What does model railroading mean to you?

[grandeman]

As I drove along a stretch Interstate highway today, I thought of the World's Greatest Hobby campaign. It got me thinking what model railroading means to me. I realized that in a fast paced, high pressure world where folks aren't neccessarily friendly all the time, model railroading is an escape. It's stress relief, an imaginary time machine that can take you to a simpler era. It's about modeling and creativity for sure but that's only a small part. For me the greatest part has been countless hours spent with my son (now 10 and a train nut) building, running trains, going to train shows and railfanning. There is no price that could be put on that. Through model railroading I've been able to relive a part of my childhood with my own little boy. What a privledge! With today's advancements we're having even more fun running the railroad. It's getting better by the day. Soon, our railroad will be mostly complete. If you need us, we'll be somewhere in the Rockies on the Rio Grande in 1965...

What does model railroading mean to you?

[aloco]

Locomotives.

[canazar]

Grande Man,

Have to agree with your post. I am in the same boat. Your description sounds alot like mine.
Got little one and we have become quite train lovein folks. I model for therapy, for relief, to hide, to get a sense of accomplishment. Kid watchs and helps (he is only 5) and we do the "train hunting trips too". Been in it now for only a coupe of years but, I am very happy I found the hobby.

[davekelly]

Man . . . such a simple question, but one that can evoke volumes in answers. I think the one comic strip (I think it was For Better or Worse) put it best. "It's a way of life!"

Gonna have to give this some thought.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly

Man . . . such a simple question, but one that can evoke volumes in answers. I think the one comic strip (I think it was For Better or Worse) put it best. "It's a way of life!"

I think what was in the strip someone said model railroading wasn't a matter of life or death, and the reply was something like "No, it's more important than that".

I've always been involved in hobbies, and sort of feel sorry for those who don't have any. You know the type - "I must take up a hobby some day". And you meet the nicest people!

Bob Boudreau

Bob Boudreau

[Pruitt]

Model Railroading to me means fun - in my own world, in my own way.

[Anonymous]

This is a question worthy of plenty of thought and reflection. Just like some of you guys I have a son too, he will be 3 this Friday. He took to all things trains like a duck to water, when he sits with me and we look at the latest MR magazine, flick through a catalogue, or run a loco round the track he's as quiet and calm yet bright eyed as ever I've seen him. A friend asked me the other day what I personally got out of the hobby and I explained haltingly with words and phrases like "nostalgia" "a romance with the past" "fascination with the frontier of travel by rail and steam", "boyhood memories of rail travel" “etc. Then I thought more and said "It's just a happy place to be".

Andre

[Fergmiester]

It's one of two stress releasers, the other being gardening. For me MR'ng allows me to dream and build and keep in touch with my creative side. If I'm not creating, I'm discontent with all around me.

Of all the hobbies I've embarked upon this one is by far the most diverse and stimulating.

Truly a great hobby

Fergie

[MAbruce]

It’s a hobby. It’s a creative outlet. It’s a three dimensional canvass in which to create (or recreate) any place you desire. It’s a temporary diversion from the routine & stresses of everyday life. It’s an open door to bond with your spouse, kids, grand kids, etc.

What it should not be (and unfortunately is for some)? A religion. An obsession. A contest. A source of consistent frustration. A reason to beat people over the head for silly things like not conforming to a prototype standard. Something to be argued about in an online forum.

[simon1966]

The facets that make up this hobby are varied and diverse. There is so much to be gained, and so many ways to peel back layers and imerse oneself. There are challenges and frustrations to overcome and then savor the results of success. There is the look of awe in the face of visiting children. The look of deep concentration, as my 5 year old tries to get the centering spring of a Kadee in the coupler pocket of a BB kit we are making together. The sqeals of delight when my 7 year old discovered by chance that out latest BLI locomotive "talked" to us! The connection to the past, solidified thru reading and research. A deeper understanding of the social fabric that made up the industrial powerhouse that is the USA. It is a hobby that feeds the soul in a world where fast food and instant satisfaction is king...........

[Anonymous]

Take all of these answers starting with the opening statement from grande man, tie a nice little bow around them and you have my answer.

Trevor[:)]

[Adelie]

I disagree, MAbruce, and we should argue this out to the last rivet is counted!!![:o)][:o)]

I read Grande Man's opening, and the hobby is definitely that for me. When things are all confused and a mess, I can retreat to the basement and continue creating the miniature world of the Bunter Ridge. Despite the noise of the saws or drills, it is peaceful (other than my occasional rantings of " what idiot put that ....oops, I did." But, it is more.

As MAbruce described, it is a creative outlet. Every cut of plywood, piece of roadbed, section of track, bit of wire, etc, etc takes its place in the grand scheme. I have all but stopped working on the plan and have hit a point where construction will take its own shape, roughly guided by the plan. Ravines, creeks, hills and rock formations will take shape where they did not exist on the computer program or resulting paper plan.

