Family and trains

hello guys and gals......

 

my great uncle is Winston Churchill (no joke)

 

Tiffany

That's cool!!! I person I enjoy reading about......a truly great person that made a difference. SO.....did he play with trains????

Hello AMCDave...........

 

I didn't know about this until about 1995 when my mum told me about my uncle. I believe just Winston and myself are train buffs in our family as far as I know of.  My

father too hated trains but my mum was the one that intro me into trains back in the 60's. He was a much bigger man than Hitler ever was in 1940.  Winston stopped him

from invading little England !!!!!!!

 

Tiffany

For the survey: I earned a Bachelors and then my MBA while working and raising two kids since my wife was working graveyard shifts as a nurse. I have my PHR in Human Resources and currently work in Loss Prevention and have been working with my current employer almost 30 years.

 

I would suggest that while your Father-in-Law does not like your hobby this might be due to a misunderstanding to why you do your hobby. Many people in this world find it okay to eat out, go to bars, go to movies, etc. as recreation. Many of those same people do not see as their expenditures was wasting money. Our hobby is unique and I would simply state that you both agree to disagree. We find solace and relaxation in our hobby in much the same way that others find in doing other activities. As long as you are not taking money from your family that hurts them then who cares? maybe he thinks that.

 

Accountant - In the TMB club we have 80 members and our fair share of professionals including 3 doctors, 3 lawyers, several entrepreneurs.

 

The point is to make to your father in law is that the Hobby of FAR MORE than playing with Trains, and the hobby has captured the interest of thousands globally and crosses many scales

My father-in law never had any hobbies always work work and more work Then came home and busted his *** around the house. His daughter my wife seen this all there lives and I quess they expect the same from me. Now on the other hand I seen my father come home from work and go right down to the train room and would go to my uncle house and to his train room and to my grandfather house and into his train room so what do you know I am going now to my small but still train area . I don't care what they think or I would not even have a area to run trains. But it does bother me about their not under standing me having a hobbie. I will never stop running trains because of anyone. I love trains and as you all know that passion cannot die. You could pack the trains away but the itch to run trains is always there. Thanks for all the replys .

There is a good chance that her dad is going to be part of the family for some time. For the sake of your wife, and future relationships, just let it go. Pick your fights, as this isn't one of them. 

 

Roger

EMA Deputy Director

funny you should start this thread, The same thing happened to me at work just

last week. The proper response is ..

 

" One does not PLAY with trains. One operates a model railroad. "

 

Then I called him a Putz and the conversation was over...

 

P.S.

Tradesman, HVAC control systems.

quote:

Respect your father-in-law, he is your wifes father and a part of your family.

 

Why?  His father-in-law does not respect him
Were I in his place, I'd be civil, but that's it.

 

I have met people from all walks of life who were into Lionel trains, from manual laborers to surgeons.
Folks who don't have hobbies can never retire and be happy.

bigdogjeff1

 

Give your father-in-law my late title.

 

Retired

 

Senior Systems Support Engineer

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Princeton, New Jersey

 

My that and about $6.00 might get me a cup of coffee at Starbucks. A small cup.

if i had a married daughter i'd be thrilled to find out her husband liked trains.

at least i'd be sure he wasn't cheating on her. 

 

good luck...gary

When comments are made like this, you must take them from the source. Obviously your father-in-law is not informed and maybe doesn't want to learn about the world and what's out there. You need to feel sorry for him and tell him that.

 

Our hobby is made up of folks from all walks. Me, I am a retired Sr. VP of an international management consulting firm and Elizabeth is a retired nurse. And we play with trains.

...there doctors and lawyers and many  professional men and women that are playing with trains.

Show him a Lionel catalog and the prices.  He'll then understand the above are the only ones who can afford the engines.

 

Then quote him the line my LHS owner used to tell my wife...

He's not at the bar with the guys,

He's not out chasing Women,

He's in the basement running trains.

(Coincidentally that was some of the best salesmanship ever...  I never got grief for bringing home something for the layout)

 

Of course if you have kids, you can claim you are doing it for them so you can experience some great bonding time.

