Question - Are you into real trains and models?

I'm interested in both model and prototype.  Have been most of my life.

 

Rusty

I don't have any interest in real trains because that's what I do for a living

Actually I like real trains....but nothing modern. Older stuff, restored steam engines, the history of Santa Fe.... climbing up and down the real thing does nothing for me but pay my bills lol

 

Sure, from the first NYNH & H passenger train I saw at Union Station in Providence. Started a love of trains (both real and model) from that time forward.

Well....kinda somewhere in between....like you, I don't get a buzz watching model trains circle the racetrack, but want them to go somewhere, get there, and deliver something...that is, point to point.  And as for real trains, I care nothing about modern

diesels, but will ride behind steam wherever I can find it.  And I am interested in the

history of old railroads and the industries they served.  I travel to see that.  My idea

of a train is a steamer in front, forty foot cars behind, and a caboose behind that,

unless we are talking narrow gauge, in which case you can substitute thirty foot cars.

I'm into both, although I prefer older stuff - restored steam engines, history of fallen flags, etc. 

Yes!

Art

I'm usually even happy to see the gates come down and have to wait and watch a train go by.  Me to.

 

Since I live very close to the CSX yard (AKA Clinchfield Rail Road ) here in Erwin, TN. It's mandatory in the day and night to get to hear all the whistles and bells as they work through the area and coming out of the mountains. I love it.

 

The sounds really echo down here in the valley when there coming over the mountains.

 

I'm a toy train type, however I guess you could say I'm between toy and VERY real. I don't get into trying to create the teal trains as you do.

 

Actually I just enjoy all types TRAINS PERIOD.

 

Larry

When I first started, and I was quite young, I did not have much interest in prototype (real trains).

 

As I drifted from Lionel into scale modeling, I became more and more interested in real trains.    You about have to be if you are going to model them.

 

I have no problem with the collectors but it is not where I enjoy being.   I can appreciate collections and love to look at the old stuff especially.

Yes both!

Yes.

 

 

Some very interesting replies.

 

I guess if you work for a real railroad that might put a different perspective on things.  In fact it's interesting that you love models after working around real ones all day long.

 

All my mother's family worked for the railroad and I loved listening to them talking about it.  My grandfather was so much fun to talk to about railroading.  None of them were engineers, but worked in track maintenance and management of it.  My grandfather lived in his retirement years in a house trailer parked on railroad land beside the M&StL mainline in Sheffield, Iowa.  When a manifest freight would barrel through town, it would shake the trailer.  Fun times for a young boy that loved trains.

 

Art

Yes! The two usually go hand and hand. However, based on my experience most railroad workers are not railfans or modelers. It is just a job and a good one.

Absolutely!

Curt

I'm pretty much just into my toy trains (yes they're all toys to me whether old scout engines or brand new legacy stuff).

 

I like real trains, but I don't go out of my way to find or look at them.

 

To me, the O gauge hobby is just a relaxing way to divert my attention from other things.

Actually, I know a few people who are huge into model trains, but have no interest in going out looking for the real ones at all.

Been a fan of real-life trains since I was two (according to my parents). My late grandmother used to tell me how when she drove me around (back when I was between 2 and 5), every time we stopped at a crossing when a Southern Pacific freight was passing by, I would get super excited and wave to the train. I was a huge fan of Thomas the Tank engine as well (owned the original book collection by the author and used to watch Shining Time Station whenever it aired on PBS when I was young). 

 

I have been fortunate enough to visit the great California State Railroad Museum three times in my life, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is a fan of trains. They have a great collection of locomotives, from old-time steamers to the massive Southern Pacific #4294 AC-12 4-8-8-4 Cab Forward locomotive and some SP, ATSF, WP, and Amtrak diesel power as well.

 

My grandmother once drove me into town in the late spring/early summer of 2007 (?) when Union Pacific #844 was supposed to make a short stop in town. Unfortunately, it was running late, and instead of stopping in town it just thundered past trying to make up for lost time. It was pretty awesome watching that locomotive rumble past at speed, and the whistle was hauntingly fantastic each and every time the engineer used it.

