Trains & the family?

[tunnel88]

How does everyone's families react to our obsession with trains? I'm still living at home and my parents think i'm nuts but are okay for the most part! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif When i was younger they used to always tell everyone how much i would spend on detail parts- "He spent $60 dollars for a bag with 6 little things in it!" Now i just don't tell em how much i spend. http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif They're always trying to get me to figure out how much money i've 'invested' in my trains... But i'm not telling!

My brother thinks my models are pretty neat and interesting but isn't a train modeler, while my sister just thinks i'm crazy when it comes to the trains!

[Maxwell Plant]

My family supports my obsession and sometimes even go railfanning with me. When I go visit my brother in Lake City, MN. he already has "Photo Op Sites" staked out for me. Christmas time means I'll get some sort of railway stuff, model or 1:1. They all wonder were it all started, even I don't know. I've loved trains and railroading for as long as I can remember. My obsession can get so bad at times. If I'm in a deep discussion and hear a train, I'll forget what I'm doing and listen or run off to watch the train.

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BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX!
Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!

[Colonel]

I have support from my family although my kids are not as interested as I'd like. My parents enjoy my layout as it was my mother 30 years ago that introduced me too the hobby. I have fond memories of my mother taking me too the hobby shop and buying scenery etc for our layout. When my parents visit they always like to see the layout operating. As I work on the railways it is an integral part of my life. My wife doesn't mind how much I spend on my hobby as she feels if I can afford to spend money on my trains then I can afford her shopping sprees lol

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http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[JCater]

My family is also supportative, although my wife thinks I am a bit fanatical (and she's right http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif!). I have had a layout of some type in my life for as long as I can remember, but the current layout was the suggestion of my middle boy who got interested in the last couple of years. The CSW was built as a learning layout for my kids http://www.trainboard.com/cool.gif . My youngest is 3 and absolutely loves operating sessions or "working" on stuff at the workbench. Good luck and Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com

[Patrick]

MY wife and I made our first time entry into the interesting and fun world of model railroading this last Januuary. My wife is as big a fan as I am. We are fast becoming railfans also. She had to work yesterday and I was sleeping in when she called on the cell phone to let me know that there were some engines she had not seen before, DME, in the Winona yards. "Get up, get your camera and hurry and get some pictures!" We are hoping to get started on our first layout this fall and right now I am finishing up a set of Alan's spine units and Ann is building a small display diorama for the experience of landscaping, etc. I get to lay the small section of track. She does let me do some things http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif. She is now waiting for KATO's SD80/90MACs in CPR colors http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif!

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Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI

[AFN]

When I relocated 14 years ago my wife and 2 children & I spent 6 months in a 2 bedroom apartment. One room was for my wife and newborn daughter the other was for my son, myself and a modular HO scale railroad I built to combat boredom in our new state. When it was time to look for a house my wife did the house hunting while I was at work. She new she was actually looking for a basement with living quarters above. She is not active in the hobby but does encourage me a lot when it comes to buildings, figures, scenery. She figures I have way too much rolling stock already. The whole family has come to realize that this hobby is a part of our lives and will not likely go away. As my wife describes it to family and friends,"It is our third child."

[Alan]

<font color="3333cc">My wife, Irene, after thirty years of marriage, realises that railroads are part of my life, and has come to accept it. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

She sometimes comes with me on a day out to a railway installation, and takes video or photographs for me. When we go on holiday, we always go to watch some trains, and again, she helps with the photography.

My eldest son has no interest in trains, since he outgrew the 'Thomas' books! But son number two, Matt (alias StickyMonk), is as mad on trains as I am (perhaps more so http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif) We hope to have regular trips to the States to do some railfanning.

One day I suppose I will bring Irene with me to look at all the tourist places (plus some trains, of course http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif )

As model railroads is my business, no-one is complaining http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif</font>

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)

[This message has been edited by Alan (edited 21 August 2000).]

[atsfman]

As I was growing up, my Dad was a strong supporter. He was a Santa Fe switch engineer and retired after 50 years service. I had my first Lionel for Christmas at age 6 months.
When I left home after college, I went to work for Santa Fe in Topeka Kansas, had a basement apartment with a 4 x 8 layout I had brought up from Oklahoma on the roof of my car (track only). It is true about okies and their mattresses. When I married, my wife tells people today she thought I was crazy, then she met all my cronies and discovered a a whole world of crazies. My kids never cared for the hobby but I carried on. When the nest was my wife and I, finances took a much better turn and I was able to build my big railroad, she supported it, made trees, scenery, painted backdrops, etc. When I wanted to build a second railroad on my side of the garage for modeling 1950's and 60's, she helped. We also started a garden railroad in 1989 and she is very active in the care of it, and supportive of my many UPS deliveries.
So I would guess I have always had support and encouragement with my hobby from family (except for those darn kids).
Bob Miller

