After many years of reading model railroad magazines, starting and never finishing several layouts and armchair model railroading, I finally got off my duff and joined a model railroad club. It happened yesterday while I was visiting a N-Track club.
I liked what I saw and the guys I met there were really nice. Of course it’s N-Track and as such they have modules that can put together to create largw railroad displays at various places so that means at some point i will most likely have to create a module of my own.
I know I will probably get alot out of this including the discipline of working on things and learning how to do things that have been mysteries to me over the last 31 years that I’ve been involved in the hobby. But what are the realities of belonging to a club?
I have never had a home layout and have been in model railroading (HO) since 1954. I have belonged to clubs much of that time.
In a modular club you will find many different personalities. Some will disdain most of what you do as it is not up to their standards. You will also find many that are helpful and will make suggestiions on how you can improve and even show you how to do it if you don’t know how. Pay attention to the ones that are willing to help you and disregard the ones that feel they have to keep their modeling secrets. You will also find some in the club that buy ready to run equipment and haven’t built a kit as it’s too complicated for them. They just spend money.
I personally like to build kits and kitbash buildings. I have a great deal of older equipment that I enjoy running. They don’t have the detail of the newer models but I doubt that the newer ones will still be running 50 years from now like my older ones. Many members haven’t been around as long as some of my engines have.
You will get out of the club what you put into it. Share your knowledge and skills and you will find others in the club that will be helpful also.
A model railroad club can be a great place to learn about modeling and railroads, observe different personalities, hear lots of opinions, and achieve results you may might not be able by yourself. Nevertheless, remember this: a club may contain some or even a lot of people who have little first-hand knowledge in model railroad construction or how real railroads work even though they may hold strong and vocal opinions on the subjects. Take care in choosing your mentors. Do independent research. Treat everyone respectfully.
I quit the one club where I was a member after about a year due to frustration from dogged ignorance and noisy personality clashes. I hope it works out better for you.
Thanks for the advice. I realize that there are all kinds of people involved in these things. And experience runs the gamut as well. But one can learn that from serving as an officer of one’s Church or Synagogue as well. [swg]
Most of what I’ve learned on my own either comes from videos or from trial and error learning on my own. Books helped too but somehow I always new there were things I never would learn that way. After all I am not professional railroader.
I also like ready to run equipment. But I do have lot’s of model building experience that dates back to the mid to lat 1950s. I wasn’t into trains then but they have always fascinated me. So I expect I will learn some new stuff.
And maybe I’ll finally build and finish a layout that I can run when I need time for myself.
Reason 1 is that I have decided to retire. I know that I bit young for that but trying to find a job in my field (accounting) at my age (I’ll be 60 in October) is very hard and economic conditions in NYC aren’t exactly the greatest (as if they ever were). So in order to prevent myself from becoming a vegetable, I’ve now got a place to go and people to talk with about trains, models and what works and what doesn’t.
I was a member of a model railroad club in Leesville back in the 80’s. I really liked it and got quite a bit out of it. I learned some things that have helped me greatly and I was able to share some things I knew with the other members. The club only lasted a few years before it broke up. I haven’t heard of any others in this area.
I have beenin anumber of clubs over the years, when in my teensmost of the older members would take the time to help or answer questions. The best advice was said earlier, you only get out what you put in. You cant like everyone and everyone wont like you. Not me of course every one likes me. LOL Have fun.