I never thought it would come to this

This morning at my breakfast diner, my train friend returned me some of my old N scale mags. I didn't even browse them although not having reviewed them for a couple of years. The new Model Railroader came in the mail today and I didn't even leaf through it, and really have no plans to review the dcc digest at all. Hobby shops are either closing or discontinuing trains down in this area, model railroaders are getting more surly, dishonest and self serving. I have to face the fact I have been trying to avoid the past few months. I frankly have had it up to HERE with the model railroading community and the hilarious "Model Railroading is Fun": fallacy.

Like many other guys in this area, I don't even attend the shows except to unload some of the locos and rolling stock that I have bought over the past years, and frankly stay to myself. I am tired of hearing old snowbirds ranting on about "that layout they had in the basement" years ago, or hearing condescending statements by self appointed experts because they learned to use MicroTrains couplers, or operate a dcc controller.

The point is that I still love model railroading, and from this point on until I see some positive change down here, I will run and operate my own trains, repair and maintain my large inventory, and stick to myself, which to me is a more puristic approach.

This will be my last visit to Trainboard, but after many many years of my life devoted to this hobby and environment, I feel it appropriate to bid it adieu here. So for many of your guys out there that tend to whine, complain or criticize, have at it. First, Steamguy died a couple of years ago, and tonight, FloridaBoy died this week.

All of you, have a good life. I am going to build some model cars.

Signing off

Ken "FloridaBoy" Willaman

 

I was considering the same thought and run with modeling what I started with.. Tall Ships, gun ships. That was until my brother asked about our previous D.T.& S. Railroad.

Tom

 

I've always found the lone wolf approach to be the best. I also find that most self appointed experts are all talk, and no layout. My layout is far from perfect, but watching my little trains go round and round in sad little circles fills my heart with joy. Model railroading is fun, if you don't give a rat's patootie what other people think.

 

Sad to hear you are leaving. Your input has been valued and appreciated.

Yes there are those who make enjoying the hobby a bit of a burden. The key to enjoying the hobby is to remember you aren't doing this to please everybody else but to please yourself. It's your railroad, you make the rules, you set the standard and number one is to have fun, quoting Jim 157. If it turns into work or isn't fun then it's not worth doing.

A friend of mine said, all he wants to do is walk in turn on the power and run trains. He didn't want block wiring, toggles all over a map control panel and least of all something he has to enter a bunch of codes into just so he can run trains.

While other's want all the frills and the most current technology.

It's all about how you define fun!

Anyway, I hate to see you go and do wish you the best of luck with your new adventure.

Adios Amigos!

 

Sorry also to see you depart. For me model railroading has been therapeutic all these years, and now in my so called Golden Years I enjoy sitting back and trying to help others the best way I can manage. I have learned a long time ago that there are folks that debate with you over whether the penny you are holding up is actually a penny and we have some here. I just ignore them and keep chugging on. And we have our share of folks who only half read a post or get a completely wrong impression of what is being said and have to reply, sometime sarcastically in a know it all manner, when they should just sit and think about what is being said for awhile. Probably why I am the Johnny Come Lately sometimes to a thread, I have been taking my time and mulling over what has been said. Sometimes it just isn't worth getting worked up over. I enjoy the humor displayed by some folks here, like seeing what things folks are doing, and sharing some of my non conventional Rube Goldberg approaches to modeling. So even if life deals me some sour grapes and I don't get to build that last layout I will still hang out here and do what I enjoy the most. Helping other folks with issues when and where I can. Just don't ask me about DCC.

 

Hate to see you go Ken.

With that I gotta say...you claim "Steamguy died a couple of years ago."...just in name...you cant keep a good man down...trust me ;-)

 

Whew. I take it your glass of milk on the breakfast table was half empty too? I know this might sound mean to most but if you're negative all the time, of course you're not going to have any fun in this hobby.

 

I can understand not wanting to hang out with people. But I would never let people run me off of a forum... Then they win. If you're waiting for a place on the internet without idiots, you're going to have a long wait. And that goes for all subjects. You think it's bad here, take a trip over to a politics board sometime.

 

Never let others determine what makes you happy. It's your world, rule it the way you want. The world is filled with grumpy and all knowing individuals. After years of fighting against it, I discovered they don't matter that much in the scheme of things, Do it they way you want and let them eat cake. Keep on modeling. It's about the only thing that maintains my sanity.

 

Sadly, as DaveD said, there are people everywhere that seem intent on ruining everyone else's fun. I have several other hobbies (model cars, real cars and anime) and there always those people that I call "elitists" who think their opinions and ideas are better than everyone else's. I do what I enjoy, I don't do it for anyone else. If they don't like it, they can take a hike!

 

I completely understand where you’re coming from because I’ve been going through the same thing for a few years. I don’t have anybody close by to share my interest and it’s hard for me to keep interested if nobody else is. At least you have some train friends stopping by.

 

I returned to reply to a personal message to a long time friend, and before I accessed the message, I decided to look to see if there were any replies to my post.

Unfortunately you don't know me,or my present situation. I have always been a positive person and consider myself a role model in this hobby despite many attempts by wannabees to discredit me. I treat everyone I meet and know with dignity and respect, despite the ever increasing presence of People I would not want to be around growing and establishing influence. First, because of the nutcases and shysters, I opted out of eBay, then swap meets, then clubs, and discovered I love the activity of model railroading but am starting to dislike the people on a general nature.

So, as one guy put it I am lonewolfing, and to my old friends, I will always be their friend, and I will be selling off a lot of my excess at future swap meets down here, including the Florida Citrus Society meet at the end of February. But I am not there to take @#$#@$@# from anyone. Just come and buy and leave.

To railtwister, you are always my friend as are a few others on this forum, and none of my comments, as they well know, are not aimed at them.

To the other reply regarding Steamguy, I was Steamguy and it was the Atlas board and its members that enabled me to kill the poor ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤. I am FloridaBoy in definition only, and will never be seen north of Orlando.

Again, adieu

Ken Willaman

Ken

 

I will miss you Ken!

I have enjoyed your posts both here and back on the Atlas Forum.

Sorry things have turned out this way for you, please stop back in once in a while .........

 

Ken...

I understand what you are saying. Please understand I was not trying to say something and mean another. We are who we are are no matter what online nickname we use. I always like reading your posts and replies....still do. Bummer that things online got to you...again. Like I said...you cant keep a good man down. I wish you nothing but the best in whatever you do.