How many Lone Wolves are out there?

[el-capitan]

As much as I love to operate trains, & would like to be part of an operating crew, the clubs around  my area tend to be stuck in one era which isn't part of how I'm modeling.

I am a fan of all eras and have equipment from '30s to '90s. If the club I belong to would just pick an era I would probably be more active, no matter what era. I just get sick of seeing steam engines passing doublestacks.

Yet another reason why I am a lone wolf.

[CP5415]

Count me in as a lone wolf.

As much as I like a lot of the people I've met through this hobby, I'm setting up my layout for 1 -2 people operating it.

As much as I love to operate trains, & would like to be part of an operating crew, the clubs around  my area tend to be stuck in one era which isn't part of how I'm modeling.

Now now, there's nothing wrong with that, I just don't like seeing the same locomotive over & over again.

Gordon

[SpaceMouse]

Well I guess I'm at odds here.

I happen to believe ops is a team sport.

I went to the Div 2 Railraod Prototype Modelers meet this weekend with half an eye looking for people interested doing round-robin type ops sessions. I didn't find any, but I found several people with monster-sized basement layouts looking for operators. I settled for one about 40 minutes away that does train-orders car-cards, etc. with telephone dispatching. 

A room full of train dirvers, conductors, dispatchers, operators...

That's what running trains is all about.    

 

[Kurn]

  I'm a "solo modeler" as well.I don't know anyone else into model railroading,or real railroading,for that matter.Plus,in this area there is a lot of O scale and Lionel and I model HO.So I just wander off by myself,modelling B&O passenger trains.

[ger8034]

Hi to everyone out there. I am not really a lone wolf as I belong to a club which is an hours drive. We meet once a week and I really joined so as to learn with people who had experence and being able to ask questions. I model in N scale and there are 6 of us, so it is very easy to make decions if we want to change things. The HO has more operators. i will be building a layout downstairs very soon. I also like the idea of DCC.

[fiatfan]

Because we are self-proclaimed lone wolves does not mean that we don't need information or that we don't occasionally talk to other people.  There are those of us who actually try to help others when possible.  By some people's definition, we must scratch build everything and never talk to or read about trains or anything related to trains (such as this forum).

Please don't misunderstand me.  I am not angry or upset.  I'm simply pointing out that maybe the definition of lone wolf is being drawn a litlle two narrowly.

Just my .  Your mileage may vary.  See dealer for details.

Tom 

[tatans]

I would think many lone woves become this way simply because there is no one else around who is is interested in the hobby or there is no one else around(you are isolated), it comes as no surprise that if people were at hand many people would enjoy the company of others. But some find great satisfaction in just enjoying this hobby.

[scubaterry]

I live in the boonies outside Gainesville.  Too far to go for
meetings even if there were a club.  So I am chief cook and bottle
washer for my railroad.  Kids are grown up and the wife thinks I
have a nut loose.  But she lets me spend money when we have it on
the RR so i can't complain.  Matter of fact I am waiting for my
IHC 2-10-2 to arrive with some other goodies.  One good thing
about running solo, you never get an arguement or better way to do
something.

Terry 

[tstage]

I'm a lone wolf too. When I started I wasn't aware of any clubs close by so I just started by myself from scratch. I've learned a heck of a lot in the past year and a half. These forums are really helpful.

Tom

Ya' know, I hadn't really realized it until Tom's final sentence above, but...anyone who essentially frequents this forum to glean information, socialize and/or respond to threads like this really isn't completely a lone wolf.  Yea, you may work on your layout alone, or not belong to a MRR club.  But what you learn and share here on the forum is, in all reality, like someone coming over to your house to help you on your layout, or visa versa.

A true MRRing lone wolf won't be reading the words that I just finished typing out... 

Tom

Would that also apply to subscribing or reading modeling type magazines?  Just wondering.

Hmmm.  Good point, Tony.

Tom

[Heartland Division CB&Q]

Well, it looks like 40 or so "lone wolves" gathered for this thread.

I'm one to the extent that my layout is built entirely by myself and for myself.  There are few model railroaders in the sparsely populated neck of the woods.  However, the few guys do occasionally get together to share model railroad ideas and layouts.

[jasperofzeal]

I'm a lone wolf too. When I started I wasn't aware of any clubs close by so I just started by myself from scratch. I've learned a heck of a lot in the past year and a half. These forums are really helpful.

