The Railyard

[Anonymous]

I notced how the Coffee House has gotten such great resposes, so i thought we should have a place o find out a little about where we are all from and what we do, what we model, why, and all that fun stuff. Just have fun and see how things go. Well I am in the USAF, stationed in Alaska. Ive been a railroad enthusiast for many years, since i was a kid. And now im just beginning an N scale layout. more to come with the progress. How about you guys?

John

[cwclark]

I live in a little country town in Texas near Houston , run HO gauge first and second generation diesel modeled after the SP and UP merger in a 23' x 25' room, got out of the navy way back when and have been employed by the same company for the past 23 years in the steam boiler and water business...I've been into trains since i can remember but started modeling them in 1976 with my first layout on a sheet of 4' x 8' plywood....chuck

[whitman500]

I work in downtown New York in financial services and live in the suburbs (I get to take a train to work everday). I was into HO as a kid but was out of the hobby for 10+ years while living in a series of dorm rooms and apartments. Got back in about 18 months ago when I finally got a house and had the room to build a layout. Did my first one a little too quickly and so went back, did lots of research, and started over with the goal of doing it right the second time.

[SOU Fan]

I live in parker Colorado. I am in high school, and play hockey. I model the Southern railway. No specific time period yet. My layout size is 18" by 42". I'm planning a larger layout to go in the basement.

[Anonymous]

I'm in Hickory, NC. I have been in the hobby about 2 years and got started because my oldest son aged out of Thomas and wanted more trains. We have a 5'X9' layout and we run Southern and Norfolk Southern. I am the fourth generation in a small awning shop and my title varies depending on what day of the week it is.[:D]

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I'm currenlty in going to school at Cal Poly studying computer engineering. I've been really into model railroading for something like 8 years. Loved trains long before that. I dont have a layout in my appartment down at school, but do have one back home in the bay area. I model mostaly Southern Pacific with a bit of Western Pacific Union Pacific, Santa Fe and what ever else I happen to feel like running that day. Besides model RRing i'm into electronics, guitar, and photography. One of my favorite pass times in San Luis Obispo is taking train photos. I have a few of them on my website here: http://www.trainweb.org/mattstrains
Well thats a lil about me.
~matt

[Milwhiawatha]

I live in city near Milwaukee WI yes folks I have the best world, I live 15 minutes from Kalmbach and 45 minutes from Walthers.I am part time unofficial care giver to my mother, I run a small hoby business which I make Model Railroad Decals, I have a layout basically around the room sizes vary so I cant get accurate dimesions the rooms is 18X12' with an addtional after thought upper layer to be added. I model mainly fallen flags time is now. The place is fictional. I also model two Fictional railroads. Protoypes include Milw Road, Wisconsin Central, ATSF, SOO, mixed with some soon to be BNSF which I willt hen retire and rebadge the ATSF unit.

[Medina1128]

I model the Clinton-Golden Valley RR, a fictional short line branch of the Missouri Pacific. I can barely remember our first train layout. The trains were Marklin that my dad bought while he was stationed in France in the Air Force. It was mounted on a sheet of plywood and I remember the turnouts were all remotely wired. I got into model railroading on my own in the 80s when I built the fictional Medina Valley RR, that shared trackage with Santa Fe. Trains still hold my fascination to this day. It was only after getting into model railroading that I found out that diesel locomotives do not use the diesel engines in the locomotives to power the loco. They actually use them to turn generators to make electricity to power the traction motors that actually turn the wheels.

[waltersrails]

Im from southern IL

My site http://ztrainman.tripod.com/

[NZRMac]

I'm an appliance service tech (whiteware) Christchurch New Zealand. I'm into HO and have started building in my 25 X 17' room on the end of the garage. A freelance layout of my local prototype, with N&W and SP as the main RR companies.

other hobbies transam car racing, mowing lawns.

Ken.

[Anonymous]

I live in western Wis. on the mighty Miss. I was a hardcore Soo LIne guy. But now I model what I want. I love builtings, big ones. I have a large papermill, right now I am working on Walthers new golden valley cement its huge about 2ft x 4ft. If you can't tell from by online name I really like switchers, the most over looked but hard working engines on the railroads.

[dragonriversteel]

I live in Beaufort,SC.....the bowels of the south if you will. I'm from Oswego,NY ,moved down south over ten years ago. I model in HO scale and have been involved with model trains for over20 years.

My railroads that I model are Southern and Norfolk Southern and the mill locomotives.

