Our Therapy

Arnold I am happy to hear that your railroad is a sanctuary for you a place where you can go and leave the troubles to the world behind. Congratulations as sometimes I feel that way also. Then there are the times when the project can overwhelm you as sorta how I feel right now. But then again there is also the fact that our railroads are an Addiction or sickness that we can't live without and I have several signs that prove that point hanging on the stairway wall down to mt train room/nab cave basement

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I agree @Arnold D. Cribari. The model railroad definitely offers a place for me to plug in and drop out. I get the same experience from CAD design work on the computer, riding a bike/dirt bike, and playing guitar. All of these activities seem to let me disconnect from the hooplah in my work life. I work a job where you will never be correct or successful unless you're in the inner circle so it helps to come home and hit milestones and get things done.

@RJT where did you get those signs? They're pretty funny haha

I suspect that some folks here that participate in "Train Therapy" need another hobby to clam them down from this one.

Myself, It's my escape from everything else.  A bad day in the train room is better than most other good things. Of course this is an over exaggeration but you get the point.

i tell friends that my model train hobby is much less expensive than seeing a psychologist! We all need an escape from the constant pressures of todays society.

Arnold, it sounds like you need to plan a getaway to nirvana next month, aka York.

Jay

@BillYo414 posted:

I agree @Arnold D. Cribari. The model railroad definitely offers a place for me to plug in and drop out. I get the same experience from CAD design work on the computer, riding a bike/dirt bike, and playing guitar. All of these activities seem to let me disconnect from the hooplah in my work life. I work a job where you will never be correct or successful unless you're in the inner circle so it helps to come home and hit milestones and get things done.

@RJT where did you get those signs? They're pretty funny haha

I have no idea I have had those signs for almost 40 years.

After working 50 years as a hospital pharmacist, prostate cancer forced me to go to the house. Successful robotic surgery took care of the cancer but it has left me incontinent for an extended period. Rather than spending my retirement changing adult diapers, I began making those "I'll get around to it one day" improvements to my layout that I had been putting off. My layout is nothing special compared to those beautifully modeled railroads that I see on here but it's my little escape to a happier time and place (the 1950s). Now, I go to pelvic floor therapy twice a week to re-learn bladder control and to model train therapy daily to re-learn Command Control.

Another interesting thread topic from Arnold. Having retired 12 years ago at age 62, I no longer have the stressors that working daily in an occupation can bring. But even though retired, I still find running the trains to be therapeutic and relaxing between other leisure activities and my steel guitar practicing.

There's just something special and unique about going down into the basement to run the trains. Leaving the real world above and enjoying the sights, sounds, and motion of the trains on the layout is always a welcome change, even though my run sessions seldom exceed 20 minutes. Spending time with the trains seems to put me at peace and recharge my batteries.

Arnold, Even being now retired, I need model railroad therapy.  I'm 5 years younger than you, but retirement was forced on me about 3 years ago.  Quite frankly, I don't know how you do it in the line of legal work of your specialty.  You definitely need model railroad therapy.

Being retired, the stresses I face are health issues for my wife and myself.  Mine are all orthopedic, but my wife's are mostly internal.  Also, my wife's mother causes her stress, which in turn causes me stress.  I am glad I designed the layout with my own mobility in mind.  Going up, down, over, under are more difficult now than when I started.  I just didn't expect my own issues as soon as they happened, so I do struggle with stress in the hobby when I need to finish the heavy construction but it causes pain.  However, I am almost done with that, so I am motivated to carry on.

Eddie and Mark:  I don't have any health issues yet, but I admire you guys. Best wishes going forward and enjoy your trains.

Thank you, Vern!  In my opinion, Eddie has gone through, and is going through, something far more serious than my situation.  Four years ago, I thought I was in great shape for being in my early 60s.  Then I had a sciatic nerve that was damaged, seemingly permanently now, followed by a knee replacement on the other leg.  A year and a half ago, I had lumbar fusion, and now I am back in PT for the L5-S1 compressed disc and more arthritis.  Fortunately the fusion and knee replacement continue to look good at every follow-up visit, but they can still hurt.  I take a lot of anti-inflammatory pills to calm the sciatic nerve.

All that to say, I am in great shape when compared to Eddie and so many others with cancer or the effects of cancer.  I'm praying for you Eddie!! 

I had chemo for lymphatic cancer a couple of years ago, and I think the trains helped me get through it even on days when I didn't have the strength to do more than just look at them. I can't think of another hobby that could do that.

