O gauge trains - PASSION or DIVERSION?

Diversion. 

Great question. A bit of both. But most hobbies are a type of diversion from the daily responsibilities of life. More passionate about modeling and making things work. But when the do, nothing more soothing than watching a slow moving train flawlessly negotiate the layout. Especially at eye level. My layout is low for the kids, so I usually will sit on a small wooden stool. Fred

I don't think either word is truly descriptive of why I am into O-Gauge trains. I am also not sure that one word is enough to accurately describe my interest in trains.

 

It will be interesting to see how the other Forum members respond to your choices.

 

 

Hi PT, Nothing says you are limited to those two words. And I am sure that a lot of people would be interested in a few others that describe your experience in the hobby. Just a way to start the discussion. Fred

Diversion. I no longer get passionate about things and stuff. 

I am on the bottom rung as far as great layouts go but I do like to see 4 of my trains run at the same time, not a diverson but pleasure.

 

Brent

Where does "enjoy" fit in?

From my web page...

 

   Trains and Lionel Trains especially have given me a release from the pressures and worries of everyday life.  A little escape from my problems and concerns.  When sitting at the layout with the controller in hand, listening to the roar of the diesel or watching the drivers of a steam locomotive and everything else no longer matters.  I've returned to my childhood where life was so much simpler.  No jobs, wife, kids, or worries.  Just a boy and his dad's Lionel trains.

"Obsession" might be the word for some folks ...  

I am on the passion side of the coin. 

 

My only deep history with trains is the childhood memories of my family and our Christmas layouts.  I have certainly ridden trains and visited museums.  But, when I was young, I loved Christmas for the trains.  We lived in Maine and we had a large connector room between the house and the barn.  And, that was the train room.  The only present that mattered to me at Christmas, was any new additions to the trains.  I can remember receiving the trolley car, the new 2026 engine, the milk car and that **** cattle car that I could never get to work.

 

When my children were little we set up those trains for them.  My table was bigger then my Dad's and I loved setting it up the way I wanted to set it up.

 

When my grandchildren started to arrive my daughter told me I had to set up the trains.  Oh my God I was thrilled.  The difference this time is I looked on that new "eBay" and discovered 10,000 listings for Lionel train items.  Christmas was over and the trains never got put away!

 

Now, it is a passion for making it better and better.  Through this forum I have learned so much.  I am moving on to developing my skills in modeling.  Tonight, for the first time I have started detailing my track.  I'll keep you posted.  In September I am going to visit one of our members and chat with him about his great layout. 

 

It is an evolving passion, no doubt about it and I am really enjoying myself.  Thanks for asking.  

 

Diversion. Because I'm really an S Gauger. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

You beat me to it, Ace!  "Passion" would describe my feelings toward O gauge clockwork tinplate, whereas "Obsession" is applicable to my 12" gauge Live Steam affliction...

Diversion - From Reality.

 

I tell folks who visit the train room three things:

 

 

1.  My trains are my diversion from reality.

 

2. They keep me off the streets and out of bars.

 

3. After spending money on my trains there is only enough money left for me to chase my wife. I can't afford any strange women of questionable character and or ill repute.

 

Richard

  

its an addiction, i think there is a 12step program for it

I agree with Richard above!!  Also....as BadHorse said, it is also an addiction...at least for me EXCEPT I have tried that 12 step program and it did nothing to cure the addiction!! LOL!!

 

Alan

Yes Alan, they are an addiction indeed!

 

Richard

I believe Marty expressed it well.  An escape into your own little world that you created and enjoy.  Nothing much else to say.

 

TEX

Steve

I run mainly Lionel postwar.  I have a little prewar tinplate, and even a bit of modern scale equipment.  But what it all has in common is that it's a window back to another time.  And in the case of the postwar and prewar, it's actually a tangible piece of the era I'm modeling, an era to which I'm drawn.  I can't quite explain it, but I've always felt that way, even as a small kid.