I am a scratch builder of industrial machines to go with my steel mill, modeling steel means two things. If theres not a kit ,one has to scratch build....end quote.

I work full time as a heavy equipment operator and to school for civil engineering degree.


Patrick
Beaufort,SC
Dragon River Steel Corp {DRSC}
GO HO !!!!!!!!

[sledgehammer]

Im from River Glade New Brunswick Canada. I'm a autobody technichian ( is the proper term) to me Im just a Bodyman. I have been modeling for about 3 years. I mdel HO scale. My try to build an N scale coffe table layout this year. The name I picked for my railroad is J & T Alantic Railroad. After the name of my kids.

In the last year I really got heavy int modeling. Had some extra hoobies i had to give up before I could model trains.

My layout room is 9 x16 with shelves all arout the out side of the room. I have purchesed A DCC unit this year and am very pleased with it . I bought and NCE power pro. I was expensive but I think it was worth it.

I plan on running a coal mine, gravel company and a lumber mill as well. I might have a little wharehouse district as well. Im still in the process of laying track. I have my main line done with all of the sidings in place and my secondary route as well. Im hoping to start my line to my companies in aprill after the train show. My local hobbie shop Has a no tax day on the day of the show that will save me some money.

[myred02]

I live in Hopkinsville, KY which is about an hour and a half from the nearest LHS (Aardvark's Model Train Shop in Gallatin, TN near Nashville if you don't count the Hobby Lobby in Clarksville, TN) I model the CSX mostly, but don't be surprised if you see a few UPs or Conrails running around my 6' x 24' layout. [8D]

-Brandon

[Anonymous]

I guess my handle gives away where I'm at. [:D]

I'm a health care professional, returning to the hobby after years of higher education and professional training. I'm amazed my HO Athearn stuff still runs after accumulating 10 years of dust on them. Starting to put together my freelanced northeastern road and roster (Conrail days).

[Anonymous]

OK lets see here
Active Navy in Meteorology Stationed in Asheville, NC Yaeh I know the Navy in the mountains but hey u cant beat the orders
Been getting back in the hobby after a 5 year rest (being on a ship)
Model The local railyard but Favorite Company is NS.
So there is my fun

Nick

[Anonymous]

I'm from Cheltenham, Pa. I can throw a rock from my backyard and it'll land in Philadelphia. I'm building my second layout in HO a freelance RR with some local prototypical features circa 1970. Right now I'm working on the Engine and rolling stock service facility.
Served in the Army 1981 - 1987
I remember as a kid watching Conrail power pulling ex Penn Central, Erie Lackawana, Reading and Pennsy rolling stock around these parts.

[CP5415]

I'm from Oshawa, On but I grew up in Toronto, lived for a bit in Sarnia, ON in the early to mid 90's where the itch to model again grew after seeing an ad for the local club in the paper which I joined. It was here where I learned about Athearn & haven't look back since.

I'm in the process of building a freelance RR using the Canadian Pacific as a starting point. I've been a CP fan for as long as I can remember. Not too fond of the "other" Canadian Class 1 but I suppose the CPR needs some compitition.

Gordon

[DavidGSmith]

I am a retired Fire fighter,worked in Newmarket Ont but live just south of Barrie (about 1hr north of Toronto). Was in HO for years and switched to On30 a few years ago. Been a widower for six years and can do what I like with the basement for a layout. Enjoying the challenge of a new scale. Have a G scale in the garden.
Known around here as Moose

[n2mopac]

I am a pastor who has lived in central or west-central Missouri for most of my life (all but 6 years when I lived in Fort Worth, TX). I've been a railfan since childhood, but only discovered the hobby of model railroading in my about 10 years ago (I'm 38 now). I modeled in HO for a shor time, but space and moves precipitated a quick switch to N scale which I love. I started modeling the railroad I remember as a child, Missouri Pacific in western MO, but my years in Texas and a few years living in Carrollton, MO led me to make a switch to BNSF modern railroad modeling. I now moded an area of north Texas, BNSF's Wichita Falls sub from Fort Worth to Wichita Falls.

Ron

[reklein]

I'm retired in Lewiston ID, been a railfan all my life,however living most of it inSitka AK slowed down the railfanning. I've built models since I was 7. As a kid in MT I lived near the GN mainline and so that is my Fav road. nHarrison21 I saw an NS engine in Spokane WA last Sunday.

