What Influenced You?

[Anonymous]

I received a Lionel Train for Christmas in 1948 and it was my hobby thru high school, then cars and girls. In 1997 I was visiting a friend in Nevada and he had a really great N Scale layout. I had always enjoyed model railroading but I spent 20 yrs in the Navy and it's tough to have a layout when you move every 3 three years. Anyhow this friend gave me 2 locos a few cars some track and a transformer and said have fun. Now 6 years and $35,000.00 later I have my N Scale empire 200+ locos, 700+ rolling stock and 140 feet of mainline and Digitrax DCC. It sure is fun....Ed Blenner

[Anonymous]

I received a Lionel Train for Christmas in 1948 and it was my hobby thru high school, then cars and girls. In 1997 I was visiting a friend in Nevada and he had a really great N Scale layout. I had always enjoyed model railroading but I spent 20 yrs in the Navy and it's tough to have a layout when you move every 3 three years. Anyhow this friend gave me 2 locos a few cars some track and a transformer and said have fun. Now 6 years and $35,000.00 later I have my N Scale empire 200+ locos, 700+ rolling stock and 140 feet of mainline and Digitrax DCC. It sure is fun....Ed Blenner

[Anonymous]

1. As a 6 year old kid had American Flyer on a 4x8 plywood.
2. Lived near RR tracks, high point of the day was hearing the whistle and running to the track to watch the train go by.
3. Visited a friend of my father who had a huge Lionel layout.
4. As an adult lived near RR tracks, took my own kids to watch the trains go by.
5.Had a home computer (wasn't called PC then) in late 70's. Built a computer controlled HO layout to give the computer something to do and teach myself to program. Then realized i was having more fun with the trains than with the computer. Been a railroader ever since in 3 scales.

[Anonymous]

1. As a 6 year old kid had American Flyer on a 4x8 plywood.
2. Lived near RR tracks, high point of the day was hearing the whistle and running to the track to watch the train go by.
3. Visited a friend of my father who had a huge Lionel layout.
4. As an adult lived near RR tracks, took my own kids to watch the trains go by.
5.Had a home computer (wasn't called PC then) in late 70's. Built a computer controlled HO layout to give the computer something to do and teach myself to program. Then realized i was having more fun with the trains than with the computer. Been a railroader ever since in 3 scales.

[Anonymous]

When I was about 6 we had an O scale Lionel layout on a 4x8 in the playroom.. This layout was hinged to the wall so it could be lifted up for storage. I vividely remember that I was too young to bring it down myself, and my older brother also monopolized it, so I really wasn't able to do too much with it. Now, 40 years later, I was looking for something to do together with my son, my wife happened to mention that she would like a train set, and I was hooked. My son doesn't yet have the urge, but I do. My wife didn't know what she was getting in to; she just wanted a small loop set.

[Anonymous]

When I was about 6 we had an O scale Lionel layout on a 4x8 in the playroom.. This layout was hinged to the wall so it could be lifted up for storage. I vividely remember that I was too young to bring it down myself, and my older brother also monopolized it, so I really wasn't able to do too much with it. Now, 40 years later, I was looking for something to do together with my son, my wife happened to mention that she would like a train set, and I was hooked. My son doesn't yet have the urge, but I do. My wife didn't know what she was getting in to; she just wanted a small loop set.

[Anonymous]

When I was 4 years old-71/2 years old I lived a side of the Reading Railroad and saw Steam
running.That made a big impression on watching those trains running.I had toy trains,but
when I found out they made electirc trains I wanted to model what I saw as a child.
Ken F.

[Anonymous]

When I was 4 years old-71/2 years old I lived a side of the Reading Railroad and saw Steam
running.That made a big impression on watching those trains running.I had toy trains,but
when I found out they made electirc trains I wanted to model what I saw as a child.
Ken F.

[Anonymous]

I got started when we lived kentuky and the Norfolk Southern Nashvill mailine weent right behind our house ! I started out with a wooden train set. but only got into MODEL railroading about 2 years ago .

[Anonymous]

I got started when we lived kentuky and the Norfolk Southern Nashvill mailine weent right behind our house ! I started out with a wooden train set. but only got into MODEL railroading about 2 years ago .

