Train watcher

[Anonymous]

Anyone else willing to admit that they just like to watch the trains & couldn't care less about " proper operation" ? I do some switching to & from industries, but sometime I just want to watch the train. I use DCC & like to syncronize 2 or more trains on the main & just watch them run.Please tell me I'm not the only one!

[Anonymous]

wow what activity! I thought you meant 'just watching', that's what I do. Always have one or two of locomotives sitting on the shelf in the living room, when I pass I just stop for a moment... and... watch!

[tcwright973]

No, I'm here too. The more trains running in a given space, the more I enjoy it.
Tom

[Anonymous]

Do it almost every day. Thats why I know I could never just have a point to point layout, cause its fun to put on a 50 car train and let it go. I know some guys in my area(pro railers they go by) they can not even run a train on their layout between operating sessions what a waste. (but to each their own I guess)

[tomikawaTT]

When I'm wearing my Sir Topham hatt, I strive to operate exactly as the Bible - er, Timetable - requires.

BUT - There are times when I just want to watch the wheels roll.

That's when #611 gets into territory where steam isn't supposed to go (on track that isn't supposed to be standard gauge and would never have supported a Norfolk and Western locomotive.) Or, equally invalid, when a GG1 heads up a freight train consisting mostly of fifteen metric ton capacity four wheel cars.

Why not? It's my railroad

Chuck

[james saunders]

i like watching too, especially my atlas in my sig coz it has ditch lights

[Walter Clot]

I like to watch them on "ground" level. Visitors will often say, "Can't they go any faster?" I make them get down to eye level make a circle with their hand and say. "Pretend you are in your car looking through the wind shield waiting for the train to pass. Does it look like its going fast or slow?" They always say, "It looks faster than real life." I say, "Then I should slow them down. They can go faster, but it wouldn't look right."
But I like to do switching in the background and make up new trains to send out. I can run (with help) two trains on each of the two main lines, alternate two in switching in the industrial area and one on a small area off to the side. Without help I can run three to just watch. I don't have dcc.

[nbrodar]

I "switch" for 8 hours a day, so the last thing I want to do is come home and do it all again. I like to just watch them roll.

Nick

[dgwinup]

I'm with you guys....to a point.

I'm planning a new layout now, my "Dream Layout". I want some of the "prototypical" operations, but like swdave said, "I could never just have a point to point layout, cause its fun to put on a 50 car train and let it go." Even without 50 cars, watching the train or trains run is fun! So my "Dream Layout" will be designed for continuous operation. Staging will be a key element for semi-prototypical operations, bringing on new trains from "off" the layout and providing a place for trains to exit the layout. Having the trains run continuously allows me to do switching and run local trains or just sit and watch the through trains run! Best of both worlds, as far as I'm concerned!

Darrell, quiet...for now

[Anonymous]

Great, sounds like I'm not the only one. I also have to admit that I sometime make up a train mixing various eras. Working on a Colorado Midland 4 door reefer from 1897. After all the time involved I'm going to show it off in any train I want.

[waltersrails]

yeah most of the time almost done with my layout. i could finish it but rather do so operations.

[Train 284]

I like wathing trains run, than doing proper operations anyday! Why go thorugh and make up train orders and stuff when we could be running trains!

[Anonymous]

I do enjoy operation a lot, but there are times when it's fun to ust throw a train on and let it go.