Are there any happy hobbyists left out there besides me?

Jeff, count me in as one enjoying this hobby immensly.  Lionel only, mostly Pennsy I've got no complaints.  I'll get several PRR items from the new catalogs.

 

I continue to enjoy repairing and servicing for two local shops and our five local Grandkids continue to enjoy the layout, running Legacy or conventional and working all the accessories.

 

The only negative is it's cold out, 11 degrees, and getting colder.  More time for trains.

Captaincog, I AGREE, This is a Fun Hobby and all of the Lionel items that I pre-ordered so to speak are coming in, in good shape and running fine. I have no complaints, and I am proud of the new technology that is allowing us to have more Fun while Running our Trains. I think the prices are fair, as I personally could not make any of the trains I buy.I think we are in the Best of Times in this Great Hobby! Thank you for this very Positive Thread on this really neat OGR Forum. Happy Railroading. Leapin Larry

I'm certainly happy!

-Greg

I'm with you, very happy.  I get immense joy out of just having this stuff, let alone operating anything.  

 

It's a great time and I enjoy all of the great people I have met along the way.

Happy here to!!

 

Art

Wow, just wow. You nailed it, Captain!

 

Got home after a long day -- and week -- and was just reviewing the forum. Lots of *****ing and moaning about (fill in the blank). I suppose it comes with the territory -- and that's what forums like this are for I guess --  but after reading a few of these overly ponderous threads I would simply ask...

 

Do any of these people ever get their heads out of the computer and just go run some trains?

Happy as a clam.

 

Mike

no complains here, I just wish I could spend more time in the train room!!!!!  Work interferes!!!

I enjoy what I have.  All over the internet you will find people complaining about this, about that, everyone with a favorite sports team complains about the team not going for it all, and in discussion boards like this about why can't we have every obscure model to ever appear. 

 

I think this is reflective of a society that spends too much time analyzing everything.  Do you remember the time before the internet?  And for many of us this is the worst time of year--stuck inside, climbing the walls and waiting to get outside and back to normal again once winter eases off.

 

Anyways I enjoy what I am doing and I enjoy the OGR forum and value the information I have gained from many people here. 

This is the O gauge hey day. 

The only rant I have is its to dang cold to cut plywood outside!

 

I enjoy my hobby activities which is why I have them.

Run some nice looking, well working, toy trains for a bit on a layout with the lights out by yourself and you just may find nirvana.  It takes practice. 
In the meantime, smile at strangers, walk carefully in and out of buildings, and be nice to your pets.

I have no challenge for you, but when it comes to model railroading, remember this....

     "Leave it in the other guys septic tank" lol

 One of my heroes from the forum..engineer joe esp his CSX livery.

Playing with trains always makes me happy. When this is no longer the case that will be the day to find a new hobby. Not to say I haven't had bad days. Last November I finally took the plunge and got my first Premier line steamer ( CN U1f). While it was a beautiful engine, I had to send it right back for repairs. Was I disappointed? Yes, but its not the end of the world. Since I've been in O gauge this is only the second engine I've had to send back. Judging by some of the horror stories on here I think I am well ahead of the curve. I have other engines to run while I wait, and anticipating its return gives me something to look forward to. At the end of the day these are just toys. If the hobby stresses you out to the point that it is no longer fun then walk away and find something else to occupy your time. Life is too short to get stressed out over what is supposed to be a relaxing hobby. Just my two cents.

I'm happy. Love my trains and all the others too!!

happy is an understatement, I have been getting ready for this for 30 years, I have collected a massive inventory. The glory of it all has finally started .O BOY! O BOY ! HAPPY! HAPPY ! I AM RETIRED , YHE HA, YIPPE! HI YA , MY TRAIN WHAREHOUSE , WILL NOW BE TURNED INTO MY LAYOUT TRAIN ROOM . retired Techman

Very content here.  It's my childhood dream on steroids.

 

- Mike

How can I not be happy, I have my family, trains, and health. It's a wonderful life. 

I am Happy, Happy always Looking for my next new Find and Happy learning new things, I am Happy and like what MTH and Lionel do and what I have of there's, I am happy reading all the post here on the forum.

 

THERE IS THIS SAYING "THAT YOU CAN MAKE SOME PEOPLE HAPPY SOME OF THE TIME BUT YOU CANT MAKE EVERY ONE HAPPY ALL THE TIME"  

 

THAT'S LIFE 

As a 68 year old who has been back in the hobby for almost 40 years now, I can truthfully say that I have never been more pleased to be involved with O gauge trains.  I 1976 when I started a layout trying to use my Marx Allstate set from 1957, I was unable to get the engine to run reliably.  I found a MR magazine and was happy to discover that Lionel Trains were still being made as I had heard the company had stopped making trains.  A Boston & Maine GP7 was my first Lionel and i was thrilled with it.  Eight Layouts later, My inventory has change many times as I have improved my roster with what I consider better running engines and rolling stock with unbelievable detail that previously was only available on very expensive brass models.

