For Younger Forum Members...

Well, I'm 64, and I never saw the NYC, Milwaukee or GM&O in action, either.  I did see the PRR running, but growing up in the Fifties, I didn't see much steam before it disappeared.

 

Likewise, the PRR passenger trains were getting pretty ratty by the late Fifties, at least the ones that ran through my town.  But I still have a streamlined Lionel PRR passenger train, hauled by a Lionel GG1.  And even though I never laid eyes on the 20th Century Limited, I have a Lionel 2046 pulling a string of streamlined NYC passenger cars.

 

Point is, regardless of your age, you don't have to have grown up with the classic railroads-- or even have seen them in action -- to be fascinated by them. All you need is a good imagination.

I'm 33.. So I guess I will be the first to chime in.

 

Let me first say I am speaking from "what I like" point-of-view, rather than "what I model".  I say this because I am just now starting out.

 

I like all things southern, geographically and SOU.  I grew up seeing mostly these around my home town, here in GA.  As a spin off of that I enjoy NS, CSX, conrail.  I know there is what seems to be a HUGE following of PRR fans out there... but that just doesn't do it for me.  I guess I like what I am familiar with, and that is why I like those road names.  As far as steam (before my time).  There are many aspects of that that I enjoy.  

 

The biggest is probably the sound.  It's like the difference between hearing an orchestra on FM radio.. and hearing it in person.  The enormity of the sound simply cannot be replicated.  I love to watch (next best thing) videos of the SP 4449 on youtube.  The depth of sound coming from that engine is just amazing.  Also, I really like mechanics, tools, and other mechanical stuff.  Just seeing all of the moving parts and realizing the complexity of what went into those engines in the late 1800/early 1900's is nothing short of awesome.  I really have grown to have a great appreciation for that.  

 

Aside from these, I sometime just like to see an engine/rolling stock with a different (at least to my area) paint scheme.  There is something about a CN red engine that does it for me.  Also, the bright orange on the SP4449.  

 

Not sure if that answers what you are looking for or if I was just rambling.  Just my 2cents.

 

Brian

Interesting question, and I suspect the answers will be different for everyone.

 

For me, being just a week shy of turning 44, it was a progression.  It started with a family tradition of trains around the Christmas tree.  My grandfather and father both liked steam locomotives, although I never had the foresight to ask why.  My grandfather gave me his first Lionel set, a small pre-war O gauge steamer, for Chistmas 1974.  The seed was planted.

 

I grew up next to a former PRR mainline and watched diesels from the Penn Central era through to the current Norfolk Southern era, and they were common and every day occurrences.  They were neat, but nothing special.  My dad would take us kids to see steamers sitting on static display whenever the chance presented itself, but it wasn't until I saw operating mainline steam in the form of the American Freedom Train that I had my "Wow" moment.  It made an impression on my eight-year-old self, and I have been in love with steam ever since.

 

Eventually, I would settle on the PRR and the W&ARR as my roads of concentration.  The W&ARR because of the Great Locomotive Chase (I also have more than a casual interest in the Civil War) and 4-4-0's, and the PRR because it was the original operator of the tracks I lived next to for so long, so it had a local connection, and also because it was named after, and based in my home state, and also has quite a history.  I do stray from these roads, but when I do, there is a reason (I like models of still-existing steam, regardless of the roadname).

 

I guess I like steam and fallen flags because it is something out of the ordinary for me.  I get enough of ordinary when I step out my front door most days, so I seek out (and in some cases, create my own) personal extraordinary.

 

Andy

Well, I'm in my early 40s, my hometown is along the former Southern Pacific mainline in the Sacramento Valley, I used to see Scarlett & Gray going through town all the time.  Another advantage is that the Feather River is only several miles from town, so the Western Pacific was another railroad that was experienced growing up.

 

So that, in conjunction with the train sets my grandmother and parents have gotten me, plus the frequent visits to the Western Depot growing up pretty much cemented it in my brain.

So for me, I've always modeled the Southern Pacific predominantly, UP being a close second.

I'm 30, and an S Gauger but I think I can play along on this one...

 

Growing up in the Chicago suburbs I can remember seeing the green and yellow of the C&NW passenger trains rolling through my home town.  I also have two great grandfathers who worked and retired with the C&NW, so there is a personal connection there that I cherish.  Not to mention, the C&NW had cool looking paint schemes and colors that helps a lot. I ordered the SD70ACe in the C&NW heritage scheme that Lionel just announced.

