Is this heaven?

The peaceful pursuit of a pleasure such as model railroading may very well be considered a form of paradise or nirvana.  

It was Heaven when I was living it, alongside my father, when he shared his trains with me.So being able to share trains, now, with others is, indeed, in my opinion, a bit of heaven. Why? Everything is better when shared with others, whether it be knowledge, play, projects, sports, creativity, or simply good conversation. And being able to share my love of model trains is a personal treasure.

FrankM

SWMBO says that when I am working in my shop or playing with my trains I am in my own world.  I cannot argue, she's right. I get so engrossed when I am working on something, the rest of the world goes away.  I read this saying some time ago;

"I'm in my own little world, but it's okay, they know me there."

Heavenly topic Arnold. Most in agreement with you. A gift of joy that is Produced as a universal energy,  Posssibly  naturally eternal, not just on the timeline of our brief occupation here.  

All that is a connection to past and present joys is part of a universal bliss. 

At least that's what heaven on earth means to me. Playing with trains and sharing is one way to connect. It's a gift.

leroof 

Tinplate Art posted:

The peaceful pursuit of a pleasure such as model railroading may very well be considered a form of paradise or nirvana.  

Very well stated, Professor.

Moonson posted:

It was Heaven when I was living it, alongside my father, when he shared his trains with me.So being able to share trains, now, with others is, indeed, in my opinion, a bit of heaven. Why? Everything is better when shared with others, whether it be knowledge, play, projects, sports, creativity, or simply good conversation. And being able to share my love of model trains is a personal treasure.

FrankM

Frank, if I was going to write a book on this topic (I'm not), your above photos and words, attributed to you, would be in it.

You exude a deep and abiding love for our hobby and this Forum.

We would do well to recognize every day how fortunate we are when the cares in our lives are not so great that we cannot forget them for a while with a model railroad to be enjoyed with others of like mind - or even by ourselves.

MELGAR

I model the 1940s. It's a time I've always been fascinated with. 

My parents would be little kids at the time, all my grandparents would still be around, an uncle who passed away in a plane crash was still around, and in my own little world of the layout, nobody gets killed overseas.

I model a fictional representation of the WW2 years, that to me, would be heaven to experience personally. 

I'm not a religious type but if the current popular conception of Heaven turns out to be real, I'd hope to wake up from my death bed, in my 20s, in a field right next to a ET&WNC depot with my family members I've lost, on the incoming train, all knowing who I am.

Dan Padova posted:

SWMBO says that when I am working in my shop or playing with my trains I am in my own world.  I cannot argue, she's right. I get so engrossed when I am working on something, the rest of the world goes away.  I read this saying some time ago;

"I'm in my own little world, but it's okay, they know me there."

SWMBO? I couldn't figure it out. My own SWMBO figured it out. LOL

She Who Must Be Obeyed.

I fully agree with you, Dan. Like you, I often become engrossed in a model railroading project and find it to be therapeutic, giving me respite from problems.

Leroof posted:

Heavenly topic Arnold. Most in agreement with you. A gift of joy that is Produced as a universal energy,  Posssibly  naturally eternal, not just on the timeline of our brief occupation here.  

All that is a connection to past and present joys is part of a universal bliss. 

At least that's what heaven on earth means to me. Playing with trains and sharing is one way to connect. It's a gift.

leroof 

Leroof, your words are very profound and fascinating to me. We could have a long and most interesting conversation about them. I'm going to meditate on them for a while.

"Heaven"? I think that's a bit of a stretch...for me anyway.

I really enjoy this hobby and have been at it for years: it's a good exercise in mechanics, electricity and problem solving. There can also be a certain element of frustration, too. 

I started playing the guitar around the same time, and there have been occasions when I get "into the zone" so to speak, and something else takes over. I may not be aware of my surroundings, or what I'm actually playing: it just "happens", kinda like being on autopilot. To me that is an almost spiritual experience. The only frustration I have with music is that, after 47 years of playing, I sometimes think I should be better! 

But for me personally (and you did ask) I find my "bliss" in the company of my family and friends I care most about. Model trains? An amusing and entertaining past time, probably not "Heaven".