[Anonymous]

My Dad bought us a Lionel train set one Christmas and that was all it took. Now into HO and some G.

[Anonymous]

My Dad bought us a Lionel train set one Christmas and that was all it took. Now into HO and some G.

[coachayers]

I grew up alongside the combined mainlines of Southern, Chesapeake & Ohio and Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac in Alexandria, VA. When we went across the river into Washington, DC, I could watch Pennsy's GG-1s, and Baltimore and Ohio. I guess it was inevitable. About 20 years ago, I followed in my great uncle's footsteps, helping to fire a Southern steam engine, 630, on a fan trip to and from Charlottesville, VA. I must have cinders in my blood.

[coachayers]

I grew up alongside the combined mainlines of Southern, Chesapeake & Ohio and Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac in Alexandria, VA. When we went across the river into Washington, DC, I could watch Pennsy's GG-1s, and Baltimore and Ohio. I guess it was inevitable. About 20 years ago, I followed in my great uncle's footsteps, helping to fire a Southern steam engine, 630, on a fan trip to and from Charlottesville, VA. I must have cinders in my blood.

[Anonymous]

We lived in Phenix City, AL, my Grandfather would take me over to Columbus, GA to watch the old Man -O - War come in from Atlanta. I have always enjoyed watching trains and playing with them.

[Anonymous]

We lived in Phenix City, AL, my Grandfather would take me over to Columbus, GA to watch the old Man -O - War come in from Atlanta. I have always enjoyed watching trains and playing with them.

[Anonymous]

My Dad and I worked on our first model railroad when I was 12 years old. My first locomotive was a John English 0-4-0 Yardbird switcher. I still have that loco and the original five cars that Dad and I made. My model railroad collection has grown greatly over the years and I now work as a model railroad volunteer at the Wenham Museum in Wenham, Massachusetts. Come and see our museum quality HO layouts and Z to G scale.

[Anonymous]

My Dad and I worked on our first model railroad when I was 12 years old. My first locomotive was a John English 0-4-0 Yardbird switcher. I still have that loco and the original five cars that Dad and I made. My model railroad collection has grown greatly over the years and I now work as a model railroad volunteer at the Wenham Museum in Wenham, Massachusetts. Come and see our museum quality HO layouts and Z to G scale.

[Anonymous]

It all started in 1962, that was the year I was born. Just down the street from my grandfather's house in Provo, Utah, was the Denver & Rio Grande main line! I'm told that as soon as I could walk, I would make my way down to the tracks to watch the trains roll by.
At 10 I received a TYCO train set with a UP GP20. Now I have over 100 locomotives, and +/-200 peices of rolling stock. Still no layout, as I am in the AIr Force, but soon to have one.
My uncle was a conductor on the Grande for 47 years. Many friends also influenced my addiction to HO scale railroading. MR is also responsible, frome reading and seeing pictures in the early '70s.
Paul H. Liddiard

[Anonymous]

It all started in 1962, that was the year I was born. Just down the street from my grandfather's house in Provo, Utah, was the Denver & Rio Grande main line! I'm told that as soon as I could walk, I would make my way down to the tracks to watch the trains roll by.
At 10 I received a TYCO train set with a UP GP20. Now I have over 100 locomotives, and +/-200 peices of rolling stock. Still no layout, as I am in the AIr Force, but soon to have one.
My uncle was a conductor on the Grande for 47 years. Many friends also influenced my addiction to HO scale railroading. MR is also responsible, frome reading and seeing pictures in the early '70s.
Paul H. Liddiard

[Anonymous]

I was born in July 1937. The story was that for my first Chritmas my Dad bought me a Lionel O guage train set. Needless to say I do not remember, but a few years later they gave the trains to me again and I still have them. I have added additional O and O27 guage trains, but now that I am retired i am switching over to HO and saving my Lionel for my Son and brand new Grandson.

[Anonymous]

I was born in July 1937. The story was that for my first Chritmas my Dad bought me a Lionel O guage train set. Needless to say I do not remember, but a few years later they gave the trains to me again and I still have them. I have added additional O and O27 guage trains, but now that I am retired i am switching over to HO and saving my Lionel for my Son and brand new Grandson.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

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

Please vote then share your comments below.

