I’d just like to hear some philosophical discussion about this hobby. What is it about model railroads that “makes you do this?” What satisfaction do you get? I’m often asked this question by students (I’m a teacher) and I’d like to hear what other enthusiasts say about this great hobby!
Thanks!
Because we’re nuts? [:p][;)]
For me it’s the satisfaction of creating something. I get to make my own little world. So maybe it’s fulfilling some sort of ‘god’ complex I have? Perhaps an outlet for the control freak in me? I’m sure a physiatrist could spend years with me trying to figure it all out. [:D]
Because it’s fun.
Because it’s the one medium that allows me to pretend to be something I’m not - without adverse consequences*!
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- unless I digitally-edit my photographs [;)]
Perhaps we could get a group rate with the shrink?
I agree with this. Creating something and being able to become absorbed in it for a period of time are two biggies. I guess the myriad of tasks (planning, carpentry, electrical, track laying, the art of scenery) keep it from getting boring. I think I like the creating process more than the operating.
I’m not an artist, but I see rr as a fun form of art. It is something I can do my way by myself and also enjoy it with my grandkids, as I do it their way, (to a degree) or I can share it with visitors. I enjoy the fact that you work with wood, plastic, painting, electricity, (and all the other stuff you already know) creating a bit of make believe based on reality. I enjoy doing little scenes, like the children waiting for the school bus, etc.
Model RR appeals to me on so many levels. It provides deep satisfaction in so many ways it is perhaps hard to fully illustrate the appeal.
It is in my roots. I am told, (because I don’t remember this) that the first time I walked was when I jumped out of my pushchair (stroller) to get to see the Flying Scotsman when it could be heard in the distance and my mother was not going fast enough! But that can’t be all of it?
You are a teacher, so perhaps you can relate to this. A couple of years ago, parents were asked to come in and do a half hour presentation to my son’s first grade class. I decided to do a presentation on MRR and how it relates to the subject that are taught in school.
Math. Measurement skills, figureing angles and curves.
History. Researching the past and learning about how people lived and worked.
Geography. Map reading, topography.
Biology. Plants and different trees.
Art. Painting and photography, weathering, backdrops
Shop. Woodwork
Science. Electronics and wiring and electric theory.
Computers. PC conrol and DCC
You get the picture. The kids loved the presentation and got to handle some trains. But just look at what MRR covers. There are so many elements and almost anyone can find facination in some of these aspects.
Then of course there is the challenge of tackling and succeeding in an area in which there is no inherent skill. It stretches you. It challenges you to do better. It is a break from the day to day issues of life.
But above all, it is fun and an absolutely wonderful way to spend time with my sons.
1, relaxing.
2, social, even though its where Ii get my quiet time the family comes out and socialize. Also if you can become a member of a club there are many more chances.
3, creativity.[?]
4, Now that we have DCC which really openned up so many more opprtunities and makes our little worlds easier to operate, almost anybody can come in and run a train. Its much more fun to share.
5. The little woman likes it as I could be spending time and money on something or someone else. She knows I am passionate about my layout. Its my mistress.
6. The wife and two daughters like to help with and learn from the hobby.
7. FUN,FUN,FUN.[:)]
Here are a few reasons:
Boys in particular, when they are around four, five, and six, become fascinated with trains if they live someplace where trains come through. Physically, they are big and make a lot of noise. But the fascination comes in discovering that the train comes from someplace else and is going someplace else. Trains give the child his first sense that there is a bigger world out there and that his house is not the center of it. So he asks questions. “Where is the train going?” “What is in the cars it is carrying?”
An electric train set allows the kids to participate in that world. This draws people into the hobby. As adults, I think we are drawn by the same things. Yes, we study the railroads in greater detail and try to become more exact in our operations. But we do it for the same reasons we did as kids. Trains fascinate us.
Individually, I think we’re in it for very different reasons. For me, it gives me an opportunity to “travel” back to my youth to research the era I’m modeling (if interested, see my profile). I guess because that era has passed and there’s no way to get it back, MRR provides me that vehicle to re-create a time and place that I truly miss. Besides the modeling aspect, along the way I’m discovering things that I never knew – I’m not only learning by reading, I’m talking to people who lived it as adults. Getting these personal perspectives adds another dimension to my modeling approach.
As an example, the one thing my mother remembers about the PRR station in our area is waiting for a train as a little girl and watching a man sleeping in a shoe shine chair getting a hotfoot from his friend. That’s priceless, and guess what – I’m going to model that scene – I can’t wait for her to see it. I intend to incorporate many of these types of scenes.
