<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by yankinoz: As promised - here I am, on my third birthday with my very first train. (22/8/1971) I didn't even know where the caboose goes <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Don't feel bad- I used to watch UP locals in Wyoming in the 1960s, and the caboose would be anywhere but in front of the locomotive- once in a while, they'd be at the rear of the train, as God intended. You were just following prototype
Guys, I started at the ripe ole age of 2! And I turned 22 this past September, so its my 20th year in the hobby ( and I love it). I'd rather spend money on a Rivarossi Mallet then to buy a 12 oz. can of beer! I collected Ho scale trains up till about 11 or 12 years ago when my parents started to help me build a layout and since then its dramaticaly grown! But anyway I do all my own modeling and wiring besides that I own a repair shop for trains (of all scales and sizes, not one job to big or to small) Lets see I modeled so far in the last 5 years: 4 EM-1's (2-8-8-4) B&O, 4 S-1's (2-10-2), and 4 S-1a's (2-10-2) B&O, 4 EL-5's (2-8-8-0) B&O, 5 P-7's (4-6-2), (President class) 2 Q-4's (2-8-2) B&O, 6 L-2's (0-8-0) B&O, 1 KK-1 (2-6-6-4) B&O, 2 KB-1's (2-6-6-2) B&O. ALL in the B&O! And for the Western Maryland I modeled 10 (2-8-0's) I can't remember its class, and 5 2-10-0's and again I can't remember its class, M-1 2-8-8-2 WM, and in the process of modeling a M-2 4-6-6-4 WM, and I just bought a Brass 3 truck Shay from a friend to help him out to keep his home from taxes. To model the Western Maryland #6 3 truck 180 ton Shay. So everyone sees i'm 22 and love the old steamers!!! I do have numerous Diesels, but I don't care to list them but most are first generation so.... In both the B&O and the WM. And a week ago I finished a long awaited train I modeled totaly... "The Chessie Steam Special" Just because it ran on the year I was born (1978) and it comemorated the 150th birthday of the B&O. And promoted safety for the Railroad. So I modeled it as well. But my most favorite locomotive, that i've wanted for years I now have 4 of them and thats the 2-8-8-4 EM-1's and favorite of that locomotive by number is the "7600"! the last EM-1 in Cumberland. Alot of fellow model railroaders find it hard to believe with a collection such as mine that I am 22! But my birthdays and Christmases were like aniverseries to me, and to my hobby.... Everyone got me something over the years on these avents. And I saved and saved money to buy the Mallets myself! Theirs alot of blood, sweat and tears in those engines. And i'm still not close to my idea of B&Oing! I want at least one steam engine to every class the B&O had in the proto-type. And if it don't stop their I'll do the same for their Diesels as well. And my whole collection 20 year later is HO! I never changed scales once. But thats not saying i'm not thinking of buying a G scale passenger train from the same freind that had the Brass 3 truck Shay.. Let me know what what you all think even if its good or bad, still i'd like to hear it anyway... It'll give just the more reason to KEEP COLLECTING ~John. (7600EM_1) [ 09 March 2001: Message edited by: 7600EM_1 ]
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>I'd rather spend money on a Rivarossi Mallet then to buy a 12 oz. can of beer! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Amen Brother!!!!!! Finally, someone who can clearly explain one really good reason not to drink, not to do drugs, and not to smoke! I would much rather put that cost of 1 to 3 pack a day habit toward my trains! And I would much rather let my steamers do the smoking for me!!! Besides costing a half fortune, drugs are also bad for us, and I do not like anything in me that is voluntarily harming my body. I would find it astonishing to find someone who can still afford cigarettes when they are already addicted to the "Big Boy a month" habit
Benny, Yes THAT is a real good reason not to drink! And the sad part I do smoke and so does my locomotives but thats not as bad as the fines that are possible when you walk, drive or what ever drinking! thats more money to the JP then i'd like to give up that could and would go to my train collection and layout! If I can stay out of the hobby shops and off the phone with out of my area hobby shops I might could be able to buy a scanner to put pictures of my collection on here and pictures of my layout.... The sad part is i'm ADDICTED to the hobby shops and my hobby most of all!!! But maybe someday though ~John.
I quit the cancer sticks three years ago. That sure freed up some money for choo-choos! But as for the drink - sorry guys, I like beer too much but all things in moderation, right?
I've been training for 28 years now. I started with a Tyco Little Shifter set I received on my ninth birthday (I still have the engine!) and gradually moved to Athearn engines and cars. Back then, I could buy one car a month on my $2 allowance. The local hobby store owner let me walk behind the counter to check out all the cars in those neat blue boxes. I think I looked at each car at least a half dozen times before I could decide which one to get! My interest in trains survived high school and college, and gradually increased to the point where I have owned three different businesses stemming from my hobby! My wife is understanding of my "borderline" obsession, though she quickly gets bored when I start telling her of the latest item I want to get (whether for me or for the store!) When we were getting married, she went down to the local train store and purchased an Athearn PA-PB SP Daylight set for my wedding present. The other customers were quite amazed that someone's wife could be so considerate. Her comment to the store owner (who is still a good family friend) was "I'm still not too sure about this hobby." A customer promptly replied, "It's a lot better than going to bars all the time!" So true! Pat
I developed an interest in trains when I was still small enough to sit on Santa's lap, so let's just call it 50 year's ago. I remember always wanting to watch the trains that were set up at the large department store during the Christmas season. Nothing else in the toy department was anything to compare to the TRAINS. I asked Santa for an electric train, but I didn't want to tell anyone else what I had asked for. It was just between Santa and myself. This made it rather difficult for my parents to get the message, but my older brothers did finally manage to get my request out of me. The first train set that I got was a Marx. I was disappointed because it wasn't a Lionel. Eventually, I was able to convince my parents that there was no substitute for a LIONEL. I liked my Lionel, but I never did like the three rails. Space was always a problem, so HO became my scale of choice. It was also more affordable and the engines ran quite well. In the last few years I have finally gotten into N-scale in a BIG way. I never thought that I would, but since the engines have now been improved so much I couldn't use that as an excuse anymore. I'll be modeling in N-scale until I can't see it anymore, and then I may go back to my HO trains. I am keeping them in reserve just in case. By the way... Thanks Pat for the help on the layout. I see that you got back home okay. Have you started the N-scale layout yet?
Benny, I like to have the addiction too "a Big Boy a month" But better yet... the addiction to the "Brass EM-1 a month" is even better!!!!!! If all else fails you ask???? KEEP COLLECTING, trains aren't like women and talk back, and they're always ready when you are so put 'em on track and turn up the juice there ready and waiting guys... HEE HEE
You're quite welcome, Everett. Anytime you want me to waste more wood and time, let me know . No, I haven't started my N scale layout yet, but I did pick up a nice P2K MILW GP30 from Charlie in Portland when I passed through. HO, of course! The Santiam Pacfic tends to grab run-through power whenever it can!!! Pat