 

I love the older passenger trains that were run by their respective rail roads, to me the Amtrak or Metra is boring, why would I want to model that?  I can get in the car and see it daily. (Just my opinion, I know they both have big fans) 

 

I love anything with the SF war bonette because like so many other people, my first train running around under the Christmas Tree was one.  I had received my fathers  AF PA set (also a santa fe) as my first "adult" train set and have not looked back.  

 

A lot of what I like is (or was) regional to my area and has a sense of nostalgia to it, Milwaukee Road, Burlington Route, Burlington Northern...I have always liked history and things that have passed. 

 

I see the BNSF and UP everyday, and I have ordered the new SD70s in both road names, but they are not as entertaining to me as older steam and diesel engines.  I love my two UP Challengers.  

 

I plan on staying with models of engines and equipment from the 30's,40's,50's,and 60's.  Maybe it is just because that is when all the cool trains were made?

 

Ben

I am 38 so I guess I fit in.  Like Brian I am more or less just getting started.  I am not really sure why I like model trains so much.  When i was young for some reason I always wanted a model train set and that was something that was not in the cards for me, a train set was just way to much for my family.

 

About 3 years ago now, my late father-in-law asked me if I wanted his old trains and I of course said yes.  Since that point I have been trying to learn as much as possible about model trains. 

 

When I first started thinking about what I wanted to model I thought I would model some line that at some point in history ran through town I live by.  Well I was not able to find a whole lot of information about trains from the past so then I looked into the current lines.  Well the only line through my town is the DM&E, well the only DM&E O gauge engines I have ever saw were painted up by someone on this forum.  So now I have decided to just run what ever roads I find I like.  

 

I like the way the BNSF trains look, so I plan on getting a couple of those, when I saw a UP with the flag scheme I had to have that.  I am sure some time in the future I will probably decide to stick with just one or two roads, but for now I am having fun by just running what ever I have and not caring if they ever would have been seen together in the real world.

Well for me I guess it started as a young boy and seeing my fathers many Lionel trains. Getting to blow the whistle, or unload the milk cans from the car, and lets not forget the gateman. 

 

We never had the room needed for a permeant layout. However, the time would come when my dad would make the exception and unpack the trains. Once unpacked we would set up a temporary layout on a ping pong table where they would stay for a week or so until he packed them away.

 

That has been a memory that I will most likely NEVER forget.

 

As I turned into a teenager I lost the interest to hang out with my dad or play with trains for that matter. My dad got rid of those trains due to some financial difficulties, and as I said the interest was gone, but not the memory. 

 

As I approached my 30's the desire to once again "play" with trains and hang out with my dad returned. As I approached 32 I made the decision to get into trains. Not because of any particular railroad or engines that I saw as a youngster. Just because I believe that memory of the enjoyment that I experienced as a child was still in me and most likely will never go away. 

 

I do not golf, gamble, hunt, camp, ride ATV's, etc...... Although Ive tried some of those things only to lose interest. I have NOT lost interest in trains. I still do not know much of anything about real trains (Although Im learning a little at a time), I don't know wheel arrangements, where trains ran, or how a prototypical yard works. I don't model a particular road name, railroad, or era. Theres just something that I like about them that I can't explain.Maybe I was a an engineer in a past life. LOL!. or maybe it was those times as a kid. All I know is I just like trains, and model railroading. I see a train and I buy it. (ABOUT 50k in 3 years. Im now 35) WOW that sounds bad when I say it. (The 50K part) LOL! Hopefully my wife doesn't see this!

 

Now I get to hang out with pops again from time to time when he stops over even if for just a brief minute. I get to see some of the excitement in my dads eyes when I show him a new engine. The same excitement that he probably got to see when I unloaded those milk cans. Now my 2 year old son follows me around all day saying choo! choo!. I get the enjoyment of finishing what I start, which I get to pass to my son. I get to use my imagination on my railroad, and pass that along to my son. I love to create things with my hands, and stand back and appreciate what Ive accomplished through hard work, dedication, patience, and many other things that through this appreciation for trains I get to pass to my son. And I get that from being into model railroading. 

 

When I saw this it seemed like the start to a great thread. I hope I offered some insight as to what I believe it is for me, and I look forward to hearing some other responses.

 

 

I am 39 and my first introduction to trains came in the form of a Lionel DT&I set back in 70-something.  I am here to tell you that I moved frieght at speeds that Nasa would be jealous of.

