Secret Model Railroad

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

If I was the girlfriend, I would have preferred a wine merchant.
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/man-hides-countrys-largest-model-train-railway-girlfriend

2

It’s well known this side of the pond. [;)]

David

3

There’s a pond? [:P]

4

A big pond indeed. [(-D]

David

5

So, the guy:

  1. Lies to his girlfriend about the use of the space;

  2. Spends $330K on the layout; yet he

  3. Can’t afford to buy an inexpensive climate-controlled wine storage unit, along with a few $100 bottles to put inside?

I’d have dumped him.

6

Makes you wonder what else he’s lying about?[#oops]

I bet the g/f wanted some of the $330K to include a large chunk of ice.

7

Hey, ya gotta have yer priorities straight. It depends on whether you want a quality model railroad or a model quality girlfriend

8

As I mentioned earlier the layout is well known here. It has been in a railway magazine.

A good bit of P.R. and is now known around the world. [:D]

Dawn doesn’t know about my layout in the spare room!!! [:-^] [(-D]

David

9

[(-D]

What if she looks behind the curtain?

https://youtu.be/ubIpoPjBUds

TF

10

Isn’t there something just a tad improbable about this story? I can accept the idea of the guy being afraid of a new girlfriend’s reaction to his hobby. I can accept that claiming to be a wine collector would be a good way to put up a smokescreen about the model train hobby - it explains both the basement and why there is no spare money available.

But a model railroader who doesn’t talk/boast/complain/read/shop about the hobby almost compulsively? An entirely secret second life? Think of the self-control involved!

Dave Nelson

11

Good Point Dave. Maybe he just made up the story to get exposure and recognition.

I’m guilty of Secret model railroad tactics at times. Sometimes I intercept packages from eBay and get it put away before the wife finds out[(-D]

I don’t know why, …We both have our own separate bank accounts so spending the money is not an issue.

I think it’s the fact she knows as I do, I have a spending spree problem from time to time as I get carried away with too many train purchases.

I’ve made slide-out trays under my layout to put all my stuff away and they are full now. I’m going to make some more but now my layout is getting a little harder to roll the wheels across the carpet anymore[:(]

TF

12

I never saw a reason to hide my hobby, until after it became known. Then people buy me all sorts of stuff they thought I would appreciate. Such as stuff in different scales, different time periods, toy trains, instant heirlooms, boilerhouse books, etc. I put a loop of track on my train table, but before I could build a layout, the table got so full, I no longer have room for a layout.

13

what seems improbable to me is spending $330,000 on that. I know a lot of folks complain about how expensive our hobby is, but that doesn’t look like a $330,000 layout to me. Must have some pricey rolling stock.

Ray

14

This is what its all about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBMAMWI_fZg

Here in the U.K. we have seen it grow from humble beginnings.

His girlfriend has known about it for two years (just after they met). As I said a good PR exercise that has the world talking.

There is plenty of film on youtube.

David

15

Maybe it reflects the cost of renting a 200’ long commercial space.

16

At least she knows where he is at night.

17

I just turned 70. It’s an easy choice now.