[Anonymous]

Central Maryland here, Carroll County farm boy, turned Service Manager. Growing up working on tractors and cars, taking grain to the mill and watching the Western Maryland rumble by hooked me, and got me out of Christmas gardens and into full year modeling. After the hormonally tumultuous teenage years, when the trains accumulated dust, I got back into trains after my 1st son was born, and have been there ever since. Did a 2 year stint as a conductor on a local dinner train in the mid eighties, and became a Maryland Midland fan at that point. The dinner train is gone, but I have modeled the entire regular consist, mostly from scratch.
I've been a member of the Four County Society of Model Engineers for about 15 years now, having served as President, VP and Secretary over the years, but have dropped back to a regular member the last few years as I get some major changes in my life taken care of. (Moving twice,the big D, and finding the true love of my life)
Now I am on my way back, smarter and better than ever ready to fulfill my dreams of that big pike in the basement. It's a little ways off yet, but I can see it coming, the light in the tunnel,,woo hoo! Its a train!!!!!!![:D]

[GAPPLEG]

Well here I go [:D] Grew up in El Paso Tx. on the sunset route, fell in love with the SP, after serving 4 years in the Army, (by the was Texansoldier, I was stationed on Adak island for a year ) I found El Paso just didn't have anything for me(work wise), moved slowly to Erie PA, were I landed a job with GE, Yes we build the real thing here. Did many different jobs over the last 36 years at GE. Began by building the infamous U-boats, built U-50's for UP, moved on to electronics jobs, (thanks to the army I had some knowledge), Tested Transit cars, re-built the Metroliners in the 70's got a license to operate and tested them on our test track, also loco test. Got to run many different units in my time. Now I work in computers here, 1 1/2 years more and I will retire at 60. I have been building layouts since the early 70's. Actually started in N scale then. moved into HO in the 80's. After many moves and many torn down layouts, my latest is 12x16 in a purpose built seperate room in the basement. Ho- mostly SP with a ficticious shortline connection to the town on my layout. Lots of industrial switching.

[jawnt]

Built my first layout in 1955 in an old chicken house, it didn't last but about a year-- was American Flyer S scale -- I was 15. Built an HO 4x8 layout in the middle 70s -- not enough planning. Built a 4x20 in a store room -- not enough room. Retired from Itty Bitty Machine Co. in 95, moved back to the farm where I grew up -- figured I'd have pleanty of time for Model Railroading as soon as the house was built --- WRONG! I have a 20x60 Studio (for the wife)/Workshop (for me) that has a full attic. Don't panic abt the attic, it has a gambrel roof (think Yankee barn) where the ceiling is 7' and up at 2' out from the baseboard. I'm enclosing a 16x20 section of the attic for model rail use. I live 60 miles south of Waco and 80 miles east of Austin and about a mile from where the San Antonio & Aransas Pass RR use to run in the middle of 'Cow Pasture, Texas'. Name being John T. everything on the internet is Jawn (as in Jawn Henry) T

[Anonymous]

What time period did Ho and N scale come out. Theres a lot of railroaders out there who have modeled G and Lionel for years.. when did the other scales become popular

[Anonymous]

I was born in 1957, my first layout was Loinel, that was 1961. In 63' I got my first HO set and my parents would buy MRs' for me every other month, I would drag them every were with me. I still have alot of these, looking back, it seems HO started in on the scene in the late 40's. But really took off in the 50's. The biggest builder was Mantua, Globe, and Loinel started to make the HO entry ( their stuff was made by Athearn. Athearn took over Globe's line of products, oh I forgot Varney.
Its fun to look back when HO started, O scale was KING, every one laughed at those little trains. Which in the late 60's when HO had become King we laughed at the new tiny little N scale trains. In there somewhere was TT I have been in this hobby for 40+ and have never seen a piece of TT. It was in between HO and N.
This is what I recall, add to as you see it.
Dave

[Anonymous]

One request on these pages, please don't come in and ask for food, it just sounds like a bunch of nerds are here!

[Anonymous]

HAHA! No food here... if you want food.. go buy some. this is about the rails. Anyone here actually a engineer or anything.. or worked for the rails?

[Anonymous]

Originally posted by Texansoldier

HAHA! No food here... if you want food.. go buy some. this is about the rails. Anyone here actually a engineer or anything.. or worked for the rails?
]quote]
[8D] Former conductor on a dinner train! (Dinja read my post?)
Food and Trains at one place !!!!!! Too Cool!!!

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