Been modeling long?

[Bergie]

How many years have you been an active model railroader? Vote below then share your comments.

If you were a modeler for a certain number of years, left the hobby, and then came back, count the total estimated number of years.

[Bergie]

How many years have you been an active model railroader? Vote below then share your comments.

If you were a modeler for a certain number of years, left the hobby, and then came back, count the total estimated number of years.

[vsmith]

I'm 40 now, off and on for 30 years
Lionel as a young kid

HO as an older kid

N in teen years

HOn30 in my 20's

Took time of for college

HOn30 again in my 30's

Now a G gauge indoor layout but I'm eyeing On30 and resurrecting parts of my HOn30 stuff for a micro layout (8" x 10").

P.S. You young kids out there starting now have it EASY today. The selection and quality in all scales is WAY superior to 20 years ago. Where was all this stuff when I started?

[vsmith]

I'm 40 now, off and on for 30 years
Lionel as a young kid

HO as an older kid

N in teen years

HOn30 in my 20's

Took time of for college

HOn30 again in my 30's

Now a G gauge indoor layout but I'm eyeing On30 and resurrecting parts of my HOn30 stuff for a micro layout (8" x 10").

P.S. You young kids out there starting now have it EASY today. The selection and quality in all scales is WAY superior to 20 years ago. Where was all this stuff when I started?

[Anonymous]

I first started in N scale about 6-7 years ago. I collected a few boxcars and 1-2 structures, but I did not have any time (and less money!) to devote to the hobby. I have been retired for a little over a year now and have restarted my efforts. My benchwork is done, my foam is down and I have started laying track. Yesterday I bought a cheap loco (LL F7)and power supply and this afternoon (with any luck) I'll run my first train (just to check my track work).

[Anonymous]

I first started in N scale about 6-7 years ago. I collected a few boxcars and 1-2 structures, but I did not have any time (and less money!) to devote to the hobby. I have been retired for a little over a year now and have restarted my efforts. My benchwork is done, my foam is down and I have started laying track. Yesterday I bought a cheap loco (LL F7)and power supply and this afternoon (with any luck) I'll run my first train (just to check my track work).

[Anonymous]

I am 20 now...Lego train when I was 4...N scale when I was 6...now in college I am still doing N scale. That puts me at 16 years. :)

[Anonymous]

I am 20 now...Lego train when I was 4...N scale when I was 6...now in college I am still doing N scale. That puts me at 16 years. :)

[Anonymous]

Need to have "Getting restarted" as a choice. Started with a Lionel then went to HO by high school. Went in the service and while gone the family garage with the layout burned. Never had time, space or money to restart. Now that kids are gone getting restarted. I am sure a lot of hobbies sit during the college, family, kid years.

[Anonymous]

Need to have "Getting restarted" as a choice. Started with a Lionel then went to HO by high school. Went in the service and while gone the family garage with the layout burned. Never had time, space or money to restart. Now that kids are gone getting restarted. I am sure a lot of hobbies sit during the college, family, kid years.

[Anonymous]

I agree with GreenMtn. Many of us started young and left the hobby for the usual reasons, then came back when practical considerations allowed.

[Anonymous]

I agree with GreenMtn. Many of us started young and left the hobby for the usual reasons, then came back when practical considerations allowed.

[Bergie]

I updated the question from "How long have you been a model railroader?" to "How many years have you been an active model railroader?" I too was a modeler as a child, left for high school and college, and then came back. So, I only counted my active years (roughly 15).

Erik

[Bergie]

I updated the question from "How long have you been a model railroader?" to "How many years have you been an active model railroader?" I too was a modeler as a child, left for high school and college, and then came back. So, I only counted my active years (roughly 15).

Erik

[Anonymous]

I'm 13 years old and I' ve beenmodeling since the age of six.

[Anonymous]

I'm 13 years old and I' ve beenmodeling since the age of six.

[leighant]

I got a windup set when I was 2, Marx at 3 and a REAL Lionel train at 5 or 6. But when I was ten years old, I got the yardstick and ruler and measured the doors and windows and heard that 1/4" = 1' on O scale and starting laying out and assembling cardboard buildings for the layout, and figuring what kinds of loads would be carried on a train between different places. I think I had started modeling by then, in 1950 something.

