Club Member?

[proberts]

i'm happy with the club i belong to...the vancouver island garden railway club..good people..very loose travel to different houses, good ideas,good help if needed..keep the rails shiney!!!

[proberts]

i'm happy with the club i belong to...the vancouver island garden railway club..good people..very loose travel to different houses, good ideas,good help if needed..keep the rails shiney!!!

[Anonymous]

the reasons I like this hobby so much is I can go in my train room and do my thing, ,play with the trains , build something, whatever. Dont have to have 3 other people, or a quarum, or a foursome. I can do what I want when I want, no meetings to worry about attending.
So, no clubs no, NMRA for me.

[Anonymous]

the reasons I like this hobby so much is I can go in my train room and do my thing, ,play with the trains , build something, whatever. Dont have to have 3 other people, or a quarum, or a foursome. I can do what I want when I want, no meetings to worry about attending.
So, no clubs no, NMRA for me.

[Anonymous]

I've been a member of the Model Railroad Club of Toronto (O scale) since March 1999. It was one of the best things that I've done! At that time, my military commitments were over and I now had my evenings free. I was undecided if I would finish building my long dreamed of Hi Rail layout, go back to modelling in HO scale or move into O scale. A few visits to the club convinced me that 2 rail O scale was for me.

Although I've had a life-long interest in trains and have had layouts in various stages of construction, I've never been what could be considered an experienced modeller. At the club I've had the benefit others members experience, the opportunity to observe, practice and learn building techniques, especially doing hand-laid track and companionship. Our club has the very minimum of "politics". Members want to build trains and to operate them in a realistic manner, not argue.

In short, I can't say enough positive things about being a club member and have no hesitation in recommending club membership to other modellers, especially those who want to learn and improve the modelling abilities.

Larry Barwick

[Anonymous]

I've been a member of the Model Railroad Club of Toronto (O scale) since March 1999. It was one of the best things that I've done! At that time, my military commitments were over and I now had my evenings free. I was undecided if I would finish building my long dreamed of Hi Rail layout, go back to modelling in HO scale or move into O scale. A few visits to the club convinced me that 2 rail O scale was for me.

Although I've had a life-long interest in trains and have had layouts in various stages of construction, I've never been what could be considered an experienced modeller. At the club I've had the benefit others members experience, the opportunity to observe, practice and learn building techniques, especially doing hand-laid track and companionship. Our club has the very minimum of "politics". Members want to build trains and to operate them in a realistic manner, not argue.

In short, I can't say enough positive things about being a club member and have no hesitation in recommending club membership to other modellers, especially those who want to learn and improve the modelling abilities.

Larry Barwick

[cp1057]

I have to agree with Trainwreck2, I'm very much a Lone Wolf Modeler. What with family and workplace obligations its difficult to make the commitment to attend meetings, go to trainshows, pay dues, exhibit layouts etc. I'm sure that being in a club has many advantages but being able to do things at my own speed and my own way wins out.

Charles
Hillsburgh On

[cp1057]

I have to agree with Trainwreck2, I'm very much a Lone Wolf Modeler. What with family and workplace obligations its difficult to make the commitment to attend meetings, go to trainshows, pay dues, exhibit layouts etc. I'm sure that being in a club has many advantages but being able to do things at my own speed and my own way wins out.

Charles
Hillsburgh On

[CP5415]

I used to be part of a club. It was great, no ego's or politics. Everyone was just there to run trains & build the layout.
The reason I'm not with them anymore is I moved from the area. It's a 3 hour drive now & they met during the week.
The clubs around me seem to be too uptight & have too many rules.
Not for me thanks

Gordon

[CP5415]

I used to be part of a club. It was great, no ego's or politics. Everyone was just there to run trains & build the layout.
The reason I'm not with them anymore is I moved from the area. It's a 3 hour drive now & they met during the week.
The clubs around me seem to be too uptight & have too many rules.
Not for me thanks

Gordon

[comserv]

If time permits and interest/needs are a reasonable match, I do recommend them. I currently have neither.

[comserv]

If time permits and interest/needs are a reasonable match, I do recommend them. I currently have neither.

[Puckdropper]

gwjordan1950, send me an email at [e-mail]... I'm curious about model railroad stuff in Ft. Wayne.

I'm a moderator of thehoscalemodelrailroadclub (The HO Scale Model Railroad Club) on Yahoo! Groups. The only policy we have is an anti-spam policy. It's primary (and stated) purpose was to protect the members and assist any legitimate businesses that wi***o visi the club. There's a picture of my F units (my babbies) in the photo gallery. More work to be done on those!

[Puckdropper]

gwjordan1950, send me an email at [e-mail]... I'm curious about model railroad stuff in Ft. Wayne.

