Been modeling long?

[TIEBREAKER]

Started with Lionel in the early 50's. Switched to HO in '64. Time off for usual reasons...school...family. My brother worked for the NYC, PC, then Conrail. I never got far away from railroading. Now that the family is moving on, my "empty nest" is filling with plywood and plaster.

Good Luck to Everyone out there!
Bill in Massachusetts

[TIEBREAKER]

Started with Lionel in the early 50's. Switched to HO in '64. Time off for usual reasons...school...family. My brother worked for the NYC, PC, then Conrail. I never got far away from railroading. Now that the family is moving on, my "empty nest" is filling with plywood and plaster.

Good Luck to Everyone out there!
Bill in Massachusetts

[Yampa2003]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tankertoad70

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

Same here, it started off with a push along set followed by clockwork and eventually progressed onto an electric trainset / model over 30 years ago.
Brian

[Yampa2003]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tankertoad70

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

Same here, it started off with a push along set followed by clockwork and eventually progressed onto an electric trainset / model over 30 years ago.
Brian

[Anonymous]

It was real easy becoming a model railroader.Living in Glen Ellyn Il ,about 150' from the Chicago&Northwestern and Chicago,Aurora&Elgin(Roarin Elgin to us locals)there was no way you were not going to be a modeler! Like everyone else,windup,battery,
and the big day,Lionel.That was sixty years ago,I've almost always had a layout,for those short times I didn't,I was always building models.I just found some old slides
taken back in about '57-'59 of my and my dad's HO layout and shared them with my life long friend back in Chicago.You younger modelers have no idea how great you have it!!!!DCC,can this dream possibly have come true at last?! This IS truly the worlds greatest hobby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dennis

[Anonymous]

It was real easy becoming a model railroader.Living in Glen Ellyn Il ,about 150' from the Chicago&Northwestern and Chicago,Aurora&Elgin(Roarin Elgin to us locals)there was no way you were not going to be a modeler! Like everyone else,windup,battery,
and the big day,Lionel.That was sixty years ago,I've almost always had a layout,for those short times I didn't,I was always building models.I just found some old slides
taken back in about '57-'59 of my and my dad's HO layout and shared them with my life long friend back in Chicago.You younger modelers have no idea how great you have it!!!!DCC,can this dream possibly have come true at last?! This IS truly the worlds greatest hobby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dennis

[grantha]

Interesting poll. 59 % of respondents have been active in model railroading for 20+ years. This suggests to me that model railroading appears to be a good life long hobby. It also looks as though model railroading is enjoying a resurgence given 28% of respondents have been involved for less than ten years.

As for myself I've been model railroading for over 25 years although my interest waned a little when I was more interested in courtship.[:)] Nonetheless, model railroading is a great hobby and a terrific stress reliever.

[grantha]

Interesting poll. 59 % of respondents have been active in model railroading for 20+ years. This suggests to me that model railroading appears to be a good life long hobby. It also looks as though model railroading is enjoying a resurgence given 28% of respondents have been involved for less than ten years.

As for myself I've been model railroading for over 25 years although my interest waned a little when I was more interested in courtship.[:)] Nonetheless, model railroading is a great hobby and a terrific stress reliever.

[Anonymous]

Strange to say, I didnt have a model train set, even a Lionel, when I was young!

I loved "old timer" steam from age four. I think I was in love with the Hooterville Cannonball. Red wheel woodburners from the start. Still do. Always will.

In 1969 my dad took me to see the UP Centennial train here in LA, and I still have a photo of me at age seven with an erzatz "Jupiter" behind me. I eventually got a layout under construction, only to be demolished in the '72 Sylmar earthquake. My dad also started a live steam CP 173 but stopped when we realized no basement of drill presses means hard to build.

Years passed. High school, collage, new interests, the whole nine yards. In 1988 I began to get interested in the oldtimers again. I began with Bachmann 4-4-0s, then discovered a brass "Reno" - its been brass ever since, and no Spectrum quality 4-4-0 oldtimer is available. I then got involved with railroad museums, became a national expert on early locomotive paint schemes, repainted the Golden Spike replicas, ran a few oldtimers, fired some others, and now work with railroad history full time.

Right now I'm modeling a line I've planned for over a decade and slowly putting together componants, as I'm not yet retirable and have to earn a living, go camping outdoors and have a life. So evening projects and such are the best. Soon I'll be looking for real estate, so the whole main line may now pick up where an earthquake left off. Tip: dont put a shelf of National Geographics on a wall above a train set.

Cheers,

Jim Wilke
the old time paint scheme guy.

[Anonymous]

Strange to say, I didnt have a model train set, even a Lionel, when I was young!

I loved "old timer" steam from age four. I think I was in love with the Hooterville Cannonball. Red wheel woodburners from the start. Still do. Always will.

In 1969 my dad took me to see the UP Centennial train here in LA, and I still have a photo of me at age seven with an erzatz "Jupiter" behind me. I eventually got a layout under construction, only to be demolished in the '72 Sylmar earthquake. My dad also started a live steam CP 173 but stopped when we realized no basement of drill presses means hard to build.

