Question for the group:
What are you planning to do for “Bring your train to work” day on Nov 14?
Question for the print media types:
Are you going to put together some pdf files? I would like to download them and post them all over the office. I’d make these posters myself, but I am much to busy preparing the trains.
Later…
and here I always thought it was TAKE THE TRAIN TO WORK DAY…
It’s actually “Take a model train to work day.” Here’s the press release on the day: http://www.greatesthobby.com/wgh/default.aspx?id=44&c=a
Great idea, detting! I’ll run the idea of having downloadable posters past our World’s Greatest Hobby constituents.
Take care,
Erik
I don’t do this very often, but I’m going to come down on this with a strong retort. I think this has to be the silliest idea I’ve heard in a long time!
It’s bad enough that we battle a “men playing with toys” stigma, now you want us to make it worse? What the hobby needs is good press, not an opportunity for the general public to laugh us out of work!
I think we need to leave the whole “Take to Work” idea for what it was intended for – introducing kids to the workplace.
Okay, rant over. [:)] I feel better now.
I have to say I agree MAbruce. I saw the adverts for “Take your trains to work day” in MR magazine, and thought much the same thing. While I agree we need to encourage more people into the hobby, I also suspect that anyone taking model trains into their office (and trying to show them off to co-workers) is likely to be ridiculed. I’m not sure if there’s a different perception of model trains in the US, but in Britain there’s a definate public attitude problem. Mention to your non-modeller friends that you’re into model trains and you’ll get very odd looks at best. Luckily, as I tend to hang around with computer geek types I don’t have this problem!
I guess it depends on how open people in your office are to all hobbies, pastimes, or other extra-curricular activities.
There are people in my office who do fundraising for charities, knitting, go running or play volleyball, go to the gym - all before or after work, or at lunch. There are also groups that go out for lunch together, or after work.
Do they talk about work all the time, and avoid anything else? Probably not…
Putting a train on your desk is just revealing another side of your personality. There are people with collections of stuffed animals, or pictures of tropical islands, toys, etc. on their desks.
Do they get ridiculed? Well, maybe the ones with the stuffed toys… just a bit… [;)]
Anyway, the WGH campaign isn’t asking you to actively recruit people, just to share a little. You might be (pleasantly) surprised when someone is impressed with your modelling skill - it is very artistic after all - and wants to know a bit more. Just take a chance…
Andrew
As an aside - maybe we’d all be a bit more relaxed at work if there was a “hobby day” or something like that where people are encouraged to share info about their hobbies, model railroad or otherwise…
…but…but… I’m not working [:)] . How can I bring my train to work? I’m going to miss out on a very important day! [:(]
I know, I’ll make it a point to work on my layout that day. Yeah, that’s the (train) ticket. [:D]
Glen
Hey Glen, you can come to work in my place that day if you’d like. [:D] I’m sure you’ll enjoy Milwaukee in mid-November. [:)]
Erik
Not everybody into Model Trains work in a office.
I saw an add for an N or Z scale layout in a briefcase. If anyone has one of those, that’d be a good thing to bring. Or you could just bring a locomotive and put it on your desk.
I waited til the office Christmas party and brought my 2x3 foot self-contained U S Navy Blimp Base railroad. But in March, they downsized the company and I don’t have any more time to play with trains because I am too busy hunting a new job and going to college to train for a new career.
I’ve had more interest and no ridicule when I mention my model trains. In fact, I have run into quite a few people whose spouses are model railroaders. I even have a couple of recruits for assistance on construction of the layout. One lady even gave me a GP-60 (Hi-Speed Metal Products) lettered for the SP because she had heard me talking about trains (I have it on top of my monitor, it is about N scale). Now I don’t even have to bring it up.
I would suggest just bringing something and leaving it on your desk (people have all sorts of things on their desk. Interested people will ask. Others won’t, and you don’t have to carry it around all day.
not a good idea for a youth detention centre either
We should make every day a “Bring you train to work day”. You may be suprised by how many model railroaders are out there.
p.s. If you don’t have a desk then put it on your work bench or in your truck.
ACTUALLY,I AM BRINGING MY WORK TO MY TRAINS IN THE FORM OF AN OPEN HOUSE SO MY COWORKERS CAN SEE 'EM RUN
I cannot fathom why this would be perceived as silly idea. Some people drink to excess for a hobby.
I have a 16" long, N scale static display of a Bachmann 4-4-0 and 3 MDC 34’ Overtons that sits on the bookshelf in my office at work. Nobody I’ve encountered considered my interest as a subject for ridicule. I’ve yet to receive anything but positive comments regarding the hobby. Go figure.
you americans make me laugh sometimes.
I think (because i’m a male nurse) the patients would find it very strange if there bed pan was delivered by a G scale loco! hahahahah
I work from my home, so I guess I am again stuck with playing with myself