What does model railroading mean to you?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
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As I drove along a stretch Interstate highway today, I thought of the World’s Greatest Hobby campaign. It got me thinking what model railroading means to me. I realized that in a fast paced, high pressure world where folks aren’t neccessarily friendly all the time, model railroading is an escape. It’s stress relief, an imaginary time machine that can take you to a simpler era. It’s about modeling and creativity for sure but that’s only a small part. For me the greatest part has been countless hours spent with my son (now 10 and a train nut) building, running trains, going to train shows and railfanning. There is no price that could be put on that. Through model railroading I’ve been able to relive a part of my childhood with my own little boy. What a privledge! With today’s advancements we’re having even more fun running the railroad. It’s getting better by the day. Soon, our railroad will be mostly complete. If you need us, we’ll be somewhere in the Rockies on the Rio Grande in 1965…

What does model railroading mean to you?

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Locomotives.

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Grande Man,

Have to agree with your post. I am in the same boat. Your description sounds alot like mine.
Got little one and we have become quite train lovein folks. I model for therapy, for relief, to hide, to get a sense of accomplishment. Kid watchs and helps (he is only 5) and we do the “train hunting trips too”. Been in it now for only a coupe of years but, I am very happy I found the hobby.

4

Man . . . such a simple question, but one that can evoke volumes in answers. I think the one comic strip (I think it was For Better or Worse) put it best. “It’s a way of life!”

Gonna have to give this some thought.

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I think what was in the strip someone said model railroading wasn’t a matter of life or death, and the reply was something like “No, it’s more important than that”.

I’ve always been involved in hobbies, and sort of feel sorry for those who don’t have any. You know the type - “I must take up a hobby some day”. And you meet the nicest people!

Bob Boudreau

Bob Boudreau

6

Model Railroading to me means fun - in my own world, in my own way.

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This is a question worthy of plenty of thought and reflection. Just like some of you guys I have a son too, he will be 3 this Friday. He took to all things trains like a duck to water, when he sits with me and we look at the latest MR magazine, flick through a catalogue, or run a loco round the track he’s as quiet and calm yet bright eyed as ever I’ve seen him. A friend asked me the other day what I personally got out of the hobby and I explained haltingly with words and phrases like “nostalgia” “a romance with the past” “fascination with the frontier of travel by rail and steam”, “boyhood memories of rail travel” “etc. Then I thought more and said “It’s just a happy place to be”.

Andre

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It’s one of two stress releasers, the other being gardening. For me MR’ng allows me to dream and build and keep in touch with my creative side. If I’m not creating, I’m discontent with all around me.

Of all the hobbies I’ve embarked upon this one is by far the most diverse and stimulating.

Truly a great hobby

Fergie

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It’s a hobby. It’s a creative outlet. It’s a three dimensional canvass in which to create (or recreate) any place you desire. It’s a temporary diversion from the routine & stresses of everyday life. It’s an open door to bond with your spouse, kids, grand kids, etc.

What it should not be (and unfortunately is for some)? A religion. An obsession. A contest. A source of consistent frustration. A reason to beat people over the head for silly things like not conforming to a prototype standard. Something to be argued about in an online forum.

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The facets that make up this hobby are varied and diverse. There is so much to be gained, and so many ways to peel back layers and imerse oneself. There are challenges and frustrations to overcome and then savor the results of success. There is the look of awe in the face of visiting children. The look of deep concentration, as my 5 year old tries to get the centering spring of a Kadee in the coupler pocket of a BB kit we are making together. The sqeals of delight when my 7 year old discovered by chance that out latest BLI locomotive “talked” to us! The connection to the past, solidified thru reading and research. A deeper understanding of the social fabric that made up the industrial powerhouse that is the USA. It is a hobby that feeds the soul in a world where fast food and instant satisfaction is king…

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Take all of these answers starting with the opening statement from grande man, tie a nice little bow around them and you have my answer.

Trevor[:)]

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I disagree, MAbruce, and we should argue this out to the last rivet is counted!!![:o)][:o)]

I read Grande Man’s opening, and the hobby is definitely that for me. When things are all confused and a mess, I can retreat to the basement and continue creating the miniature world of the Bunter Ridge. Despite the noise of the saws or drills, it is peaceful (other than my occasional rantings of " what idiot put that …oops, I did." But, it is more.

