What Influenced You?

[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]

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]

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]

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.

[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]

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.

[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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Watching trains when I was a kid, set up an appetite for trains.......
Been around them for about 55 years.........still like the fallen flag roads, steam, early covered wagon diesels.
Remember the trips to the roundhouse, turntable and riding 0-8-0's around the yards.

[Anonymous]

Watching trains when I was a kid, set up an appetite for trains.......
Been around them for about 55 years.........still like the fallen flag roads, steam, early covered wagon diesels.
Remember the trips to the roundhouse, turntable and riding 0-8-0's around the yards.

[Anonymous]

Both my grandfathers had model railroads in their places. One had H.O and the other Lionel. My dad received the lionel from his dad and, well, is giving it to me. Wheneve4r I open the chest the small Lionel set is in, I get this odor from all the parts inside and that just brings me joy. Then I get to play with it. My mothers father willed all his H.O stuff to me. I mean really old stuff from the 40's and 50's. Not too much stuff, but some original hardened paperboard buildings with cellophane for windows, Two old Engines, a 4-6-2 and a GP something diesel from Athern. Both are all metal and heavy compared to what I can buy new today. There is also some lights and other things. I am going to stay strictly with H.O., but I'll keep the 0-27 for Christmas. The engine needs some work to make it work, but All else is fine.
Jim "Space" lawson

[Anonymous]

Both my grandfathers had model railroads in their places. One had H.O and the other Lionel. My dad received the lionel from his dad and, well, is giving it to me. Wheneve4r I open the chest the small Lionel set is in, I get this odor from all the parts inside and that just brings me joy. Then I get to play with it. My mothers father willed all his H.O stuff to me. I mean really old stuff from the 40's and 50's. Not too much stuff, but some original hardened paperboard buildings with cellophane for windows, Two old Engines, a 4-6-2 and a GP something diesel from Athern. Both are all metal and heavy compared to what I can buy new today. There is also some lights and other things. I am going to stay strictly with H.O., but I'll keep the 0-27 for Christmas. The engine needs some work to make it work, but All else is fine.
Jim "Space" lawson

[OhioRailroader]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kentsoftware.com

Now Im N-scale, a dozen locos, A Lenz Set90 DCC system, I now write DCC software for Lenz. and Im expanding my 10 layout (about 25' of main line) to about 100' of main line, and my credit card is wearring out.

Times like this, I wish my college financial aid grant would cover "entertainment" expenses, lol.

[OhioRailroader]

QUOTE: Originally posted by kentsoftware.com

Now Im N-scale, a dozen locos, A Lenz Set90 DCC system, I now write DCC software for Lenz. and Im expanding my 10 layout (about 25' of main line) to about 100' of main line, and my credit card is wearring out.

Times like this, I wish my college financial aid grant would cover "entertainment" expenses, lol.

[Kent]

I got my first trains when I was a kid, don't recall how old I was. A Tyco et witha Santa Fe F-unit loco (not sure of the exact model:( We added a few thing over time, I have asthma, so all my i time was indoors, so I ran thm mostly by mayself (my brother and father are the outdoor types) I sold them probably about 15 years ago when I need money. I got back into them about 1.5 years ago. (sorry, dont feel lik typing the whole story tonight)

Now Im N-scale, a dozen locos, A Lenz Set90 DCC system, I now write DCC software for Lenz. and Im expanding my 10 layout (about 25' of main line) to about 100' of main line, and my credit card is wearring out.

[Kent]

I got my first trains when I was a kid, don't recall how old I was. A Tyco et witha Santa Fe F-unit loco (not sure of the exact model:( We added a few thing over time, I have asthma, so all my i time was indoors, so I ran thm mostly by mayself (my brother and father are the outdoor types) I sold them probably about 15 years ago when I need money. I got back into them about 1.5 years ago. (sorry, dont feel lik typing the whole story tonight)

Now Im N-scale, a dozen locos, A Lenz Set90 DCC system, I now write DCC software for Lenz. and Im expanding my 10 layout (about 25' of main line) to about 100' of main line, and my credit card is wearring out.

[Anonymous]

I chose "train set" but should perhaps mention that the "set" was a double track main line around a small bedroom and the "gift" was to my older brother and myself! Lasted until our kid sister grew out of her cot and had to have the bedroom. Never quite forgiven her for that. Other influences: we lived right next to the Manchester-London main line, also my granddad and one uncle worked on the railway.