I have no idea why this hobby grabbed me, but the modeling/building is just pure fun; learning about the historical aspect is fascinating and seeing faces light up at something recognizable is very rewarding.
A little sappy but that’s how I feel.
I have no clue why I do
Because now that I’m a big kid and have a little money I’ve got all the really cool toys I never got as a child.
Also provides an excuse for me to stay in “my room” for hours at a time without being bothered.
Why I like model railroading over other action hobbies.
Well with RC planes I’d be worried about taking my freshly finished $500 100 hour project and smashing it to smitherines the first time I flew it.
With RC cars it’s sooo competative and expensive and again you can ruin a model in a split second
With RC boats (I do love RC sailboating) it’s still competative and boats do sink.
With model trains you get to build something (if you want to). You get to make it go and unless you are extremely clumsy there’s not much chance of loosing your entire investment in one fell swoope.
Trains are mechanical devices which I think most men (and some women) have a wired in attraction to.
I also build model planes, cars, armor and ships but I’ve got to admit that with model trains and a layout more modeling skills are brought into play. Therefore more potential enjoyment.
Because we can’t afford real ones!
Gordon
As usual, this is one question that has a whole bunch of answers.
Because, as a baby, I was given a Lionel tinplate train. I literally teethed on a box car.
Because my early childhood was surrounded by things that had flanged wheels guided by steel rails. One of them was a LHS that had an impressive HO engine terminal in its show window.
Because I learned that I could create something that was uniquely mine and, within the limits of my ability, control every aspect of its development.
Because it gave me common ground with a lot of very nice people.
Because I can appreciate the efforts of others. Sometimes they appreciate mine as well, which is an extra bonus.
Because it gives me the chance to reproduce, in miniature, a time and place which was very enjoyable to me when I experienced it full scale.
Finally; because it is now, and always has been, fun!
Chuck (speaking only for myself, but I’ll bet that there are lots of folks out there who will respond, “Some (or all) of the above.”)
-Working with my hands I find to be very therapeutic.
-For the size of my layout, mistakes are usually correctable and never a disaster. Therefore there’s less pressure, unlike a home improvement project where something has to be up and working the same day.
-It really is an art, we create something that’s ours.
Charles
I’m with Alex. I also have no clue why. All the thoughts about art, creating something, etc. are true, but we could certainly direct those creative energies to build something, uh, “useful” if that’s what it was. But it’s the TRAINS! More than anything, I love to crank up the layout and just watch 'em run. Now with DCC, watch a few of them run. And I don’t have a clue why I think it’s so danged fun.
My 8 year old granddaughter (from out of town) upon seeing my layout for the first time: “Boy, that’d get old real fast.” I thought, logically she’s right. But, fact is, it doesn’t ever get old.
[#ditto]
For me its about remebering my youth and those simpler times. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s and things were much more simpler for a kid then. Sure there were drugs around but you weren’t discriminated against by the kids who smoked and drank if you chose not to.
Violence consisted of a fight between two people that disagreed, and after the fight was over it was over, nobody went and got a gun and killed another over a parking space or an accidental foul during a game of hoops.
Kids actually went outside and played games and got exercise at the same time, now theres fat overweight and obese kids stuck on their sofas glued to a video game or a reality TV show.
Dad went to work and mom stayed home and took care of the house, the kids, meals and gossiped at the fence with Ethel from next door.
Today both parents have to work and housework is crammed in to a weekend,kids go to school dressed in whatever clothes they can find, meals come from McDonald’s or KFC and gossip comes in the form of e-mail.
Model railroading allows me to slip back in to those carefree days of playing stickball by the freightyard, walking back and forth to school along the rr tracks and waving as the juice train rolled by. Trolley rides downtown to the Italian market and then over to the Reading market. Remembering the smells of foods baking in the ovens through the neighborhood. The cool muscle cars parked in little city. Saturday morning cartoons followed by little league football (not soccer), little league baseball, in the afternoon. Pretending that girls were icky when the cheerleaders were nearby, but secretly wanting to steal a kiss when your friends weren’t looking. Sitting in a classroom staring out the window as the freight trains rumbled by in the distance and being brought back to reality with a crack across the knuckles with a ruler by the Nuns.
To me thats what MY railroad is all about simply remembering the good old days when all I had to worry about was being a kid and having fun !
I ask the same question every day, but I haven’t came up with a reasonable answer yet.