 

For me each year has only gotten better. I seldom purchase new stuff but some of the deals available on items made in the last 10 years or so has kept me in "new to me" trains.

 

What wonderful hobby!  I have to agree, sometimes I wonder why some of the chronic complainers stay in the hobby.

 

Happy railroading,

Don

Yes indeed, there's an abundance of PRR loco's and rolling stock out there now.....much more than there was in 0-gauge some 30 years ago.

I have more trains to run than I ever dreamed of so I don't know how I could ever feel discontented.  I must admit that from time to time I do get a bit disgusted with production delays etc. and other problems of a personal nature but when I do I'm off to the train room and eventually all is right with the world.  Toy trains are the greatest sedative in existence.    

All happy over here. Love my trains...they are good therapy for a sometimes stressful job. 

 

Can do without more snow (coming tomorrow).

Tom

"If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands..."

 

I got out of HO because of all the frustrating derailments I kept having with various pieces on my layout. I figured "this is supposed to be fun," but I was angry every time I worked or played on the layout. So it finally came to me that HO was not a happy experience for me, and that's when and why I went way back to my childhood love, Lionel O gauge. Say what you want about it, but the trains sure stay on the track a LOT better than those HO ones do!  

BAH, HUMBUG! 

I'm pretty happy with my O gauge hobby.

For most of my life the hobby has been a source of great entertainment. Some ebb and flow but mostly fun. I love keeping my post-war layout running. Fault tracing, analyzing and repairing are for me, a big aspect of the hobby. Watching my grandchildren play with the trains is another rewarding experience. My fifteen-month old grandson Christian, is beginning to talk. However, for months when he wanted to go down the cellar to watch the trains he would say "ticky ticky ticky" which is essentially the sound the post-war trains make as the wheels pass over the track joints. When I go to my daughters' house he makes the same sound and points to her cellar door and wants me to pick him up to go see the "ticky ticky ticky" though there are no trains at his house yet. 

 

Since it is a pastime, I generally do not sweat the small stuff. This is pretty easy given the fact that since my layout is conventionally controlled, I don't have to purchase sophisticated equipment. I buy from eBay and repair items as needed. I use a ZWC with four 180 bricks and an MRC Pure Sine Wave 270 for power; generally running three sets at once. I have most of the classic accessories and action cars and many lighted structures, rotary beacons and light towers. I received my first set in December, 1950, when I was a month shy of three years old. Many things in my life have come and gone. My Lionel trains have been a constant.

I am very content and thrilled with the hobby. I have more trains than I ever dreamed of. I am part of a great modular group to keep me interested. I belong to this great Forum......

 

Couple this with a fantastic wife of 30 years......3 great kids, a great home.....a stimulating profession that challenges me and engaging partners to keep me fresh....well, I'm in heaven on earth!

 

Peter

I'm pretty much grumpy and cantankerous all the time.

 

Less so when playing with trains, though.

No problems here. I'm very happy with the trains and layout I have even if I never buy another train! If I can't afford it I don't buy it. End of story.   The friends I've made in this hobby are second to none!  Yup. I'm good.

I'm happy. The only negative isnot having aspacefor a layout. I enjoy working in the shop making loads, I enjoy reading many of the topics here and on a few other forums, and I especially enjoy giving trains as gifts. I also enjoy train shows, and the 1:1 trains. I love all the knowledge I gain from the forum and friends. I like running the trains at Christmas, and this past Halloween, I set up a small outdoor display for the kids of all ages. 

Tommorrow, I'm taking our former neighbors' 11 year old to the Trolley museum at Steamtown for a G gauge and live steam meet. As for the bitter and sour posts, I can refrain from reading them, or posting them very easily. Too much good about the hobby to worry about the downside some seem to focus on.

Don

I have enjoyed trains and the hobby for 60 plus years........Paul

I am content..why would anyone want to know? How I feel about would seem to have no bearing on anyone else's "happiness". A happy poll?

I'm happy with my hobby!!!!

Over 45 years since I bought my first train set.  I think I'll stick around!

I'm happy with mine. There is plenty to complain about if I chose to, basement too small,rarely get to a show between work schedule,small train budget,etc.But then I head downstairs,at least I have a place for a permanent layout,plenty of trains to run,several projects to keep me busy.So I enjoy this hobby very much.

I am happy with my trains. There's nothing like entering my basement and powering up my layout for a peaceful, take me to another place run of my three mainlines.

 

Happy as a hobo being chased by a cop....or a cop chasing a hobo...either way I am happy watching my toy trains go round and round...and I love red and greens lights on my layout....in the real world I prefer green lights, so I can get home to my family and trains faster!