I'm a moderator of thehoscalemodelrailroadclub (The HO Scale Model Railroad Club) on Yahoo! Groups. The only policy we have is an anti-spam policy. It's primary (and stated) purpose was to protect the members and assist any legitimate businesses that wi***o visi the club. There's a picture of my F units (my babbies) in the photo gallery. More work to be done on those!

[TomDiehl]

I've been a member of several model railroad clubs since my early teens. One thing that vexes many clubs is the problem of young members, such as how young do you let them join. There's always the debate of are we nurturing a budding young model railroader, or are we a glorified baby sitting service? The club I am presently in has solved this by having no lower age limit, but anyone under 14 wishing to join must be sponsored by a full adult member. In almost all cases this has been a relative, and the youth can only be at the club when the sponsoring member is is there, establishing a responsible adult for that youth. As said in messages above, the experience is frustrating, informative and rewarding all at once, and I'm glad I didn't miss it.

[TomDiehl]

I've been a member of several model railroad clubs since my early teens. One thing that vexes many clubs is the problem of young members, such as how young do you let them join. There's always the debate of are we nurturing a budding young model railroader, or are we a glorified baby sitting service? The club I am presently in has solved this by having no lower age limit, but anyone under 14 wishing to join must be sponsored by a full adult member. In almost all cases this has been a relative, and the youth can only be at the club when the sponsoring member is is there, establishing a responsible adult for that youth. As said in messages above, the experience is frustrating, informative and rewarding all at once, and I'm glad I didn't miss it.

[Anonymous]

I've been a club member, four times in the last 25 years, and in every case, politics has killed the clubs or has caused so many problems, that over time, most people just simply walked away and never looked back. I'm one of them, one among at least, 50 to 100 in this area. Clubs are difficult enough, sometimes, to cope with. You take 30 -40 guys and put them together in a club, and within a very short time, the clicks start, the politics start, all followed by a lot of arguments and hard feelings No thanks, I've had it with clubs. When you stop having fun, then it's time to leave the hobby and find something else to do. I've seen other hobbies, like Model Ship Building, almost disappear because of peoples ideology or because one faction wanted control (politics) or because people just couldn't see eye to eye and were unwilling to compromise. There isn't any room in this hobby for politics.This hobby is supposed to be fun for everyone, MALE and FEMALE alike and the one thing that STEAMS me the most is for some D@*& BOZO to set them selves up as the supreme leader of the club and expect everyone else to fall in line behind them. DISAGREE WITH ME AND YOU'RE OUT THEY SAY. To that I say BS. Everyone has a right to an opinion, and has a right to express that opinion with out being degraded. If you disagree with them, say so, but do it with some respect for the person. I see many on these forums, not this one in particular but others on the main menu, that just can't resist taking a CHEAP SHOT at someone that they disagree with. There is nothing wrong with expressing an opinion, but have a little respect for the person your disagreeing with. Also be able to laugh at most of the thoughts expressed on here and don't take any of this seriously. If you can't then maybe you shouldn't be on here. I did forget one thing above, clubs do need leadership, of course, but that leadership needs to be responsive to everyones needs and opinions not just a small handful. Ok, I'll get off my soap box now.[:(!]

[Anonymous]

I've been a club member, four times in the last 25 years, and in every case, politics has killed the clubs or has caused so many problems, that over time, most people just simply walked away and never looked back. I'm one of them, one among at least, 50 to 100 in this area. Clubs are difficult enough, sometimes, to cope with. You take 30 -40 guys and put them together in a club, and within a very short time, the clicks start, the politics start, all followed by a lot of arguments and hard feelings No thanks, I've had it with clubs. When you stop having fun, then it's time to leave the hobby and find something else to do. I've seen other hobbies, like Model Ship Building, almost disappear because of peoples ideology or because one faction wanted control (politics) or because people just couldn't see eye to eye and were unwilling to compromise. There isn't any room in this hobby for politics.This hobby is supposed to be fun for everyone, MALE and FEMALE alike and the one thing that STEAMS me the most is for some D@*& BOZO to set them selves up as the supreme leader of the club and expect everyone else to fall in line behind them. DISAGREE WITH ME AND YOU'RE OUT THEY SAY. To that I say BS. Everyone has a right to an opinion, and has a right to express that opinion with out being degraded. If you disagree with them, say so, but do it with some respect for the person. I see many on these forums, not this one in particular but others on the main menu, that just can't resist taking a CHEAP SHOT at someone that they disagree with. There is nothing wrong with expressing an opinion, but have a little respect for the person your disagreeing with. Also be able to laugh at most of the thoughts expressed on here and don't take any of this seriously. If you can't then maybe you shouldn't be on here. I did forget one thing above, clubs do need leadership, of course, but that leadership needs to be responsive to everyones needs and opinions not just a small handful. Ok, I'll get off my soap box now.[:(!]

