can someone figure out how to set up this poll and question for me???[?][:D]
Been a model railroader ever since the age of 4. Don’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Especially with my girlfriend being an avid railfan and model railroader in her own right.
My husband and I have been at this for almost 3 years now, and we plan don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
I’m in the process of building my second layout, and he’s no far behind with building his second layout. Of course his layout requires some minor reconstruction of our utility room and game room.
Mrs. Mac
Well I had a big break, but guess what. Like swimin’ you don’t forget. Ahh fly fishing and model railroading. Guess which one I do more of. Makes for a grat life. Until finding this site I did not realize just how big model railroading has gotten. Wow!!.
Between all the moves I made with military, it’s been off and on for ten years.
BUT, now I bought a house to fit my layout and started to build right away.
Have not stopped since. I enjoy discovering what I can create when I try.
Was a big model railroader as a kid until about age 18-19 (1988), hung it up until early this year. Now it’s back with a vengeance…
After the third military move I decided that rebuilding every couple years wasn’t so much fun so I gave up and sold all my railroad stuff. Retired, the kids are raised, and have bought a home, I have gotten back into MR after 15-20 years.
This time rather than having a portable “folding” (for shipment) 4x8 flat layout, I am building a 5’ x 12’ stationary layout with 4 levels. I do not plan to ever sell this layout or give up on this great hobby.
Was a model railroader as a kid (American Flyer and some HO). Hung it up in my teen years. PIcked it up again just before my daughter’s first birthday (she’s going to be 36 soon).
Ed
I followed the typical path. Model railroader as a kid, most through middle school. In High School and College came other interests. Then the first job, marriage, kids, finally a move into a new house and getting settled in. Then, you rediscover the joy of playing with those trains in the box downstairs, and subscribe to MR, then before you know it, you’re a model railroader (again).
-Jer
Lost my Marx and Lionel 027 when home left me at 16, got a N scale Atlas set Christmas '69, got another loco FA2, some extra cars, 3 N scale car kits over the years in between, built and put away with my train set, extra track, switches. Had other hobbies, divorced, 21+ years single, new wife, a room I can put trains in. Always intended to build a layout. The best thing about my interest is “seeing things in a new light” with the eyes of a modeler, buildings, trains, the world. Stuff to keep my mind busy, I turned my last hobbies into jobs. Electronics, High Fi, computers…
Never stopped. Still going strong. More skill than ever.
I started with Marx O27 in '1945, built some TT in the '50s, started HO in '52 on to '2004.
In '03 I found ebay ! Now I have a Lionel Daylight O31also a 4-4-0. Several American Flyer S steamers and some old Marx steamers.
I became a little carried away !
After almost sixty years, I have around one hundred pre '1905 HO steamers, I don’t know how many cars ? Also several Trolley’s. I must make an inventory !
This year we start a new multy scale '16 by '26 mostly HO layout.
This should keep me busy until my boys get them.
Burt
I have been model railroading for a year now. Iam 15 and plan on model railroading as long as I can.(or until i move out of the house). 
ShaunCN
I had a 20 year hiatus. Thought it would be good for me and the boys to share some quality time. Unfortunately Trains can’t compete with Video Games
I vaguely remember having a wooden streamlined passenger train somewhere in the early forties and my first real “model” train found at a flea market a couple of month after the war ended in this country. Must have been
a prewar Maerklin loco + 3 freight cars + tin track. Since then the bug has never left me. I vividly remember switching to american MRR in 57 when I saw a Globe F diesel in the window of Amsterdam’s most diversified MR shop.
Starting a american layout in those days was a trip to unchartered territory and for many years to come you were lucky if you found something that fitted, be it a locomotive, a freightcar or building. Nowadays it is much easier and I’m lucky enuogh to have a hobbyshop that has a fairly extensive stock of american prototype material. There isn’t a day that I don’t spent at least an half hour in the trainroom.
I started with, like most railroaders I hear of, a Lionel set. However, this set was from my dad. I got it when I was about 5. He had had it when he was a kid in the early sixties. I have been going ever since.
Reed
I started with Hornby OO scale in the '80s, then moved to N (big mistake, build quality of British N scale was dire, slowly improving now). Got into US HO scale after seeing a review in Continental Modeller of some new Athearn kits and buying an Athearn SE triple-pack of C&O/B&O cabooses - one yellow and one blue bay window, one red cupola version. Enjoyed building the kits so much I bought some more…
I had been very busy for 10 years till give up farming… I just got my self back in trains 3 year ago after got married…