What Influenced You?

[katwoman99]

I remember several things--living near Pennsy tracks, a school field trip to a local firehouse with a model railroad in it, a family reunion in Nashville where I got to climb on the NC&stL locomotive in the park, a grandmother in Ohio who told stories of the Ohio River & Western.

[katwoman99]

I remember several things--living near Pennsy tracks, a school field trip to a local firehouse with a model railroad in it, a family reunion in Nashville where I got to climb on the NC&stL locomotive in the park, a grandmother in Ohio who told stories of the Ohio River & Western.

[Anonymous]

I received a Lionel set for Christmas in about 1949 (didn't everybody?). As I got older, I loved to watch those gorgeous GG-1s on the Philadelphia-Harrisburg main line; I could see them from my elementary and junior high school classrooms in the 50's. I spent more time daydreaming about trains than paying attention to the teachers.

[Anonymous]

I received a Lionel set for Christmas in about 1949 (didn't everybody?). As I got older, I loved to watch those gorgeous GG-1s on the Philadelphia-Harrisburg main line; I could see them from my elementary and junior high school classrooms in the 50's. I spent more time daydreaming about trains than paying attention to the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Fear! The first memory I had of a train was when my dad held me as a youngster as he stood next to the GTW tracks in Royal Oak, MI when a train was coming by. I think I can pick out the locomotive in my memory. It was an EMD yard switcher and the horn about scared me out of my pants, not to mention its ominous size and the ground shaking it produced. Well, this fear turned into fascination of all things and from then on, being near railroad tracks made the pricklies go up and down my spine in anticipation of one of those approaching monsters. Wow! What a thrill! Combine this fascination with the first time I saw a model railroad and I was hooked! A way to control the monster in miniature form and miniature realism was possible and alluring! I just don't know how else to say it.

[Anonymous]

Fear! The first memory I had of a train was when my dad held me as a youngster as he stood next to the GTW tracks in Royal Oak, MI when a train was coming by. I think I can pick out the locomotive in my memory. It was an EMD yard switcher and the horn about scared me out of my pants, not to mention its ominous size and the ground shaking it produced. Well, this fear turned into fascination of all things and from then on, being near railroad tracks made the pricklies go up and down my spine in anticipation of one of those approaching monsters. Wow! What a thrill! Combine this fascination with the first time I saw a model railroad and I was hooked! A way to control the monster in miniature form and miniature realism was possible and alluring! I just don't know how else to say it.

[JA2]

Originally I was given an O27 gauge train set from my cousin. Then my dad brought out his American Flyer set he had when he was a boy. From there I got more. Finally in high school I moved into HO after seeing a friend's layout. College caused me to pack it in. Now over 3 decades later I have started up again this time in N scale due to space restrictions. Such wonderful improvements have happened while I was away. :-)

[JA2]

Originally I was given an O27 gauge train set from my cousin. Then my dad brought out his American Flyer set he had when he was a boy. From there I got more. Finally in high school I moved into HO after seeing a friend's layout. College caused me to pack it in. Now over 3 decades later I have started up again this time in N scale due to space restrictions. Such wonderful improvements have happened while I was away. :-)

[pbuck]

at 3 i got a layout on a piece of plywood for x-mass have been hooked ever since that was in 1961 later i found out my grandfather was a boiler maker for the atlantic coast line in tampa fl ever since i found that out i dont look at deisels much i love steam i have a 3rd bedroom i am building a layout in now the room is 11' by 9'9"

[pbuck]

at 3 i got a layout on a piece of plywood for x-mass have been hooked ever since that was in 1961 later i found out my grandfather was a boiler maker for the atlantic coast line in tampa fl ever since i found that out i dont look at deisels much i love steam i have a 3rd bedroom i am building a layout in now the room is 11' by 9'9"

[Anonymous]

My wife told me to get a hobby. The joke is on her!!!

[Anonymous]

My wife told me to get a hobby. The joke is on her!!!

[richardj1]

I started with a Marx windup, too young to remember much until receiving
an American Flyer Royal Blue set for Xmas birthday present in late 40's. Added to with subsequent bdays until Jr.Hi and girls came along in early fifties. Packed away and survived a divorce, subsequent moves and a 900 mile trek across country. Rediscovered and revived interest in mid 80's and am a confirmed S-gauge hi-railer about to revamp a bedroom from an enhanced 5 x 9 platform to an around the room shelf layout. Love this hobby!

[richardj1]

I started with a Marx windup, too young to remember much until receiving
an American Flyer Royal Blue set for Xmas birthday present in late 40's. Added to with subsequent bdays until Jr.Hi and girls came along in early fifties. Packed away and survived a divorce, subsequent moves and a 900 mile trek across country. Rediscovered and revived interest in mid 80's and am a confirmed S-gauge hi-railer about to revamp a bedroom from an enhanced 5 x 9 platform to an around the room shelf layout. Love this hobby!

[CP5415]

Who influenced me? My Dad. He was into model railroading long before I was born, so it was around me from day one. Also the fact that he & I would railfan CP's Agincourt Yard.

Gordon

[CP5415]

Who influenced me? My Dad. He was into model railroading long before I was born, so it was around me from day one. Also the fact that he & I would railfan CP's Agincourt Yard.

Gordon

[Anonymous]

I had had the opportunity to ride the UP(The City of Portland) on vacations to the West to visit relatives and fell in love with trains. When I was in the sixth grade I went to the local hoppy shop with a freind. They had an HO layout set up in the shop. The detail of the engines and rolling stock (Athearn) was so fantastic that I immedicately bought a single green box car kit. I didn't have a layout or even one single piece of track, but I just had to have one of those beautiful cars. I was sixteen then and I have continued to be affected for the past forty years by the bug that bit me that day. I wouldn't change a thing! Bring on DCC and realisitc sound (With a subwoofer of course!).