Tom

Ya' know, I hadn't really realized it until Tom's final sentence above, but...anyone who essentially frequents this forum to glean information, socialize and/or respond to threads like this really isn't completely a lone wolf.  Yea, you may work on your layout alone, or not belong to a MRR club.  But what you learn and share here on the forum is, in all reality, like someone coming over to your house to help you on your layout, or visa versa.

A true MRRing lone wolf won't be reading the words that I just finished typing out... 

Tom

Would that also apply to subscribing or reading modeling type magazines?  Just wondering.

[Tracklayer]

I've always been a loner by nature, and have never been able to work very well with other people. The peace and quiet of my train room and being away from it all is the perfect environment for me. Very few people I know have even the slightest interest in the hobby.  

Tracklayer 

[Santa Fe buff]

I'm a lone wolf too.

I tried one Model Railroad club but did not feel at home.

I'm getting together with another Model Railroader soon. It's not a club just some guys getting together.

 

[el-capitan]

I have always admitted to having control issues. My wife says I have a god complex. Maybe it's both. Either way, paying to be in a club where I have to deal with politics and follow their rules is not my idea of recreation. more like a second job.

[Anonymous]

I'm a lone wolf also but that's more due to my nature.  I'm not really into clubs and socializing and definitely don't want to deal with the politics

What he said.

Playing "Doctor Phil" for a minute here. I think many of us create layouts that reflect the world as we liked it, ala 50s and 60s, and a world in which we are in control.

[MisterBeasley]

Since we're all Forum members, can any of us really be truly "lone" wolves?

I've only been working on my layout for 2 years, and it's taking all my available train time.  So, even though I've thought about club membership in another year or two, right now I'm still working to get the layout up to the point where it's done enough to show off.

By that time, my daughter will be ready for college, and everything will change, I'm sure.

[el-capitan]

Ill have people over to operate but I usually save the construction for me and this guy:

He may not look that experienced but what he lacks in knowledge he makes up for in enthusiasm, as the picture clearly shows.

I belong to a club for various reasons but have not been there in over 5 years. Suffice it to say the politics and grumpy old men ruined it for me. I have been a member of the club since age 3. And it is not that nothing gets done, they are always redoing everything. Who wants to handlay track knowing that there is a 50% chance it will just get ripped out? No thanks.

[tstage]

I'm a lone wolf too. When I started I wasn't aware of any clubs close by so I just started by myself from scratch. I've learned a heck of a lot in the past year and a half. These forums are really helpful.

Tom

Ya' know, I hadn't really realized it until Tom's final sentence above, but...anyone who essentially frequents this forum to glean information, socialize and/or respond to threads like this really isn't completely a lone wolf.  Yea, you may work on your layout alone, or not belong to a MRR club.  But what you learn and share here on the forum is, in all reality, like someone coming over to your house to help you on your layout, or visa versa.

A true MRRing lone wolf won't be reading the words that I just finished typing out... 

Tom

[shawnee]

Lone wolf?  Well a wolf with a couple of cubs.  I like the individual creative challenge.  I get my dose of politics at the office, my share of driven agendas coaching youth sports.  It sounds like these clubs can get complicated. 

[Railphotog]

  It seems that the "lone wolf" is frowned upon, but I don't feel that I have a choice if I want to participate in this hobby.  I'm just curious how many contributors to this page are also in the same situation, and how many belong to clubs.

During my years in the hobby I don't think I've ever heard anyone "frown" upon or say anything bad about lone wolf modelers.  Maybe a perception that you have that is not a fact?

I've belonged to a local modular club for over 20 years, because it suits my interests perfectly - no home layout, not a real big interest in operations, get to socialze with others, etc.   We've been hosting an annual train show for 22 years now, and the school gym we use is usually filled with many local modelers that I don't know, so I assume they are on their own.   They keep the LHS going, and our shows too, so they are out there.

It may be personal/family/time reasons why some aren't interested in belonging to clubs, and I don't see anything wrong with it.  I've had a lot of fun with (most) of our club members when we've hosted our shows, operated our modular layout at our of town shows, held barbeques, Xmas dinners, etc.   

The modeling on our modules has won awards at out of town train shows, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the area lone wolf modelers would be apprehensive about joining us, fearing their modeling skills might not be up to those of our members.   But we all had to start somewhere!

Way back when we used to have passenger trains, many of the guys in our club would congregate around the station on Sunday mornings to watch the train come in, and generally shoot the breeze.  The group started going to breakfast together after the train left, carrying on the train talk.  Passenger trains left our city 15 or more years ago, and the guys still meet for breakfast on Sunday mornings!  So you can see how our bonds of friendship have developed over the years. Some people are social animals, some are not.