 

I don't know about either term but I just like 3 rail trains. I enjoy them, meet many friends of like mind. Not sure i would call it a passion or a diversion but I would call it having fun.

I read this yesterday and it seemed like a really interesting question.  So I thought about this overnight.

 

Toy Trains area diversion for me - maybe a bit more - a great comfort: they are fun, and important to meb ecause they help me "de-compress" after a hard day at work, etc.

 

Projects that I get into working on my layout are each a passion, temporarily.  Last week I posted pictures of my scratch-built Luxor art-deco movie theater.  While I was planning, designing, building and completing that, it was, frankly, nearly an obsession.  Now I have moved on to another project - completing my country 'Streets road and that project is consuming me just as much. 

 

That is how it is with me. 

It is a great social outlet for me.  I have finally come to really understand the joy of meeting and knowing people.  I was never a people person.  The guys and ladies on the forum, in the hobby and generally any 3 rail types I can really identify with, and I enjoy vicariously the great layouts and projects that some of you have done.  So I garner as much enjoyment out of the social aspects of the hobby as I do actually running trains.  So if any of you are ever in central PA, stop by for coffee and a good chat.  We may even run some trains!  

Started as a passion, has reverted to an Escape from daily life. Far better than a diversion.

 

Dave: Funny, I've always said I hate crowds and thus things like Christmas shopping. But I enjoy talking to like minded folks about my hobbies.

I just like em, always have, always will.

Seriously, can it not be a passionate diversion?

Envy, envy, envy! There are no fellow believers locally to hob-nob with. How I would enjoy the company of a like-minded model train buff. Why, I would even hang out with an "N" gauger.

Toy trains are a lot of fun for me. I enjoy collecting them, writing about them and , since I have been corrupted by the operators and my fellow staff members at OGR, I like running them too.

 

Let's just say that trains are an important part of my life. Anyone who wants to characterize my involvement with trains any further than that has my blessing.

 

Right in the middle of having my basement remodeled so I can finally have the layout I REALLY want.

 

Ed Boyle

Partner/ Special Projects Editor

O Gauge Railroading magazine

Diversion.

Diversion and fun.   My layout is a nice place to spend a couple minutes while waiting, or a half-hour of relaxing pleasure.  So is this forum.   For me, trains are never an obsession, and perhaps not a passion.

That would be me these days. It used to be more of a passion, now it's kind of like a job, but not in a bad way.

Funny thing about the original question - it's one that I've found myself thinking about too.

 

What I found out AFTER I retired is that a hobby is a diversion only if you have something to 'divert' from.  Also being single and an empty nestor also eliminates things to divert from.

 

I think I enjoyed my trains more prior to retiring since they offered me an escape from my job.  No job, no escape though, now.

 

I need the passion part of the formula to kick in and soon!!!

 

- walt

I'd say obsession with a passionate diversion probably describes most of our train related behavior. 

I would say they are a distraction. Everything in the world stinks lately. Trains help block all that out.

Both.

 

Many thanks,

Billy C 

 

A passionate diversion --  i.e., it is a diversion I have a passion for. A passion for the research, the learning of new things, the designing, the building, hanging out and shooting the breeze with club members and other hobbyists, and technical problem-solving (my own, the club, and other).

 

Actually running trains, while giving me enjoyment, isn't really the passionate part. It's more of the diversion part of the equation. Half the time I run at the club I end up handing the remote to one of the visitors. It's amazing how quickly kids adapt to running TMCC trains with an old smart phone.

Accomplishment Satisfaction followed by Relaxing Enjoyment.

I was born this way, steam oil flows in my veins.  So it's all of the above.  I still think my wife has no clue what she has gotten herself into with me...

The only passions I have are GOD, family & country.  Trains have always been in my life for as far back as I remember so for me they are a just part of my life.  At age 69 the only diversion I have is pretty women.