My dad worked part time in my grandfather's department store. Both had a great interest in the toy department. The year that I turned 3 they recieved a mis-matched shipment from Gilbert. Grand-dad got a special price for dad on the Am. Flyer Commander set, dad got busy in the basement, and the next Christmas I got a wrapped box car and 2 pcs. of track. The big surprise was downstairs... where dad spent most of the day while little ol' me went back upstairs to play with my box car and track. That's where it started and I still have the whole set.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

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

Please vote then share your comments below.

My dad worked part time in my grandfather's department store. Both had a great interest in the toy department. The year that I turned 3 they recieved a mis-matched shipment from Gilbert. Grand-dad got a special price for dad on the Am. Flyer Commander set, dad got busy in the basement, and the next Christmas I got a wrapped box car and 2 pcs. of track. The big surprise was downstairs... where dad spent most of the day while little ol' me went back upstairs to play with my box car and track. That's where it started and I still have the whole set.

[johngraser]

Recieve a Marx 027 Battery powered set when I was 4.

Also heard stories of my Grand Father (passed away before I was Born) that worked for Southern Pacific that my mother and Grandmother talked about.

John

[johngraser]

Recieve a Marx 027 Battery powered set when I was 4.

Also heard stories of my Grand Father (passed away before I was Born) that worked for Southern Pacific that my mother and Grandmother talked about.

John

[Anonymous]

When I was a young lad, I had a neighbor next door who had this wonderful elevated trackwork going from one room to another in his third floor, old house. I remember that he had the expensive Varney line diesel F engines (probably around $60.00 each for the kits) with the diecast bodies and the belt drives. When I saw his engines, they weren't painted, just the white metal original color. They ran very smoothly and he hand laid all of his track with the Tru-Scale pre-formed milled roadbed with the grooves in which to spike the track. This was HO scale. I don't remember whether he had cars or not at this stage because he didn't stay my neighbor for very long. His railroad excited me quite a bit, and, before long, I spent a week's allowance on a Varney Ore Car Kit, which to me was "the greatest thing since sliced, white bread"!

[Anonymous]

When I was a young lad, I had a neighbor next door who had this wonderful elevated trackwork going from one room to another in his third floor, old house. I remember that he had the expensive Varney line diesel F engines (probably around $60.00 each for the kits) with the diecast bodies and the belt drives. When I saw his engines, they weren't painted, just the white metal original color. They ran very smoothly and he hand laid all of his track with the Tru-Scale pre-formed milled roadbed with the grooves in which to spike the track. This was HO scale. I don't remember whether he had cars or not at this stage because he didn't stay my neighbor for very long. His railroad excited me quite a bit, and, before long, I spent a week's allowance on a Varney Ore Car Kit, which to me was "the greatest thing since sliced, white bread"!

[n2mopac]

I grew up in a railroad town on the MoPac Sedalia sub, so an interest in trains was natural. As a child I had a few toy trains, but nothing special. I always wanted a more serious train set. Then, as an adult (age 28), I happened into a model railroad shop in a flea market in Orlando, FL and realized that there was a whole hobby surrounding my natural interest in trains. I was already skilled in building and some detail work, so modeling was rather natural to learn. I immediately found MR mag and began reading it, which was my initial and real education in the hobby. That was nearly 10 years ago and I've given up several other hobbies in favor of concentrating on model railroading.
Ron

[n2mopac]

I grew up in a railroad town on the MoPac Sedalia sub, so an interest in trains was natural. As a child I had a few toy trains, but nothing special. I always wanted a more serious train set. Then, as an adult (age 28), I happened into a model railroad shop in a flea market in Orlando, FL and realized that there was a whole hobby surrounding my natural interest in trains. I was already skilled in building and some detail work, so modeling was rather natural to learn. I immediately found MR mag and began reading it, which was my initial and real education in the hobby. That was nearly 10 years ago and I've given up several other hobbies in favor of concentrating on model railroading.
Ron