What Influenced You?

[randybc2003]

I was 5 or 6 years old. We visited a friend's house. The "grandma & grandpa" type couple had taken a neighbor boy under her wing, and he kept his LIONEL at their place. We set it up in the (cramped) living room, and ran it in circles.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

One or two Christmass later,Santa brought a train set. WILLIAM CROOKS. by Marx.
Additions and continued for 7 to 8 years, and interest was un-abated. In High School, met up with a teacher who was also a Model railraoder. He and his family moved a lot, but he still had a room dedicated to RR in the house he rented. The presure was finaly sufficient, and I got into HO.

Off & on for several years until, somewhat at loose ends, the bug bit again. HARD.
Stoped at the old Hoby Shop, picked up a current MR., and with fits & starts picked up where I left off.

Built a small 4x8, joined a club, expanded to include some N and On2-1/2 (Couldn't stay away from BACHMAN'S Porter). Still have a weakness for Woodburning American Standards. Still have William.

[randybc2003]

I was 5 or 6 years old. We visited a friend's house. The "grandma & grandpa" type couple had taken a neighbor boy under her wing, and he kept his LIONEL at their place. We set it up in the (cramped) living room, and ran it in circles.

HOOK, LINE AND SINKER.

One or two Christmass later,Santa brought a train set. WILLIAM CROOKS. by Marx.
Additions and continued for 7 to 8 years, and interest was un-abated. In High School, met up with a teacher who was also a Model railraoder. He and his family moved a lot, but he still had a room dedicated to RR in the house he rented. The presure was finaly sufficient, and I got into HO.

Off & on for several years until, somewhat at loose ends, the bug bit again. HARD.
Stoped at the old Hoby Shop, picked up a current MR., and with fits & starts picked up where I left off.

Built a small 4x8, joined a club, expanded to include some N and On2-1/2 (Couldn't stay away from BACHMAN'S Porter). Still have a weakness for Woodburning American Standards. Still have William.

[cp1057]

My parents bought a train set for my older brother when he was too young to know what to do with it. I saw the odd piece from it kicking around the house and started asking for one myself. Because of the bad experience with my brother, I was told I had to wait until I was 11 ! It must have been a forbidden fruit thing because that made me want one even more!

Well the day finally arrived and my dad did a really good job setting it up. I still have the model station (depot) from it and will always have it on my layout even if the paint scheme is totally different.

Charles
Hillsburgh On.

[cp1057]

My parents bought a train set for my older brother when he was too young to know what to do with it. I saw the odd piece from it kicking around the house and started asking for one myself. Because of the bad experience with my brother, I was told I had to wait until I was 11 ! It must have been a forbidden fruit thing because that made me want one even more!

Well the day finally arrived and my dad did a really good job setting it up. I still have the model station (depot) from it and will always have it on my layout even if the paint scheme is totally different.

Charles
Hillsburgh On.

[Anonymous]

A ride on the Southern Pacifics Daylight limited 4-8-4 Steam Engin back in 1976 when it was put in servic for a two week run form Sacramento to Redding,

[Anonymous]

A ride on the Southern Pacifics Daylight limited 4-8-4 Steam Engin back in 1976 when it was put in servic for a two week run form Sacramento to Redding,

[ClinchValleySD40]

I was born into a railroad family. My father was a brakeman on the Ma&Pa and an uncle was an engineer. At the age of six weeks, I rode a steam engine and have had railroading in my blood since. My father did have an American Flyer layout in the basement when I was very young. But my love of model railroading comes from my love of the prototype (I'm also an ex engineer - FEC and Chessie).

[ClinchValleySD40]

I was born into a railroad family. My father was a brakeman on the Ma&Pa and an uncle was an engineer. At the age of six weeks, I rode a steam engine and have had railroading in my blood since. My father did have an American Flyer layout in the basement when I was very young. But my love of model railroading comes from my love of the prototype (I'm also an ex engineer - FEC and Chessie).

[Anonymous]

I think it had something to do with the fact that one of CP's main lines ran almost literally through my backyard (well, ok, 50 yards away, at most). Having a seemingly endless number of trains running constantly past the house, and being so close, made for great railfanning as a kid, and left me awestruck by the sheer power of diesel locomotives. How could I not want to try and recreate that, even in miniature?

[Anonymous]

I think it had something to do with the fact that one of CP's main lines ran almost literally through my backyard (well, ok, 50 yards away, at most). Having a seemingly endless number of trains running constantly past the house, and being so close, made for great railfanning as a kid, and left me awestruck by the sheer power of diesel locomotives. How could I not want to try and recreate that, even in miniature?

[Anonymous]

My great grandfather retired to a house in town on the C&NW Rosebud branch. Mom took me out trainwatching at 6 months (1953). I spent every day of summer vacation at grandpas watching the train roll through town and switch out the local grain elevator and team track. As soon as it was OK with my parents (age 10), I purchased an American Flyer set. Switched to HO a couple of years later.

[Anonymous]

My great grandfather retired to a house in town on the C&NW Rosebud branch. Mom took me out trainwatching at 6 months (1953). I spent every day of summer vacation at grandpas watching the train roll through town and switch out the local grain elevator and team track. As soon as it was OK with my parents (age 10), I purchased an American Flyer set. Switched to HO a couple of years later.