Dr. J in Hudson, Ohio

[Anonymous]

I had had the opportunity to ride the UP(The City of Portland) on vacations to the West to visit relatives and fell in love with trains. When I was in the sixth grade I went to the local hoppy shop with a freind. They had an HO layout set up in the shop. The detail of the engines and rolling stock (Athearn) was so fantastic that I immedicately bought a single green box car kit. I didn't have a layout or even one single piece of track, but I just had to have one of those beautiful cars. I was sixteen then and I have continued to be affected for the past forty years by the bug that bit me that day. I wouldn't change a thing! Bring on DCC and realisitc sound (With a subwoofer of course!).

Dr. J in Hudson, Ohio

[fndbke]

I received a Lionel 675-led set (ate 40's) when I was about 6 - that would have been around 1960. Despite the abuse of myself and three brothers over the years, I managed to save the engine, tender and caboose, although the dump car, refrigeration ca r and tank car bit the dust along the way. I finally got around to reburbishing the engine and tender in 1999. A couple of years of Christmas setups around the tree, followed by a few weeks of damaging my knees on the concrete floor in my basement each January, I finally decided to take the plunge, and am in the process of building out a 600 sq foot O guage layout. The 675 still runs great, 55+ years and counting!

[fndbke]

I received a Lionel 675-led set (ate 40's) when I was about 6 - that would have been around 1960. Despite the abuse of myself and three brothers over the years, I managed to save the engine, tender and caboose, although the dump car, refrigeration ca r and tank car bit the dust along the way. I finally got around to reburbishing the engine and tender in 1999. A couple of years of Christmas setups around the tree, followed by a few weeks of damaging my knees on the concrete floor in my basement each January, I finally decided to take the plunge, and am in the process of building out a 600 sq foot O guage layout. The 675 still runs great, 55+ years and counting!

[Anonymous]

When I was 2 years old, my brother received a Lionel train set with the Santa Fe F3A&B, #2243. It happened that My brother ,who was 11 at the time, didn't get to play with them much, because I held on to them like a favorite stuffed animal. I was told I would put them on my pillow when I went to sleep. Also, we lived about 300 yards from the New Canaan branch of the New Haven Railroad. After church on Sundays in the mid fiftys, my Dad would take me to watch the trains at the Stamford RR Station. We would spend 1-2 hours watching freight and passenger trains run by. Wish I had a camera at the time!

[Anonymous]

When I was 2 years old, my brother received a Lionel train set with the Santa Fe F3A&B, #2243. It happened that My brother ,who was 11 at the time, didn't get to play with them much, because I held on to them like a favorite stuffed animal. I was told I would put them on my pillow when I went to sleep. Also, we lived about 300 yards from the New Canaan branch of the New Haven Railroad. After church on Sundays in the mid fiftys, my Dad would take me to watch the trains at the Stamford RR Station. We would spend 1-2 hours watching freight and passenger trains run by. Wish I had a camera at the time!

[IRONROOSTER]

When my wife was pregnant with our first child, I told her that for his first Christmas he was getting a train set. Well she jumped the gun and bought me one the Christmas before while she was pregnant. The day after Christmas I found a copy of MR for sale in the PX newstand. This hooked me. Now after two scale changes (HO to O to S) I'm building an 11' x 18' layout.
Enjoy
Paul

[IRONROOSTER]

When my wife was pregnant with our first child, I told her that for his first Christmas he was getting a train set. Well she jumped the gun and bought me one the Christmas before while she was pregnant. The day after Christmas I found a copy of MR for sale in the PX newstand. This hooked me. Now after two scale changes (HO to O to S) I'm building an 11' x 18' layout.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Christmas present about 1940 or 1941 was an American Flyer set. Later, my first job helped me get HO kits. Now interested in 1930's short line type of operation.

[Anonymous]

Christmas present about 1940 or 1941 was an American Flyer set. Later, my first job helped me get HO kits. Now interested in 1930's short line type of operation.

[Anonymous]

I was pulled in by the cover of Small, Smart, and Practical Track Plans by Iain Rice. I came across it at a used book store and my interest in trains has been growing ever since. I am just an armchair engineer at the moment, but I have started building framework on one side of my garage as time allows. I also have a neighbor who is much further along on his layout so he keeps me inspired.

[Anonymous]

I was pulled in by the cover of Small, Smart, and Practical Track Plans by Iain Rice. I came across it at a used book store and my interest in trains has been growing ever since. I am just an armchair engineer at the moment, but I have started building framework on one side of my garage as time allows. I also have a neighbor who is much further along on his layout so he keeps me inspired.

[Anonymous]

"Hear that whistle blow ... clickety-clack, clickety-clack. The wheels a-sing with the railroad track. If you go you can't come back." Remember Terry Gilkyson's song, "Fast Freight," made popular by Dave Guard and the Kingston Trio? I grew up not far from the C&NW tracks in Wisconsin's Fox River Valley. At age 4 I already was in love with trains. I couldn't afford to buy a real RR, but at age 5, a cheap Marx set already under the Xmas tree. Mark Oliva in Bavaria, Germany.

[Anonymous]

"Hear that whistle blow ... clickety-clack, clickety-clack. The wheels a-sing with the railroad track. If you go you can't come back." Remember Terry Gilkyson's song, "Fast Freight," made popular by Dave Guard and the Kingston Trio? I grew up not far from the C&NW tracks in Wisconsin's Fox River Valley. At age 4 I already was in love with trains. I couldn't afford to buy a real RR, but at age 5, a cheap Marx set already under the Xmas tree. Mark Oliva in Bavaria, Germany.