pet peeves

[cbq9911a]

Some of my pet peeves:

1. Items that are not quite right, like the first run of Walthers Budd lightweights.

2. Cases where the manufacturer is clueless about the locomotive. An example is the Bachmann Russian Decapod. Bachmann modelled an Alco with the air pumps on the side. The best known Russian Decapod is a Baldwin with the air pumps on the pilot beam. Another example is the Lionel E5; it doesn't have the E5's corrugated side panels.

3. HO cars that are slightly too high or slightly too low for a Kadee #5 coupler.

4. Manufacturers who get their facts wrong or leave out facts. Eaample being the forthcoming Lionel NYC S motor. The Lionel brochure talks about how S motor 115 lasted in service until 1981 - but doesn't mention that it had a different number nor that it still exists.

[Anonymous]

My peeves about my trains:

-When the train suddenly stops because it's got no power. [:(!] [:(!]

-when the trains derail [:(!] [:(!] [:(!] [:(!]

-when the car uncouple [:(!]

-cleaning up [:p]

-when it takes forever for anything to arrive in the mail [;)]

-looking back at your childhood and wishing you were a little more nicer to that GP40 (At the cost

of one CN F9 Truck, I got a CN GP40 going) [:(]

-Realizing you don't have enough couplers to get all the Cars going [:(!] [:(!] [:(!] [:(!] [:(!]

-Realizing you don't have enough PARTS [:(!] [:(!] [:(!] [:(!] [:(!] (x10)(This goes for everything I work on)

-Looking back again and wishing you did a better job at that "Assemble yourself" Gondola [:(]

I know if I see someone being desructive to MY train set, I'll blow my top.

I don't have much problems with Model trains, but if I start on my Lego hobby, I get egged about "Playing with toys"

[Anonymous]

same here!

[Hawks05]

i guess my mom telling me to stop spending money on the trains until i have a place to run them is getting on my nerves. i want to have stuff to run so when i do get the layout done i can run stuff instead of just looking at a layout.

[CP5415]

wives who don't let ya work on your railroad!

Gordon

[Anonymous]

Uuuh, Sask, those weren't kids, those were my 12, 14 and 15 year old cousins!!!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by rambo1

Watching children touch the layouts or rollingstock at club shows with the parents watching and not saying nothing.I open my mouth!..........

I never thought of that one. That would be another one of mine, too! I was at the Regina train show a couple weeks ago and there was this one kid with his grandpa who seemed to want to touch everything. Twice I saw people who had tables there tell the kid to stop. I think a good policy is "you break it-you buy it". If one of these kids ended of knocking a $500 engine off a table and the parents had to pay for it I bet they'd be a lot more careful in the future.

I'm still shocked after reading your post, flyingscott! That's horrible! It's amazing how destructive kids can be! I've always been a perfectionist and like to have everyhting in place on my layout. I'd freak and have to be restrained if that happened to me. I admire you for not murdering one of them! When I was a kid there was this toy store in a mall with one of those Brio play tables for kids to use. Whenever I'd go there the trains and stuff would all be thrown around and I'd always put everything back on the rails and make sure everything was nice and neat and in place. This summer I was in Winnipeg and there was a toy store in a mall with one of these. I was sooooooo tempted to put everything back in order on it, but didn't because I'd have looked like an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Mine is when my daughter goes into my train room then leaves and forgets to shut the door. Enter Catzilla who terrorizes my towns causes major damage that I have to repair as best I can. The next time I catch that cat on my benchwork, well.....................

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by elias

Oh and Kids shows need to stop showing trains as little steam engines that go choo-choo and get with the present.

sadly it is so... but I know I can change that (clue: I'am an animator)
I forgot to mention my biggest peeve, that is when cousins get into my room and actually "play" with the trains. I caught them once and this is what I say (brace yourselves):
- one of them played with a painstakingly detailed RPO as if it were an airplane [:(!]
...then crashed it into a farm [:(!][:(!]
-another was banging the layout to see an "earthquake" [:(!][:(!][:(!]
- another did some really dirty stuff with a pair of figures. [:0]
-and the other one crashed two trains front to front over and over again [:(!][:(!][:(!][:(!]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by globnik

Micro-Trains couplers. Ingenious in their design, but obviously designed by an individual or team of sado-masochists whose primary goal is to aid phrmaceutical companies in boosting their blood pressure medication sales. All you need is a Micro-trains coupler 'kit', adult size fingers, middle-aged or older eyesight, and nerves not made of steel, and you can see what hell must be like anytime you're up to it.
Oh, and that so called spring loaded assembly jig is nothing more than a launcher for the various sub-atomic sized parts. Guaranteed to turn 'fun' into a cuss word inventing session (my wife can attest to this, her saying: 'It doesn't sound like you're having fun down there!?!?!?')