     Growing up I got to see mostly the CNW and the BN with a small amount of the Milwaukee Road, but I mostly remember the BN's E units on the scoots.  As I got older my dad gave me several books on steam engines and the various roads and the N&W, Southern and NKP always caught my eye and interest, so I wanted to read and know more about the road, the locomotives and the people that made those companies what they were.  As I began learning more I narrowed my interests down to the Berks and the N&W's A's, J's, Y's ect... and began learning all I could about those designs and specs.  I have stuck with steam mostly because I never got to experience the day in and day out operations of steam, and I sort of felt cheated....

     For me steam has always been the interest because of the power that was able to be achieved, the various designs and the engineering that went into them.  A machine whos performance depended on the men operating it, maybe one man could get more out of it then another and so on. 

     Back in the days of steam the railroads also had more personality to them, a better identity IMHO.  Today it's just cookie cutter power and no personality, again IMHO.  I have been very fortunate in that as I got older I have been able to experience steam in person from chasing them to riding behind them.  To date I have been behind/chased the 765,261,611,1218,4449,844 and the 3985 and have loved every minute of it, what a privledge to see steam alive in this day and age.  Today I am modeling the N&W,NKP and a wee' bit o' the Southern....

I'm 56. I'm getting older but I refuse to grow up.

 

Now all you young whipper-snappers get off my lawn!

 

 

It has something to do with our youth?  For some yes for others no.  You clearly do not need to have seen it run or no one would buy pufferbillies and no one would do civil war reenactments.  Amtrack sets would be 90% of the passenger market (I rode Amtrack a lot, loved the service never want to model or run it)  We are drawn to hobbies based on something within us and our experiences and I frankly lack the introspection to tell you what drives me.

 

When I started out the NYC and Pennsy steam passenger service was my interest, rich people riding in high comfort.   Now my interest focus around my old hometown (Pittsburgh) and the steam industrial freight operations around there.   I did ignore the B&O, then my mom pointed out that I had three relatives die working on the B&O and why wasn't I running that line.  SO now I own a bunch of B&O.  In my late 40's I may one day move to the operations of my current home town of San Diego.       

I parallel all of you guys so far.

Early 40's.

Gramps had a 675 freight set he got new as a boy in 1948...(uncle still has it).

Learned more about physics with that train at a young age 5-6 I think.

Got into HO and gramps built up a 4X4 oval for us to use and wired up lights for Putz-type houses. Super cool cause it had a one siding and I got to wire the switch at 7 years old.

 

In Jr. High, I built a large HO layout instead of buying video games. Friends already had the games...so I went and played on their system.

College years and early career, went into hibernation.

Now, with Jr. Engineer-o in tow. She's grown an interest while young enough to balance trains with Barbies...one more conduit to stimulate her creative play.

 

Why do I like them? Three things. Art, Mechanics, Engineering. Love the streamliners, operational mechanics to make them run...engineering to make it all happen. Forging, steel, servicing business models.

 

Recently, tinplate has hit me like running through barbed wire (no, never have actually done that.) I first thought the series a joke...I was going full scale...then I created my first 6X8 layout for under the tree...then morphed into a table top...(long story.) I realized I don't have the patience for full scale modeling...but enjoy the good-enough for imagination modeling and enjoy history. Tinplate fits into that realm all too well.

 

I'm 21 and have been into model railroading my entire life. We have video of me with my dad when I was a 1 year old watching our small Lionel layout. I am currently building my 5th layout which you can see on my youtube channel (jdstucks).

 

I started out liking all the old Lionel stuff with the cattle car and other operating accessories. As I got a bit older I was more interested in modern locomotives such as NS. I got a few engines and many cars through grade school but the first engine I bought with my own money was a BNSF dash 9 from MTH. I was in 4th grade at the time. A year later I bought a NS dash 9 from MTH. The layout grew at a slow but steady pace for a while. Progress slowed during 8th to 10th grade. Then all of a sudden the train bug came back big time. I had a bunch of money saved up from working and I began collecting and collecting. 

 

I then started building my current layout. I bought more MTH engines, Atlas and Lionel rolling stock and a bunch of other brands and accessories. I go to shows, I railfan, and visit my local hobby shop almost once a week when I'm home from college. It has been in my life forever. I'm only 21 but its very nostalgic to me. 