@Sam posted:

i tell friends that my model train hobby is much less expensive than seeing a psychologist! We all need an escape from the constant pressures of todays society.

With the prices of trains these days, I'm not sure that holds true anymore !

At any rate, those of us that are still working in high stress occupations need to learn to decompress and "leave it at the office" so we can truly enjoy our hobby.

Running modern trains is therapeutic, right up until it isn't. I'll admit that having a major (read: expensive) breakdown can get me frustrated. At that time I either walk away for the day or break out the postwar, which always runs.

@MartyE posted:

I suspect that some folks here that participate in "Train Therapy" need another hobby to clam them down from this one.

Some certainly might be candidates for medication,

Myself, It's my escape from everything else.

Used to be my escape pod until I realized that sleep was sort of important.

Still getting small things done on the layout but mostly like to run trains to see if I can make improvements in their operation.

40 plus years on concrete and refrigeration has kept me involved with the physical therapist.     Severe Sciatica in both legs at different times (  issue solved with excellent therapist  )  ,.... displaced sacrum 3 times beginning when I was 38 ,....arthritis of course ,...bursitis,....near total rupture of the Achilles tendon ( misdiagnosed for 6 months ( finally diagnosed not by the three doctors but my favorite physical therapist  ),...total titanium hip replaced in right side in 2009,....and finally March 10 going to get the titanium treatment on the left hip.

My biggest problem coming up is that it might be a little while before I'll be able to visit the layout.  So far it has given me a desire to get up in the morning.

Many writings of how suffering would be a part of your life if you live long enough........couldn't find any writings that described how much fun it would be to run conventional and command control.

I have been in and out of the hobby for my entire life, But as I just checked from my joining of OGR in Feb of 2007 until today the linchpin to this hobby has been this forum, with the thought of "someday ", or "when I retire". Well both have arrived! Been retired for going on 10 months and the transition is strange to say the least. But I do have a nice 4x14 table set up in my 110 year house's crappy basement. Thought is this weekend to start on my plan for an O27 layout. Mets are on from FL and my chores are done.

My therapy begins here, to see what Arnold has posted, check out our sponsor's web sites,

I need to get the courage to start a building layout from the ground up post.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Arnold, Even being now retired, I need model railroad therapy.  I'm 5 years younger than you, but retirement was forced on me about 3 years ago.  Quite frankly, I don't know how you do it in the line of legal work of your specialty.  You definitely need model railroad therapy.

MARK, NOT ONLY DO I DO IT, BUT WHEN I DO IT, I ENJOY THE HOBBY ALL THE MORE!

MAY IT'S A FEELING OF ENTITLEMENT (LIKE I REALLY DESERVE IT WHEN I DO MY LIFE WORK INTENSELY), MAYBE ITS THE THOUGHT THAT I CAN WELL AFFORD THE EXTRAVAGANCE THAT THIS HOBBY IS WHEN BUSY AT MY LIFE WORK, MAYBE ITS THE THOUGHT THAT I REALLY NEED THE HOBBY BECAUSE I KNOW DEEP DOWN THAT I NEED THE JOY, THE ESCAPE AND PEACE THAT IT PROVIDES  AND, MOST LIKELY, ITS ALL OF THE ABOVE. ARNOLD

A former very good model railroader friend of mine, now fully retired,  told me: Arnold, don't completely retire from your life work.

I don't plan to do so.

I'm eternally grateful that my former friend gave me this advice.

In my heart he will always be my friend.

I wish him all the best that life has to offer.

And, I share his advice because for some, but not all, of us, it's very important and good advice.

At the age of 71, my life work has never been more "meaningful" to me. I almost said "enjoyed" but hesitated before typing that word because how can a divorce lawyer, even a primarily collaborative one like me, enjoy the work. When I thought that, the great book, Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel, popped into my head. Then I thought. Ah, Yes  "Meaningful," that's the right word.

I find my life work meaningful because I always do it ethically, I love giving legal advice, I always do my best when I do it, and I love helping someone out of a jam, I love being a peacemaker settling the cases whenever its possible  to make a fair and reasonable settlement, when in Court I love fighting passionately for a just cause, and I love making money to pay my bills to maintain my middle class lifestyle, and I love having my own business.

So, I share the wise and prophetic advice my old model railroader friend gave to me. Arnold

Arnold, I’m not surprised that you are a “go to guy”. However much you enjoy what you do, and obviously you do, there is an emotional toll that is paid. There could be something said for a brief stepping back, or, if you will, sabbatical.

