How Much Does Model Railroading Mean To You

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

We as a group seem to kid each other as to how our hobby is an “addiction” or an “infliction” and we sometimes can’t get enough. We all are aware that this hobby is what you make of it and you can spend as little or as much as you like in your pursuit of enjoyment. Well while watching todays newscast, a story aired about a guy in Long Island who embezzled almost $200,000 to satisfy his desire for cigars and model railroading equipment. I attached the article below.

GLEN COVE – A retired firefighter is accused of stealing $200,000 from a Long Island fire department for personal use.

George William Gray pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to grand larceny and other charges. The 68-year-old chaired the Glen Cove fire department’s general fund for almost 20 years before retiring last year.

Gray was held on $50,000 bond or $10,000 cash bail. He’s due back in court on Monday.

Prosecutors say Gray wrote over 300 checks for pricey cigars, model railroad equipment and other items over a six-year period.

They say he forged the department treasurer’s signature on over 100 checks.

His lawyer, Peter Bongiorno, declined comment.

Gray now lives in Hendersonville, N.C.

(Copyright ©2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Aside from posting this article for its relevance to our hobby, it got me to thinking, to what lenghts would you go to pursue model railroading? How much importance do you place on model railroading? And for $200,000 I wonder what his layout or collection must have been like?

Not to provide this guy with an alibi, but I would say that he qualifies as a “model railroad addict”

2

Wonder if the cigars was to make smoke for the Loco’s [:-^]

3

Not that far, certainly. I’m definitely a giveaway whore – I’ll take any freebies that anyone gives away, even if I have no immediate need for it. I’ll also shamelessly enter any contest with a chance for free stuff.

I’ve also been known to overspend my budget on occasion.

But generally, I’m pretty good about staying with the budget ($50 a month).

4

I definitely don’t spend near as much as the guy in the article. I always have a list of things I want and stick to it. I don’t impulse buy unless I attend a train show, and there I adhere to a strict budget.

I am always looking for ways to model cheaply. Such as using everyday household objects to make something work.

5

Wow! His layout is probably full of Overland models. LOL

That’s a little nuts. I’ve been over spending on the model railroad lately, but that’s because I started with nothing.

But I’m not gonna go rob a bank, or worse rob firefighters. What a tool that guy is.

6

Cripes, I probably spent $200,000 on my little black hole without embezzling any funds !

7

Model railroading has meant a lot to me over the years.

OTOH, there is NO WAY that I would allow model railroading to endanger my life, my health, my freedom, my marriage or my credit rating.

Fortunately, all of the above are at no risk from my present level of activity, or any level I might attempt in the future.

As for the weenie whose escapades led to this thread - at least the models he allegedly bought were railroad models, not figure models. There might be something tangible to confiscate and sell for a few cents on the stolen dollar. Can’t say the same for the cigars, though.

Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - behind schedule, under budget)

8

Yeah, I definately wouldn’t go that far. I sometimes over spend (like last week, I went to the LHS to grab some paint, and walked out with a locomotive that I didn’t intend to buy), but it balances out, because there are times when I go months without buying anything.

9

Years ago the treasurer of the clerical union where I work was accused (and convicted) of making off with union funds, to the tune of $30,000 or more. At his trial the judge asked what he had done with the money. According to a colleague who was there, his reply was “your honor I spent it all on trains, model trains.” And earlier the company magazine had featured him with a scratchbuilt wood trestle he had built (a beauty as I recall).

He was of course fired. I think he had ten kids.

One of the company executive officers, knowing of my hobby, sent me the article and wrote on it “great minds think alike.”

Ouch.

Dave Nelson

10

I’m dirt poor but I’m not gonna rob any banks. (But I might marry the right sugar daddy! lol)

All kidding aside, I think about trains 24/7 (and usually have bizzarre railroad related dreams). If I could have my dream job, it would be designing accessories for model railroaders, as I often do for my own behalf.

This week I’m making trees out of sisal rope to mimic those made by Lionel back in the 20’s and 30’s. I’m doing it because I want to create a specific look for a specific holiday layout which features tinplate Standard Gauge. But I’ve also collected Plasticville buildings, toy soldiers and Tonka trucks for a separate 1950’s style O and S layout that I set up on my bedroom floor. I always work toward a theme and everything I buy or build has to work within the theme’s guidelines. So my buying habits are influenced by what I need for one layout or another rather than price. If I need a DC transformer for that one oddball O gauge 3-rail engine, that’s what I look for.