 

And if you don't have kids yet... well your just a Dad in training.

 

Have fun!

Ron

 

I'm a psychotherapist and the Director of Mental Health Services for a prison. I am a passionate advocate for the chronically mentally ill and am honored to do the work that I do.

I'm passionate about my wife and my two children and I LOVE being a dad!

When I have the chance to relax there is nothing better than working on making my lawn beautiful and running my Lionel Legacy trains with my 990 Command and Control System!

In sharing my enthusiasm about trains I am always reminded about a quote from (I think) Mark Twain - "There is nothing less interesting than someone else's hobbie". That being said, if asked, I do share with others why I'm passionate about the history of real trains and the pure enjoyment of the numerous aspects and dynamic's of model railroading. Then I allow them to take it or leave it, either way it does not matter to me.

Train-on, my friend!

JohnJr

Jeff,

   President Reagan had his original American Flyer Standard Gauge Silver Presidential Train set up in the Whitehouse foyer every Christmas, under the real Giant Christmas Tree for the entire world to see, he would often come down and run his big Train in the middle of the night, when he was worried about our military troups stationed around the world, defending our freedom.  President Reagan was a very well educated man & just maybe, the greatest communicator who ever lived, further he was the leader of the free world at that time, your father inlaw needs to expand his own education a might.

 

I would never dare to compare myself with President Reagan, however I have a Masters in Metals Joining (Welding Engineering) from MIT with actual Welding Certifications from both Westinghouse & Dean Technical Institute in Pittsburgh, Pa as a Master Welder Instructor, further I have a Criminal Law Degree achieved while working for the US Army CID.  However my real education came from my Father and Grandfather, both Professional Engineers and inventors, who also played with the O Gauge Trains I still run today, especially at Christmas time.

 

PCRR/Dave

 

 

I am a retired "Grunt", my dad did not play with trains but he did take the family on numerous occasions to a crossing just to watch the "400" pass. He bought us an American Flyer for Christmas and enjoyed watching us play with it. I now have a layout still under construction and do belong to a local club. I have "S" gauge trains and run Legacy to operate, when members get together to "play" with trains at any of several members homes who have TMCC/Legacy systems the host enjoys sitting back and watching the/us geriatric and younger members play with the trains.

Ray

I think your father in law was just pulling your chain to see if he could get a rise out of you.  He did. 

 

I am retired.  

quote:

I think your father in law was just pulling your chain to see if he could get a rise out of you.

 

In my opinion, that is worse.

Retired Mechanical Engineer, worked in design/analysis of freight cars for twenty years, commuter car engineering and repair car maintenance shop manager thirteen years also worked in engineering design/analysis for overhead crane company and metal forming press company.  

Is this the only hobby in which participants feel they have to, or at times are challenged to, justify their involvement?

FrankM.

Horsefeathers!!!  Respect is something a person earns and they should not receive it based merely on their status, Father-In-Law or not.  The more a person sits on their duff and does not respond to insults like that the more they are going to receive in the future. The more you take it the more they will sling it.   In short, I think a person gets less respect from others when they fail to stand  up for their values, beliefs and the things in life they enjoy such as hunting, firearms and yes even trains. 

 

In reference to your survey I am a retired United States Treasury Department Supervisory Criminal Investigator with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and History and several graduate courses as well in American History.  Regardless of your Father-In-Law's opinion I consider my self to be fairly well educated. 

Thats AWESOME! Were learning about WWII in history class!

 

When he was Governor of California, he had a 0 gauge layout in the basement of the mansion, where he would "play trains," with politicians of both parties.  A lot of problems were solved over that layout.

Attorney. Interested in trains starting at age 3. I am 65.

Next time he visit's make sure you wear this;

 

 

SteveF,

   You are absolutely correct, not many know about those particular trains, in fact some of them were purchased from the Iron Horse Hobby Shop here in Pa.  I hope you were lucky enough to actually see that layout, a serious part of US political history!  The Governors Mansion in that era was quite a place.