[leighant]

I got a windup set when I was 2, Marx at 3 and a REAL Lionel train at 5 or 6. But when I was ten years old, I got the yardstick and ruler and measured the doors and windows and heard that 1/4" = 1' on O scale and starting laying out and assembling cardboard buildings for the layout, and figuring what kinds of loads would be carried on a train between different places. I think I had started modeling by then, in 1950 something.

[AltonFan]

Although I have been involved in model railroading for about 30 years, I've probably only done serious modeling for about five or six years of that period.

[AltonFan]

Although I have been involved in model railroading for about 30 years, I've probably only done serious modeling for about five or six years of that period.

[bolin000]

I started at the age of 4 with an HO box set. Like all 4-year-old childen I destroyed the toys and lost pieces. I owned another HO set by 7 and I was still at the age of destruction but even today I can find some of the pieces. When I was 13 I got a new Lionel set for Christmas. My dad thought HO looked to cheap so he bought me Lionel, probably because of my destructive nature. He grew up playing with Lionel and Marx but he stopped playing with trains. I need to whip him back into shape!

Nothing has stopped me from playing with my trains and adding to my collection. And yes I grew out of the destructive nature and the original train is with my collection. My college years, however, slowed my purchases but it is full steam ahead with buying a basement (with a home on top of it!) and dominating with the ultimate 3-rail empire.

[bolin000]

I started at the age of 4 with an HO box set. Like all 4-year-old childen I destroyed the toys and lost pieces. I owned another HO set by 7 and I was still at the age of destruction but even today I can find some of the pieces. When I was 13 I got a new Lionel set for Christmas. My dad thought HO looked to cheap so he bought me Lionel, probably because of my destructive nature. He grew up playing with Lionel and Marx but he stopped playing with trains. I need to whip him back into shape!

Nothing has stopped me from playing with my trains and adding to my collection. And yes I grew out of the destructive nature and the original train is with my collection. My college years, however, slowed my purchases but it is full steam ahead with buying a basement (with a home on top of it!) and dominating with the ultimate 3-rail empire.

[Anonymous]

I have been modeling for 57 years.I started right after I came back from overseas after WWll.My first car was paper sided on a wood subbase.Couplers were either dummies or Mantua loops.Like many ,my first locomotive was a Varney Dockside followed by a Mantua Camelback ,Eightball Mogul and Belle of the Eighties. armand

[Anonymous]

I have been modeling for 57 years.I started right after I came back from overseas after WWll.My first car was paper sided on a wood subbase.Couplers were either dummies or Mantua loops.Like many ,my first locomotive was a Varney Dockside followed by a Mantua Camelback ,Eightball Mogul and Belle of the Eighties. armand

[atsf2929]

I'm 46 and my first set was a Sears Allstate train set, probably by Marx. It seems like I've always had trains. I collect Lionel for the past ten years. I've always, otherwise, had HO. I've been seriously scratchbuilding and prototype modeling for about fifteen years. Active or armchair, trains will always be in my blood.

[atsf2929]

I'm 46 and my first set was a Sears Allstate train set, probably by Marx. It seems like I've always had trains. I collect Lionel for the past ten years. I've always, otherwise, had HO. I've been seriously scratchbuilding and prototype modeling for about fifteen years. Active or armchair, trains will always be in my blood.

[Anonymous]

I modeled in HO during my teens. I also had some Lionel. I gave all my trains to my sister and her kids when I went to college.

I got back into model railroading in 1978 after getting my M.A. I graduated to N scale and have had an N-trak module since 1979. The module has been rebuilt twice. My module was part of the N-trak layout in Washington in 1982, and has been a part of many club shows.

Scenery and building structures are more favorite parts of the hobby. I am finally beginning work home layout - a short line coal hauler set in WV.

[Anonymous]

I modeled in HO during my teens. I also had some Lionel. I gave all my trains to my sister and her kids when I went to college.

I got back into model railroading in 1978 after getting my M.A. I graduated to N scale and have had an N-trak module since 1979. The module has been rebuilt twice. My module was part of the N-trak layout in Washington in 1982, and has been a part of many club shows.

Scenery and building structures are more favorite parts of the hobby. I am finally beginning work home layout - a short line coal hauler set in WV.

[tankertoad70]

I seem to have been born with a 'bug' fer this hobby.

[tankertoad70]

I seem to have been born with a 'bug' fer this hobby.