Some ho modelers being too rigid

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I have learned alot in my 78 years and Yes I am a nerd, 78 years old one but a nerd none the less. I also like modern era trains from the year 1990, on!!! I like military trains, i like the Union Pacific, prototypical or fantasy. I like seeing what others model. I like seeing how others run their trains. I like having fun. I am not a fanatic on time or space!!
I don't like negative people, I don't like people that its their way or the highway, I don't like know it all's!!, I don't like people telling me I'm not doing my trains the right way!

Amazing how some think that they and only them know how to build a layout and run their trains. Well guess what's THEY DON'T!!!!

DAVE
 
troyphoto said:
This response if for the gent treating his model trains as "Historical Artifacts":

I beg to differ. It's a representation of a historical artifact. On your layout, you do what you want. Stay 100% historical, if that's what you want from the hobby. On other people's layouts, it up to them how much history is present, or not.

I say that as both a (former) historical re-enactor and (current) table top wargamer. Both can be educational pursuits, but none are "historical artifacts."

Gatekeeping won't grow a hobby.

But, you can build on someone's interest to grow the historical nature of THEIR hobby interest. What's the old adage? Honey or vinegar?

Walking out and snide comments had the vinegar effect, and I hope you can use this as a learning experience. You missed a chance to help some others see potential to learn the historical nature of the equipment you brought to run.

What you can bring to their hobby experience has to be in the ballpark of what they want to experience. Find that common ground and build on it. Don't tear their ideas down.

Case in Point: I got started in tabletop gaming in the FANTASY realm. Elves, dwarves, and dragons and such. Now, I'm building forces for the American Civil War, and I just completed a pilgrimage to Gettysburg. If you'd asked me 5 years ago if I were interested in the ACW or G'burg, it would have been a resounding NO!

But some gamers who embraced wargaming across genres and got me interested in the history of that period. Now, I'm looking forward to exploring the history beyond just watching a Ron Maxwell film full of speeches. (Seriously, watch the extended cut of the movie. I wonder if Mr. Maxwell let the horse playing Traveller give a soliloquy but cut it out later... ;) )

If you have the knowledge, and the experience to share, please do so. But do it without gatekeeping. Help us grow the entire hobby. Not just one little corner of it.
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Your so right, thanks for pointing that out. I love history but in this point and time I just want to run trains, see my friends and have some fun. Apparently the guys we dealt with don't have a clue on when and where that should be appropriate.
 
davidone said:
Amazing how some think that they and only them know how to build a layout and run their trains. Well guess what's THEY DON'T!!!!
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Not only that, they probably don't even have a layout at all, other than maybe a test track of some kind. Their own focus on perfection will prevent them from even starting one. I've had several "discussions" over the years about how my layout doesn't do this, or isn't that. My response, depending on how worked up they are, is "show me your layout".
 


What would be funny is if one of them jumped into this thread and protested. Then we'd all know who he is. Just like that girl who walked into the fountain. Nobody knew who she was nor cared, just the situation was funny. Until she started suing, then we all knew haha.

Historical artifacts - so they don't run them at all then? They have the 1 of 1,000,000 made. Hard to find, a real treasure! haha
 
davidone said:
The icing on the cake was when one guy brought over some locomotives in fantasy schemes and the complainers went on to tell us how we are ruining the hobby of model railroading. They then left in a huff.
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Oh my heavens, not like it was a club or exhibition or anything..... They would have been appalled with my string of 30-40 reefers in orange crate label fantasy paint.

davidone said:
I thought trains are supposed to be fun. It is for me but it seems some others are too ridget!!!!
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Well, you can't really go there either. There are others that do the "anything I want" theme, that others would call "too loosey goosey". Whomever owns the rails gets to set the rules and if one wants to run there, it is what needs to be accepted.

Personally, I can't quite stand either extreme. One layout I went to, one had to stop the loco at each turnout so the switchman could get on and off the loco/caboose. One had to allow enough time for the brakeman to walk the length of the train checking the valve cocks, and then wait the proper amount of time for the air to pump up in the brake system. Had to wait for brakeman time to manually set the brakes on set out cars. And of course scale speeds. The layout had scale length sidings and spurs so it took about 2 hours to stop and switch one industry and continue.

On the other extreme, a layout where trains were things like SD70es pulling a train with both 1890s coaches, batman 50' plug door box cars, Green Giant reefers, beer can tank cars (the kind with the real beer can in it), and of course a wide vision caboose (of a different road name) on the rear.

