I loved reading the various responses to in the thread concerning how we fund our hobby. Many of the responses there as well as posts on numerous other threads discuss support (both monetary and other) we received from the people that are close to us. So how about this? Let’s publically thank those that support us in this hobby.
My dad. From reading various train books to me at bed time (I still have some of them) to spending part of his 4 day R and R when he was in Vietnam building me a simple layout (I was about 7 at the time) to going with me to train shows and hobby shops when I’d be home from college to sending me railroading magazines when I was deployed while on active duty he’s why I have a great hobby to relieve the stress of everyday living. Thanks Dad!
My mom. When my dad was once working two jobs and going to school on the weekends she stepped up and helped me build the benchwork for my first layout (I was about 11 or 12). Mom was also always willing to drive me to the LHS in the days before I had my license whether it was to buy something or just look around. Thanks Mom!
To my fiance. I really lucked out on this one. She surprised me once when we were going out of town once by saying that she heard about a train show in that area and suggested we go. She also indulges me when I want to wander around a hobby shop for an hour or so and when I have kit parts spread all over the dining room table. She’s also volunteered (honest!) to help on my upcoming layout if I help her building her doll house (sounds like a great trade to me). Thanks Jerri!
Which important people in your lives support your hobby?
I’m thankful for my wife pretty much every minute of every day, but she is supportive of my hobby in that she likes having me around more working on train stuff, doesn’t mind that I spend a moderate amount on the hobby (and I don’t mind what she spends on jewelry), and likes to go on railfan/museum trips even if she doesn’t quite share my fervor about them.
My level of fun in working at museums has gotten her into the act–she has started volunteering at a local auto museum. She has experience in marketing and promotion and uses her skills to help the car-smart but not so marketing-savvy folks at this museum get the word out about their events.
I to would have to say my wife although she only supports me in thought as far as the hobby is concerned,she does not say to much about what i spend. She has went on many train rides with me and although it is not her thing,she smiles and pretends that she enjoys it.
I am very thankfull for both of my sons,that they took up this hobby also, we spent many hours togeather running and talking trains.And when i see my Granddaughters eyes light up and the smile on her face when the whistle blows or the horn blasts off I am thankfull To GOD for giving me the wisdom to be involved in this Hobby.
I guess to me my Father was my greatest influnece in this hobby. He had a great love for trains and through that he instilled many things in me.Many times now as I set here approaching the big 50 I reach back and recall all those memories.I can still see him smiling, both hands on that big Lionel daul transformer .For all the times he caught me running his prize trains at full speed instead of a stern hand I got a history lesson on prototype operation. And even when he sent me away with his favorite saying if you want to run fast go play with your brothers slot car set BTW that didn’t usually make my older brothers to happy.[:D]
And for all the friends I have made in this hobby, they are a constant form of support ,and I am very thankfull for their friendship. Terry
I give thanks to my wife, Linda who not only supports my hobby, but has gotten involved in it too. and my teenaged daughters who also help and support it. Jill and Lacy enjoy trips to ride on trains and see how things used to be .
Jack
Oh, saw this thread and had to kick in my thanks. (great topic)
First, my Mom and my Dad. My Mom’s uncle, who passed away before I was born) was the real train nut in our family. My as a little girl, would help him with the layout, or go with him to watch the trains run. Her loved and passion she got from him was passed down to me. My Dad, for haveing to lug my Uncle Bill’s 3 heavy boxes full of brass engines for the last 35+ years waiting to give to me.
And my wonderful fiancee Brandy who has been gung ho for me and this hobby. She has even helped with scenery and kicks in ideas for the layout. Lets me go play at the LHS when Ineed too. And was the one that told me to EXPAND the layout becuase she said it wasnt big enough… how great is that???
If I wanted support for my hobby, for most of my life, I have had to turn elsewhere. My father still thinks it is a waste of time after all of these years. When she was alive, my mother wasn’t particularly supportive either. My ex wife put up with it, knowing full well before we were married, that this is what I am into. My kids think it is cool, but not much more.
The best support comes from my current partner, Big Girl. She was a blank canvas when I met her 2 years ago. Enough of me has rubbed off, that she is turning into a train buff in her own right.
In addition to Big Girl, the best support comes from the people here on the forum. I have always been a showman, and much of my work has been where the public could see it, in the form of club layouts and a business which you can read about in my profile. I also do mall shows, about which some of you may have seen my posts here on the forum.
Even my current home layout is designed to be shared with others, in spite of the fact that it is in my basement. I guess I have gotten to the point where I find it difficult to do it for myself, but I will gladly do it for others.
Big Boy same here if i had listen to my father i would not be in this hobby right now back then all i had room for was under the bed branch line now i have a billion dollar class one.
When Father pulled his Father’s O gauge trainset out and ran it for us kids it was a start.
Strasburg RR in Lancaster was the other really cool way for us kids on summer day trips. I can almost smell the coal and steam after all these years. HO Scale was introduced as a trainset as well as a loop of track and a switch or two until we grew old enough to understand and appreciate the more advanced things in the Hobby.
I remember one christmas my step dad picked out several Tyco advertising boxcars (Tootsie rolls? Hershey bar and one other I rather forget) to fill out the train set. While the cars were totally colorful as gifts they underscored parents support of us kids in the model railroad.
My spouse does not like ships, trains and planes. Could care less about them. They are simply a means to an end for getting from A to B period. But when she sees me building a kit into something good or visiting with folks in the LHS for a while talking trains. It makes me happy to know that she understands why I do the hobby. Support comes easy when you are having fun. I would not have any one else for a spouse although I had to sign several edicts in triplicate promising never to take over the house with trains.
The only thanks I can give in terms of support is to my Dad who bought my first Lionel trainset to put around the Christmas Tree back in 1956 when I was age three. He built a table in the basement for a more permanent home for the layout, and added grass, roads, operating accessories, structures, lights, etc.
Everyone else, including the wife (aka SWMBT) could care less and are sick of hearing me talk about trains and the layout.
I found this old thread and thought it would be a good reminder to us all to thank those who help make our involvement in this hobby possible. . . Like my wife who allows me to spend way too many hours and spare dollars making my modeling dreams a reality. Thanks.
Not only is my wife supportive, but sometimes involved. She even enjoys the occasional visit to the LHS. She did ask that I “slow down” in the wake of the holiday season, but that is understandable.
Kathy my better half has been involved with me for quite a few years building watching and playing with trains. She has even started to use her skills in building all thing the could be of some use in the RR room, from curtins to helping to decide what colors to use on floors and buildings. Even thou we are both disabled she helps when she can and her ability to make jewerly and casting she has taught me to work with all kinds of tools and castings. So for her help and comfort and teachings and support of all the model rr that we do I am very gratfull and glad…
…God Bless from both of us…Chuck and Kathy…SunsetBeachRY…
