At what age do most modelers call it quits?

I'm not going to give up my trains, and when I go, I'm taking them all with me.

I've already told my wife I'm going to need a large coffin plus an extension light.

Cheers!

Keith

Timeframe for me calling it quits... sometime within a year after my last birthday.

Hi Rick, mortality hits us all in different ways at different times. I plan to model as long as the Almighty permits me. It may mean at a slower pace or diminished quality but only time will tell. The older I get, the more I look at quality and how an item fits my needs. Then there are some days where I just put the trains on autopilot, relax, and enjoy the show. Is it good to plan in advance for a catastrophe, yes but also carpe diem, since as far as I know we only go around the block once.

Miketg

Death.

Amazing how fast people are replying to this thread, really must have hit a nerve, did with me.

What did Ward Kimbal, say, "He who dies with the most trains wins."

Yup, when I am looking at the under side of the daisies!

Tony

I would say  it depends completely on the individual and circumstances.

Rusty

It's hard to say.

When it no longer interests you.

When it is no longer fun.

When you downsize and don't have the room.(then join a modular club)

However, YMMV.

My wife or kids will have  to get rid of them.

Mikey

Nope my trains will be with me til the day i die!!! 

Never....

When the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak...

On that note, more than a decade ago, there was a popular thread, with pictures, about building a "Geezer Gate" to avoid a duck-under.  I kind of laughed...

Last year, I completely rebuilt my layout to eliminate two duck-unders.

Looking at the age of members at York, (and a quick glance in the mirror) I'd have to say we quit the hobby right after we die.

That said, I began thinning out the collection a couple of years ago: getting rid of most of the modern era stuff that runs on computers, saving the stuff I can repair myself, keeping just the track and switches needed for my absolutely LAST layout (nearly complete - yes, really), and pointing out the names of buyers and auctioneers in the TCA Newsletter to my family to call after I kick the bucket. Whatever the family makes from the sale I hope they will find something to spend it on to enjoy.

I can see the day when I'll send my '69 road runner off to a new owner. The left knee doesn't like the stiff clutch, and I can see that being a problem, plus crawling around on the ground working on it. Hopefully not for a long time. But the trains.....as long as I can get up and down the basement stairs, but since The Boss lets me leave the Christmas platform up way past the holidays, I'm pretty sure I'll have a layout for as long as The Good Lord lets me.

artyoung posted:

Looking at the age of members at York, (and a quick glance in the mirror) I'd have to say we quit the hobby right after we die.

 

When I went to the very large Gratiot Valley Railroad show in Mt. Clemens, MI., I was kidding one of the club members that, other than at the Glancy Modular Layout, the median age of attendees was 65 years of age.  I suspect part of the reason though is that younger hobbyists likely buy far more items online rather than in person.

I realize that when I go it will be  a burden for my family to unload my trains.  I'm trying to get rid of surplus stuff I don't really have an interest in.  (However, I must admit at a slower pace than I should).

I will keep the trains that I still enjoy.  If I knew that the end was near I'd probably have a frenzy on the bay.

Alan

4 ways come to my mind. Going to the big layout in the sky, too old and can't move around anymore, sell the trains for financial reasons, lose interest in trains. These would be the only reasons I would have...............Paul

I would imagine that time would be different for everyone. I plan on keeping my trains until I'm not physically able to do anything with them or enjoy them anymore or until I'm dead, whichever comes first.

Wellll.....  Since my wife is into this hobby as much as I.....and, since her age has a 10-year advantage on me....and, since her family genetics are a good 20 years better than mine...odds are she'll have a lot more fun ahead of her after I've 'dropped my fire'.  

Nahhhhh!

I am hoping I live long enough to see my grandson get out on his own, maybe even with a family, and then when I check out for the last time he will get the trains, if he wants them that is. However, if he isn't yet out on his own, he is still welcome to all the trains. If that doesn't happen then I guess the trains will just get sold off or donated to a club or museum or something? 

I think I am pretty close to being done buying too many more trains items as I have now accumulated quite a few. Many more than will fit on the layout anyway. I may do some trading/buying/selling or possibly even thin the herd somewhat later on. We will see about all that when the time comes I guess, but as long as I can still putter around and operate the remotes I am not going to give it a whole lot of thought.

I do think this is a good subject and something we all need to be thinking about though, well at least those of us that are getting up there in age anyway. 