It is being able to plan, work, improvise and finally wind up having created something that was not there when you started. That something is not like any other something, and is greater than what made it up (the wood, rail, etc.). People always look amazed at the final products and often say "I could never do that." Hearing that, and proudly knowing, "neither could I, but I did."

It's reminiscing. My dad started me in this hobby over 35 years ago. He is long gone, but I am still close to him to this day, in part, because of doing on something that we shared.

Sometimes, it's going to a train show and just looking around. Ever look at us? What a collection we are. We are old and young, round and thin, white collar and blue collar, rural and urban, neat and messy, funny and serious, male and female, black, white, yellow, red, brown and every conceivable combination of all these things. Yet there is a common thread.

Don't mean to get philosophical, but it is not an easy question to put a finger on.

[grandeman]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MAbruce

What it should not be (and unfortunately is for some)? A religion. An obsession. A contest. A source of consistent frustration. A reason to beat people over the head for silly things like not conforming to a prototype standard. Something to be argued about in an online forum.

Gotta agree totally MAbruce. It's certainly shouldn't be a religion but model railroading, in it's proper context, is a gift from God.

One other thing we've enjoyed is the hours of thumbing through Model Railroader and the Walthers catalog. Time well spent... Heck, there's a new issue of MR to check out tonight. [:)]

[RoyalOaker]

These are all great answers,

I have always loved to create/paint new things no matter if it was model planes when I was younger or Lego's or painting D&D figures. It has always helped me unplug.

But there was always a love for trains that I cannot explain.



Now my son (3) and Daughter (5) both love trains and get excited everytime we hear one coming through our home town. It must be in the genes.

[selector]

When you talk gently and informatively to your children, and tell them of your love for anything, they know that you have room for them, too. If you include them in your hobby time, that message is reinforced beyond measure.

I did not have this hobby when my girls were young, and I really envy both your opportunties and your insight. Good for you guys for capitalizing on them.

[twhite]

Just about everyone here has posted my feelings in their answers. It's also a very neat way to vicariously re-live my youth, since I grew up with steam and my layout is 100% steam (1940-50), and being a History buff, a chance to be one of those Robber Barons of old that I admire so much, by creating my own Empire. As a friend of mine, a fellow faculty member that teaches History once said to me, after viewing my Yuba River Sub, "Heck, you might as well have your own Empire, you LOOK like Charlie Crocker, anyway!" LOL! (He's right, I do.)
Tom [:P][:P]

[Anonymous]

1. Another thing I can use to keep my kids away from the TV and video games.

2. I must have a gene in me, I can't explain it. None of my friends, or co workers, share
this fascination I have with trains. I enjoy all things outdoors ......working,
hunting, boating, fishing, shooting, atv's and dirt bikes, ........ yet, I have this urge to
come inside and mess with my ho engines and their little world.

Ken

[mondotrains]

Great topic, Grande Man!

I've really enjoyed reading all the responses and many reflect my own feelings.

For me, model railroading has been a marriage saver. I say this because my first wife, whom I was married to for 20 years, always complained that I "smothered" her. I wanted to do everything with her, including things I should have kept for myself, like stamp collecting. Imagine that poor woman being dragged to stamp collecting shows, bored out of her mind. I even dragged her into white water rafting, something she really wasn't cut out for.

Well, when I got remarried 12 years ago, I discovered model railroading soon thereafter. My second wife has no complaints about being "smothered". In fact, just today she was working on her sewing projects while I was busy assembling an Athearn Blue Box kit. Model railroading has enabled me to be happy by myself; tinkering, creating and just dreaming about my next potential purchase. And, because of model railroading, I've been able to give my wife the space she needs to enjoy her hobbies and interests. Heck, when she announces she's going out to visit a friend or to a church meeting, I say "go ahead", I've got lots of model railroading projects to keep me busy. Oh, my first wife would have just died for that freedom.

I'm 57 years old and retired. I hope I've given some of you younger married guys some insight to help preserve your marriages.

Mondo

[rtraincollector]

Its a very good question with about as many answers as there are modle railroaders as it means a little to a lot difference to us all . To me its the relaxation of running my trains and making layouts up. i could do this as a living if I could get the right boss and place to doit lol we all could some form oh the hobby . anyway I'm after almost 40 years just interested in O/O27 shhhh learning to enjoy and love HO also don't ask how come all of a sudden I have found a new love called HO lol. Right now getting ready to build a layout around my office/hole/room what ever you call it about 10 " down from the celing but not sure if I will do O or HO or both and use the closet to hide the other when its not running.

[bikerraypa]

To me, model railroading is my sanctuary. I work in a very stressful job, and have a lot of pressure from a lot of directions. My life hasn't always gone the way I'd planned, but whose has? Model railroading allows me to create the world I want to live in, where it's always the summer of 1956 and the mines are all booming and the towns are all thriving, and you can sit down by the tracks and see F units and Mikes and Pacifics and Geeps and all those other grand old locomotives. No pressure.

