What are your Occupations/Jobs

[Anonymous]

I am moderately surprised that architect or land developer engineers seem to dominate the responses, but maybe the "creative" juices need to flow 24/7 one way or the other!

I'm a golf course architect. It's a fair way to make a living.....I own my own company, and make the same amount each year - what's left over. The actual dollars vary considerably, and so does my spending on the hobby. I have spent as much as $5000 in a year, when things were better. Proportionally, I should spend less than $500 right now, but somehow, I can't get the spending that low!

[sparkingbolt]

"I am am jani-TOR" Thats what my brother once said of me mockingly. But he wasn't trashing, just funnin'. I am a self employed commercial floor maintenance contractor mostly with a cupola regular full janitorial accounts. Normally would spend 20-40/mo, with occasional gusts, but....

I have been collecting bits and peices for years, but now am at it seriously so getting locos and rolling stock, track, power, all that... I've spent a bundle this year. Have all the locos i want. Here's the "but" part

My big gun account is gonna "downsize" me some time in '04. So knowing i'm gonna bite it bigly, I have had to do the responsible and the practical thing: HOARD!!!! And with my wifes full blessing!!!! LOVE THAT WOMAN! (she's cute, too!)

I have a couple leads to follow up in due time, no bird in the hand though. It is gonna be an interesting year. That will determine how much, if any I spend then. Ask in a year!

Dan
PS: it's interesting that MR regularly features mega model RRs, and while it does promote and encourage small guys like most of us (Thanks Ian Rice) it seldom features them. Not whining, I like MR. : )

[ddechamp71]

Airline pilot. I´m working in a french charter airline as a F/O on a Boeing B747. My passions are:
-aviation
-modelrailroading (Z scale, my soon started Tehachapi Pass)
-music (Jazz, rock, blues).
Cheers
Dominique

[ddechamp71]

My mean year expense for modelrailroading: about $1500 US for 7 years, but a lot more this year, as I bought 10 locomotives at $539 US per unit....

[locomutt]

Well,[:D] Retired now[:p] But spent 11-1/2 years designing the
railroad crossing protection that a lot of "IDIOTS" like to go
around[V] Retired sgt in the Army,Fighter/EMT[:D] have spent
about 40 years as a model railroader.[:D]
locomutt[8D]

[Anonymous]

At present, Field Service, prior to that, PE at prestigious Jet Engine Manufacturer. Saved a lot, never lived at my means let alone above them. I enjoy the hobby and spend between 5-6K a year. Still want to spend more.[;)]

I should have stated that when I got back into model railroading I spent 5-6K the first year and have been spending between $800-$1200 a year since. I surely do not spend 5-6 K a year. Sorry for that[:(], but I do spend a what I deem a considerable amount on a hobby.[8D][8D]

[Ibflattop]

Heck if ya are tired of driving a truck and making good money ya should try the railroad. Just starting off you are making $400- $800 dollars a week. Wait until ya get out on the road then ya will bring in the Bucks! KB

[Anonymous]

Until January of this year I did applications and design for a turbocharger manufacturer/repair company. We specialized in the oil and natural gas area but did alot of marine and railroad jobs.

I did have a sucessful design to help reduced the response time and smoke for the Alco 251C and 251F engines. The fact marine customers have little or no money made it a hard sell. Also company policies on R&D and marketing strategy hurt. I could make those Alco engines run very clean from a smoke point of view. One boat the crew thanked me because they could reduced cleaning the decks to once a week. Also the pilot liked the fact if he had a tail wind he could see the locks.

We also did some neat things with EMD turbos but I didn't get too involved with that.

Right now I'm a part time grad student and am a mechanical engineer.

Money is tight so......maybe $100-150 to get my old HO set rolling again for my 3 sons.

DT

[peterjenkinson1956]

lo lo ...i am an underground coalminer working in australia...could any other coalminers contact me to say [e-mail]...i model conrail / csx and i have started to run g scale...i love to travel , i went out of australia 6 x times last year , mainly to asia,close and cheap...pay $126k and i am glad to say no debt so my wife does not even ask when i walk into the house with a box of goodies...heaven

[Anonymous]

I am a Computer/business management consultant with my own business, so spending depends on how business is going. I only spend $500 AUD per year average. So slow going, I find purchasing from the 'usa' cheaper than local due to the exchange rate.

[Anonymous]

im a freshmen in high school making only 8 bucks a week for allowance and babysitting for $10 an hour, so i only spend about 5 bucks a month (im a $ saver[;)]) and have to wait untill my b-day and x-mas untill I get any major stuff for my layout but hopefully ill get a small summer job and be able to spend more. My layout is only 4x8 HO and its still coming along slowly but surely but im not rushing it, it's coming along great.

[jimmac230]

Police officer for many years, got hooked on trains years ago working with the railroad on the Operation Lifesaver program have just started with building a layout with certain events involving them. Spend about $30 to $40 a month for particular items for the layout. Mainly just tinker with it for relaxation.

[IRONROOSTER]

Software Engineer. I now average about $100 per month (it was a lot less when the boys were growing up), but generally buy stuff two or three times a year at the train shows and once or twice mail order. The local hobby shops carry very very little S scale. I probably will be slowing down since I have more rolling stock and engines than I can use on my current 11x18 layout and probably all but 8 or 10 buildings. It's amazing how much I have amassed over 10 years in S scale. Before that I was in O scale and before that in HO scale. Over the course of 32 years in the hobby I have bought enough to keep me busy for years - in all three scales if I want.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

I work for the Air Force, currently stationed at RAF Lakenheath, UK. I spend a lot more than I should.

[Anonymous]

I am a 33 year old Mechanical Engineer and have a self-imposed budget of between $50 and $75 per month. I could spend more than that, but I have a wife and two year old son.