Jay

@artyoung posted:

I had chemo for lymphatic cancer a couple of years ago, and I think the trains helped me get through it even on days when I didn't have the strength to do more than just look at them. I can't think of another hobby that could do that.

Arty, what you say is so profound and uplifting. Thanks so much for sharing this with us. Arnold

@bptBill posted:

My therapy begins here, to see what Arnold has posted, check out our sponsor's web sites,

Well, thank you Bill. As I've said before, the primary reason for my musings on the Forum is to entertain you all, my dear Forum friends, and myself.

I believe we all need an escape from the daily grind; each of us has a different daily grind, but the trains are a great escape; I love my career as an insurance agent, but it is stressful at times with deadlines, staying on top of compliance etc. so having a place to get away from the worries of work is a blessing--even when things within the hobby don't go as they should.

What pleases me the most about this thread is that I think we have all made the case for our hobby. Here, we have presented the proof to show that it is is intrinsically good.

I say yes, our trains, despite their cost. which may seem monumental at times (LOL), are worth it if we can afford them.

Our train layouts are an oasis of joy and happiness in a desert of stress and sorrow.

They help us keep our sanity.

They can inspire us to do our best in our life work; and our life work, especially when we do it well and make a good loving, can inspire us to be better at our hobby. buying more trains and improving our layouts.

They provide us with priceless connections, comraderie and nostalgia, keeping us connected to each other, to our beloved who are no longer with us, and to our family, friends and acquaintances.

Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

They provide us with priceless connections, comraderie and nostalgia, keeping us connected to each other, to our beloved who are no longer with us, and to our family, friends and acquaintances.

One adjustment I struggled with after college was the sudden lack of connections and camaraderie. It isn't present at my current work place. I'm fortunate to have a vast number of friends in my life but being around people pursuing the same degree meant being around people that were a lot more like me compared to my friends from childhood. I'm still friends with those childhood friends but the connection is different. We aren't suffering together when there's a thermodynamics exam next week on Tuesday and the second law is confusing. That's the difference.

Joining OGR and the NMRA has given me those connections like I had in college. It's also caused me to give those childhood friends a shot at model railroading and...would you believe they're interested?! No interest in building their own layout yet but the operating session I had on a 4x8 test layout with two sidings was a hit. It will easily become a social event in the future when there can be multiple operators at once.

This therapy gives me a place to unwind but that social connection is a big benefit for me as well. That's what I'm trying to say with my long-winded response

I've been considering early retirement because of the stress my tech job had put me under.   I have gotten a lot of good retirement advice from you guys on my layout thread.   You guys understand and I respect your perspective.   I've had some ups (starting a new government job soon) and downs (laid off from my tech job last month) lately.   My layout and trains and this community have been great therapy to give me something positive to focus on.   My train friend Craig recently let me run trains on his awesome South Fork railroad and for at least a day I forgot I was unemployed.   I've used the 'extra' time on my hands to use my hands to make significant progress on my layout.  I've published a few train videos on my Youtube channel and really enjoy all of the positive comments.   Now that the Pandemic is basically over I am looking forward to going to club meets, swaps and shows and put a face with that new train friend we made online.   Soon I'll return the favor and invite some friends over to run trains on my new layout.   Can anyone say 'group therapy session'?

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

A former very good model railroader friend of mine, now fully retired,  told me: Arnold, don't completely retire from your life work.

I don't plan to do so.

I'm eternally grateful that my former friend gave me this advice.

In my heart he will always be my friend.

I wish him all the best that life has to offer.

And, I share his advice because for some, but not all, of us, it's very important and good advice.

At the age of 71, my life work has never been more "meaningful" to me. I almost said "enjoyed" but hesitated before typing that word because how can a divorce lawyer, even a primarily collaborative one like me, enjoy the work. When I thought that, the great book, Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankel, popped into my head. Then I thought. Ah, Yes  "Meaningful," that's the right word.

I find my life work meaningful because I always do it ethically, I love giving legal advice, I always do my best when I do it, and I love helping someone out of a jam, I love being a peacemaker settling the cases whenever its possible  to make a fair and reasonable settlement, when in Court I love fighting passionately for a just cause, and I love making money to pay my bills to maintain my middle class lifestyle, and I love having my own business.

So, I share the wise and prophetic advice my old model railroader friend gave to me. Arnold

Arnold, your point is well taken!  You still view your work as beneficial to you because you are helping others.

