Ever notice some people look at you strange when you say your into toy trains?

Because they can't help them selves, they are just boring to the core!

The guys at work give me grief yet they always crowd around when I'm testing a new item I've purchased. My test track is at work.  They also always tell me about adds selling trains or train related outings they've found. I think their secretly into them but haven't come out yet.

Chris,

I've learned to answer, "I'm only into 1916-1934 Lionel Standard Gauge". The blank look on their faces and their answer "Duh", is what I like. Then I can walk away with a giggle.

                                     

I get it quite a bit. I then start to talk about restorations and how the same things apply to car restorations and how much fun Inhave. I then talk about when Indo club events and shows and how I get to be "cool" again when the kids and adults get to see my trains running. Then I usually tell them how when I am playing with my trains I am never thinking about work.......then they get jealous and curious And the judgement stops.

I only discuss toy trains with my fellow train friends,there is a neighbor who lives 1/8 mile from me who doesnt know what I have in the Barn,he thinks it is for storing my boat.

Mikey

What a bunch of weirdos!

No, I can honestly say that I've never experienced any negative reactions.  Maybe it's because I always say I'm into "model railroading," rather than "toy trains."

As I was growing up in Baltimore, in my circle of family and friends, the trains were accepted at Christmas, but if you had them set up all year 'round, you were considered crazy.  I have gotten some really nasty comments, so after a while I stopped trying to be an ambassador for the hobby and just do what I like.  And there is the misconception that all old trains are very valuable and people want to know what everything is worth, and that really sticks in my craw.  Have fun -- life's short!!!

 

Take care, Joe. 

Haven't personally had too many double take looks from non railroading folks but then again I don't generally put the fact out there to them. Can't say the same about a former coworker who was into Civil War encampment reenactments and told me that most people he talked to about his "hobby" thought it was "strange spending weekends enduring hardships of times long past." 

I'm a middle-aged man who plays with trains, was a part-time musician, and works for the government. I think they look at my like I'm weird because I'm a government employee. That lone fact seriously implies...

• that the elevator doesn't make it all the way to the top floor.
• that I might be a few sandwiches shy of a picnic.
• that I'm a couple of beers short of a case.
• that I'm a few slices shy of a loaf.
• that I'm obsessed with cliches.

Nah Chris, I don't take no crap no more. Anybody who knows me gets it, as does anyone who has ever seen the layout. I even carry homemade "business cards" in my wallet with my Youtube channel on them.

Takes one to know one.

Actually, they look at me with an even weirder expression when I say "I also don't play videogames" right after that.

It's because they just don't get it. 

They are close minded and think this type of activity should be only be reserved for young children -- Not for grown men. 

I have had a few stares and questions, but it all comes back to the lack of knowledge on their part.  

 

I'm also into scouting and camping year round, and that draws stares and curiosity as well.  Who'd in their right mind goes camping or a 20 mile hike in the dead of winter?

 

All we can do is educate the uninformed and hope that one day they also decide to join in on the fun this great hobby has to offer.

 

I am with balshis with this one.

Well guys this post was intended to be a more humorous post about the flames on my ZW-L.  No one I know has ever said anything negative about my hobby but I do for the most part talk trains on the forum and with my circle of train friends. To be honest I couldn't care less what anyone thinks about my trains. I'm not in the hobby to worry about anyone else's approval.

I've never gotten strange looks or rude comments when I tell somebody I'm into model trains, and frankly if I ever did I'd tell 'em to go pack sand. I usually get good comments like:

"I had a ball with my trains when I was a kid, wish I'd held onto them..."

"Our neighbor had a freakin' HUGE train layout in his basement..."

"I've been thinking, now that the kids are gone I'd like to get back into it..."

"Where do you buy your train stuff?"

"I still have my Dad's old trains, how can I figure out what I have?"

...And other comments. People seem to be much more into recreation nowadays than they were years ago, and whatever you do for your pastime, it's all good.    

I was at a funeral talking to a cousin when he asked what I have been doing.