I like my layout best. God's layout is bigger and the scenery is more artistic, but the ops sessions can be a real pain in the butt sometimes!! [:D]

Ray out

[BMRR]

It means...... watching the joy in my grandson's eyes as the train goes around the track. It also means I can go off into my on world when I want to be alone and forget about everything else. I've been in a lot of hobbies, but MRR is the best.

Stan.

[skerber]

Model Railroading means to me the following:

1. A way to relax and be creative.
2. A way to develop myself by learning things like wiring and planning.
3. A way to minister to others. Model Trains is one hobby that tends to be selfless because everyone sees the railroad.
4. A way to "redeem the time."

Steve

[Anonymous]

TA462 - Love that profile of that Diesel Loco everytime I see it I go "yeahhh!" I was hoping to contribute further to this topic with something useful, I found a book review of "Playing WithTrains, A Passion Beyond Scale" by Sam Possey, published by Random House, 1745 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10019 $22.95. The story of the author is interesting in itself. Sam Possey was a back up Formula 1 driver in the 70's. Sam's Colorado Midland layout has featured in MR (apologies to those of you who know all about this guy - at least the book is new). Going by the reviewers account this book manages to articulate a mans lifelong passion with the hobby in often amusing, insightful and relateable recollections. I also mention this because some of the reviewers own comments struck a cord with me. "After a rough day, it's great to come home, grab a cold one, head for the layout room and turn on the trains, kick back, relax and just watch them run. It doesn't matter the scale, era, style or prototype we favour, whether we have skillfully created accurate scenes and scenery or partake with a grass mat on a sheet of plywood, it's a ru***o simply watch model trains run." I like and collect prototypes from at least 3 different countries who's native landscapes and scenery are so unlike each other, that to some they will always look out of place on my planned layout. I simply cannot deny myself the joy of owning them though.

[Anonymous]

Model railroading for me is pure enjoyment. This hobby you have mechnical, electrical, electronics, building, artistic expressions, operating, and model a perticuar era, etc. I have a chance meet new people with the same interest and goals and about trains. The most of all isFUN.

[grandeman]

You know guys, I've been thinking about this topic some more. A couple of times lately, we've had a friend over to check out our railroad, talk trains and visit us in our home. Another great aspect of the hobby is quality friendships. Some of them are MR based in that it's the common denominator, if it weren't there, the friendship never would have been. Tonight a buddy of ours came over. He has a lot of stress in his life but sat there like a kid at Christmas and "got away from it all". He has much more invested in the hobby than we do but really just lost himself for a while. Another bright spot in the World's Greatest Hobby. And Ray, if you're reading this, come back anytime buddy. You're always welcome here. Oh yeah, Canadian Pacific colors look good on the Grande! [8D]

[trainboyH16-44]

To sum it up, everything! Almost anything can be in model railroading, and so it can be suited to individual tastes, which is why it's the worlds greatest hobby.
Matthew

[espeefoamer]

I can get away from it all and run some trains[:)].

[Anonymous]

Model railroading to me is a creative release and a place where I can really use my imagination to create my own version of "reality." It's a place where time stands still.

It is a great source of relaxation and gives me lots of satisfaction. I just love dreaming up new details to add to the scenes on my layout.

[fievel]

Model railroading is an education for me. I have learned a lot of things, such as
carpentry and electrical skills. I have learned that I have more creative talent
than I previously thought. I have a very interesting and satisfying hobby.
It can be frustrating sometimes, but those problems are soon forgotten
when I push forward and conquer them. The money, time and work that I
have invested is well spent. I could attend hours and hours of therapy
sessions, or I can model. I can attend college, and hear someone elses
version of the world, or I can design and construct my own.

Model RR's give me the ability to "travel" to places in the world that I
probably will never have the time or resources to do. It gives me the pleasure
and experience of "working" in an industry that I either don't have the ability
or opportunity to have. Now I can run a railroad, or be an "employee" at a
grain elevator. Or any other industry. There are no wars, murders, perverts,
or similiar horrors in the layout room. Just peace and relief from all the
stress of the world we live in. That's what a hobby should do. Make you happy,
if only for a while. And it's great to look forward to. [:)]

[TrainFreak409]

Model Railroading, let me think. To me, model railroading is a way to do something that I have not, and may not in the future. Run trains, manage a railroad, and create my own world. In real life, I would never be able to control a nine car express passenger train using a CSX veranda turbine. Nor would I have the chance to pull that same train with a Japanese National Railway EF-58.

Model Railroading is also a creativity outlet. Well, correction, trains as a whole are a creativity outlet. The majority of my imagination has been applied to trains in some way, and once I get space, time, material, and MONEY to do so, it will be focused on model railroading. And hopefully, I will have control over the fictional locomotives and rolling stock that I have designed in the past. Like my nuclear turbines, for example.

"Model Railroading isn't just a hobby, it's a way of life," as so many have said before.

~[8]~ TrainFreak409 ~[8]~