 

I collect mostly modern rolling stock but I do collect pre war and post war train as well. I have a NYC Hudson and passenger cars, Santa Fe ABBA passenger, C&O GP9, and N&W steamer. They are trains I like. I love history and those old trains are a really cool part of it. I think I also wish for the days when model trains were in their "golden age" in the 50s and every kid wanted a NYC steamer of Santa Fe diesel for Christmas. 

 

Like I said I mostly model modern trains. I also have the MTH DAP NS OCS set which of course is a modern passenger train. I think passenger trains catch on with everyone at some point. 

 

There are so many more trains I would like to buy both modern and old. However, I'm still a college student and don't have a ton of excess money to spend. I will continue to collect. I love model trains and I love real trains. Whats really fun is showing my friends the layout and seeing the amazement on their faces. Then I feel sad that they never knew toys like these existed. Oh well. I'll keep collecting till the day I die I'm sure of it. 

 

Jason

These stories are always interesting to read. Growing up, trains were invisible to me. My dad had a Lionel set he'd occasionally set up at Christmas and he put HO tack atop a ping pong table for my brothers and I to play with, but it was just another toy. For me, I discovered Model Railroader mag in our local library when I was a young dad. I thought this would be fun to do with my little kids, but who was I kidding: I was bitten by the modeling bug. We did watch Thomas together on PBS and was inspired by the stories and the modeling. But reading 5 years worth of back issues excited me. I made a small portable n scale layout because we didn't have any space, I found the small size a bit finicky, and finally dumped it all when i got a basement with a house attached, for the Lionel Bally-Hoo Circus set, and I was off! I've changed layout themes over the years but love the sounds, heft, and appearance of these toys!

I'm 80 and took my first[Steam]train ride at 6 months old from N.C. to Dennison, Ohio. Mercifully, you won't have to hear about it because obviously I don't have a clue! 

I'm 21, and run both O and S gauge.

 

My parents were not all that into trains, but I was addicted to Thomas The Tank engine from before I could talk. My first word was "Toby" (the name of the brown tram on the show) and I was working the vcr myself to watch it by age 2. Like I said, my parents weren't really into trains, but my Grandpa dug out his old Flyer set and set it up around Christmas for me. Then, my Grandpa decided to take me to a train show when I was about 2.5 years old. I specifically remember my Dad pulling me to the side telling me not to let my Grandpa buy me anything. Well, I remember we got there and after buying a raffle ticket on a G gauge Thomas set and James, we walked into a room filled with boxes with trains on them. Well, my Grandpa started talking to a man, and I was just staring at a box with a big black train on it. After a few minutes, he asked me "Do you want that"?  Well how does one say no? That box was the Union Pacific steam Freight set, which has been running for me ever since. This is my second memory, right after the day my sister was born.

 

Anyway, this set led to Christmas layouts which were made with traditional sized trains, and ceramic buildings. As time went on, Grandpa bought me more trains, and gave me some of his Lionel stuff (all Pre and Postwar). As time went on, I began adding to it too. I guess between only really experiencing these older style trains, and getting started with Thomas, the goal was always about having fun, not having a perfectly scale layout. This is why my layout is just painted green, with painted scenery, a paper mache mountain, and Plasticville buildings.

 

And for the record, although he gave me his Lionel stuff (2 sets, 1 radar car, 1 Fire car, and a floodlight), he still has that American Flyer set. I need to get on his case to get it back out and run it.

Well I am 35, and have been involved with model railroading since I received my first train set from my grandparents in 1977. I was into HO for a while, Tyco, Bachmann, etc. But always wanted a Lionel because my cousin had one. I like all trains, I dont model a certain railroad. If its Lionel, looks good and I like it, I will buy it. I love the toy train feel with Lionel trains and accessories, Vintage Plasticville, and other toys from the 50-80's. I like the suburban subdivision toy look. With Life-Like Trees, green grass paper and lichen, its good for me. This look appeals to me, because I am originally from Long Island NY. This is what LI was during the postwar era and still is in many neighborhoods. I always fell in love with the toy train look from my cousins Lionel and my uncles giant American flyer collection and layout. 