The wife jumped in and said " He play's with trains "

 

My cousin responded I remember when I was younger I helped my dad clean up

a job ( my uncle was a finish carpenter who believed there is no such thing

as a scrap piece of wood ) and It looked like he had every train ever made.

 

Was it in Detroit ?

 

Yes...

 

Does the name Koughn sound familiar ?

 

Yea that's it. In fact I ran across some trim in my garage the other day with

his name on it. I'll have to send you a picture...

 

Guess my uncle did a lot of carpentry work down there. Small world eh ?

Unfortunately  my uncle is no longer with us. 

 

Bruce..

 

I laughed to myself when I saw the flamed ZW-L and figured you drove a flamed deuce coupe.  Being retired I am asked all the time what I do and I tell them I don't watch TV . Then go on to mention photography and Lionel trains. Usually get a good response. I really think they respond better to "Lionel"  than toy trains.

Where can I get some of those flames?   Gotta, gotta, gotta get some!

Not really, why just the other day I met this guy at Hobby Lobby and I told him that me and several of my best friends play with trains.  He seemed interested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've never gotten a odd look when I mention trains. However, the fact that I collect 3-D "family" slides taken in the 1950s, as well as antique sand pails, is a different story.

Not quite toy trains, but close. The power plant I work at has a triple main line running just north of it that is very busy (probably wouldn't be a triple if it wasn't ) Every time I see a train go by I say "I like choo choos"; have been for years. I would guess about half the guys I work with say it on a regular basis now too. I'm told they do it even when I'm not around.

 

As for the toy trains, I get odd looks all the time. The toy trains just give them another  excuse.

 

J White

 

Yes.............   but for many reasons in addition to........

Matt,

The fact that I do not notice any of these characteristics you have, makes me wonder if I am that way.  :-)

My club attracts abut 2500 visitors during our open house events each year. All are grateful we open up and share with the public and we also gather about a dozen or so new members. Most of my coworkers think its cool or if thats what floats my boat then do it. Never encountered any negative feedback

They wouldn't dare.

 

Love the graphics, Chris. The ZW-L is a hot performer.

Well when I go somewhere and they ask what I do for a hobby, I tell them that Toy Trains is not a hobby in my opinion, it is like a bonsai tree for me. But running live steam, that is a hobby. However I consider model trains a hobby still.

HA! great post.. I get weird reactions too. Then when people come

and see the model RR, they are like, "This isn't the train set my

Dad, 'Uncle etc' had when I grew up." 

Then I get, "I have this old Lionel Train, do you know how much it costs now?"

hence, they ask when they find out I worked for Lionel. 

 

also, then I state I work in the rail industry and people get another confused

look on their faces, "there's still trains?" They just don't know that thier

Big screen came in from the west coast via train on/in a container!

 

Anyhow, there you go!

Dan

Instead of trains, you could always say that you enjoy your membership on AshleyMadison.com.   

Love the flamed out Hot Rod ZW-L!   Maybe some pin striping would look cool too.  Fun idea!  

 

-Nick

That baby is bada**!

 

Chris,

BTW I did notice the flames on your new ZW-L. I thought about, how cool they look. That's what I need. It will match my new walker. Which has chrome wheels, pin-stripping and hand-brakes.

I never had anyone say anything bad when I talk about trains.

Mostly I hear "I had a set of Lionel trains growing up" is the number one remark.

Next is "boy I wish I had them now, they would be worth a lot of money", ya right, little do they know that just because it says Lionel does not necessarily mean that they have value. 

It's still a lot of fun to hear their reaction.

hahahahahaha!

You think you get the looks! I collect old telephones and switching equipment.

In all fairness, if a 40yo woman came up to me and said she plays with Barbie dolls, I would look at her strange too.  If she said she collects vintage Barbies as a hobby, I wouldn't.

 

Trying seeing it from their point of view.

I wouldn't.  It's probably better than many alternatives.  

That's exactly what I say.  I can't EVER remember ever saying "toy trains". As a kid back in the 50's I called them electric trains and so did most adults..