PCRR/Dave

hello penn-Pacific

 

Himself and his WHOLE family should wear that Tee-shirt and then show him ( his father in law) I think its a GREAT idea !!!!

 

Tiffany

This is an interesting informal survey.  I am sure the o gauge running ranks come from all walks of life and that is truly fantastic.  I am in the finance profession, have an MBA in finance and taught college classes in that field for 20 years.  Like many occupations, there can be a lot of stress involved at times and frankly I love my time in the train world where I can handle some issues that are really important.  

Of my own credentials and accomplishments I will say nothing except that they have been well and truly earned.

 

However, I will mention the two men who began and nutured my train hobby.

 

My maternal grandfather worked for Shell Transportation, and his accomplishments include being a member of Jimmy Doolittle's lubricant evaluation team when he was barnstorming before the war and, later, being one of the team that developed the autotransport trailers that carry cars over our nation's highways.  In retirement, he helped perfect a floation system for pleasure boat docks that was applauded by the Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard.

 

My father was a paratrooper who fought in the 82nd Aitboarne in N. Africa and Sicily and jumped into Normandy; he was transferred to the 101st just in time to be trucked into Bastogne.  Postwar, he moved over to the Air force and finished out 33 years of service to his nation in uniform only when a severe car accident broke his back and left him in traction for 6 months.  Once out of the service, the man still worked harder every day than most fully able men I have ever met.

 

If it was not only OK with but preferred by these men that I play with trains, I think I can safely discount any opnions otherwise.

I am a fictitious mascot and magazine cover boy.

 

 

 

 

What, me worry?

Vietnam Vet and Retired I.T. professional.

 

I still play with trains and on occasion... guns.

BA and JD from some pretty good schools.  SVP in a company. Active family with children.  Avid model railroader.  When people see my large layout, they ask how I have time.  The old saying goes "if you want something done, ask a busy person."     

I attend college hopefully will be employed by the end of the year with a job as a Railroad engineer

I'm just curious what hobbies the father in law has?  What is a proper hobby?  

 

Also, I think I'd just set a new lionel catalog dow in front of the man and let him look at the prices.  While some folks can do quite well on a budget, for the most part any of the folks out there with a fairly nice layout must have done well enough in life.  Looking at my folks social security checks I'm pretty sure owning dozens, or hundreds of engines, all the rolling stock to match, and all the scenery on even a modest sized layout is not in the cards for someone living pay check to paycheck.  It can be done, but I'd bet that the majority of folks around here had successful careers in some field or other.  

I work on a large dairy farm. I have a college degree from many years ago. I plant 1500 acres of corn every year, run the chopper for over 1000 acres of that, and chop 800 acres of alfalfa 4 times in a season. I still like the challenge of building, wiring and "playing" with trains. I'm 67, so I'm really too old for your father in law to be in the train business. Have at it!

Name-calling is, at least, not helpful if not downright rude, so I'll say this about your familial skeptic. If I were an astronomical physicist with several degrees, it wouldn't matter: "He who is convinced against his will is of the same opinion still". Surely you have better things to work on instead of uninformed attitude-carriers...

Former administrative director of pharmacy for a level one trauma center.  Former member of university board of trustees.  Two term president of state professional association.  Ten term representative to national association house of delegates.  Will stay in this hobby until I can't see and us my hands.

I have a Bachelors degree in Electronic Engineering (BSEE) City University of NY 1973. My train hobby represents a continued interest in engineering and in art. By building nearly all of my layout structures, doing the scenery, repairing most of my  trains and running the display; it generates happiness that is great for relaxation, friendship and family activities.

All of the great large model railroads in the various museums that have them were built by adults not children. Pick up an old issue of a model railroad magazine. Even back then men constructed the better layouts. Model trains can be both toys for children and hobbies for men. Today the artistic aspect of the hobby and a miniature representation of 1950's life by the railroad tracks in rural America is my focus. As a layout artist, my layout is my canvas.