[friscobob]

So far I'm the only model railroader in my family, although the boys have both run trains. I even painted & decaled a couple of diesels for Kyle Railroad (got my son Kyle
excited!). Also since his initials are MKT
(my wife picked them, no kidding!), he's kinda excited when I run any MKT rolling stock. For the youngest, I painted a Revell NW2 shell red, lettered it JDT (for Joplin District terminal, a fictitious line that serves the real city of Joplin, MO and is an affiliate of my O&NE) and numbered it 4692- the JDT are his initials, and the number is his date of birth.
The wife is at least tolerant, but I can't complain- heck she bought me a Walthers
tire plant and sevreal Atlas HO scale cars
recently. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif\



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Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.
http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html

[Robin Matthysen]

My Dad supported my interest in trains when he bought me a Hornby double O electric train wich was against my mothers wishes. I had years of fun with that train set and still have the loco. The Dutchess of Athol.
Now that I have children and grandchildren, I find I am the only one with an interest in railroading and modelrailroading. My wife has her interests and we each support each other to do what each of us enjoys doing. I have a basement area that is 26feet by 11 feet to do with as I wish. On occasion it gets visited by family. Grandchildren just want to know how fast the trains will go. They like to look under the scenery to see the insides of tunnels and the helix.
I also have an old Amiga computer which I use to create sound effects. A job it does well. My wife thinks I am nuts to keep this old Amiga and kids me about it at times. I couldn't sell it for squat so why is it an issue? I guess she just likes to have something to kid me about.
So here I am and find I get great support from all of you people on Trainboard and through my web site. In some respects you guys are my railroad family so thanks for being there.

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Robin
Maberly and Tayside (http://members.xoom.com/Matthyro/index.html)

[E-8]

Well said Robin and we're glad to be here for each other. http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif

Thank you for being here also.

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Ship It On The FRISCO! (http://www.frisco.org) | IAMOKA.com (http://www.iamoka.com)

[This message has been edited by E-8 (edited 22 August 2000).]

[JCater]

I agree Robin!! While my family is physically with me, they may or may not always support my hobby (habit? http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif), but I know you all are always here for me...and always will support my interests http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif. Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com

[Alan]

Whatever the feelings on any of our families, at least on trainboard we are all of like mind http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)

[This message has been edited by Alan (edited 23 August 2000).]

[Kermit]

Before I got married my wife learned of my love of trains. She got used to it, and our kids grew up knowing dad loved trains. They are very tolerant of my love for trains, and also my other great passion---John Deere tractors!

[Larry39401]

For the first 26 years of our marriage, the family came first. Now it's my trains turn!

[Bos]

The other day my significant other and I were delayed by a LOCAL, and I was waxing philosophical about how a sound can put you in a memory. (A dog testing a quiet night, A motor running full song, A cricket chirping during a good movie,) anyway she understands my enjoyment of trains, but her MUSE runs different. I like her roses, but they're her roses.

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[ChrisDante]

On one of our first dates my then wife to be and I took a private railroad car trip from Newark to Buffalo[noted in a prior post]since then she knew RRing was high on my priorities. We have moved 5 times in our 23yrs of marriage and the layout always moved with us, getting torn up each time.
She gave me one rule, the upstairs must be completed before I could work on the railroad. Well after 15yrs in our current home, I'm working on the RR.
I'm not as big a TV fan as she is, so she always says; "why don't you go and play with your trains". My two daughters have little interest, except my youngest likes to work on scenery, when that time comes I hope I'll have some help. They are very patient with my engineering/construction problems and in their own way try and offer encouragement. I will say that whenever we entertain, my wife always says you must go down and look at the railroad.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.
Member #33

[JCater]

Although I have certainly put in my two cents worth on this topic already, I must relay something my wife just told me. When we move to our new home, I get the garage for the CSW, but today she asked me if I could build a small N scale railroad in our bedroom FOR HER http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif!! Needless to say, my jaw hit the floor. Happy Modeling
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com

[Alan]

John, how did that happen? No way could I get a layout into the bedroom http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

Build it quick, before she changes her mind http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Alan

The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale!

www.ac-models.com (http://www.ac-models.com)
Andersley Western Railroad (http://Andersley.homestead.com)
Alan's American Gallery (http://galleryusarail_tehcaj.homestead.com)

[ChrisDante]

JCater, quick tell her you need at least 5 new locos and 50 pieces of rolling stock in order to build her layout and... well you know the drill http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.
Member #33

[Colonel]

Just be careful John your wife may want to substitute the new bedroom layout rather than other bedroom activities heheehhe

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Paul Cassar-# Member number 50
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[tunnel88]

http://www.trainboard.com/eek.gif

[JCater]

(scraping jaw from floor...) Yeah, my wife saw N gauge at the train show last winter in Denver and said she liked it, but I never thought she was serious. Guess I'll have some planning to do http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif!! Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com

[bratnut]

I think i must have one of the most understanding wife and family, When my son was about 2yrs old he &I would go out train- watching, sometimes putting on between 400
to 600 miles a day. Devin(my son)& I always try to go train watching every weekend. When
we don't go trainwatching we get together with some real good friends in denver to run trains. You could not ask for a better bunch of guys to railroad with. My wfe always knows where I am at (usually down in the basement
working on my trains). It is nice to have the same interests as my son so we can railroad together.