Mark in Oregon

No... It's Iowa. (Actually Minnesota. Been to Dyersville though.)

Truth is I don't find running trains particularly relaxing. I don't think I ever did. I'm always on alert when they are moving. This is not to say I don't enjoy the hobby. I really do, but I really like the construction process. It's hard work sometimes, but still very rewarding. I'm just not an escapist, since I don't really have anything to escape from.

Now when it comes to my final resting place, I've instructed my wife to take my ashes to a particular spot, and dump them on a passing freight train, so I can ride the rails for eternity.

Leroof posted:

Heavenly topic Arnold. Most in agreement with you. A gift of joy that is Produced as a universal energy,  Posssibly  naturally eternal, not just on the timeline of our brief occupation here.  

All that is a connection to past and present joys is part of a universal bliss. 

At least that's what heaven on earth means to me. Playing with trains and sharing is one way to connect. It's a gift.

leroof 

Leroof....Deep....I believe you are the O gauge oracle.

Fendermain

MELGAR posted:

We would do well to recognize every day how fortunate we are when the cares in our lives are not so great that we cannot forget them for a while with a model railroad to be enjoyed with others of like mind - or even by ourselves.

MELGAR

PREACH MELGAR!!!

MELGAR posted:

We would do well to recognize every day how fortunate we are when the cares in our lives are not so great that we cannot forget them for a while with a model railroad to be enjoyed with others of like mind - or even by ourselves.

MELGAR

Many of us got started by receiving a gift of a toy train as a very young child from parents or loved ones that are no longer with us. The trains we have today keep us connected to those loved ones. For me, that is a form of heaven on earth.

I agree with you, Melgar, that we are very fortunate, compared to most who lived many decades before us, like our parents.

Our lives, which include joyful activities like model railroading, would be heaven on earth for them. They wanted us to be happy then, and they would want us to be happy now. They made sacrifices so we can live lives today that they would regard as heaven on earth.

I know from reading your prior Forum posts that many of you have had a similar powerful positive connection with your parents and grandparents involving toy trains. The trains brought happiness to them and to you. They wanted you to be happy then, and would want you to be happy now. That, in my opinion, is a very good reason to participate in this hobby. 

And then we have our children and grandchildren, some of whom play with the very same trains that our parents and grandparents played with!

Do you have any doubt that your parents and grandparents, who took delight in watching you play with trains, would want you to do the same thing with your children and grandchildren?

Like Ray Kinsella's father asked his son at the end of the movie, Field of Dreams: Is this heaven?

I say Yes!

Arnold

Moonson posted:

It was Heaven when I was living it, alongside my father, when he shared his trains with me.So being able to share trains, now, with others is, indeed, in my opinion, a bit of heaven. Why? Everything is better when shared with others, whether it be knowledge, play, projects, sports, creativity, or simply good conversation. And being able to share my love of model trains is a personal treasure.

FrankM

I love those large fences we used to put around our Christmas gardens. Great memories. Thank you. 

I live the diversity of opinion expressed here.

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

No... It's Iowa. (Actually Minnesota. Been to Dyersville though.)

Truth is I don't find running trains particularly relaxing. I don't think I ever did. I'm always on alert when they are moving. This is not to say I don't enjoy the hobby. I really do, but I really like the construction process. It's hard work sometimes, but still very rewarding. I'm just not an escapist, since I don't really have anything to escape from.

Now when it comes to my final resting place, I've instructed my wife to take my ashes to a particular spot, and dump them on a passing freight train, so I can ride the rails for eternity.

I've given similar instructions to my wife. The difference is that she would need to commit several felonies to carry them out. Since my first love was pitching in baseball, I've asked her to break into Yankee Stadium and spread my ashes on the pitcher's mound.

Better yet, she could spread my ashes on my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium, and avoid criminal convictions and a jail sentence. LOL

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Big_Boy_4005 posted:

No... It's Iowa. (Actually Minnesota. Been to Dyersville though.)

Truth is I don't find running trains particularly relaxing. I don't think I ever did. I'm always on alert when they are moving. This is not to say I don't enjoy the hobby. I really do, but I really like the construction process. It's hard work sometimes, but still very rewarding. I'm just not an escapist, since I don't really have anything to escape from.

