Ever want to keep your layout just a little bit of a secret?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hokkanen:
I live in a small town. The local newspaper owner, a weekly, is a train buff. He doesn't model them, although he does have an old Lionel Virginian Trainmaster, but rather he rides them, and collects pictures, artifacts and the like.

Would you consent to having a photo or two, three, etc., of your layout being put in the paper if you knew that people who saw it actually knew or could easily figure out where you lived?

I don't know that many would want guns, jewels, or paintings made public.

The thing is we do like to show off our trains. But in this case isn't being discreet perhaps a better idea?

I probably would not. Outside of my family, probably less than 5 people have ever seen the layout and is generally not seen by "public" (as in people outside of the family).

It's all personal preference of course. There are many people here and worldwide who do open houses where anyone can come in to see the layout. We call it the fall layout tour and there are dozens of layouts open for all to see and photograph. The biggest concern I'd have is if the layout is in a part of the house where people have to walk a long way through the house to get there. I personally would prefer a train room that is separate from the rest of the house or in an area of the house near a door so people can't take note of everything else you've got. Some people aren't comfortable and don't open their homes up. If you are just talking about a few pictures of some scenes then it seems harmless enough as long as there isn't a giant over view of the layout. It isn't going to show anything else in the house and you don't have to allow people to actually come in to see it if they come calling. It's up to you but I personally wouldn't mind photos in an article. Don't tell them any details about how much money you have invested. Just talk about the layout.

My train room and future layout are well hidden. I did not plan it that way, it just happened. The room has existed for many many many years but the entry is not obvious so as far as i know no one knows I have it.

Obviously running trains would be heard by others in the house, so how secret can we be?

:-)

You are gonna get mad...but how do you dream up these daily threads??? You are gonna drive KANE out of business

My layout seems to have had a bit of exposure over the last few years.

Between the forum, OGR magazine, an OGR video, LOTS layout tours (3 busloads), New York Central Historical Society tours, local train club open houses, and numerous friends and acquaintances, I guess I'm not a secret anymore!

It's all been great fun, and getting to know all the people I've met through my layout has been the best part of the hobby for me in recent years.

If somebody came in tonight and carted it all off, I'd do it all exactly the same way again (except I'd have new ideas on how to improve the next layout). That's what insurance is for.

Jim

I am with Jim on this one. Everything is insured for replacement value. I can easily start all over again.

And if someone decides to visit for a self-guided tour, and I am home, they will get familar with the business end of a Model 870.

Donald

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Policastro:
If somebody came in tonight and carted it all off..,
Jim

My basement would finally be clean!

Rusty

A 90-year-old COLLECTOR once told me that he feared fire and floods more than theft...his reasoning???...a theft would not mean that the trains were lost forever from the HOBBY!!! And he MEANT it!!! Think about this!!!

What kind of town do you live in?

I personally would love to have my RR publicized along with a picture of my Taurus 9MM.

quote:

Originally posted by Rusty Traque:

quote:

Originally posted by Jim Policastro:
If somebody came in tonight and carted it all off..,
Jim

My basement would finally be clean!

Rusty

...yes!!!



Budgerman,
It's on the outskirts of a small "city", just big enough to have other, more attractive targets than trains, I guess.

Jim

quote:

Ever want to keep your layout just a little bit of a secret?

No.

Pete

I don't tell anyone about what I have other than family and very close friends. And now that I've said that, it's funny because when I go to the store, for example, I usually leave my doors unlocked. My only protection, when I'm out are my 2 dogs. 1 is a full blooded German Shepard and the other is a brown dog. I think the brown dog would do more to protect her territory than the Shepard. LOL It's not that I don't trust people I would tell but it's who's listening to them when they tell others.

Rick

My layout was built for people to visit. If I can't share why bother? To see the kids faces light up is all worth it. Not to mention my non train friends having a ball as engineers for the day. I also don't have much else in the house. It already looks like I got cleaned out!
Clem

In order to get to my estate and then the train room, the uninvited must first find the means to ford my mugger crocodile filled moat, then carefully weave their way through the hedge maze where numerous puff adders have been stocked.

For the invited, the draw bridge is lowered, then my chauffeur drives them straight through to the manor.

Heck NO. There is no reason to keep my trains or layout a secret. I built the layout to share with as many people as I can and try to get both kids and their parents interested in model railroading.

I have had the local TV stations here during Christmas and solicit to schools, churches and scout organization's to have groups, not only see but run trains on my Texas layout. Like Clem, my layout was designed for people to visit and enjoy.

TEX
Steve

I love for folks to come over and look at my trains and my gun collection. The fact that someone is almost always home, and I have a state of the art alarm system makes me feel pretty much at ease as far as theft is concerned. There is exactly one entry to my property, that's up the driveway. Everything else is trees and deep ditches. If you pull up and consider robbing the place, someone parking at the end of the driveway has you totally trapped, there is no way out. If I'm home, a .45 Glock is never far from reach.

As someone else mentioned, I'm far more worried about fire than anything else, flooding the basement is the next worry. Way down the list is theft.

FWIW, I had a conversation with a local detective a few years ago who told me that burglars tend to stay away from basements. Seems they are always afraid of being "trapped" down there if anyone happens upon them and would prefer an immediate way out.

So, if your layout area doesn't have an outside entry/exit, and it's in the basement, you're trains are likely fairly safe.

Fred

I enjoy sharing my layout, and friends and neighbors like to see it. I'm always impressed with the 'power' of the Lionel brand for folks of a certain age. I have some pre-war items but really nothing of collectible value. (except to me).

If you make your layout public include the guns.

quote:

Originally posted by 3rail:
I am with Jim on this one. Everything is insured for replacement value. I can easily start all over again.