[Anonymous]

I've been a club member in two HO train clubs. The first in SE Virginia (Yorktown area) was initially because I didn't have a place to make a layout of my own. I soon found both friends and people who helped me learn how to do better modeling. The second club, in Northern Virginia, is a module club that has round-robin meetings and monthly module setups (train shows, libraries, etc.). Here I also found new friends and a myriad of people with skills they willing shared to improve their hobby skills. Check out some of the fun we've had at www.pwmrc.org (we've got two great webmasters!). PS: DCC and sound work best with clubs and collective member's knowledge, they can be overwhelming!

[Anonymous]

I've been a club member in two HO train clubs. The first in SE Virginia (Yorktown area) was initially because I didn't have a place to make a layout of my own. I soon found both friends and people who helped me learn how to do better modeling. The second club, in Northern Virginia, is a module club that has round-robin meetings and monthly module setups (train shows, libraries, etc.). Here I also found new friends and a myriad of people with skills they willing shared to improve their hobby skills. Check out some of the fun we've had at www.pwmrc.org (we've got two great webmasters!). PS: DCC and sound work best with clubs and collective member's knowledge, they can be overwhelming!

[ralphb]

The poll is a good idea, but lacks depth. Knowing such points as guage and whether or not the club is modular offers some insight into where the hobby is. The additional questions could be triggered by a positive answer. A negative or "used to be" answer might also lead to questions about why.

[ralphb]

The poll is a good idea, but lacks depth. Knowing such points as guage and whether or not the club is modular offers some insight into where the hobby is. The additional questions could be triggered by a positive answer. A negative or "used to be" answer might also lead to questions about why.

[ralphb]

I'm a member of an N-Trak club which has expanded my modeling scope and helped me to meet many other modelers and brought about some travel. It also gave me a chance to do more railroading than my original tiny layout afforded
.

[ralphb]

I'm a member of an N-Trak club which has expanded my modeling scope and helped me to meet many other modelers and brought about some travel. It also gave me a chance to do more railroading than my original tiny layout afforded
.

[Anonymous]

Belong to the Merritt Model railway club here in beautiful British Columbia, Canada,we have been working last 3 years on a club layout that is situated in the Museum here and is close to being finished,we are modeling the town as it was in the late 50's mostly a CP rail influence ,our next project is a large one,we will be recreating the kettle valley line in "G" scale in an 80' x 20' area in the public library,it will be running 20 feet overhead and all around the library,we are starting the bench work in October and are fund raising like crazy,I myself have my home layout a dual track line with a large yard and work on it when I can,I am modeling the era of the 1990's to today,love the large AC 4400's & FJ 45's with a long string of grain cars curving threw the layout.

[Anonymous]

Belong to the Merritt Model railway club here in beautiful British Columbia, Canada,we have been working last 3 years on a club layout that is situated in the Museum here and is close to being finished,we are modeling the town as it was in the late 50's mostly a CP rail influence ,our next project is a large one,we will be recreating the kettle valley line in "G" scale in an 80' x 20' area in the public library,it will be running 20 feet overhead and all around the library,we are starting the bench work in October and are fund raising like crazy,I myself have my home layout a dual track line with a large yard and work on it when I can,I am modeling the era of the 1990's to today,love the large AC 4400's & FJ 45's with a long string of grain cars curving threw the layout.

[Anonymous]

megaman, I used to belong to the Mini Bunch here in Col OH . Lots of fun there, and lots of really good modeling.
Anyone interested in forming a round robin group in the Col Ohio area???

[Anonymous]

megaman, I used to belong to the Mini Bunch here in Col OH . Lots of fun there, and lots of really good modeling.
Anyone interested in forming a round robin group in the Col Ohio area???

[Anonymous]

I once helped form a club in a small community in Western Kansas, but one by one we all moved away. Later I belonged to the North Platte Valley Railroad Club in the Scottsbluff-Gering area in Nebraska. I met a lot of great people and a few trouble makers; but for the most part it was a positive experience. Only one other club member was actually interested in prototype operation, however, and we experimented with car forwarding systems, etc. on his home layout. The most enjoyable club activities were our field trips. Railfanning on Crawford Hill or riding the Wyoming and Colorado aspen tree special in the fall among others. Here in greater Kansas City I have not joined a club, but now since four or five of them have located in a shopping mall near my home I may very well take the plunge again.

Club or not to club, it's still a great hobby.

[Anonymous]

I once helped form a club in a small community in Western Kansas, but one by one we all moved away. Later I belonged to the North Platte Valley Railroad Club in the Scottsbluff-Gering area in Nebraska. I met a lot of great people and a few trouble makers; but for the most part it was a positive experience. Only one other club member was actually interested in prototype operation, however, and we experimented with car forwarding systems, etc. on his home layout. The most enjoyable club activities were our field trips. Railfanning on Crawford Hill or riding the Wyoming and Colorado aspen tree special in the fall among others. Here in greater Kansas City I have not joined a club, but now since four or five of them have located in a shopping mall near my home I may very well take the plunge again.

Club or not to club, it's still a great hobby.