Jim Reising said in part of his post on retirement "I don't have any particular requirements as far as LHS or groups, I'm pretty much a loner anyway, just not a social animal I guess. " Jim, it is my belief that most Model Railroaders are Introverts to begin with. The Operating Groups, Clubs (fixed layout, NTRAK or round-robin) are our way of safely extraverting within an introverted community. Most of us would prefer to sit in a corner, reading the latest copy of N Scale Railroading, than stand around with a plate of weenies on toothpicks at a cocktail party.... but I think Model Railroaders are missing a lot (for themselves and for the hobby) by staying in the basement and not identifying themselves as model railroaders to others in the hobby. Every meeting with my various groups I learn something (usually from one of the newer members). While I share my years of experience, I have learned so much more from my association with NTRAK and various other informal groups in my area. I am not talking about joining a rulebound, political fraternal organization like a certain HO biased National organization; just seeking out a few fellow N (or open minded HOers) in your area to share ideas and help you build your layout. My group has helped me completely drywall and finish my basement (and before that build a deck outside my house to help with the ROW aquisition process!!!).... and I have gained several very good friends out of my club activities..... I am not putting down the value of "alone" time....I treasure it too.... but there is no finer group of people than Model Railroaders.... and it is a shame that we don't know about each other more..... Thoughts from the club members and lone wolves out there??? Charlie
Hoooooooowl!! I barely have time to work on my layout, never mind joining a local club. I have been in touch with the local N-trak folks, and hope to find some time to visit them soon. But I just can't see how I can free up the time to devote to a club right now. [ 02. August 2002, 17:23: Message edited by: Bruce-in-MA ]
Yknow, as much of a lone-time-killer as model railroading is, it's alot more fun with fellow train geeks. I stumbled onto another local modeler at my former place of employment, who had nearly given up trains... but now is strong into N scaling once again, and planning to build some oNeTrak modules.
I've never been much on joining a fixed layout type club. I do enjoy touring them for a learning experience. I'd prefer to spend my time, and money, on something I can enjoy here at home. Such as a module. (NTRAK/oNeTRAK/etc.) Or my own fixed in place layout. Being a lone wolf is not really a choice where I live. It's just the way things seem to be. There are a few other N scalers scattered around the region. But those commutes to visit are a killer. If there is someone nearby, I've not yet been able to get them out of their cave. So Trainboard is my hobby socializing place. BoxcabE50
True, you do have to be at a place where you have a free evening or so a week to "socialize". I too do not favor fixed clubs, (too much politics, wasted effort building a compromise layout at too high a cost) but rather favor the round robin club. It doesn't have to be equal visits....just the understanding whoever has the need for work to be done gets to host the club..... not all of us are able to build our layouts at the same time.. Getting the network going is the key.... I live in a good sized subdivision, but haven't identified any model railroaders in the subdivision I live in or in the same area.... I do know of a couple other model railroaders in town, but I bet there are thirty more...... some of whom are missing out on further enjoyment of the hobby. Charlie
WELL SAID CHARLIE, and to quote youre statement, "it is a shame that we don't know about each other more"....I'll add , even if we have to put up with the occassional individual who still thinks that he who dies with the most toys wins!
I too have very little spare time to work on my layout, let alone join a club. I have been a member of our local club for a number of years in the past, and a couple of other members and myself did all the work, whilst the rest moaned about not being able to run trains because we were working on it!!!!!!!! We have had some enjoyable times, especially taking our layouts to exhibitions, but a lot of the time, politics and disagreement took away all the pleasure. It finally got so bad that I was never enjoying myself, so I left the club permanently. I now enjoy working on my own layout, as and when I feel like it (and have the time)
I have been a part of a round robin group since 1992.I am also a member of a "regular" club. I still prefer to do it alone,but it is nice to share your hobby at times,and I've made some great friends in this hobby(some of them right here on TB). Who cares if you die with the most toys,your still DEAD!!!.
I'd like to add my 2 cents, even though I'm an HO'er. I'm a member of trainboard and our Local Historical Society where me and 7600_EM1 live and we get together and either talk trains, go railfanning with others, like we did with Johnnytrains, HermanzGerman and others on Sand Patch, or we run our trains on the layout at the station that is pictured on the Sand Patch string in the cattle car. I just took a week of vacation and me and 7600 just built my new layout in 3 days and had fun with it while we worked on it! Our hobby is fun if you are a lone wolf, in a club, or just among good friends. But it always goes better with good friends around you!