Years passed. High school, collage, new interests, the whole nine yards. In 1988 I began to get interested in the oldtimers again. I began with Bachmann 4-4-0s, then discovered a brass "Reno" - its been brass ever since, and no Spectrum quality 4-4-0 oldtimer is available. I then got involved with railroad museums, became a national expert on early locomotive paint schemes, repainted the Golden Spike replicas, ran a few oldtimers, fired some others, and now work with railroad history full time.

Right now I'm modeling a line I've planned for over a decade and slowly putting together componants, as I'm not yet retirable and have to earn a living, go camping outdoors and have a life. So evening projects and such are the best. Soon I'll be looking for real estate, so the whole main line may now pick up where an earthquake left off. Tip: dont put a shelf of National Geographics on a wall above a train set.

Cheers,

Jim Wilke
the old time paint scheme guy.

[Anonymous]

I had American Flyer as a kid, but sold it when I was a high school freshmen to get money to spend on a little brunette in my class. MISTAKE!

Fast forward....my daughter, who turned 35 last December was not quite one when I wandered into a mixed bag hobby store in Hays, Kansas and bought an Athearn kit for a Milwaukee Road 50 foot plug door box car. That car is still on my layout, even though the layout is in Missouri now. I've been really serious about the hobby for 15 or 20 years now and enjoy it more and more. I build slowly and tinker a lot. I'm not a great craftsman like Tony Koester or Allen McClelland, but I enjoy the hobby.

[Anonymous]

I had American Flyer as a kid, but sold it when I was a high school freshmen to get money to spend on a little brunette in my class. MISTAKE!

Fast forward....my daughter, who turned 35 last December was not quite one when I wandered into a mixed bag hobby store in Hays, Kansas and bought an Athearn kit for a Milwaukee Road 50 foot plug door box car. That car is still on my layout, even though the layout is in Missouri now. I've been really serious about the hobby for 15 or 20 years now and enjoy it more and more. I build slowly and tinker a lot. I'm not a great craftsman like Tony Koester or Allen McClelland, but I enjoy the hobby.

[Anonymous]

Been at it since seven. Started with the typical Lionel and then to HO. When I graduated from High School, I stopped to pursue a career in agriculture. I really never felt anything was missing in my life til I started up again after a nasty divorce. Remarried and now 35, I have a wife that is patient about my needs (trains and more trains). Have my kids addicted to Thomas the Tank Engine. And the Milwaukee Road still runs for me.

I have found that irregardless of what scale you run, and how much or how little you know about The Worlds Greatest Hobby, you are very much part of a very large family.

[Anonymous]

Been at it since seven. Started with the typical Lionel and then to HO. When I graduated from High School, I stopped to pursue a career in agriculture. I really never felt anything was missing in my life til I started up again after a nasty divorce. Remarried and now 35, I have a wife that is patient about my needs (trains and more trains). Have my kids addicted to Thomas the Tank Engine. And the Milwaukee Road still runs for me.

I have found that irregardless of what scale you run, and how much or how little you know about The Worlds Greatest Hobby, you are very much part of a very large family.

[Anonymous]

Well, not counting the HO layout we had when I was 10-15 (which was realy more my Dad's layout), and not counting the LL everything-in-a-box set I put together for my kids about 10 years back, I've been seriously active for about 4 years trying to build a NScale coffee-table layout, but at the speed I'm going "active" seems a bit of an overstatement. Real Life just keeps on intervening.....
But I belong to a local club, whose website I maintain, see: http://www.ovar.ca
-- Steve

[Anonymous]

Well, not counting the HO layout we had when I was 10-15 (which was realy more my Dad's layout), and not counting the LL everything-in-a-box set I put together for my kids about 10 years back, I've been seriously active for about 4 years trying to build a NScale coffee-table layout, but at the speed I'm going "active" seems a bit of an overstatement. Real Life just keeps on intervening.....
But I belong to a local club, whose website I maintain, see: http://www.ovar.ca
-- Steve

[fischey]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryan9664

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

Way to go, Brian!!! Keep it up and have your friends get into the hobby too. We need new people and fresh ways of looking at things.

[fischey]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryan9664

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

Way to go, Brian!!! Keep it up and have your friends get into the hobby too. We need new people and fresh ways of looking at things.

[fischey]

Got into my brother's Lionel set at age two. Got a set for christmas at age five. Was "nearly run down by a Valley flyer" in 1957 as my mom screamed to get me away from that big warbonnet diesel that I just HAD to get on board. I was five and it was hot as hell in Fresno. Modeled it. Did the SP refrigerator trains. got into Euopean stuff. Went to narrow guage, the SP, South Coast, North Coast, D&RGW, RGS, all of it. Got out of it. WP. Then GN. Then CP. Got out of that. Back to Europe. Staying in that coz it's different. Fun, all of it. Can't wait for the next few hundred possibilities.

