Our Therapy

DaveP posted:

Flashback to the mid-1970’s, holed up in my parents basement in the throes of fall/winter, running my Tyco/Cox/Bachmann HO trains on a 4x8 board filled with Plasticville and Matchbox cars, listening to 77 WABC on my green Panasonic panapet ball radio or the newly discovered WPLJ with Tony Pig over the FM airways... Return to the present, running my Lionel/Atlas/K-line etc. on a 5x9 fully scenicked layout, listening to ‘airchecks’ of WABC or WPLJ played on my Lionel Bluetooth radio tower, enjoying a cup of coffee and watching trains on a Sunday morning thinking back to those days. 

Well Dave, you must remember Harry Harrison, in the morning, and your Cousin Brucie, in the evening'... No station to date has replicated  ABC'. Personally I listened to WNEW, & WHN.  But, in the car it was always ABC...

When out west, KCMO, Kansas City, Missouri , did remind me of ABC...

I often wonder what happened'... I guess every generation says the same thing'.. But really what happened'..........???

Just hearing that familiar click of the basement door knob and stepping down into my world peels away business pressure and instantly enmeshes me into the calm of accomplished creativity and contemplation of future development.

Maybe I should change the title of this topic, which I started about 1 year ago, to "My Therapy" for the reasons stated below. Not that I feel it's all about me. It's much preferable to be inclusive, and share something that has universal appeal, that enables us to learn from each other, hence the original title: "Our Therapy."

It's now a little past 2 AM in the NYC suburbs where I live. Many of you must be thinking, what a nut case I am to be writing this at such an ungodly hour when most sane people are getting a good night sleep. LOL.

Truth is, I'm now in a very good place mentally and emotionally, and one important reason for that is my O Gauge trains and layout.

Now, I will explain why, which I hope you all can relate to.

An example of why my trains are good therapy for me is what happened this evening. I fell asleep at about 10 PM and slept until 1 AM. After tossing and turning a bit, I decided not to disturb my wife's sleep, went downstairs and watched a few minutes of TV. Then, I decided to do something productive, so I went further downstairs! LOL!

Lately, I've never been more thrilled about my trains and layout, now that the 9 sidings as well as the two main lines are powered by two brand new Z4000s, one of which I purchased today. Boy, I am feeling good with four Z4000 throttles in my hands. I have big hands! Laughing even louder (LEL)! I did the respectable thing and ran my quiet trains in my basement so as not to disturb my wife's sleep.

Then, something unexpected happened. I suddenly lost power to several of my sidings. So, I carefully examined the wiring in and about the Z4000s, and everything seemed to be in order. Next, I examined my heavy duty Atlas connectors and was able to diagnose the problem: one wire from one of the Z4000s that had been soldered to an Atlas connector became detached.

At that point, I'm on a mission, and quickly resoldered that wire in place on the Atlas connector, and all was well with the world again. Problem completely solved.

I'm now primed to have sweet dreams.

Can you relate to this saga?

One more thing about My Therapy.

I am a divorce lawyer by profession. Now that I'm 68 years old, most of my practice is collaborative and mediation, which is a lot less stressful for me, and which I love, and plan to never stop doing. However, I have a couple of pending divorce litigations. 

My trains and layout greatly help me cope with the stress I sometimes experience representing clients in divorce court. That is because: " In my little world I leave this troubled world behind."

For those of you engaged in hard, stressful work to make a living, or for those of you with something going on in your life that is very challenging,  it is very possible that your trains and layout can be your salvation, as it has been for me at times in my life.

Good night and sweet Dreams, my fine Forum friends. Arnold

O Scale Newbee, let me take the chance again to welcome you to the hobby and this Forum!  You will certainly get the help you need in the hobby here, and in comradery with folks in your line of work or family situations.  Arnold is certainly one who can lift your spirits when you are down!!  I have friends here who can relate to my background in electric power utilities and telecom.  After 43 years in that line of work, I was just about spent.  I don't know how you attorneys do it!!

With out O-gauge trains, Illinois Railway Museum, Pioneer Zephyr at CMSI, train shows, & BRHS meets, I would be spending my spare time & money on the proverbial "Wine, Women, & Song".  