[Anonymous]

Retired. Our baby, 5 of 5, will graduate from college in May so I hope to have a little more to spend on my hobby. I probably spen about $50/month now.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Hawks05

hopefully i'll make some money as a Journalist or history teacher to help out my train collection after i graduate.

Don't hold your breath.

I am a journalist. I make $42,000 a year and I'm pushing 40. If I didn't love news, I'd have to find a real job that pays an adult wage.

[Anonymous]

Freight Conductor--BNSF Railway--$65,000 to $75,000 a year---I spend $1000 or less a year on models of locomotives and real (1 to 1 scale) train items......See my posting concerning help with the "Super Chief" model offered by "Walthers".........

[Anonymous]

I drive road trains in Australia, like 18-wheelers but with up to four trailers. Fully legal on the highways in the northern half of Australia too! Currently driving these road trains in a mining environment in Western Aus, work 5 days, 5 nights, 5 off - 12 hour shifts. Make around $100K a year.

Spendings are quite limited however, as I spend a lot of money on photography and travelling, not to mention the fact that I model Sn3.5. That is 3'6" gauge, which allows us to use HO track and mechanisms, with scratchbuilt bodies, at 1/64 scale. Most of the railway system here in West Aus is 3'6" narrow gauge. I still would spend over $2000 a year, however. Girlfriend doesn't complain - it's my money, and she has a bloody good job too!

[Anonymous]

I am a librarian for a k -12 Indian school in South Dakota. I have been a model railroader for about 30 years. Make about $40,000 a year. I spend $400 - $500 a year on my railroad. My other big expense as you might guess from my occupation is books!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Z For Me

43 years old and retired.
I was severly injured on the job five years ago changing my life forever.
Prior to becoming diabled I was a Chemical Operator processing nuclear fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Was making over well over 50K and man do I miss the money but also the ability to work.
Right now I only collect old locos and cars in HO and can't spend too much ca***hese days because my wife and I are starting a family. Low bills and we own a home on three acres up in the hills in NE Nevada at 6500 feet. It has been snowing for the last three weeks so we are settling in for a long and brutal winter. Perfect time to start my first layout after being interested in the hobby since I was seven. I have subscibed to MR since the early 70s but have never laid a single rail of track. Nows the time don't you think?
That's all folks!
Mark

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Z For Me

43 years old and retired.
I was severly injured on the job five years ago changing my life forever.
Prior to becoming diabled I was a Chemical Operator processing nuclear fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Was making over well over 50K and man do I miss the money but also the ability to work.
Right now I only collect old locos and cars in HO and can't spend too much ca***hese days because my wife and I are starting a family. Low bills and we own a home on three acres up in the hills in NE Nevada at 6500 feet. It has been snowing for the last three weeks so we are settling in for a long and brutal winter. Perfect time to start my first layout after being interested in the hobby since I was seven. I have subscibed to MR since the early 70s but have never laid a single rail of track. Nows the time don't you think?
That's all folks!
Mark

Best of luck,my friend...go on and lay that rail..

[retsignalmtr]

i am a retired signal maintainer. i worked for NYC transit for 31 years. i'm finally building what i want and have spent about $400 this year.

[PistolPete]

Biology teacher and Soccer Coach for 31 years, between $50 and $100 a month.

[Nieuweboer]

Retired as Gen.Mgr. of a pharmaceutical company. I think I spent about $ 1000 a year these last years. I could spent more but I already have so many locomotives and cars that adding more only creates more storing problems bacause I never retire old rolling stock, some of them 40 and more years old.
I should dump the old Athearns, Rivarossi's and Tyco's and add some Kato's and Atlasses.Maybe next year! Most of the money goes to replacement of turnouts and other improvements of the layout itself.

[Anonymous]

City Department of Public Works worker & Part Paid Firefighter. With overtime & all it's worth about 40,000 / yr. . Now that my track is all down, I only spend about $50.00 per month on my hobby, the rest goes to my wife & daughter. Oh well...............

[dragenrider]

Here's an unusual occupation for you...I'm a flight nurse/paramedic on a medi-vac helicopter. I fly the gorgeous Ozark Mountains, complete with hunting accidents, car crashes on winding roads, and four wheeler roll overs. It's a great job! [:)][:)][:)] I work a straight 48 hour shift and I'm done for the week. With my remaining time I work on the side as a firefighter/paramedic. Plus, I volunteer with two local fire departments.

With all this time free you'd think I would accomplish more on my layout, but no such doing...(sigh). I do manage to spend about $750.00 a year on my layout. Half of that is on eBay. There are no decent hobby shops in the rural mountains and train shows are a long way away. Thank God for the Internet and an understanding wife. [:X] She even let me lay claim to the entire (one car) garage. I still can't believe her sports car sits outside under a tree just so I can play with my choo-choo's. [:p]

Happy Rails,
Randy A.

[Anonymous]

I'm a plumber, and in the past 20 years, I've averaged $0.00 a year... Libraries provide me with all of my reading material, so I don't even buy an MR mag!

However, all that will change this year. WOO HOO!!!!

I plan on forking over 2 to 3k this year, and scaling back to about 1k 2nd year, 3rd year, I should win the lotto[;)] HAHA!!!!

[shawn-118]

sawmill worker so I can get most of the lumber for next to nothing. Other than that seeing as I'm starting out I'll be spending quit heavy from now until fall probably around $4000-$5000 but thats Canadian.

[Anonymous]

coal miner in Gillette,Wyo,,meet lots of real railroad people who ar moderlers of there working R.R.so i spend some one month and less the next,,But all in all i can affored any thing i think i might need,