And if someone decides to visit for a self-guided tour, and I am home, they will get familar with the business end of a Model 870.

Donald

Don,
Thankfully we have the castle doctrine in PA. I also have have a 3 legged coon hound that barks at the wind.

Matt

While I can understand people's reluctance to advertise having trains in the house and so forth, based on everything I know about burglary and theft the likelyhood of someone raiding a house for the trains is pretty small. I know we all love trains, obviously, and yes these are expensive items, but burglars don't operate like that. Trains are not liquid, you don't go to a fence and have them say "oh my god, a Lionel 700e, I'll give you 50 bucks for it". Other collectibles like coins are a lot more easy to get rid of, and burglars love things they can get rid of fast, jewelry, money,game systems, etc.

The only likelyhood of someone reading about it and breaking in might be a collector of dubious morals, but given how small the hobby is, the likelyhood of there being a local collector with that kind of mentality is pretty small. I have also heard the argument that 'stupid kids' would break in, but trains are so far from their conscious mind they prob wouldn't even bother.

I tend to agree with Jim and others, most of what we have is replaceable via insurance, I would be a lot more worried about having something that can't be replaced stolen, which most train stuff is not.

Alarm system with every type of sensor . . . And battery back up.
Neighbors on either side are police . . . .
Tomahawk and spear hang on the wall at entry . . .
Wustof steel in the family room . . .
Serious firepower at our disposal.
Louisville slugger sits by bathroom door . . .
Wife has family machete . . .
We try to be friendly just in case . . .
Welcome . . .

Eliot

Seriously though,

What suprised me from a few past threads i have read over the years is, the fear of being robbed for your trains is highly unlikely.

What bothered me is the stories about people actually had the gull to steal stuff off your layout during a tour. Now im not saying these stories would deter me from having people who enjoy trains come over, but being robbed for my trains isnt even an issue. I have a house alarm-guns-and good nebby neighbors in a good neighborhood, and if all fails, insuraunce.

The only secrets involving trains in my life are between my wife and I.

Outside of close friends, my layout is kept a secret.

Why, you ask ?

It has nothing to do with fear of theft, or the like. Simply put my train hobby is my refuge, and I like having it mostly to myself. Letting the trains run, and/or working on my layout is a great stress reliever, and I also come up with some great ideas for work, while enjoying my hobby.

I do share pictures of it here and on other forums, and my employer wants to photograph it an upcoming feature on "man caves", but I still keep it under the radar.

We live in a small town, and my partner is a high ranking town official, but folks here tend to respect each others privacy and space, even other train people.


Ken

After fifty-three years I doubt that it's a secret anymore.
God Bless,

All my trains are coated with a deadly poison that my family and I have become immune to. Totally true...

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick H:
.... good nebby neighbors

Patrick: Nice to read some good old Pittsburghese!

a transplanted Pittsburgher in Florida!

My trains are in the witness protection program. I don't even think that the CIA or Homeland Security knows they're here.
Back to the Bat cave. Holey Trains Batman.

Next topic

David

I can't imagine that anyone of us would purposefully keep their trains away from other people. For what other gratification is there than to receive a compliment or two about the layout. Over the years, I have had literally hundreds of people down in the basement to "see the trains." Some are other trains enthusiasts, some are neighbors or friends of neighbors, others are simply relatives or friends.

I have spent some 13 years or so building the layout. A mammoth effort of hours of work, trial and error, a constant learning curve, a lot of fun but very rewarding. And one of the biggest rewards that I can receive is a complement from a fellow human being.

Loss? Nuts! Virtually nothing, certainly nothing from deliberate means. Once in a while, a person might lean on something the wrong way, might even drop something, or possibly run trains the wrong way. Damage? Nothing that I haven't been able to fix in short order.

C'mon over and let's run some trains!

Paul Fischer

When one is in business in a small town, sometimes we tend to keep displays of wealth to a minimum. I drive a nice chevrolet for that reason too. So I am on the side of privacy. Just me though, I can see the other side.

I don't keep it secret, but I don't volunteer much information either. People have to show real interest before I offer to show them to the person.

My layout really isn't worth putting in the newspaper but I'm open to having friends over to play with trains.

quote:

Ever want to keep your layout just a little bit of a secret?

If I did, than it would be time to get out of the hobby. So, no, I am not interested in keeping my hobby/layout a secret.

Charlie

A little over 20 years ago I was sitting in a Sunday School Class and one of the men in the class started talking about his train collection. And I remember thinking to myself "what a nut job-he didn't even grow-up".

Knowing what I thought then I try to keep that in mind now. Very few of my customers know I have model trains its just not something I talk about.
Scott Smith

I am hesitant to have visitors.

In years past I have traveled around touring a very large November open house schedule in this area, something like 100+ layouts.

What amazes me is the stream of critizsm & negativity some of the guys spout as they leave the host's layout. Point after point of how they would do better..

Not sure I would want to provide the fodder for such experts, kinda concerned to think of what a slip and fall by people like that would put me through.

Just being honest. tt

Well since mine is temporary, the party before the tear down is always fun. I blame the tear down on my wife and every one tells her that she should let us leave it's up since we put so much time into it. While the kids and I are having a great time putting it together, I still know that I am in a major learning phase and won't settle down with a more permanent layout for a couple years. I m still collecting scenery, supplies, track and stuff for that future dream layout.

quote:

if you knew that people who saw it actually knew or could easily figure out where you lived?

I refuse to allow paranoia rule my life!

There was a guy in town who had a large Lionel layout in his garage which was fairly close to the sidewalk and street. With the open garage door he shared his layout with many. I never heard of him having any trouble.
You can buy a sign at gun shows that says. I am a gun collector. I have lots of guns. My neighbor next door howeaver, he dosen't believe in guns....
San Fernando Valley CA.