The more I operate with other people the more I believe that it is more fun when the group works together to get the job done.
Someone a while back gave me the name of an operators group. At the time I wasn’t ready for it. Can someone give that to me again?
Mr Mouse
Everytime i see your sig name i have to smile.
Sorry, I 2nd what you said.
Good evening Chip,
This hobby can definately be fun with a team, a club, a group, or just the same old gang. However, I do think that I will always have a desire to head to the basement when I have a free hour or two. Although these forums are moving in on my basement time!!
No better way to share information and techniques until the internet became really popular. Although I believe that most of us like to “fondle” our trains.
It does seem better when there are more people to operate the railroad.
ICMR
I reeeeeeeally have to get out more…[V]
Quite true for me! Back in the early 1990’s before the internet became a household word, with small children at home and a long commute to work, I couldn’t get to a club except maybe once a month if I was lucky. At one point I felt so isolated I almost abandoned the hobby. What ‘saved’ me was when a new LHS opened a quarter-mile from my home, where the owner had a display case and encouraged local modelers to display their work in it.
I could surely have used a forum like this one back then!
Chip:
A couple things come to mind with your question.
OPERATIONS SIG
First, getting out more to operate on other layouts. One of the very best ways to do this is to join the Operations Special Interest Group. They have a yahoo list here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ry-ops-industrialSIG/?yguid=120337752
They discuss how to model various industries and all kinds of operation-specific questions. The other benefit of this organization is they encourage members to go operate on each other’s layout, and they organize various op meets around the country.
The layout owners in the OP SIG tend to be among the cream of the crop regarding their layouts – very interesting operationally. If you want to get a chance to see how serious layout operations are done, join this SIG.
It’s easy to get intimidated when you first attend some serious layout operating sessions. First off, relax. Just let them know you are a newbie and want to learn the ropes. You will immediately have many others in the group who will rally around you and help you out. If you make a boo-boo, they’ll cut you lots of slack, and probably tell you about some funny goof-up they made when first starting serious operations.
Once you learn the ropes, serious operations are very engaging and tons of fun! I’ve found this area to be so much fun that it’s become the motivation for all I do in the hobby.
TWO PERSON CREWS
On my own layout, to further the comradery and fun of operating, I use two person crews. One person is the engineer and head-end crew, and operates the throttle. The other person is the conductor and rear-end crew. The conductor is in charge and the engineer takes instructions from him.
The conductor also communicates with the dispatcher, and manages all the paperwork for the train (Track warrants, car cards, etc). The conductor keeps an eye on the train, watching it as it runs – which I really enjoy. In ot
First of all, SpaceMouse is an alien!.. He came here from the planet Cheesey to steal our model railroading designs to take back to his world and get rich off of. Don’t ask me how I know this, but rather you’ll just have to trust me… Secondly, he and Danger Mouse are first cousins. (“You’re a good guy Chip”)
As for the topic. I prefer to just stand back and watch when I’m at a club, but if someone asks me to do something, I’m more than happy to get busy and do what ever needs doing - if I can.
Tracklayer
Thanks Joe.
Tracklayer, I had a Space Mouse pillow that I kept with me all through college. It was well worn and well, my wife couldn’t get it to look quite white again so she threw it out. I was mortified. Emotionally, I never survived.
Hi Chip. Thanks for explaining where you got your forum name. I had a “security pillow”
with train pictures on it when I was a kid that had a hoop on one corner that I would stick my finger in and hang onto when I’d take naps or go to sleep. My mom tossed it out when I was about six or seven because she said it had gotten too nasty. I’m still bitter about that ([:(])… Mom’s and wives just don’t understand do they.
Tracklayer
I hope it’s a team sport! The plan is for my older sons and I two build the railroad, and there’s no way it is getting done any time soon if they are not in on it! After a time, I imagine the younger two will get involved, as well. We may well set up some old HO stuff that’s laying around to amuse the youngers while we work on the “real” layout.