 

As for my train collecting point of the hobby, I have both Toy and Scale Items. I have just about every operating car and accessory from postwar, the entire MPC collector line and a bunch of LTI. Recent items, I enjoy the entire PWC and CC series which I have collected, but also a large selection of Standard O and the Premium sets I have aquired. It all works for me, they all look good together. Be it scale or toy, if its Lionel, its for me. I dont know what it is,  but I love it all and I keep coming back. I collect other items like vintage slot cars, outdoor Christmas decorations and a few other things, but Lionel is my all time favorite. I never stopped collecting. Even in my high school and early years. After seeing toy train layouts in Magazines and videos, I wanted to be like those guys. To me, trains are a way to relax. When i was going through tough times or had a bad day, i turned to my trains and train magazines, and the problems just went away. Its magic I guess and it still works.....

I'm 29 and have been involved with trains from birth. My grandpa had a great Lionel layout in his basement that he built in 1956.

 

I cut my O gauge teeth with a Flying Yankee, a 736, a 2344 and a great array of Lionel accessories. A lucky little boy was I indeed.

 

I don't model a specific railroad, era, or region. If I like the way it looks, sounds, and runs, I buy it. 

 

Right now I have a Conrail Heritage SD70ACE running next to an Erie 0-8-0 switcher. Steam never died on my railroad. Apparently Conrail didn't either.

 

The only thing that drives me in this hobby is having fun and building a layout that allows me to watch 'em go round and round

CarGuyZM10 and jdstucks, it looks like you're tied for first place as far as age.  What a fascinating thread this is.  Being 65, I won't weigh in with my history.  Seems like you guys have a little more variety to your stories than us typical old-timers.

I may not qualify for this thread chronologically, but I ascribe to Ray Bradbury's theory:  "Growing older is mandatory but growing up is still optional."

Growing up in NYC, all I saw was Streetcars, Subways, and EL trains.  The only real trains I saw were the MU's that ran up the NY, NH & Hartford line.  On rare occasion, I saw a freight from my grandmother's porch but they were first generation diesels.  The only steam I saw was in the movies but I fell in love with those big puffers.  In recent years, I've ridden on scenic train rides pulled by steam.  (Whoopie!).  There's just a certain mystique about steam engines that cannot be explained.

I remember crying when i was little when we couldnt set the VCR to record the shining time station chirstmas special..

Maybe motivation will come from people who actually seen that recent UP 844 run caught on video and shown on u-tube which was brought to our attention on this forum with a thread and link posted by C.Sam on April 13th 2012 @ 8:39PM. I know it was great viewing and still motivated me. Thanks again, C.Sam. Regards Casey. (Sorry: I don't know how to post links).

 

You can view the 844 in action from the 2010 LCCA convention with the modified signage on the tender that reads "Lionel lines" by clicking the link in the middle of this blog belw.

 

 

 

Al Kolis Convention Blog - May 6

If you love Lionel trains, you are going to love the Lionel Collectors Club of America 42nd Annual Convention at the Marriott Waterside Hotel in Norfolk VA from 7/23-7/28/2012  Convention Managers, Captain Bob Carter and Captain Chaos Lou Caponi are planning to have several operating toy train layouts operational throughout week at the hotel.  Starting mid-week, Lionel will be bringing their impressive 65' long operating layout and display.  This layout which was designed and built by TW  Design of Dallas TX demonstrates various levels and types of scenery modeling techniques from picturesque mountains to city sites.  Meet with representatives from Lionel as they demonstrate current and future products under development.  Lionel has been making toy trains since 1900 and has been supporting the LCCA conventions ever since our club's origin back in 1970.  Come and experience the magic of Lionel toy trains. Click on the video link below to catch a glimpse of Lionel's layout in operation during the 2009 LCCA convention in Sacramento CA.  This will be your chance to see it in person.  

Lionel 65 Foot Layout in Operation

The Pittsburg Hi-Railers club is also bringing their massive modular layout to our convention.  Bring your trains and run them on this fun layout.  The team from Pittsburgh has been  known to keep their layout running well into the evenings hours at previous LCCA conventions.  This group sure knows how to have fun!

The LCCA will be introducing the first phase of the LCCA Lionel Fastrack national standard modular layout.  Led by LCCA Directors Bill Schmeelk and Roger Farkash, a team from Lionel and OGR formed a committee to develop  a new national standard for O-Gauge modules.  This will be the public debut of LCCA's FasTrack modular layout.  We are very excited about this project and we have great plans for future special events centered around this new modular layout standard.