Two things that might help the blood pressure - the MT notched Tweezers to hold the pieces together really do work. And a great tip (don't know the originator of this but they have my undying gratitude) - if you run a length of thread through the coupler spring first it won't fly away while you place it into position. Then slip the thread out when the coupler is assembled.

Pet peeves - dirty rails, dirty wheels, locomotives with poor electrical pickup.

[Anonymous]

I hate it when my brother's friend comes over when im at school and derails the trains. I also hate it when people use the term PLAY with trains, Its a hobby but just because im having fun does not mean im playing. Oh and Kids shows need to stop showing trains as little steam engines that go choo-choo and get with the present.

[Anonymous]

Here's another one of my pet peeves.

Forum subjects that don't really tell what the subject is. Like, "Help Me!", "I need an answer.", "I need help!", "I Have A Question", etc. Give us the real subject so we know if we can help you, then if you must say "help me" or whatever, put it in the body of the message.

[vsmith]

Biggest Peeve...

1. When the misses gives me grief about "spending money on those Toys' then having her go out and spend three times as much for a new purse and matching shoes.....
"but there sooo cute" :<(

Minor peeves...

2. Extreme lack of real selection and standards in large scale.

3. Evil rivit counters who diss' modelers like Malcomn Furlow.

4. LHS owners and local clubs who treat you dismissively because your not "serious" enough or "outside" there socio-politcal-religious beliefs.

What part of "hobby" do they not understand?

[rambo1]

Watching children touch the layouts or rollingstock at club shows with the parents watching and not saying nothing.I open my mouth!..........

[Anonymous]

I agree with the reply about coming back to find that someone has topped your ebay high bid, this is very annoying! I've found a possible solution though. Wait until about 5mins before the auction is due to end, then bid. Works most of the time. Some might say it's a little unfair, but I've had too many high bids topped to care about being fair! (and besides which, the seller gets their money promptly when I win an auction, must be really annoying dealing with a slow or, even worse, non-paying "Buyer").

[Anonymous]

Since I'm more into the 'Modeling' side of Model Railroading, I'm definitely somebody who plays with my trains.

Anyway, current pet peeve:

Micro-Trains couplers. Ingenious in their design, but obviously designed by an individual or team of sado-masochists whose primary goal is to aid phrmaceutical companies in boosting their blood pressure medication sales. All you need is a Micro-trains coupler 'kit', adult size fingers, middle-aged or older eyesight, and nerves not made of steel, and you can see what hell must be like anytime you're up to it.
Oh, and that so called spring loaded assembly jig is nothing more than a launcher for the various sub-atomic sized parts. Guaranteed to turn 'fun' into a cuss word inventing session (my wife can attest to this, her saying: 'It doesn't sound like you're having fun down there!?!?!?')

The result is great, but the journey builds character..

[dharmon]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ACL Fan

People who get angry at "rivet counters" are my pet peeve.

If the objective of the hobby is to re-create a world in miniature, don't be angry with me if I try to do exactly that.

Thanks for making my point for me. [:)]

[Anonymous]

My Pet peeves?
"Armchair" modelers who feel it is their God-given right to give me grief over a model, yet cannot (or will not) show me a better way. [:(!] If you can show me a better way, I am all ears and can be a good student. If not, I can do without all the negativity caused by your own pent up frustrations.
At modular shows, please keep your kids off of our layout and behind the crowd control rope. If you need a leash for your little ankle-biter,we have extra rope.[;)] And don't look at me all aghast saying "little Johnny needs to experience the choochoos by touching them". Not unless your prepared to let me experience your checkbook! I raised 3 of my own past that point, without replacing broken stuff!
And finally, my condesending sisters and sister-in-law. When they say "Oh, you've been playing with your trains?" My favorite response is "Oh yes, and you're a feminist right?[;)] How Cuuuuuute!!!!!"[}:)] Gets em every time!![:p][:p]

Fortunately, my hackles don't get up very often, and the good stuff by far outweighs the little peeves.[:D][:D][:D]

[Anonymous]

there was a trains of thought colum in MR about the word cute. as for playing with trains that is exactly what we are doing right ? it's just that we are playing with very, realistic toys and running them thrue very detailed scenes and running them in a realistic manner.

