What Influenced You?

[Bergie]

What initially got you started in the hobby of model railroading?

Please vote then share your comments below.

[Bergie]

What initially got you started in the hobby of model railroading?

Please vote then share your comments below.

[Puckdropper]

Train set got me started, but I got it because of an existing interest in trains.

[Puckdropper]

Train set got me started, but I got it because of an existing interest in trains.

[coalminer3]

Couldn't fit a real locomotive in my parent's house! I became involved with model railroading because of exposure to the real thing (longer ago than I'll confess), and wanting to duplicate some of what I saw.

work safe

[coalminer3]

Couldn't fit a real locomotive in my parent's house! I became involved with model railroading because of exposure to the real thing (longer ago than I'll confess), and wanting to duplicate some of what I saw.

work safe

[OhioRailroader]

For me it all started when I was about 8 or 9 and my grandfather told me about when he worked for the B&O. That got my interests going. First set was the Bachmann Santa Fe freight set with the chrome F unit I believe. All down hill from there with weekly visits to the hobby shop lol. Now after being away from it for about 7 years I'm starting from scratch and everything seems so new to me now lol.

[OhioRailroader]

For me it all started when I was about 8 or 9 and my grandfather told me about when he worked for the B&O. That got my interests going. First set was the Bachmann Santa Fe freight set with the chrome F unit I believe. All down hill from there with weekly visits to the hobby shop lol. Now after being away from it for about 7 years I'm starting from scratch and everything seems so new to me now lol.

[Anonymous]

My dad modelled the Great Western Railway in OO scale, so I probably inherited my enthusiasm from him, though I've only been into US outline HO models since about 2000/2001, mainly after seeing the quality of the available kits - most of which are prepainted and lettered, which is very rare in UK kits.

[Anonymous]

My dad modelled the Great Western Railway in OO scale, so I probably inherited my enthusiasm from him, though I've only been into US outline HO models since about 2000/2001, mainly after seeing the quality of the available kits - most of which are prepainted and lettered, which is very rare in UK kits.

[Anonymous]

I don"t remember which came first. the chicken or the egg? One of my childhood friends has a sceniced RR in his basement. The first set had an orange box cab engine The next was an A C Gilbert Royal Blue passenger set. The only time it was used was at Christmas.

[Anonymous]

I don"t remember which came first. the chicken or the egg? One of my childhood friends has a sceniced RR in his basement. The first set had an orange box cab engine The next was an A C Gilbert Royal Blue passenger set. The only time it was used was at Christmas.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit
[ I've only been into US outline HO models since about 2000/2001, mainly after seeing the quality of the available kits - most of which are prepainted and lettered, which is very rare in UK kits.

Me too. I've spent years building UK whitemetal or brass kits, and you don't even get the wheels, couplings, paint or transfers (decals) in the kit. The stock reason for this is to 'offer' the builder choice. Thank goodness for Walthers, etc.

Dismounting my High Horse, my dad got me a Train set for Christmas when I was 5. He even had me helping to build the baseboard, telling me it was a new table. Happy days!

Jon Grant

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Railroading_Brit
[ I've only been into US outline HO models since about 2000/2001, mainly after seeing the quality of the available kits - most of which are prepainted and lettered, which is very rare in UK kits.

Me too. I've spent years building UK whitemetal or brass kits, and you don't even get the wheels, couplings, paint or transfers (decals) in the kit. The stock reason for this is to 'offer' the builder choice. Thank goodness for Walthers, etc.

Dismounting my High Horse, my dad got me a Train set for Christmas when I was 5. He even had me helping to build the baseboard, telling me it was a new table. Happy days!

Jon Grant

[vsmith]

My Grandfather worked for the Santa Fe in Los Angeles, was a switcher driver. He retired before I got old enough to go for ride-alongs but he always told stories when I was little (cant remember any) and his house was next to SP's mainline from Long Beach to LA. When I was older we went to a family friends house and they had a huge Lionel setup in one of the bedrooms and I was hooked after that.