Now when it comes to my final resting place, I've instructed my wife to take my ashes to a particular spot, and dump them on a passing freight train, so I can ride the rails for eternity.

I've given similar instructions to my wife. The difference is that she would need to commit several felonies to carry them out. Since my first love was pitching in baseball, I've asked her to break into Yankee Stadium and spread my ashes on the pitcher's mound.

Better yet, she could spread my ashes on my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium, and avoid criminal convictions and a jail sentence. LOL

 

My late sister in law was a huge Packers fan. In 2012 we went to the NMRA convention in Grand Rapids, MI. We went via Green Bay and the National railroad Museum, and the S S Badger. We didn't get onto the field at Lambeau, but under the cover of darkness, I was able to empty the contents of a small envelope with some of her ashes into a planter out front. Seemed appropriate, as she was a smoker when she was alive.

As for me, there's a public walkway on the bridge. All she has to do is get me through the chain link fence. A small piece of PVC pipe should take care of that, as long as it isn't windy.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Dan Padova posted:

SWMBO says that when I am working in my shop or playing with my trains I am in my own world.  I cannot argue, she's right. I get so engrossed when I am working on something, the rest of the world goes away.  I read this saying some time ago;

"I'm in my own little world, but it's okay, they know me there."

SWMBO? I couldn't figure it out. My own SWMBO figured it out. LOL

She Who Must Be Obeyed.

I fully agree with you, Dan. Like you, I often become engrossed in a model railroading project and find it to be therapeutic, giving me respite from problems.

That's why we married them, Arnold.  They're smarter than us !

Arnold, Meditation at times is a most centering way to connect.

STRUMMER, playing in the zone is that part of the universal energy that we are fortunate to become a part of. It seems to me that when I am , there is no time zone . Music does it for me too. Music involves time in a big way but that zone is somewhere in between, maybe the twighlight zone! Hahahaha lol. Spiritual  has a miraculous feel until you over think it or ground it in conscious rational thought then it's fleeting imagery or sound, kind of ghostlike has a certain unidentifiable substance to it. Ever have a complex musical idea and when you try to capture , snap, it's gone? I used to carry a small tape recorder to attempt to capture those out of the box moments. When in the dream state or the zone, there is a type of equalibration which readily becomes an after image. I think the  great classic  composers (modern ones too) lived in the zone most of the time.  I often sense that most hypnotic sensory stimulae whether smelling the ozone in the air or intuitively playing/ creating something from somewhere else can come from what energy flows through us. Sometimes maybe we are just cellular (not as in phones, but organic) antennae  receivers! Lol.  

 Fendermain, the only time I'm happy swhen I play my guitar.....

I do like old ozone ,sound and lights too.

well, it's midnight , I just turned 66 and I am still trying to be all in my frontal brain without even trying, lol. Running postwar in the a.m. Or playing my telecaster.

p51 posted:

I model the 1940s. It's a time I've always been fascinated with. 

My parents would be little kids at the time, all my grandparents would still be around, an uncle who passed away in a plane crash was still around, and in my own little world of the layout, nobody gets killed overseas.

I model a fictional representation of the WW2 years, that to me, would be heaven to experience personally. 

I'm not a religious type but if the current popular conception of Heaven turns out to be real, I'd hope to wake up from my death bed, in my 20s, in a field right next to a ET&WNC depot with my family members I've lost, on the incoming train, all knowing who I am.

Lee, as I re-read your above reply this morning, it occurred to me that, unlike me, you have a  very specific notion of heaven, which I love. Arnold

p51 posted:

I model the 1940s. It's a time I've always been fascinated with. 

My parents would be little kids at the time, all my grandparents would still be around, an uncle who passed away in a plane crash was still around, and in my own little world of the layout, nobody gets killed overseas.

I model a fictional representation of the WW2 years, that to me, would be heaven to experience personally. 

I'm not a religious type but if the current popular conception of Heaven turns out to be real, I'd hope to wake up from my death bed, in my 20s, in a field right next to a ET&WNC depot with my family members I've lost, on the incoming train, all knowing who I am.