So, come down to the Marriott Waterside hotel during the week of 7-23-12 and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Lionel Trains in operation.  Experience the magic of Lionel trains.  If you had Lionel trains as a kid, but have gone away from the hobby, come and re-live your experiences that you has as a child.   If you have never seen Lionel trains in operations, come and introduce yourself to the magic of Lionel trains.  People of all ages are welcome and encouraged to attend this exciting and fun filled family oriented convention.

Sorry, I posted the wrong blog.  Please see video on correct blog below. Click on 2010 Denver Convention review below to see 844 in action

 

Al

 

 

 

The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) is hosting their 42nd Annual convention this summer at the Marriott Waterside Hotel located in Norfolk VA from 7-23-12 through 7-28-12.  LCCA Convention Managers "Captain Bob" Carter, Lou Caponi and Jerry Calkins and the entire convention team have been working very hard to make this convention even better and more fun.  In addition to Tour #1 "Norfolk Southern Train Excursion", we have made arrangements for a new tour designated Tour #14 "Amtrak Excursion to Richmond VA". Seating is limited, so register today.

Family members of all ages will enjoy Tour #5. "Trains and Tapas at the Children's Museum".  Members will have an opportunity to see the vast and impressive "Lancaster Antique Train Collection" as well as the expansive O-Gauge model railroad operating layout in the museum.  This tour also includes a southern style barbecue dinner.  This will be a great and fun evening!

If you have never been to a LCCA convention, we invite you to attend your first one in Norfolk this summer.  To catch a glimpse of what our conventions are all about, click on the video link below and watch a video taken during our 40th Annual Convention in Denver CO during the summer of 2010.  Members can be seen having fun on a special LCCA/UP Steam Train  Excursion ride from Denver CO to Cheyenne WY.  Watch Make-A-Wish Foundation recipient Joshua acting as the honorary Conductor of the day.

If you are not a member of the LCCA, is still not too late to join and sign up for our 42 Annual Convention in Norfolk, VA.  Go to the Join the Club icon on our website www.lionelcollectors.org. Make your family summer vacation plans now.  We will love to see you there.  We guarantee you and your family will have fun!

2010 Denver Convention Review

 

19 here.

 

What motivates you into modeling or being into model railroading?

 

I really enjoy all the different opportunities the hobby presents. I love the creation aspect of creating and detailing models or scenery, as well as the technology aspect of TMCC and other electronics.

 

What makes you want to model the New York Central, Pennsyvlania, Milwaukee Road, GM & O, etc...?

 

I'm a big Pennsy guy myself. When I got started in the hobby thanks to my uncle, he started me off with lots of books on PRR as well as MTH railking starter sets and cars which were from that railroad.

 

Also...what motivates you to model passenger operations? The great passenger trains have longed passed into history. Does Amtrak get the bug going for you? Amtrak will never be like the Broadway Limited or City of New Orleans.

 

To me the look of streamliners and even the more brutish like heavyweight cars are just fantastic looking. To me aesthetics are a big drive behind the passenger operations on my layout. 

 

The same question is for those into steam engines. With the exception of a few that run today...what make you tick? I mean you never saw the NYC Hudson or Mohawk fleet? The large Northern Pacific Northern Fleet? Pennsylvania K4 fleet or 4-4-6-4? Or the NKP Berkshire Fleet? What does it?

 

My favorite loco, the Pennsylvania K-4, was never really on my radar until 2005. When K-line went out of business I had the chance to by their beautiful scale model of the K-4. Before this I had been limited to the toylike semi-scale railking engines. This model not only caused me to become a huge fan of the K-4, but also a huge fan of the MDK K-line line. I've worked to collect every example of scale steam engines by K-line (one more to go!) and all pre 1980 prototype era scale electric and diesel locomotives.

 

How many are into modeling modern BNSF? CSX? UP? KCS? etc... Is this bigger than I can imagine?

 

I cant say I have any interest in modern operations.

 

I often hear from older people why they like to model the Rock Island, Pennsyvlania, etc... They grew up with those railroads and saw them in operation. Why are younger people into those railroads especially if they never saw them?

 

To me these older line are a huge (and unappreciated) aspect of American history. To young people like me, modeling is the closest I'll ever get to these railroads.