My life’s work helped others (customers and others employees) but indirectly.  I seldom saw the end result; I was a a cog in the wheel.  I’m later years, I only saw coworkers in emails and occasional phone calls.  Very impersonal.  When I was let go the last time over a career of layoffs, I couldn’t find work I was qualified for.  Eventually, I just took social security to go with two pensions.  All that to say, I didn’t find the feeling of really helping others one on one like you do.  Bravo for what you do!!

I think my experience is similar to what young Bill is finding.  Aside from my Church, this forum is the only place to interact.  On the other hand, I’ve always been a fairly solitary person, so being immersed in the train room is therapeutic.

@Mark Boyce posted:

  Aside from my Church, this forum is the only place to interact.  On the other hand, I’ve always been a fairly solitary person, so being immersed in the train room is therapeutic.

Mark , " being immersed in the train room "   as a " fairly SOLITARY person "  must be awfully scary for you with all those  little O scale people running around on the layout.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

Mark , " being immersed in the train room "   as a " fairly SOLITARY person "  must be awfully scary for you with all those  little O scale people running around on the layout.

😆😆😆😆 That is scary!  That’s why our guard dog Bentley hangs out with me.

Reading all these replies is heartwarming. You are all wonderful people. We sure have something special here on the Forum.

@Mark Boyce posted:

😆😆😆😆 That is scary!  That’s why our guard dog Bentley hangs out with me.

Bently is one fearsome looking guard dog  .....................but kinda cute.

Dallas, he looks cute there, but if you stopped by the house you would see he makes an excellent guard dog.  He was a 6-year old rescue who grew up tough in Philly!  It is a long story how he made his way to the (almost) opposite diagonal corner of the state.  We have had him just 2 years.  Yes, he has needed a lot of therapy; very fitting for Arnold’s great topic.  If he was a soldier, you would say he is recovering from PTSD.  🐶

@Mark Boyce posted:

Dallas, he looks cute there, but if you stopped by the house you would see he makes an excellent guard dog.  He was a 6-year old rescue who grew up tough in Philly!  It is a long story how he made his way to the (almost) diagonal corner of the state.  We have had him just 2 years.  Yes, he has needed a lot of therapy; very fitting for Arnold’s great topic.

If he was a soldier, you would say he is recovering from PTSD.  🐶   I know what Bently is going through then.

@Dallas Joseph posted:

I know what Bentley is going through then.

I thought you may, since you were at Dong Ha!  Thank you again!

Arnold without a doubt you are a brilliant man and honestly, I've been waiting for you to bring up this topic.  I made myself a promise if and when you did I would chime in. My model trains and layouts through the years have been a sanctuary, therapy and a motivator. My business takes the majority of my time, so when I get down time it's up to the attic I go. I'll turn on the trains at a very slow speed and I'll let them run while I work on a project or read. More often, than not, I'll relax and fall asleep.   I've always told people I've met if I ever completely grow up I'll go insane.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

A former very good model railroader friend of mine, now fully retired,  told me: Arnold, don't completely retire from your life work.

I don't plan to do so.

Arnold, you are very lucky that in your line of work you can do this. I wish it were the same where I work but for me it is all or nothing. I would love to be able to get retirement and then be a part time worker but it can't be done where I work.

I agree time in the train room can be very therapeutic. Time seems to just pass by quickly for me down there. I wish I could spend more time there but I should be able to after I retire.

First, Mark, thank you and others for your prayers. Knowing others care is a therapy in itself.

I had wanted to attend a train meet in Mobile yesterday but at the last minute reality prevailed. I knew it would be challenging to travel even the short distance from Biloxi to Mobile, given my condition, and once there, I would be too distracted and self-conscious to enjoy the meet. Instead of giving in to disappointment, I spent the day in the train room discarding the unwanted, unneeded non-train items that were taking up valuable real estate under the layout. Each bundle of junk I disposed of was a joyful dose of therapy.

We all have our own storms in life and our trains offer solace and comfort during difficult times. At age 73, while I miss the job satisfaction of being a healthcare provider, I am thankful to be cancer-free and still physically able to crawl around under the layout. So, I say let the good times roll and I hope you all pass a good time.

@Mark Boyce posted:

I thought you may, since you were at Dong Ha!  Thank you again!

Always a privilege to serve. 🇺🇸

Therapy? Yes. However, for me, my train room is also medicinal - a drug if you will. I just walk in there and I feel like the weight of the world has lifted off my shoulders and a smile is put on my face. I don’t even need to run the trains. Just sitting there and looking at everything. Even the smell makes me feel good, LOL!