I like the way you think, Mustang.  Although in my case, it'd be the PRR, NYC or RDG.

Leroof posted:

Arnold, Meditation at times is a most centering way to connect.

STRUMMER, playing in the zone is that part of the universal energy that we are fortunate to become a part of. It seems to me that when I am , there is no time zone . Music does it for me too. Music involves time in a big way but that zone is somewhere in between, maybe the twighlight zone! Hahahaha lol. Spiritual  has a miraculous feel until you over think it or ground it in conscious rational thought then it's fleeting imagery or sound, kind of ghostlike has a certain unidentifiable substance to it. Ever have a complex musical idea and when you try to capture , snap, it's gone? I used to carry a small tape recorder to attempt to capture those out of the box moments. When in the dream state or the zone, there is a type of equalibration which readily becomes an after image. I think the  great classic  composers (modern ones too) lived in the zone most of the time.  I often sense that most hypnotic sensory stimulae whether smelling the ozone in the air or intuitively playing/ creating something from somewhere else can come from what energy flows through us. Sometimes maybe we are just cellular (not as in phones, but organic) antennae  receivers! Lol.  

 Fendermain, the only time I'm happy swhen I play my guitar.....

I do like old ozone ,sound and lights too.

well, it's midnight , I just turned 66 and I am still trying to be all in my frontal brain without even trying, lol. Running postwar in the a.m. Or playing my telecaster.

 

Leroof.     Happy birthday and best wishes to you.  Glad you are able to do two of your favorite things on it. I have been jamming a jazzmaster the last few days....it is a surprizingly good guitar.

Fendermain

Fendermain posted:

Leroof posted:

Arnold, Meditation at times is a most centering way to connect.

STRUMMER, playing in the zone is that part of the universal energy that we are fortunate to become a part of. It seems to me that when I am , there is no time zone . Music does it for me too. Music involves time in a big way but that zone is somewhere in between, maybe the twighlight zone! Hahahaha lol. Spiritual  has a miraculous feel until you over think it or ground it in conscious rational thought then it's fleeting imagery or sound, kind of ghostlike has a certain unidentifiable substance to it. Ever have a complex musical idea and when you try to capture , snap, it's gone? I used to carry a small tape recorder to attempt to capture those out of the box moments. When in the dream state or the zone, there is a type of equalibration which readily becomes an after image. I think the  great classic  composers (modern ones too) lived in the zone most of the time.  I often sense that most hypnotic sensory stimulae whether smelling the ozone in the air or intuitively playing/ creating something from somewhere else can come from what energy flows through us. Sometimes maybe we are just cellular (not as in phones, but organic) antennae  receivers! Lol.  

 Fendermain, the only time I'm happy swhen I play my guitar.....

I do like old ozone ,sound and lights too.

well, it's midnight , I just turned 66 and I am still trying to be all in my frontal brain without even trying, lol. Running postwar in the a.m. Or playing my telecaster.

 

Leroof.     Happy birthday and best wishes to you.  Glad you are able to do two of your favorite things on it. I have been jamming a jazzmaster the last few days....it is a surprizingly good guitar.

Fendermain

Playing guitar, making music, another form of heaven IMO. Arnold

I have been to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, a half dozen times now, dating back nearly 20 years.

If I can ever work out my space issues with a future and larger home layout than I have now, I would model that field. If I could model it in true O scale, that would be a slice of heaven, and Iowa.

Photo from the movie site website:

https://fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/tours/

Jim R. posted:

I have been to the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, a half dozen times now, dating back nearly 20 years.

If I can ever work out my space issues with a future and larger home layout than I have now, I would model that field. If I could model it in true O scale, that would be a slice of heaven, and Iowa.

Photo from the movie site website:

https://fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/tours/

Hi Jim,

I have been thinking of doing the same thing. If I did it, it would involve disconnecting my rocket launcher, and replacing it with the Field of Dreams ball park with a corn field beyond the outfield. I know how to do ballparks because I already have my Popsicle Stick Yankee Stadium on my layout.

The key to doing a Field of Dreams ballpark would be to get good ball player figures in O scale or possibly HO scale, and I would love to get a good Shoeless Joe figure in approximately the correct size.