 

Every now and then, when I get the chance, I go rail-fanning in Chico and Durham, taking photos of the Union Pacific freights that make their way through our area on the old Southern Pacific tracks. Perhaps one day I will go to Oroville and try to get photos of the old Western Pacific yard that the UP now uses for switching. Shame that the old roundhouse burnt down (you can still see the rough outline of the roundhouse and turntable area on Google Earth). 

 

As for model trains, I got my first HO set (Life-Like Santa Fe freight set, the one with the GP unit) when I turned seven (1997). My dad made a small layout for me on a 4x8 table and until the summer of 1999, I had it in my room running my original trains along with other additions my grandmother had purchased. The old HO layout was removed later that year (before Christmas) and put away.

 

As for O gauge trains, my grandmother got me my 1st Lionel train set (2001 Santa Fe 4-6-4 O27 set with box car, log car, horse car, and lighted caboose) for Christmas when I was eleven. My dad put together a 5x10 layout for me to run it on. Until the fall of 2005, it sat in the garage, with me using it from time to time. Sadly, my interest in model railroading got lost among the video gaming, sports, and other things that I got interested in, and I began to neglect (not use) the layout. Father finally tore it down in the summer of 2006 to make room for storing stuff. Stored my trains away and in 2013 I started getting back in model railroading (planning new layout and pooling together funds to expand my locomotive/rolling stock roster). 

 

TL;DR: I have loved real-life trains since I was two years of age and model trains since my first HO set when I was seven. Got into O Gauge when I was eleven. I rail-fan from time to time and take photos of UP freights rolling through town on old SP tracks. 

I disagree. Having been in the railroad motive power industry for more than 52 years plus was born into a railroad family, thus I have been involved with model railroading and real railroads all my life. I have found that the majority of model railroaders that and toy train "collectors" that I have met, really have no interest in real railroading at all.

I discovered, much to my surprise, that I have no interest in real trains. I learned this about myself after visiting the B&O Museum in Baltimore. I was pretty bored...except for the outdoor model train layout they have in the children's play area. We also once went to the B&O mini-museum in Ellicott City. Again, not that interesting, except for the nicely done HO layout they have. Waiting for a train at a crossing...boring. Commuting...even worse than boring.

 

What I do find interesting though is when I'm driving over a crossing of an old abandoned rail line, I'll look up and down the track and wonder where it came from and where it went. I'll even research old maps.

I have been playing with toy trains for a long time. My interest in real trains is minimal.

Sounds like some people I met at a model building contest I was invited to be a judge for several years ago (in the subject of military land vehicles, as I own a WW2 Jeep and was a Army officer in heavy mechanized units). I found that many of the builders liked the research but almost none of them wanted to get a ride on a real tank or Humvee at an event which was coming up. That really surprised me. Most had no interest in going to see the real thing.

I also grew up watching real trains - my parents would take me down to the Effingham station with the double diamonds of the IC and PRR providing lots of action.  Eventually received Lionel trains as a kid and still enjoy both today. 

I'm involved in modeling because of my passion for railroading. I personally wouldn't have developed a desire for model trains without first having developed an interest in the real thing.

 

Bob      

No, other than looking at mid week photos here on the forum.

Well I guess I like both. I relax with my basement railroad and relax aboard Amtrak

 

Clem

Love both.

I enjoy REAL trains. Try to ride as many tourist R. R. s as possible.  Have ben on only 12 to 15 so far. Many more to go.  I really enjoyed the Durango and Silverton.  I got an engine cab ride on the one at Fillmore, California . Also had a great time on the Napa Valley Wine Train. One of the neatest was the one at Canon City, Colorado where the train is actually suspended out over the raging river below.  There are lots out there to enjoy.  Someday I want to take the Rocky Mountaineer from Calgary to Vancouver.

Yes, interested in both. The roads I model are directly influenced by what I see locally, or remember from my past.

 

If I'm out and about and hear a train horn, I'll nearly always go out of my way to go watch the train. These days, I get a real thrill to see a freight car in a fallen flag from years ago.