I guess you could say my grandfather got me into trains.  He's got a fairly large G scale collection that I've grown up playing with.  When i was 3, my dad got me a Lionel NYC Flyer starter set and I guess you could say it's grown from there

 

I've been riding behind the 4-4-0 "Edison" and Mason 0-6-4T "Torch Lake" at Greenfield village every summer since I was born and I'm always fascinated when I look at them closely.  I love machines a lot.  I took a cab ride on a steam locomotive this past October and that's really given me an addiction to coal smoke and steam

 

It's really a difficult thing to describe.  I've just been into trains as long as I can remember

Hey im sixteen and i really dont know. When i was about six i stsrted off with thomas and friends and just progressed from there

 

After a few years of collecting tons of wooden thomas trains my mothers aunt worked for a hobby shop and gave me a catalog full of lionel and mth trains. A year or two later i got my first train set a lionel Pennsylvania starter set. Proggressed from there

 

I mainly focus on New York Central, Pennsy, CNJ, and Penn Central but with me if i see it and can afford it I get it no matter what the road name. Just love model railroading. Can be a headache but worth all the time and money 

For me, I grew up with Thomas and many, many trips to the B&O Museum riding their vintage diesel and steam excursions. In addition, the local 500+ acre Regional park has various amenities ranging from 3 indoor, year round ice rinks, about 5 miles of hiking trails, full athletic courts, nature center, playground, etc and most importantly a 2 mile/15 minute excursion using a Chance CP Huntington (it is not used as an amusement ride but rather a scenic excursion). While the CPH isn't steam, it has everything a steam engine would have...only with a 60 horsepower Continental TM27 gasoline engine under the hood. I grew up riding it nearly every day for every summer season not to mention when we moved to our current neighborhood about 10 years ago, only about 2 miles from the park, hearing the steam whistle loud and clear all day, everyday during the summer. The whistle on it is an actual steam whistle made by Lunkenheimer and will work just fine if hooked to a steam pipe (or engine). The train has air brakes and air is also used for the sander and whistle. 

 

First trip to Strasburg was in 1999 or 2000 and have returned every now and then over the years. Steam has always fascinated me...all the moving parts, whistle, bell, steam and smoke. As a result, I purchase mostly steam engines, particularly Railking Imperial engines. This summer, I'll take my first ride on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad in the cab of 2-8-0 #734 and will visit the Walkersville Southern, another long time visit spot, for riding on the Flagg Coal 75 which is being "rented" for three weekends. It will be the first steam train to run the line since the Pennsylvania RR abandoned the line. And now with the NS Steam schedule announced, hopefully catch a glimpse of NKP 765. I've had cab rides on the Long Island Railroad and B&O Museum diesels but never on a steamer. Since I was a regular at the park in my younger years, I had many "cab rides" on the CP Huntington. 

 

 

Going back to the park and that Chance CP Huntington....I spent a few years away from it. I was too old and too "cool" to be riding on it. In March 2010, I climbed aboard that train once again, this time as engineer. Just yesterday I was in the right hand seat for many trips. We all take turns as engineer, conductor, ticket sales, maintenance work and overall jack of all trades. I'm also one of two assistant managers now. Hard to believe all those years spent riding and hanging out with the crew back then now leads me to the right hand seat of the engine. I'll be 20 in a few weeks and will spend yet another season (April to October) running the local excursion train. 

 

 

Here is a photo of myself (on the left) and one of the park maintenance employees bringing in the very first "Eye Spy Halloween Train" (and one of the very few Halloween trains to run in daylight - nearly all run at night) of the 2010 Season. Orange Lights have been strung up along the passenger cars, which were repainted this past winter. This was one of few photos available without a large gasoline generator strapped to the front of the engine after the locomotives electrical system failed to provide adequate power. The generator was removed at the end of the season and is only used at Halloween to power the lights. While it does not look good, it works and it is dark for pretty much the entire time the event runs making it hardly visible. We do also fly a pair of American flags on the front of the locomotive other than using the generator one month out of the year and a new set of flags occasionally, no modifications have been done to the engine since it was delivered to us in 1995. This photo was taken from a pedestrian bridge just a short distance from the station. We just rolled across our one and only grade crossing, with the bell swinging and whistle screaming and about to roll under the bridge and into the station. 

 

Well, from what I have seen, I am the youngest contributer so far.I am 13 and finishing up 7th grade.I am currently working on a 8x8 layout modeling the transition from steam to diesel on the prr. I am trying to make it as hi rail as possible in that space. What I think motivates me to model the prr is the speeding streamlined.Passenger trains and the long steam freight consits running through the beautiful mountains of the northeast. As far as amtrak, it does intrest me and I enjoy riding their trains. However, the passenger routes of days past were defidently superior.I appreciate the resource that this forum has been and continues to be as I build my layout. I will be posting some pictures of my layout and work on much more once summer comes.