I believe at least one Forum member has done a Field of Dreams ball park with the cornfield that looked great.

Arnold 

I have been involved in this hobby since the 1940's...not too much else will hold your interest that long (although l have another hobby that has).   It (and the other) have made life interesting.

Arnold,

I highly encourage you to build that field-of-dreams onto your layout. Maybe it would be best if you constructed it as a stand-alone module attached to the table - including the baseball field, corn field and a short stub-track with a small rural station.

MELGAR

Arnold,

          This is a great topic and while I will agree with you that most of the time when I'm playing/working with my trains it does feel almost like heaven until I have to service an E-unit then it's pure hell.

fendermain, thanks bro. Jazzmaster? Wierd slice of fender heaven. Played tele and ran PW  GG1's on the pike. paradise flow path.

Leroof.    A PW GG1 is on my want to acquire list.  Jazzmaster....the neck pu on this one sings like a strat.  Weird trem but you can get cool unusual harp like tones because of it.

Fendermain

Leroof posted:

Arnold, Meditation at times is a most centering way to connect.

STRUMMER, playing in the zone is that part of the universal energy that we are fortunate to become a part of. It seems to me that when I am , there is no time zone . Music does it for me too. Music involves time in a big way but that zone is somewhere in between, maybe the twighlight zone! Hahahaha lol. Spiritual  has a miraculous feel until you over think it or ground it in conscious rational thought then it's fleeting imagery or sound, kind of ghostlike has a certain unidentifiable substance to it. Ever have a complex musical idea and when you try to capture , snap, it's gone? I used to carry a small tape recorder to attempt to capture those out of the box moments. When in the dream state or the zone, there is a type of equalibration which readily becomes an after image. I think the  great classic  composers (modern ones too) lived in the zone most of the time.  I often sense that most hypnotic sensory stimulae whether smelling the ozone in the air or intuitively playing/ creating something from somewhere else can come from what energy flows through us. Sometimes maybe we are just cellular (not as in phones, but organic) antennae  receivers! Lol.  

 Fendermain, the only time I'm happy swhen I play my guitar.....

I do like old ozone ,sound and lights too.

well, it's midnight , I just turned 66 and I am still trying to be all in my frontal brain without even trying, lol. Running postwar in the a.m. Or playing my telecaster.

 

My musical tastes are on the metal side, at one time I could play every song off of Black Sabbath’s first 6-7 albums. Music is the door to your soul and if you have not experienced that zone you can’t understand what it feels like. If you have ever read or heard the story of creation in the Bible you may know the part that says we were made in God’s image. Part of what that means to me is that the things we do that give us pleasure and are good such as model railroading, music, and sports are things we will continue to enjoy in heaven. We truly are incredibly blessed to be able to enjoy them here. I think our obligation is to share that joy with others as we all do.

OKHIKER posted:

Arnold,

          This is a great topic and while I will agree with you that most of the time when I'm playing/working with my trains it does feel almost like heaven until I have to service an E-unit then it's pure hell.

Okhiker, maybe you can delegate e-unit repair projects to someone who gets a taste of heaven fixing them for a reasonable fee. That's what I do.

One man's hell can be another man's heaven.

Arnold

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

OKHIKER posted:

Arnold,

          This is a great topic and while I will agree with you that most of the time when I'm playing/working with my trains it does feel almost like heaven until I have to service an E-unit then it's pure hell.

Okhiker, maybe you can delegate e-unit repair projects to someone who gets a taste of heaven fixing them for a reasonable fee. That's what I do.

One man's hell can be another man's heaven.

Arnold

 

Arnold,

          As difficult as E-units are, at least for me, I enjoy the feeling of success when I've completed them.

MELGAR posted:

Arnold,

I highly encourage you to build that field-of-dreams onto your layout. Maybe it would be best if you constructed it as a stand-alone module attached to the table - including the baseball field, corn field and a short stub-track with a small rural station.

MELGAR

Melgar, there already is a stand alone table where my where my rocket launcher is. It's the table next to the furnace, and there is already a siding there where I typically store oil tanker cars.

Below are pictures of that table:

Arnold