[ajy6b]

I had interest in trains when I was about 7yrs old when I got that trainset under the Christmas tree. I grew up in a railroad town so I guess it was in my blood. I didn't get seriously into modeling until about 8 yrs ago when my wife bought me a trainset a sort of gag. Boy she didn't realize that the joke was on her. I am now in process of building my third layout, the first one in our new house.

My wife is accepts my trains, trainclub and my railfanning, as long as I don't neglect things that need to be done that are non-railroad related. My my two boys also have an interest, but are not as fanatical as me. They are both waiting for the new layout to start running.

I cannot wait either :)

A.J.


[This message has been edited by ajy6b (edited 08 September 2000).]

[Colonel]

It is nice having the family involved, I first built my layout to involve my son who was 8 now he is almost 13 he much more interested in the net , skateboards and I suppose soon girls. It would have been nice for him or my daughter to be interested but not too be, oh well there is never any argument who controls the layout hehehe

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Paul Cassar-# Member number 50
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[JCater]

Sounds like we are about in the same boat: My middle son asked if we could build a layout after hearing the stories of my old layouts http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif. We built it, and ran it together a couple of times, but for him it was too late...he became a teenager and has lost most of his interest. My 3-year-old on the other hand LOVES the layout. Since our move to the new house he has aked about a million times "Daddy, when can we run trains?" How can I resist that http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif??? Happy modeling!!
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com

[friscobob]

John,
I can relate to putting a layout in a bedroom. I'm moving in a few weeks to a townhome up-valley, and it's our first purchase. The bad news is that I lose a base-
ment, the good news is that I get to redo the layout in a shelf-type format, with remo-
vable staging yard at one end. Plenty of room for a layout, bedroom furniture, and the
rest (don't go there, Colonel http://www.trainboard.com/wink.gif ). I'll be able to completely get rid of all my code 100
track, and really focus on detail.
It'll do for a few years until I get a basement with a house on it.



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Southeast....Southwest..
Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.
http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html

[Colonel]

Well I won't go there at all lol. Shelf layouts are very enjoyable. I basically have a shelf layout with loops at either end. My daughter shows some interest in the layout but my son is now at the age where girls are becoming more important lol. Oh well can't use the kids anymore as an excuse for building my empire (layout) http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

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Paul Cassar-# Member number 50
ICQ 61198217
http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000

[JCater]

Sounds Like a plan to me, Bob. The wife has backed out of the N scale deal (had a feeling she would, but I'll keep trying http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif ). The other bad news is that although the CSW survived the move, it is just too big and boxey for my garage space http://www.trainboard.com/mad.gif. It looks like a new CSW is necessary after all...shelf type also http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif. Give me some info on removable staging yards...have seen some minor stuff in MR, but nothing that seemed to be workable for me. Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com

[Stourbridge Lion]

If you want to hear about "Family" supporting our hobby. In 1998 (175th Annv. of the D&H), my wife (whom never has had an interest in trains) designed a "Family Vacation" so I could spend nearly 2 weeks in NY/PA photographing the existing D&H stations, Canal Locks, Engines, etc. you name it. She did slowly get sick of seeing nothing but back roads and train stations; but, see did all the research, planning, reservations, etc. just to support my hobby.

As a thank you, I took her on a trip to Alaska the next year so she could injoy her hobby of Geology and Travel. We still picked up some train travel as part of the trip to enjoy the interior. Both trips were wonderful "Family Vacations" and supported each other hobbies too boot.

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Stourbridge Lion
stourbridge_lion@yahoo.com
Delaware and Hudson Virtual Museum (http://www.trainweb.org/dhvm)

[friscobob]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JCater:
It looks like a new CSW is necessary after all...shelf type also http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif. Give me some info on removable staging yards...have seen some minor stuff in MR, but nothing that seemed to be workable for me. Happy Modeling!!
John

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Sure thing- as soon as I figure out how to do this, I'll post the news- it may be sometime in mid-October before I get it started, so stay tuned.




