I come home with itmes from my LHS or when a package arrives in the mail from 1st Place Hobbies.

Mike
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Posted by lupo on Thursday, February 3, 2005 11:09 AM
got hit by a car and a lawyer did the rest ![:D][D)]
L [censored] O
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Posted by cwclark on Thursday, February 3, 2005 10:17 AM
today's new word boys and girls :..can you say Mastercard???...too bad i have to spend a perfectly good day at this place called "Work"....Mr. Mastercard gets real ugly with his interest charges if i don't work and earn money to feed his unsatiable appetite...Chuck

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Posted by ereimer on Thursday, February 3, 2005 9:03 AM
i have this thing called a credit card .... not sure how it works but stores take it then give it back along with whatever i want . it's pretty cool really , everyone should have one

ok now to reality ...
i'm self employed and i try to set aside 10% of whatever i make for 'entertainment' . this includes movies , dinners out , music etc. actually having any left when i head over to the LHS is rare so my usual purchase is a couple of magazines
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 5:05 AM
Way back when I was a teenage model railroader I wanted to have some passes and other stationery for my model railroad. Myself and two other friends chipped in $25.00 each and sent away for a hand operated printing press. We used it after school to print business cards, tickets, envelopes, letterheads and paid for it within a short while. We would do this after school, and my share of the income helped me pay for my hobby items. And I was able to print my own supplies. I also had a paper route and a weekly allowance to help in paying for my stuff.

I still have the printing press and associated equipment - it's not very big, sits on a table - but no longer use it because using a computer requires much less effort.

Bob Boudreau
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Posted by challenger3802 on Thursday, February 3, 2005 5:04 AM
Pay yourself, leave it alone, when you have enough leave it a bit longer, then spend it when you know you're not going to miss the money.

A good line to follow often overlooked in the case of money-burning-a-hole-in-the-pocket syndrome!

Ian
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Posted by Jetrock on Thursday, February 3, 2005 2:45 AM
One of those lovely job things. However, it's nice to get paid for something that you like to do. Lately I have had a bit more money to spend on hobby items since the amount of money I spent on cigarettes has dropped once again to zero--so that extra $20 a week goes straight to the hobby shop!
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 1:51 AM
Slooooooooooowwwwwwwwwllllllllly...

I've been saving for a hobby shop trip for weeks now. I had enough ca***o buy some turf and a station platform.

[;)]
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Posted by TurboOne on Thursday, February 3, 2005 1:34 AM
I don't spend anything. Really. New wood just appears from the wood fairy. I never buy trains. Ever. They appear and then I've had it for years works. My buddy gave it to me to check out. Its a loaner.

Tim [;)]
WWJD
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Posted by CBQ_Guy on Thursday, February 3, 2005 1:01 AM
I just buy what I want, when I want, trying not to overdo it. [^]

In the lean years I engaged in what I called "creative accounting". [;)]

Of course, this only works when you control the budget! [8D]
"Paul [Kossart] - The CB&Q Guy" [In Illinois] ~ Modeling the CB&Q and its fictional 'Illiniwek River-Subdivision-Branch Line' in the 1960's. ~
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Posted by Bikerdad on Thursday, February 3, 2005 12:50 AM
toiling in the Slave Pits of the Undercity.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 3, 2005 12:32 AM
I am on a subsidised outlay each month. (Allowance) I beef up my purchasing power via ebay. I usually plan carefully what I will get. Fortunately I have a pair of very good LHS's that assists me with anything I am trying to find.

Once in a while I go outside the limitations of the allowance and usually repay it in form of extra honey do jobs or special service for a period of time.
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  • From: Youngstown, Ohio
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Posted by darkstar974 on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 10:56 PM
I have to ask the CFO of the PB&Y for monitary donations followed by filling out paperwork in triplicate lol
trains, trains, trains I love trains
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Posted by johncolley on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 10:41 PM
Sneak and lie? Not quite yet, but I do fudge a little now and then. Actually I budget a small amount a month until I can make any major purchase. One way, if the vendor is willing is with a PayPal subscription...so much a month. Some vendors will work with you this way, some won't send the article until it is fully paid for.
jc5729
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 10:34 PM
Well, there's the monthly allowance, and the occasional working for $10/hour. However, this money must cover all my clothing, school supplies, model railroading supplies, and rocketry supplies, so it is not as much as it sounds.
Reed
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Posted by jlcjrbal on Wednesday, February 2, 2005 10:02 PM
I usually take the change from my kids banks and fill them with slugs...

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