  

[Ballantrae Road]

I'm a lone wolf too. When I started I wasn't aware of any clubs close by so I just started by myself from scratch. I've learned a heck of a lot in the past year and a half. These forums are really helpful. I've learned from my mistakes. LOL.

I do agree though that by being a member of a club my learning experience would probably be much shorter. However I can understand the politics that arise and after listening to others (on these posts) I don't feel left out. I do my thing my way and on my schedule. My friends are impressed even though they aren't MRR.

 

Tom

[spidge]

Lone wolf here, but I am willing to be a part af a round robin group. I have posted online here and other groups in the last year, yet I have only had one response from a guy 70 miles away.

I had a good club experience but I moved away and the club dissolved shortly after. There are a few HO and garden clubs neardy but I have yet to investigate. The only N-scale club is modular and they don't respond to any e-mails. I model in N but am not interested in modular clubs, but this may change in order to gain some MRRing friends.

I have built a few layouts myself, some were learning testbeds, and it showed, and few were nicely finished. I am attempting to build a layout to have four operators.

Are there any Riverside/San Bernardino modelers out there?

[PFS]

Lone Wolf here.

Reasons:

Just re-starting out in the hobby, own a business, single dad 40% of the time (he's 2, we do operatating sessions on his Thomas layout at the moment), my layout is unfinished (my bad).

But not forever. 

I am eyeing a local club, but my commitments to my son would make me a part time member at best. There is another that I would love to join but the drive would be murder....and a third that does my prefered road (I dont know what era) but they are HO. (its costly for 1 scale I cant imagine 2)

[BRAKIE]

I was a lone wolf once and that was enough for me to realize club membership is far better.I prefer fellowship with other modelers then modeling alone..

As a after thought I suppose a "real" lone wolf would not be on forums..

[IRONROOSTER]

I've seen the phrase 'lone wolf' pop up a few times to describe one who models alone.  Where did it originate? 

I think the phrase applies to any activity that you do alone as opposed to with others.  Wolves usually operate in packs and it's a bit unusual to see one by himself.

In model railroading it used to mean that you not only were building a layout by yourself, but you didn't socialize with modelers or go to conventions or meets.  I think a number of folks above don't really meet that definition. 

Since I started going to local NMRA division mini conventions, my lone wolf status is in jeopardy, but I do the layout alone and really have no desire to have help or to work on someone else's layout.

Enjoy

Paul 

[loathar]

Just me, myself and I. No meetings. No time schedules. No politics. And nobody asking if they can change the radio station. No one turns off G Gordon in my train room!

[tstage]

As far as working on my layout, I'm pretty much a lone wolf.  I do like to do my own work.  However, I am not opposed to having a friend come over and run trains together on my small parcel of layout estate.

I also belong to a MRRing club.  It's both good and frustrating because not everyone has the same "higher" standards as myself.  (Sometimes I hate being a perfectionist. )  However, I've learned (am learning) to accept the skills of others and I still try and do my very best at whatever task I have before me, which is usually building modules and module bases.

Sometimes I find out that what I initially might not think will turn out well, actually ends up turning out pretty decent.  I just have to keep reminding myself that it's a club layout and we are all doing this together.

So, all in all, I'm probably more of a semi-lone wolf than a full-fledge one.

Tom 

[aloco]

I've seen the phrase 'lone wolf' pop up a few times to describe one who models alone.  Where did it originate? 

[Anonymous]

Im a lone wolf. We do get together on saturdays and other days at both of the LHS's but it is very much a lone wolf state.

Once in a while two or three lone wolves run and it is a good thing overall. But with a struggling Club and a second that is primarly modular and a annual trainshow (In two weeks! YAY) in Pine Bluff it's a challenge.

There are many good people in the hobby who do great things, large and small in my area but it can be difficult to adjust to many other lone wolves who do best running alone or with known friends.

[jasperofzeal]

Lone wolf since I've been in the hobby.  Maybe some day when my nephew gets to spend more time around me I'll have a modeling buddy, you see I'm in Austin, TX he's in San Antonio, TX.  Also my work keeps me too busy and time off I spend mostly with the "better half" and catching up with chores and stuff.  When she's asleep, that's when I'll go and build a kit or two or come on here and annoy you guys.  I'm hoping that in a year or so I can start to build a layout, even if it's small, just to get my feet wet.