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Southeast....Southwest..
Ship IT on the Frisco!
Bob T.
http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html

[chessie]

My wife-to-be was always tolerant of my train chasing, and accepted it as one of my peculiarities when we were married. Our first child fell in love with Thomas the Tank engine, and we built a "Thomas" layout to suit her needs. (At age 2 she could recite all of the train numbers, colors, and names). Both the second and third children (boys) naturally like the Thomas layout too. This past weekend, our NTrak club held a show, and I took my 5 year old with me for a morning operating session. Nobody was working the yard, so I planted cars across multiple tracks to give hime some practice in yard work and making up a train. He had a great time, plus the crowds were amazed to see a 5 year old (standing on a chair) operating the train!

Chessie

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Harold Hodnett
Fan of NS, CSX, and their predecessors!
Coming soon: The North Carolina Railfan Web Site
http://www.trainweb.org/ncrail/

[tunnel88]

Just yesterday i found out my mom didn't approve of my expansion plan into the spare bedroom with the new layout i'm planning, so it looks like i've effectively lost half of the space i though i was gonna get!

Man, this really puts a crimp in my plans. Oh, well, i'll just have to work with what i have...

I guess my family and trains aren't too cool with each other right now! http://www.trainboard.com/biggrin.gif

[watash]

I'm with Kermit! I drove a model D with 9" dual wheel lugs during the summer harvest time for two summers. Then Guy Rexroate traded it in on a new rubber tired diesel model R, and my Uncle bought the tricycle type, all John Deers. Aline is John Deer contry. The only other tractor I remember was a Case steam engine Mr. Rexroate ran to pull three 18 foot John Deer combines in his big field, and on the old Kirkendahl place. It was a big thing, twin cylinder and had seven foot rear wheels. I fired it for him for two seasons. It is at Wichita, Kansas running the Steam Calloiope (sp). My family is very supportive of my railroading.

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Watash

[ChrisDante]

My wife and I just returned from a 2 week visit to Europe, I was amazed by the amount of RR knowledge she's picked up in out 23yrs of marriage. Usually she smiles, you know the way wives do when their "boys" are playing. Well she was commenting on all sorts of arcane observations such as why are the freight cars so short and have only two wheel trucks and its nice to see passenger trains have the right of way over freight in Europe instead of the opposite in the states.
She was facinated by the small Italian diesels used for switching in the yards and very taken by the TGVs and Pendolinos.
It made me feel very comfortable.

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When in doubt, empty your magazine.
Member #33

[BryGy]

This past Christmas, my brother-in-law gave my son (he turns 2 at the end of October) an HO scale CN SD40-2 engine and said that Tyler would get a new piece every year. I was really touched by the gift, because I knew that it would be something that my son and I can do for a long time.

Needless to say, my obsession for "toys" has really taken a hold of me. I am putting together the benchwork for our first layout now and trying to learn as much about Canadian National as I can. My son is going to get a Thomas the Tank Engine play table for his birthday coming up and is already very interested in trains. Every time we pass a local switching yard, he points and then pipes up, "Train, Train. Chugga-Choo-Choo." It is actually quite cute.

I had guessed that my wife would simply tolerate my interest, but much to my surprise I think she will join with me in the hobby. We went to on of the Great American Train Shows that came by Cedar Rapids a few months ago. As I was trying to give her the basics about what I have become interested with, I saw a book about garden railroading. She was hooked. When we buy our house this next year, one of the first things she wants to do is put in a garden railroad.

I feel pretty good that my children and my wife will join me as I play.

Bry

[Patrick]

Bry: If we have missed a welcome to you let me say welcome from all of us. That's grand that the family is going to join in this great hobby with you. When it comes to trains there is something for everyone.

Welcome again http://www.trainboard.com/smile.gif.

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Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI

[watash]

JCater, a suggestion?
Go to an office furniture salvage company, and look at the spring loaded framework used to support typewriters, word processors, and other equipment that swings down under the desk top when not in use. The springs will be too strong, but screen door springs can replace them to get the proper tension. Use a good 3/4" plywood for the shelf you mount on these two linkages. To get a close fit, we beveled the outer edge of the fixed shelf with a saber saw, and beveled the matching edge of the movable shelf on a table saw. With the spring frame in the up position, we then slid the plywood against the shelf, and fasted the plywood to the frame linkages. We added door springs as we added weight, then mounted two window locks on the under side to lock the plywood firmly in place for operating. A 1/4" dia wood dowel was fit into a slot to guide the two for alignment, so our loop rails would fit. Leave enough slack on any wireing to allow the shelf to swing down under the fixed shelf. Ours was 28" wide (into the garage) x 36 long.

[JCater]

Watash,
Thanks for the help...hadn't thought of a folding type shelf! Happy Modeling!!
John

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The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies!
http://jstrainstation.homestead.com