As MAbruce described, it is a creative outlet. Every cut of plywood, piece of roadbed, section of track, bit of wire, etc, etc takes its place in the grand scheme. I have all but stopped working on the plan and have hit a point where construction will take its own shape, roughly guided by the plan. Ravines, creeks, hills and rock formations will take shape where they did not exist on the computer program or resulting paper plan.

It is being able to plan, work, improvise and finally wind up having created something that was not there when you started. That something is not like any other something, and is greater than what made it up (the wood, rail, etc.). People always look amazed at the final products and often say “I could never do that.” Hearing that, and proudly knowing, “neither could I, but I did.”

It’s reminiscing. My dad started me in this hobby over 35 years ago. He is long gone, but I am still close to him to this day, in part, because of doing on something that we shared.

Sometimes, it’s going to a train show and just looking around. Ever look at us? What a collection we are. We are old and young, round and thin, white collar and blue collar, rural and urban, neat and messy, funny and serious, male and female, black, white, yellow, red, brown and every conceivable combination of all these things. Yet there is a common thread.

Don’t mean to get philosophical, but it is not an easy question to put a finger on.

13

Gotta agree totally MAbruce. It’s certainly shouldn’t be a religion but model railroading, in it’s proper context, is a gift from God.

One other thing we’ve enjoyed is the hours of thumbing through Model Railroader and the Walthers catalog. Time well spent… Heck, there’s a new issue of MR to check out tonight. [:)]

14

These are all great answers,

I have always loved to create/paint new things no matter if it was model planes when I was younger or Lego’s or painting D&D figures. It has always helped me unplug.

But there was always a love for trains that I cannot explain.

Now my son (3) and Daughter (5) both love trains and get excited everytime we hear one coming through our home town. It must be in the genes.

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When you talk gently and informatively to your children, and tell them of your love for anything, they know that you have room for them, too. If you include them in your hobby time, that message is reinforced beyond measure.

I did not have this hobby when my girls were young, and I really envy both your opportunties and your insight. Good for you guys for capitalizing on them.

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Just about everyone here has posted my feelings in their answers. It’s also a very neat way to vicariously re-live my youth, since I grew up with steam and my layout is 100% steam (1940-50), and being a History buff, a chance to be one of those Robber Barons of old that I admire so much, by creating my own Empire. As a friend of mine, a fellow faculty member that teaches History once said to me, after viewing my Yuba River Sub, “Heck, you might as well have your own Empire, you LOOK like Charlie Crocker, anyway!” LOL! (He’s right, I do.)
Tom [:P][:P]

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For me it is stress relief and a way to relive some of my childhood. Its also a way to meet a great group of people that I normally would probably never have met.

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  1. Another thing I can use to keep my kids away from the TV and video games.

  2. I must have a gene in me, I can’t explain it. None of my friends, or co workers, share
    this fascination I have with trains. I enjoy all things outdoors …working,
    hunting, boating, fishing, shooting, atv’s and dirt bikes, … yet, I have this urge to
    come inside and mess with my ho engines and their little world.

Ken

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Great topic, Grande Man!

I’ve really enjoyed reading all the responses and many reflect my own feelings.

For me, model railroading has been a marriage saver. I say this because my first wife, whom I was married to for 20 years, always complained that I “smothered” her. I wanted to do everything with her, including things I should have kept for myself, like stamp collecting. Imagine that poor woman being dragged to stamp collecting shows, bored out of her mind. I even dragged her into white water rafting, something she really wasn’t cut out for.

Well, when I got remarried 12 years ago, I discovered model railroading soon thereafter. My second wife has no complaints about being “smothered”. In fact, just today she was working on her sewing projects while I was busy assembling an Athearn Blue Box kit. Model railroading has enabled me to be happy by myself; tinkering, creating and just dreaming about my next potential purchase. And, because of model railroading, I’ve been able to give my wife the space she needs to enjoy her hobbies and interests. Heck, when she announces she’s going out to visit a friend or to a church meeting, I say “go ahead”, I’ve got lots of model railroading projects to keep me busy. Oh, my first wife would have just died for that freedom.

I’m 57 years old and retired. I hope I’ve given some of you younger married guys some insight to help preserve your marriages.

Mondo

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I use to drag my wife to car shows until she finally told me she hates going to them. Train shows on the other hand is different, she loves going to those with me.