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! 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. 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!
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. ------------------ BNSF RAILFAN-TO-THE-MAX! Brent Tidaback, Member #234 and a N-Scaler to boot!
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 ------------------ http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
My family is also supportative, although my wife thinks I am a bit fanatical (and she's right !). 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 . My youngest is 3 and absolutely loves operating sessions or "working" on stuff at the workbench. Good luck and Happy Modeling!! John ------------------ The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies! http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
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 . She is now waiting for KATO's SD80/90MACs in CPR colors ! ------------------ Residing in BNSF's St. Croix Subdivision near Trempealeau, WI
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."
<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. 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 ) 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 ) As model railroads is my business, no-one is complaining </font> ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery [This message has been edited by Alan (edited 21 August 2000).]
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
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. \ ------------------ Ship IT on the Frisco! Bob T. http://hometown.aol.com/slsf1630/myhomepage/profile.html
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. ------------------ Robin Maberly and Tayside
Well said Robin and we're glad to be here for each other. Thank you for being here also. ------------------ Ship It On The FRISCO! | IAMOKA.com [This message has been edited by E-8 (edited 22 August 2000).]
I agree Robin!! While my family is physically with me, they may or may not always support my hobby (habit? ), but I know you all are always here for me...and always will support my interests . Happy Modeling!! John ------------------ The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies! http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
Whatever the feelings on any of our families, at least on trainboard we are all of like mind ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery [This message has been edited by Alan (edited 23 August 2000).]
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!
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. ------------------
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. ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine. Member #33
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 !! Needless to say, my jaw hit the floor. Happy Modeling John ------------------ The Colorado and Southwestern, Top of the Rockies! http://jstrainstation.homestead.com
John, how did that happen? No way could I get a layout into the bedroom Build it quick, before she changes her mind ------------------ Alan The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.ac-models.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
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 ------------------ When in doubt, empty your magazine. Member #33