First off, thanks to Charlie for this great topic... it is probably one that is especially pertinent to a scale such as ours.... I am willing to share some personal insight into this topic. I will admit that I was pretty much a "lone wolf" modeler for many years.... I never felt that my work could approach that of the "experts" in magazines and as seen in local shows. Besides, at any of the shows I had attended, the "members" were always too busy running trains and attending to their "club activities" to pay attention to "outsiders". One day, something amazing happened... I went to a show (that had an N scale layout) and one of the members actually took notice of me and we began to chat. He actually invited my inside the layout ( "sacred ground", as far as I was concerned ) and introduced me to some club members. It was there that I found that these folks were not Gods or special people, only train lovers who came together for a purpose. And so, it was, eventually that I became a member of the club too.... What I found out by joining a club was that we had folks with all different skill levels,,,,, everything from Novice to Electrical Engineer! And although the "shows" were sometimes stressful, we all came together for the common love of trains and to (hopefully) get others involved. I am lucky to be part of a club that is structured, but not too rigid. We have all skill levels and interest levels. As an example, when I first joined, I was at every show, and usually had to help set up and clamp the [ NTrak ] modules at the shows... Many years later, I cannot make all of the shows, but don't feel guilty, as there are more new members dying for the chance to be a part of the club and help out. So what does this mean? First off, I think it means that model railroading is NOT a hobby to be ashamed of.... if you tell people you like Trains, you need to be prepared and comfortable to give more details. Second, try to get other involved in the hobby. Only by getting others interested (and helping them) in the hobby will we be able to se it survive or thrive. My two cents... Harold
When I moved to Grand Junction, I joined the local club. I've always tried to be a membr of the local RR club in any town I lived in- in the case of Paris, Texas, I wound up starting a club to get all the area model railroaders together- it still exists as a round-robin group, and has a great bunch of guys scattered from Paris to Clarksville, Texas, and from Hugh to Idabel, Oklahoma- the area paralleling the Red River Valley. Now that I'm a traveling tech, I have to resort to lone-wolf status, but I'll always keep a eye out for local model RR clubs (nada in E. Nevada, sadly)
Well all I can say to the people that say they don't have time for Model Railroad clubs, the NMRA, or any other organization connected with Model Railroading, you are missing half the fun of the hobby of Model Railroading. I have been in the Kentuckiana Society of N-Scalers (KSONS) for over 15 years now. (Charlie I think you have been to one or two of our NTRAK conventions in the Louisville Kentucky area.) I have been in the NMRA for over 20 years now. Maybe the NMRA doesn't always go the most favorable way for N-Scale, but times are changing! I belong to several other Historical groups also. I too caught myself in the rat race, and didn't supposedly have the time for my hobby. A person needs time to relax and I wasn't getting it. This type of life will mess your head up if you let it. I make a point to do what I want to do with my trains nowdays. I like to work on my railroad by myself, but I also enjoy the give and take of being a member of various clubs. My wife supports my hobby and enjoys going to meetings with me. You will not find a better group of people than Model Railroaders. So I say to all the "lone wolves" out there, get out of the basement every now and then, and I don't mean just go to the hobby shop either!
I'd like to address N-trak specifically. For those lone wolves who don't have an operating layout, find the nearest N-trak club and start checking it out. This time of the year many N-trak clubs are having a "Fun Run", which means the show is not open to the public, older modules are being cleaned and checked for electrical problems, new modules are brought in to be sure they are within N-trak standards and suggestions for scenery, etc can be shared. This would be an excellent time to bring along your favorite passenger train, steam powered mixed freight, modern diesel intermodal train, or maybe just your favorite loco and a handful of M-T's you have. If you haven't been able to run, I believe you will find what happened to me...... I had more fun than a greased pig in a mudhole!!! Needless to say, once you have experienced 3 scale miles, and 3 lines to boot, you'll find time to engage in a club. You might even take the big plunge and build a module or two. Either way, you will find an enjoyment of the hobby that "collecting" does not give. And, you will meet some really great people, be they in your club or in another. I Dare you!!! no, I Double Dog Dare you!!!! just be ready to get "hooked" [ 04. August 2002, 05:31: Message edited by: ednsfan ]
I didn't think I would find a club that I would like. Most I visited didn't like the idea of a guest running trains. This has been my number one problem with most clubs. Then Chessie invited me to the club he's in. That changed my mind. I've changed my plans from a truly "lone wolf" layout design, to a conforming modular layout that can be integrated with such groups, or the modules that a friend across the way is building.