While engines may be costly, I’ve assembled complete pre-war tinplate sets by never paying more than 10 dollars for each individual car. You just have to keep at it every day and be patient. I have a list of specific goals and I stick with them. But that doesn’t mean I’m not receptive to something off the list if the price is right. It also helps to worry more about type rather than condition. Right now I’m collecting 3200 series American Flyer pre-war cars, and the tank car is next on my list. Obviously, we’d all rather pay 10 dollars for a very good tank car than 25 for one with a lot of rust. But I’d accept a pre-war O AF car with scratches that I can restore if I can get it at a price that I believe is reasonable. I focus on what’s possible and let someone else pay 15,000 dollars for a Lionel 700E Hudson. Book values have their place, but sometimes the economy makes asking for book value only

11

I’m on the same page with Chuck.

12

Only way I could see spending over $100,000 (assuming he smoked a lot) is I added to the house for a bigger train room, and had a Professional Layout Builder do some of the layout.

I am not one to have 300 engines, and 800 rolling stock sitting on the shelf. I could maybe see another 30 engines, to my current 25 running engines but that would be pushing it.

Far as what this hobby means to me, it gives me something to look forward to. Time in the jail is not one of them.

Cuda Ken

13

AMEN, brotha!

14

I guess this guy never packed a lunch for work to save money lol… C’MON MAN … …By the way does anyone want to loan me $200,000 …I think that would get me near my goal to finish my current project… And bring on a fulltime employee to run my Operation LOL

15

It means a lot actually. My grandpa was an avid model railroader. I spent a lot of time running trains with him. It started with a 4X8 in his garage, and by the time he passed away it was a basement empire. He’s gone now, and when I run trains it takes me back to being ten, and making train noises as I ran locomotives over the rails. It’s not worth prison, or murder though. Maybe I’d sell my car though. [:D]

16

What a fool. He should get everything that’s coming to him. Spending piles of money you don’t have on model trains is way over the edge.

Any word on when the police auction might be? [:-^]

17

I agree also.

Over the years I have had periods where I had some time and some money for the hobby, others where I only had time and money for a couple of magazine subscriptions, times when I had money for mostly whatever I wanted, but little time for modeling. Now that I’m retired I have plenty of time and some money for the hobby. But during all the years I have enjoyed model railroading as a hobby - a way to relax and have a little fun.

It sounds to me like this guy crossed the line from hobby to mental illness. While I have plenty of stuff that I will spend many happy years building, I have no where near $200,000 or even half that.

I started with Tyco engines, Tyco and MDC rolling stock, Atlas buildings, and Atlas brass track. I had a lot of fun with those and if it was all I could afford I would still have fun with them. (I may anyway since I still have them, including some brass track). Money can buy really neat stuff of course, but with a little ingenuity and a willingness to make stuff you can do an awful lot in this hobby with a small budget.

With apologies to Kenneth Grahame, “There is nothing–absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about with model trains.”

Enjoy

Paul

18

In next month’s MR: Building the 2x6 N-scale State Pen Railroad rollaway layout for your cell.

And in Cody’s Cellblock, “Scratchbuild a tunnel and escape from your train room.”

19

I was a machinist, not a bad trade but construction workers made more so I felt a little behind. All my life I managed to spend less than I earned. So I buy pretty well what I want. A lifetime of frugilaty I just cant waste money. I just stole a Consulation on eBay. by that I mean a very low winning bid. That was luck that dosen’t happen often but with patence I do get good deals. Regular buying results in more stuff than makes any sense but it’s fun to buy.The hobby keeps me busy and the feeling of accomplishment when I finish something on my layout and is pleasing.

Dennis

20

Hi!

Obviously the guy in question has his wires crossed - especially when it comes to the cigars…

That being said, I’ve been playing with trains since the mid-'50s and have gotten tons of enjoyment out of the hobby, and learned a lot of skills that have served me well in other areas. In the '90s when I was building my earlier 11x15 HO layout, it was also my “pacifier” when things got out of kilter in my work or personal life. In 2008 I made the decision to build a new layout (and go to DCC), but one of my other options was to get out of the hobby. Obviously I didn’t, for it hit me that model railroading is a part of my life, and something that identifies me as me. Make no mistake, I do have a number of priorities, and model railroading is just one of them - with others more and less important.