How about you??[;)]

[fischey]

Got into my brother's Lionel set at age two. Got a set for christmas at age five. Was "nearly run down by a Valley flyer" in 1957 as my mom screamed to get me away from that big warbonnet diesel that I just HAD to get on board. I was five and it was hot as hell in Fresno. Modeled it. Did the SP refrigerator trains. got into Euopean stuff. Went to narrow guage, the SP, South Coast, North Coast, D&RGW, RGS, all of it. Got out of it. WP. Then GN. Then CP. Got out of that. Back to Europe. Staying in that coz it's different. Fun, all of it. Can't wait for the next few hundred possibilities.

How about you??[;)]

[Anonymous]

Ive been modeling for probably 5 years but I would only consider it 1 or 2. Been on again off again because of age time of life and money(am 23 about to start family). Ive enjoyed every bit of the hobby that ive done so far including planning, benchwork, laying track and starting on scenery.

[Anonymous]

Ive been modeling for probably 5 years but I would only consider it 1 or 2. Been on again off again because of age time of life and money(am 23 about to start family). Ive enjoyed every bit of the hobby that ive done so far including planning, benchwork, laying track and starting on scenery.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on what you term as active. One has to have a reason, it may be getting out of doing housework, it may be avoiding the relatives or the most common reason is "to educate the grandchildren".
For those that the "boss" wont let you free in the garded yet, try my trick. MNodel in "n" scale but when the train comes off get the "boss" to put it back on its tracks. I bet it will not take too long when she will say the obvous comment " why dont you model something a little bigger". Presto, your opening to model G scale, and of course once you start laying the track on the carpet you will be told to "take it outside". Hence the start of your garden layout.
In my mind at to the definition of active , as long as the mind is active and your actually donig something then your "active".
At least "g" scale you can actually see the rails and outside if it dont look right, put in another plant.
I must admit it gives you the warm fuzzies when you think your getting know where when theres a knock at the door and its 4 or 5 kids from the neighbouhood that want to see the train running.
Have fun, thats what its all about.

[Anonymous]

It all depends on what you term as active. One has to have a reason, it may be getting out of doing housework, it may be avoiding the relatives or the most common reason is "to educate the grandchildren".
For those that the "boss" wont let you free in the garded yet, try my trick. MNodel in "n" scale but when the train comes off get the "boss" to put it back on its tracks. I bet it will not take too long when she will say the obvous comment " why dont you model something a little bigger". Presto, your opening to model G scale, and of course once you start laying the track on the carpet you will be told to "take it outside". Hence the start of your garden layout.
In my mind at to the definition of active , as long as the mind is active and your actually donig something then your "active".
At least "g" scale you can actually see the rails and outside if it dont look right, put in another plant.
I must admit it gives you the warm fuzzies when you think your getting know where when theres a knock at the door and its 4 or 5 kids from the neighbouhood that want to see the train running.
Have fun, thats what its all about.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 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.

I orignally started in HO then went to college and to seminary. It was in seminary where I started with N guage! My first was a Micro-Trains Set with track an Kato GP38-2 and four cars plus a caboose! Since we had very limited room, I had to get a special dispensation just to have the train grace my bookshelf above the head of the bed! Just enough track to hold the train ...and that's all ! Never ran it, just displayed it! Later ran it and put it back. used a 6v battery just to watch it miove back and forth! Oh, By The WAY . . . the set caost about $48.00 new! Still with n n ow and use some HO model Locomotives for display ove the mantle and in lighted bookcases!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 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.

I orignally started in HO then went to college and to seminary. It was in seminary where I started with N guage! My first was a Micro-Trains Set with track an Kato GP38-2 and four cars plus a caboose! Since we had very limited room, I had to get a special dispensation just to have the train grace my bookshelf above the head of the bed! Just enough track to hold the train ...and that's all ! Never ran it, just displayed it! Later ran it and put it back. used a 6v battery just to watch it miove back and forth! Oh, By The WAY . . . the set caost about $48.00 new! Still with n n ow and use some HO model Locomotives for display ove the mantle and in lighted bookcases!

[starwardude]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 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?

Probably in some snob's private hoard ,who bougt them all.
And I'm one of those kids that likes a little challenge.[B)]

[starwardude]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 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?

Probably in some snob's private hoard ,who bougt them all.
And I'm one of those kids that likes a little challenge.[B)]

[Anonymous]

I have been modeling for more than 50 years. My father was chief mechanial draftsman for the NYC, in indianapolis, Ind. I played in the yards with the real stuff until the mid 50's. Have reun real steam freights east to New York. Have has about 20 model railroads and worked for athe D&RGW in Colorado , 1969- 1971.

Am in HO and have been working on a free lance Rio Grande branch, period 1947-1959. Have been taking MR since 1955 and have most of the magazines.

[Anonymous]

I have been modeling for more than 50 years. My father was chief mechanial draftsman for the NYC, in indianapolis, Ind. I played in the yards with the real stuff until the mid 50's. Have reun real steam freights east to New York. Have has about 20 model railroads and worked for athe D&RGW in Colorado , 1969- 1971.

Am in HO and have been working on a free lance Rio Grande branch, period 1947-1959. Have been taking MR since 1955 and have most of the magazines.