As a young man in my late 20's I'll quit when I am physically or mentally incapable of using, building or enjoying them. Hopefully I find someone to pass my hobby down to like my grandfather did to me. (He's alive but past the point of using the trains he has left on his own, though if he wanted my to setup the Christmas village with a train this year for him I would do it in a heartbeat). 

I'm 84...and I'm building a new layout.  I hope to be around to finish and enjoy it...but I plan to keep at it as long as I'm able.  When I can no longer enjoy it....then I"ll quit. 

          Logan

I tell everyone who sees my very unfinished layout   "until that train of glory takes me".

I plan to pack it in about the same time they nail the coffin lid down... 

Hey RTR12!  Thanks for answering for me. That's my plan too.  RICH 

Logan Matthews posted:

I'm 84...and I'm building a new layout.  I hope to be around to finish and enjoy it...but I plan to keep at it as long as I'm able.  When I can no longer enjoy it....then I"ll quit. 

          Logan

Way to go Logan!  At 84 years young, you're an inspiration to the rest of us to keep enjoying our hobbies!

I have a very, very dear friend that I've known since I was a teenager in 1969. (Model railroading was the reason we met.) He's in his 80's now... and he still likes and enjoys trains... but his life's situation is such (care giver for his ailing wife) that he can't get out and go as much as he used to. I do hope he's still up and going when I retire in 2018 so I can spend more time with them. They have been wonderful friends.

My wife will need two hearse's one for me and one for my trains

Alex  

I will be 74 in one month. I am in good health and get around with no trouble. I have been in this hobby for most of my life.  I will quit the hobby when they close the lid on my casket.

Til Death do us part!

rich64 posted:

Hey RTR12!  Thanks for answering for me. That's my plan too.  RICH 

Thanks, sounded like a plan to me too. 

I'm not a "modeler" per say as my layout doesn't fit a time period, just toy trains .

My boys and or Grand kids will keep or throw them away when I am gone.

Brent

I plan to have all Major work done on the layout by age 70. then just minor stuff and run the trains. I don't need the money so I will keep them until  die. My family tend to live to about 80.

I'll go with: "A Lifetime of Happiness", and leave the trains to my heirs.

Although I would like to say, I would Take the trains with me to the Grave, sounds Good, but in Reality, I would not even think of leaving the Sale of my collection to my Wife.  I'm just a Senior Kid, 72, and plan to be contented with what I have, and will begin the Thinning Process after I semi-retire beginning in January 2017....Yes, I will be selling my Older But Like New Engines and Cars so that they will have a Nice Home for Many More Years....Model Trains, Building my Layout, and All the Friends in This wonderful Hobby have kept me Young.  I value all of my Friends in the Hobby and hope we have many more years Together as there are Lots of Layouts and Model Railroaders I want to Visit....Lord Willing.....

Logan Matthews posted:

I'm 84...and I'm building a new layout.  I hope to be around to finish and enjoy it...but I plan to keep at it as long as I'm able.  When I can no longer enjoy it....then I"ll quit. 

          Logan

I'm with Logan.  I'll be 73 in a few months and I'm getting ready to start a new layout.  With the help from God and modern medicine I hoping for at least  another 20 good years.

I'm a wannabe modeler, but I love my trains. So, maybe I should not respond to this thread.

I am  in the process of moving. I had  to tear down my multi scale 24 X13 layout G and O which made me sick to my stomach. I new I had accumulated alot of stuff but when you have to move it all, it is just such a hassle. I think once I am settled I am going to downsize as I don't want my kids to get stuck with too much. I will always stay in hobby as long as I can. John

I have slowed down a lot on purchases, as I have said here before. I'm 68. The used bargains in the second-hand market are so hard to resist...I want to downsize, not upsize - or just replace what I just sold - but $1200 for $400 are so hard to resist. Generally I do. Generally. 

=====================

From Steamer, above:

"I can see the day when I'll send my '69 road runner off to a new owner. The left knee doesn't like the stiff clutch, and I can see that being a problem, plus crawling around on the ground working on it."

Well, you certainly would know that you could sell it and find one with a Torqueflite...

Or: I went with the 2014 Challenger R/T with the 5.7 Hemi and a 6-speed. I'm 68. The clutch is possibly the best I have ever used - and not too heavy. Now, the one behind the 392 is a bit hairier, I'm told...

When they close the lid and I am not going to worry about it.