[vsmith]

My Grandfather worked for the Santa Fe in Los Angeles, was a switcher driver. He retired before I got old enough to go for ride-alongs but he always told stories when I was little (cant remember any) and his house was next to SP's mainline from Long Beach to LA. When I was older we went to a family friends house and they had a huge Lionel setup in one of the bedrooms and I was hooked after that.

[tankertoad70]

Be durned if'n I know. My mom told me that all I talked about, after finding my tongue at around 18 mos[:)], was trains.

[tankertoad70]

Be durned if'n I know. My mom told me that all I talked about, after finding my tongue at around 18 mos[:)], was trains.

[Anonymous]

I received a train set (O Scale) when I was 3 and have been at it ever since. I introduced my son and daughter to modeling, and am looking forward to the grandkids.

[Anonymous]

I received a train set (O Scale) when I was 3 and have been at it ever since. I introduced my son and daughter to modeling, and am looking forward to the grandkids.

[Anonymous]

"Santa" brought us a Lionel set for Christmas when I was about 9. Unfortunately, Dad liked it so much he bought more cars and spent most of the time on it. Then he took me to the home of Carl Mattlin, retired depot agent for the NP at the Bald Eagle Depot. He had an entirely hand-made set in brass that took up the whole attic. Then Dad took us to the St. Paul Union Depot to take my uncle, an NP agent to his train. We saw a huge layout of the Twin City Model Railroad Club.

[Anonymous]

"Santa" brought us a Lionel set for Christmas when I was about 9. Unfortunately, Dad liked it so much he bought more cars and spent most of the time on it. Then he took me to the home of Carl Mattlin, retired depot agent for the NP at the Bald Eagle Depot. He had an entirely hand-made set in brass that took up the whole attic. Then Dad took us to the St. Paul Union Depot to take my uncle, an NP agent to his train. We saw a huge layout of the Twin City Model Railroad Club.

[Anonymous]

My Dad bought an American Flyer train set (4-6-4 Hudson and passenger cars) the day I was born --umpteen jillion years ago! Obviously O gage. After College and getting married, had to have at least a Christmas train. Bought N scale and the rest is history. Upon retirement, expanded the smaller layout twice and am planning to do it again shortly. Currently have 92 sq ft running DCC --- 22 locos and over 100 pcs of rolling stock. Web site with pix -- www.paonline.com/gngleise

[Anonymous]

My Dad bought an American Flyer train set (4-6-4 Hudson and passenger cars) the day I was born --umpteen jillion years ago! Obviously O gage. After College and getting married, had to have at least a Christmas train. Bought N scale and the rest is history. Upon retirement, expanded the smaller layout twice and am planning to do it again shortly. Currently have 92 sq ft running DCC --- 22 locos and over 100 pcs of rolling stock. Web site with pix -- www.paonline.com/gngleise

[Anonymous]

I voted "Other". I live in the most heavily railroaded part of the UK. The coal mining valleys of South Wales. It was inevitable that I should become interested in the subject as there were at least 8 rail tracks across the width of my home valley, a distance of a little over a mile. Bourke A. Le Carpentier, Aberdare, UK.

[Anonymous]

I voted "Other". I live in the most heavily railroaded part of the UK. The coal mining valleys of South Wales. It was inevitable that I should become interested in the subject as there were at least 8 rail tracks across the width of my home valley, a distance of a little over a mile. Bourke A. Le Carpentier, Aberdare, UK.

[Anonymous]

I saw my first real train when I was 3 maybe 4 years old.A steam engine pulling a freight train on a bridge over a road.

[Anonymous]

I saw my first real train when I was 3 maybe 4 years old.A steam engine pulling a freight train on a bridge over a road.

[Anonymous]

I am two of the above...My dad was a model railroader, but he also gave me a train set.

[Anonymous]

I am two of the above...My dad was a model railroader, but he also gave me a train set.