[Anonymous]

I don't really no what inspired me to be model railroader. I guess, it would be the show, "Thomas the Tank Engine.". That's were I got my love of trains, at age two.

Aaron

[Anonymous]

I don't really no what inspired me to be model railroader. I guess, it would be the show, "Thomas the Tank Engine.". That's were I got my love of trains, at age two.

Aaron

[Anonymous]

Started with a set from my parents for X-Mas when I was 5 years Old. It was HO. I then joined the military and started in N scale for space saving. Still hooked on trains many years later

[Anonymous]

Started with a set from my parents for X-Mas when I was 5 years Old. It was HO. I then joined the military and started in N scale for space saving. Still hooked on trains many years later

[Anonymous]

My first spoken word, according to my mother, TRAIN. I grew up in Mt. Shasta CA on the SP Shasta Division. The tracks split the town in two. It was quite common to be stopped at a crossing when a train came through. I remember being so small I could not see over the dashboard of the truck, I could just hear this rumble cumming and the ding, ding, ding of the bells, then suddenly, I could see the train thundering past, I was pretty excited. I really looked foreward to being stopped at a crossing, and still do. TRAINS RULE!!!

[Anonymous]

My first spoken word, according to my mother, TRAIN. I grew up in Mt. Shasta CA on the SP Shasta Division. The tracks split the town in two. It was quite common to be stopped at a crossing when a train came through. I remember being so small I could not see over the dashboard of the truck, I could just hear this rumble cumming and the ding, ding, ding of the bells, then suddenly, I could see the train thundering past, I was pretty excited. I really looked foreward to being stopped at a crossing, and still do. TRAINS RULE!!!

[Anonymous]

I have to admit it was my grandpap who got me started. I can always remember the train around the tree at Christmas. Now I have a basement filled with trains. Thanks Grandpap.

[Anonymous]

I have to admit it was my grandpap who got me started. I can always remember the train around the tree at Christmas. Now I have a basement filled with trains. Thanks Grandpap.

[Anonymous]

Of course reciveing a train set for Christmas so long ago was one reason,the other was growing up in small isolated Northern Canadian towns, I was abel to keep myself busy and enjoy the world of Model Railroading even though most of the time it was just me,but have always loved the ability to create a small world with track and scenery and watch it come alive on those cold winter nights,Always seemed a little warmer when I was building or running trains,and the same still goes for today,always love the fall and the chill in the air and the thought of going out to my hobby shop and warming up the heaters and spending the long winter running my trains and detaling my layout,can anything be better.

[Anonymous]

Of course reciveing a train set for Christmas so long ago was one reason,the other was growing up in small isolated Northern Canadian towns, I was abel to keep myself busy and enjoy the world of Model Railroading even though most of the time it was just me,but have always loved the ability to create a small world with track and scenery and watch it come alive on those cold winter nights,Always seemed a little warmer when I was building or running trains,and the same still goes for today,always love the fall and the chill in the air and the thought of going out to my hobby shop and warming up the heaters and spending the long winter running my trains and detaling my layout,can anything be better.

[Yampa2003]

My dad had a small layout and it just 'rubbed' of onto me and my brother.
I still model but he is only really interested in the full size trains.
Brian

[Yampa2003]

My dad had a small layout and it just 'rubbed' of onto me and my brother.
I still model but he is only really interested in the full size trains.
Brian

[relucas]

grew up by railroad tracks. amazed at the power .couldn"t have the real thing so i took the next best , and have had a ball since......

[relucas]

grew up by railroad tracks. amazed at the power .couldn"t have the real thing so i took the next best , and have had a ball since......

[Gunneral]

Living near the LNER East Coast mainline as a child in the late 1930`s and early 40`s and watching the Gresley A4 Pacifics in action, that included Mallard, the fastest steam Loco and world record holder!

[Gunneral]

Living near the LNER East Coast mainline as a child in the late 1930`s and early 40`s and watching the Gresley A4 Pacifics in action, that included Mallard, the fastest steam Loco and world record holder!

[Anonymous]

my grandfather did. he bought his first train set when he was 18, and hid it from his dad because his dad thought my grandfather was wasting his money. i still have the engines that he got with that set. every christmas he turned his dining room into a lionel layout. every year up until 1995 he did that. sadly, he passed away in 1996. in 1996. my dad and i started a new tradition of turning half the living room into a lionel layout.its odd though, that when i listen to the trains clatter across the tracks, somehow, i know my grnadfather is there enjoying them with me.

miss ya pap.

[Anonymous]

my grandfather did. he bought his first train set when he was 18, and hid it from his dad because his dad thought my grandfather was wasting his money. i still have the engines that he got with that set. every christmas he turned his dining room into a lionel layout. every year up until 1995 he did that. sadly, he passed away in 1996. in 1996. my dad and i started a new tradition of turning half the living room into a lionel layout.its odd though, that when i listen to the trains clatter across the tracks, somehow, i know my grnadfather is there enjoying them with me.

miss ya pap.