Please excuse the missing "it" in the last sentence. It would go between the  "on" and "much". There is also randomly placed period in the sentence about the prr. This is because I was trying to type the last post on my mom's phone.

I'm 44...  So I guess I just squeak by in the young group :-)

 

My father is mostly responsible for my motivation.   He's an avid HO modeler and models Santa Fe Steam era over Raton pass.   He bought me O (O-27) stuff when I was very young and some of it was his from his childhood.   As I got older I progressed into scale and jumped right into dong Santa Fe Steam era.   Now I'm building my own layout (again) and yep you guessed it I'm doing Raton pass.   Calling upon my father for great info as he grew up near Raton pass and watched the trains first hand as a child.   

 

Also, I'm not sure exactly how old I was but I remember riding the SuperChief as a child.   My parents would take the SuperChief to visit the grandparents .   When I got older I remember my father grumbling about having to drive it due to the train not running any more.

 

My father also took me to Durango to ride the trains there quite often and we also chased the Freedom Train in 1976 all over California to Colorado.    My mother thought we were crazy and was always upset with my father for pulling me out of school to chase trains but those are some of the best memories I have with my father and will cherish them forever.

 

Im 16 and I find model railroading fun and very rewarding. I model the Detroit Toledo & Ironton mainly because it is a local road and it played an important role in Detroit's automotive history (at least for Ford). I used to model the modern era but found it boring, as I see those prototypes regularly and there is not much variety, thanks to the standardization of most equipment today. I model following 3RS standards, meaning I modify all my equipment and custom paint a lot too, as DT&I does not get a lot of love from the manufacturers. I find it more fun than building model airplanes or cars as I can watch them do something.

I'm mid 40's.   I am into model and toy trains simply because my dad started setting up a 5x9 Lionel layout at Christmas time in the mid 60's.

 

I couldn't look at a train yard and tell you a GP9 from an SD40.   I can tell you an F3 and a Hudson, which is what I had and still have from way back.

 

In other words I'm a toy/model train nut.  Real trains, never pay attention to them.

 

****

I'm 13 and started off with my love of trains watching Thomas at my Grandma's house, and living very close to a BNSF yard. Dad had a HO scale layout a few years back we took down, and now I have my own layout (5x9) in my extra room. It runs Legacy and has a bunch of Legacy and TMCC items, including a subway from Lionel. I love model railroading even if the jerks at school find out and pick on me. -Evan

 

         

 

Evan, if people at school feel like making fun of you for your hobby that's their problem and they don't know what they are missing. I found that from the age of 11 to 15 kids can be really mean to each other but it will pass. I remember at my high school graduation party I had about 50 friends from high school come by and a bunch of them saw the layout and they absolutely loved it! Often times kids don't respect each others interests and hobbies until they are older. Keep enjoying the trains Evan. They are always a source of fun and joy and you will have them for the rest of your life. 

 

Jason

First off...thanks for the thread. I love these types of topics and being able to read all the stories and share my own. 

 

I am 31 and I have enjoyed trains ever since I was a little boy. My father had trains that we would put up around the Christmas tree every year. This is what first got me into the hobby. All these trains were his, but then one year he took me to the train shop to get my first engine and caboose. I was obsessed with the caboose when I would see them going down the tracks. I used to ask my parents to go the long way to wherever we were going so we could go over train tracks in hopes of seeing a train. Coincidentally when I was 10, my father was hit by a Norkfolk Southern, but he did survive. I never lost interest in trains, I just did not play with them as much. When I was 27 and finally settled and not moving every year, I decided it was time to really get back into the trains and not just put them around the tree. 

 

For me it is the history and the nostalgia. I grew up in Erie, PA near the GE plant and was lucky to see all different types of engines and rail names. I decided to model what I saw around me. Growing up, that was mostly NS, Conrail, and CSX as I got older. I have not ventured into some others yet because of financial reasons. But I would like to get into PRR because of the PA history, Erie because of the area I grew up in, and P&LE because I love Pittsburgh. 

 

Right now all I have is modern freight and diesels. I have a lot of my dad/grandad's old Marx or Lionel, but I do not run them as much on my current layout, but sometimes on my secondary layout. I would like to get into some steam and passenger, but I have to be careful what I spend. 

 

For me, it comes down to hearing that horn.