The gag factor was too great on both these. I didn't say anything just declined future invitations.
 
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I have ran into these types of guys my whole life and not just train guys. We had one guy in the Army who thought he was the best shot ever, he was not!! But they exist in all walks of life.
In our area we abide by rules of the guy hosting the invite but all of us basically have no rules on what you can bring or run. The main ingredient is to have fun, talk, eat and run trains. Not everyone's cup of tea but we sure have fun. We had a 18 year last year and his engines he brought were really old brands like blue box, life like and Tyco. They did not run well or sometimes not at all. We spent time helping getting those old things to run adequately. He was so appreciative and happy that he has attended every get together we have had. He told how he attended other group meetings and he was barely spoken to and nobody offered any help. Those types who think they are superior to this young man is why in some areas are struggling recruiting new members. Maybe if they paid attention to the younger members their groups would be growing.
 
Iron Horseman said:
Oh my heavens, not like it was a club or exhibition or anything..... They would have been appalled with my string of 30-40 reefers in orange crate label fantasy paint.


Well, you can't really go there either. There are others that do the "anything I want" theme, that others would call "too loosey goosey". Whomever owns the rails gets to set the rules and if one wants to run there, it is what needs to be accepted.

Personally, I can't quite stand either extreme. One layout I went to, one had to stop the loco at each turnout so the switchman could get on and off the loco/caboose. One had to allow enough time for the brakeman to walk the length of the train checking the valve cocks, and then wait the proper amount of time for the air to pump up in the brake system. Had to wait for brakeman time to manually set the brakes on set out cars. And of course scale speeds. The layout had scale length sidings and spurs so it took about 2 hours to stop and switch one industry and continue.

On the other extreme, a layout where trains were things like SD70es pulling a train with both 1890s coaches, batman 50' plug door box cars, Green Giant reefers, beer can tank cars (the kind with the real beer can in it), and of course a wide vision caboose (of a different road name) on the rear.

The gag factor was too great on both these. I didn't say anything just declined future invitations.
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I couldn't stand either extreme especially the first one because I don't like watching grass grow! That would be a one time visit!! The second one where the guy is running what he did is fine if not spelled out in advance of the visit. I don't like what alot of people run but its their trains and if they like it why would I tell him he could not.
 


FAMILY GUY_DOG_4.jpg
DINER_ TEST.jpg

Good morning! It's 52°F and partly cloudy. :cool:
DINER_CHIPPED BEEF.jpg
 
Selector said:
It's a lot like men still wearing pony tails. That was cool 45 years ago, just like mullets were about 30 years ago. Fashions and interests change, as do styles. Few of us avoid getting stuck on some aspects, and then the world marches past us, disappearing into the distance.

The old Roman aphorism goes, 'Qui non proficit deficit.' Who does not advance falls behind. I think these men have long since found what they liked, and they stopped walking. I'm mixed in that I really like the most recent versions of the SD70 with their chiseled noses, and I like the U-boats and RS2/3/4. I also have a single SD-45. But I'm 88% steam. If I invited people to come operate their two or three favourite engines, diesel or steam, they would be most welcome. If I heard some of my guests busting somebody's chops about their choice of action or gear, I would raise my voice just enough that everyone would find both my tone and message heard, and say that my guests are welcome to run what they brung. Anyone who objects to my choice can safely execute a withdrawal to the sidewalk out front. I'm the boss in my house, not a single one of them.
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Mullets were never cool😂😂😂😂
 
I would not dare to venture into a conversation with those "straight laced" model railroaders about politics.

Each to their own. It is about having fun, sharing a good time and running trains.

He also asked me to delete this thread, SORRY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!
Sounds like someone who may be having second thoughts on what he said and the way he acted. He would rather you take down your thread rather than he admit he was wrong.

Lifes too short for all the bull$hit............John
 


Now what is "unrealistic" about having a modern diesel locomotive pulling a bunch of Old West passenger cars and other "obsolete" rolling stock? They could be delivering the old stuff to a railroad museum. For a prototype example take a look at the Illinois Railroad Museum. They've got the only operating C.B.&Q EMD E-5 in the world, along with a bunch of other stuff!

And for those who criticize youngsters wanting to see their model trains run real fast, keep in mind that back in the day, the Burlington Zephyrs could regularly hit 100+mph in certain places. (Can't do that nowadays for safety reasons, but it was sure enough done!)

I tell people who say something wasn't "prototypical", if you look hard enough throughout history, you can find a prototype for danged near everything!

Happy Memorial Day! Lest we forget... Lest we forget!
 
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