WIth the vast knowledge available from fellow model railroaders, I'd find it hard to be a lone wolf. By and large we're social creatures, and I'm always looking for fellow model railroaders no matter where I'm at. Because of my present assignment, I'm finding myself relying more on my fellow Trainboarders for suggeestions, advice, fellowship, laughs, etc. So, although I may be by myself in eastern Nevada working on model railroading projects, thanks to the Internet I'm never completely alone.
As EDNSFAN pointed out, belonging to an NTrak club has a very significant benefit that many lone wolves cannot achieve: the ability to run EXTREMELY long trains! I know that I could not possibly run the long trains (at home) that I run at our shows [ I think one of our last club shows had a layout that was ~ 24x72' ] I have the ability to run all sorts of long trains on the club layout (shows). One of my greatest "club" discoveries ( besides the club comaradarie ) is the use of DCC. I have to credit my club DCC guru (who is also our club website developer) with turning me on to DCC. Once again, the kindness of someone to help others learn is the reason for my learning (and happiness ) Had I not been able to actually "play" with DCC, I am sure that I would still be a naysayer. However, once I actually experienced DCC, I was hooked! Too sum things up, there's a lot to gain by joining a club! Harold
There have been some good points made for both sides of this topic. I feel like this is one of those topics that will be addressed differently by each person depending on his or her personality. As for me, I would consider myself one of the lone wolf type. There were two times I joined clubs. Both times, it only took a few months for the politics of each to drive me away. I feel like there is enough of that in my professional life to have it in my hobby. The round robin idea has peaked my interest but I have never been able to find the right group of people. So for now, lone wolf it is.
If I could find a way to get a 30 hour day, I'd probably be a lot more sociable! I'm not a hermit, I just flat out don't have any time to spare. This last weekend is a perfect example. I've got four grown children. The eldest and his family have been staying with us for the last week. Saturday we had to go to Bourbonnais (IL), a 90 mile drive, for my wife's family reunion. Sunday all the kids came over. Between all that going on and maintaining a house on a half-acre lot with a good sized in ground pool, and let's not forget church activities on Sunday, there's simply no time for anything else. Understand, folks, I'm not complaining - I love my family and get a tremendous amount of enjoyment from being with them. And last weekend is pretty much non-average. But with one thing and another, there just isn't much time to get done the things I have to get done, let alone the optional stuff. I haven't even been out to Rochelle yet, I'm ashamed to say. And I've only been out to the Illinois Railway Museum once this summer. I don't at all feel that I'm out of touch, however, thanks to the internet. I monitor the N_Scale list, TrainBoard N, and the Atlas Forum, and am not afraid to participate when I have something to say or can help. In fact, my one visit to IRM this summer came about after I used the N-Scale list to sell off some out-of-era locos. Simon Ginsberg from Switzerland bought four of them, and when he emailed if there was anything to do or good LHSs in Chicago, I filled him in on Rochelle and invited him to a day at IRM. He loved his day at Rochelle, and our day at IRM followed by a swim and barbeque was absolutely a highlight of my summer. But that was an anomaly. Generally I keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut, and do my own thing as I find the time. I am very much looking forward to retirement in hopes of having time to do the more social things, and plenty of guilt-free time to build the layout I've always wanted. Don't get me wrong here, folks, I'm happy with The Oakville Sub - but I've always regarded it as a way station.
This is an interesting topic. I have always been a lone wolf in this hobby but wish I'd get out more. I went to a train auction and met someone else in N-scale. He was very nice and enthusiastic and even wanted to help me with my layout ( which is STILL on the drawing board! ). Biggest problem was he lives in Ventura County and I live in the southern most part of Orange County, making it a two hour drive one way ( with L.A. County in between!). Although he was willing to make the drive, my schedule is too unpredictable to commit someone else's time. I've been trying to push myself to visit a local N-Trak club but quite frankly I don't enjoy the hassles of traffic. I'm fortunate to live in S. Cal and only have a 15 min commute to work! To my knowledge, the closest N-Trak club is in Anaheim which is 30 -45 min depending on freeway conditions. I guess I just need to "bite the bullet" and check the club out! One thing that's helped me tremendously is this board! You have been a great help and my thanks to you all. Being able to see someone else's pictures and ask questions is wonderful and there isn't any criticism or elitism here! In all this musing I thought I'd come up with something intelligent to say! hehehe It just goes to show how comfortable this place is!