Because of our train hobbies & addictions, our spouses & families can trust that we "stay on track" when we venture out into the world.

😀🤣😂😅😄🚂🚃🚋🚞🚝🚄🚅🚈🚂🚆🚇🛫🚉

I was on line today teaching for 5 and a half hours.   Had an occasional short break here and there.  Upon finishing I went straight to the train room and that is where I stayed for the next 90 minutes.    Cleared my head by watching the trains run, tweaking some scenery, created some scenes and photographing them.  Also allowed my imagination go and envision possible changes to the layout.  

As the trains ran, I took a few moments to reminisce as my eyes slowly scanned the layout.... seeing items that go back to my first electric train set, a circle of track under the Christmas tree, when I was 4 years old.... then 5 ... and 6 and so forth until present day. Wonderful memories!   Great therapy!! 

40 years of ICU/ER Respiratory Therapy.... now at a height of stress unimaginable!

I am of service to my community, my trains are my therapy.

down to the basement I go, ZW green light on, ozone fills the air, lights and mechanical sounds of many wondrous activities, snapping 022’s, A few accessories run with a button activated,  The  Plasticville hospital is calm as in the 50’s. 
I am fortunate to feel Good.

CBQ Bill, my wife has said something similar about me and my trains, to wit: at least I know he is in the basement with his trains and not gallivanting around with another woman. LOL.

Patrick, I bet almost all of us (definitely me) can relate to what you say. Like you, I still treasure my 1st trains that ran around the Christmas tree when I was an infant, and for many Christmases thereafter. We are very lucky that those 1st trains were not thrown out or given away, and that we still have them. It is a testament to Lionel that our Postwar trains from the 1950s are as reliable, durable and well made as they are. And, what better way is there to take a break from work and clear one's head, as you say, than retreat to our layouts, tweak the scenes and scenery, and run trains.

Leroof, you are a hero, doing the work you do as a respiratory therapist during these times. Like the Italians did during the height of their Covid 19 crisis, I metaphorically and literally throw open my window and sing in praise of you and our other our medical workers. Nothing pleases me more than that your trains are serving as a refuge for you, and I love what you said about that green light on the ZW, the ozone filling the air, the snapping 022s, and especially that all is calm at your Plasticville Hospital! What powerful symbols!

Arnold

The world needs more lawyers like you, Arnold.

Model railroad nostalgia can be good therapy, at least it is for me. 

My first train set was the Lionel 1519 WS  freight set of 1954, also known as the Greenball Express. I did not know that is what it's called until I recently found out on this Forum. It was a great set, with operating cars, a remote control track and switches that provided great play value, a 1033 transformer and an iron horse baby Hudson locomotive. Here is a short video of it comin' round the bend:

I have had this set since 1954 when I was 3, so I have gotten more therapy from it than any other trains. LOL. Arnold

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

My first train set was the Lionel 1519 WS  freight set of 1954, also known as the Greenball Express. I did not know that is what it's called until I recently found out on this Forum. It was a great set, with operating cars, a remote control track and switches that provided great play value, a 1033 transformer and an iron horse baby Hudson locomotive. Here is a short video of it comin' round the bend:

 

I have had this set since 1954 when I was 3, so I have gotten more therapy from it than any other trains. LOL. Arnold

Arnold,

Your train set looks in pristine condition, like it came fresh out of the box!

And I think this fabulous song is perfect addition to this thread where we are talking about our shared therapy/passion 

Bryce

Bryce, that is very appropriate to add Arnold's song to this topic!!

Sitting here getting , O Gauge Forum therapy, headphones on Mets and Braves real baseball!

Arnold I'm sure your happy real games are back!

I'm sure Arnold will agree that is good therapy, Bill!  Trains and Baseball. 

The Pirates are playing in Saint Louis this evening!  Maybe they can actually get to the playoffs again with a short season and 16 teams making the playoffs!!   

It is interesting for me that my own modeling has taken a back seat to the work I do for Scott Mann.  I love it.  The research, the relationships, seeing the small details in what are often the worst of photos, and then being part of a team that helps bring it to model form is truly therapy.  The last delivered project, the F3s, are just outstanding models.  There is a pride to having a role, even if it's a small one in the success of that project. 

I might as well call myself a collector at this point.