Alex in the sooner state

[eastcoast]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jetrock

I'm 34 years old and I play with my darned trains.

I don't shove 'em around the track going "choo-choo", but if I spend twelve hours painstakingly detailing a model or nailing down track or debugging my wiring or trying to fix that infuriating spot on the layout that always causes a derailment, I'm doing it because it's FUN, and if it's FUN then I'm PLAYING.

Becoming a skilled musician takes years of practice and patience, but when a skilled musician takes to the stage, regardless of how skilled or respected or how much he or she is being paid, they're PLAYING their instrument. So if Jimi Hendix could play guitar, I can play TRAINS!

[:p]
WOW, I SEE YOUR POINT.
This is very interesting, I never looked at it like this before. But, you
are correct. Musicians do PLAY instruments. And I guess it is all in
the way you view your idea of having fun. GOOD POINT.

[Anonymous]

People who get angry at "rivet counters" are my pet peeve.

If the objective of the hobby is to re-create a world in miniature, don't be angry with me if I try to do exactly that.

[Anonymous]

People who get angry at "rivet counters" are my pet peeve.

If the objective of the hobby is to re-create a world in miniature, don't be angry with me if I try to do exactly that.

[preceng]

I concur with "Train Set". "Oh....he's downstairs playing with his train set." They just don't get it ... ... do they guys?

[dharmon]

1. Rivet counters...."well that vent is too big or should be 2 feet to the right".....it's my model and I'll take it to the level of detail I require. On your models you can do as you wish...

2. Proto-nazi's......"In the era you're modeling, Guilford (ME/B&M) had already spun off D&H so running a U36 would be innappropriate".... see #1, and raise you a ....It's my railraod, I'll run a 4-8-8-4 in CR colors with CSX/NYC paint over pulling a double stack train under a NEC catenary double heading with a bicentennial GG-1 if I so desire.

3. Professional Ebayer's and novice bidders......Most are good, but there are some serious weasels out there.............and some bidders.....don't drive up a price to get something without having an idea what something's worth....when you start paying more for an item on ebay than you can get it from a hobby shop, you just embolden the ebay pro sellers and we all lose.

4. Dirty wheels....when you run on somebody else's track or the club...use cleaned, metal wheels...it makes it easier on all the rest. Equipment maintenance tells alot about someone...

[Jetrock]

I'm 34 years old and I play with my darned trains.

I don't shove 'em around the track going "choo-choo", but if I spend twelve hours painstakingly detailing a model or nailing down track or debugging my wiring or trying to fix that infuriating spot on the layout that always causes a derailment, I'm doing it because it's FUN, and if it's FUN then I'm PLAYING.

Becoming a skilled musician takes years of practice and patience, but when a skilled musician takes to the stage, regardless of how skilled or respected or how much he or she is being paid, they're PLAYING their instrument. So if Jimi Hendix could play guitar, I can play TRAINS!

[willy6]

1. I hate when my wife calls my layout a "TRAIN SET", she would talking to her
momma saying i'm working on the train set.
2.People WITHOUT LAYOUTS tell me "they would have done it different"
3.and the one that REALLY gets me........when the have to touch everything.

[Anonymous]

1. Stop "PLAYING" with your trains and go do something else- what else is there but trains!?

2. There's more to life than trains- trains are my life! [;)]

3. Why not try a "REAL" hobby-..... I'm sorry, modeling is the only REAL hobby. [;)]

That's what I think anyway.

[Hawks05]

Jeremy i know how that is. i was going to bring some of my stuff that i got in a set and maybe trade with someone for something cheap like people or vehicles or something. but my friend said its pointless to try and trade with anyone.

[Anonymous]

My pet peeve is model "Train Show and Swap Meet". They never want to swap anything. All they want is to sell. I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I do know what swap means.

Jeremy

Go Packers!!

[AggroJones]

1. People using the words "play with trains." [V] I wi***hat didn't bother me.

2. Union Pacific. The modern company trying to mess up the model industry. [:(!] Greedy bastards!

3. BLI announcing so many fantastic locomotives that is going to take forever to come out. They can't keep release dates. [:(]

4. Layout dust. My layout has a layer of faded looking dust that just will not go away. Vacuuming helps remove most of it, but it still appears dust is worked into the scenery.

5. When I teach my nephew steam locomotive designations and my sister keeps telling him "chugga chugga choo choo". [}:)]