 

Where I draw a line is on my layout. Whereas I do enjoy modeling current roads, I don't need exact replications on my layout. With 027 curves, most modern style locos can't make my tight curves, or would look ridiculous doing so. So while Norfolk Southern isn't running Alco FA's or S-4's, they are on my layout.

YES!!!!!  Been into modeling since my dad got our first Lionel back in the early 50's.  My first job after graduating high school was with the Union RR just outside of Pittsburgh, PA. when I was only 18 as a yard clerk.  BORING.  I really wanted to be a brakeman but when they saw that I could type...well, so much for brakeman.  Then to Norfolk Southern later in life as conductor. 

 

As for me, I like all prototype trains but prefer modern engines and equipment.

 

I, too, find myself 'lucky' when those gates go down in front of me.

 

Rick

One of biggest regrets is that I wasn't able to ride any of the famous passenger trains before Amtrak.  I would have loved to have been on any of the Santa Fe trains or the California Zephyr.  So, now I have to be content with modeling them in O gauge or riding on local rail excursions.

 

The biggest thing I miss about steam engines was listening to their whistles at night as a boy.  I would dream about being on that train and where it was going.  Diesels are cool, but there was just something special about those old steam engines whistles. 

 

Art

I enjoy watching real trains almost as much as I like running model trains.  If I actually had the opportunity to operate a real engine I'd probably say that I like running model trains almost as much as operating real trains.

same here

Love both.

Art,

I remember the twilight of the NKP Berkshires steamers as they ran through Hammond,In., in the late 50's,my wife's father used to take her to Harrison Park on Sunday mornings and they watched the NKP Berks,the tracks were on the East side of this park.

In the past, when we were on vacation were rode steam locomotive scenic railroads at the Western Maryland, Cumbres and Toltec, Durango and Silverton and Tennessee Valley Railroads. I also remember the first generation diesels that through South Cook County and Chicago Heights, my family hometown, in the 50's, vaguely remember steam locomotives on the Milwaukee Road later diesel, and the diesels on the NYC, C&EI, EJ&E(Baldwin Center Cabs) and Monon in Indiana. These are long ago fallen flags but they live on are part of my model railroad of the Calumet Region in the 1950's.

 

We like both, steam and diesel engines , these real engines that my wife and I grew up with definitely influenced us towards model railroading.

Way too young to have seen active steam (I was born in 1969), other than the North American Rayon fireless cooker at Elziabethton, TN when I was a kid.

I'm very lucky yo have an active shortline RR (the Puget Sound and Pacific) that I can actually see if I step out of my front door and can hear easily.

And there's a very busy 2-track main used by BNSF/UP/Amtrak. We have a depot nearby for the Amtrak Cascades, too. And I have more than a couple of tourist RRs within 100 miles of my house (one is less than 25 miles away), most of which run steam. Not to mention that SP 4449 and SP&S 700 aren't that terribly far from here either...

Where I grew up in North Florida, we had what is now the CSX (former SAL) East-West main from LA to jacksonville. It's a single-track main which I swear was grown over with weeds a couple of years ago while CSX was trying to leverage Amtrak into investing in PTC by claiming limited traffic (by directing traffic up through Southern Georgia). My wife and I visited my parents each year the past few years and we've gone an entire week on several occasions there never having even heard a train, and we always stay in a hotel near the tracks! So, after growing up with almost no trains to look at and no tourist RRs or good museums within a 5+ hour drive, I'm in heaven in that regard where I live now.

I too work on the real thing and enjoy my models occasionally in the little free time I get away from work and school.  The locomotives I work on are the same ones I grew up riding behind during my summers.  A lack of free time between work and school has pushed my models/toys somewhat to the back burner, but I do get the bug to run them occasionally and also have plenty on shelves to admire while I go about my day.  I also have a couple model and toy train projects on my workbench that I tinker with in my free time.

Absolutely.  I have been interested in both for as long as I can remember.  I loved going down to the Binghamton, NY, DL&W station and watching the huge streamlined diesels pull in.  The size, sounds and power were fascinating to me even as a kid.  And the conductors in their crisp uniforms, and the (seemingly grouchy but probably simply busy) baggage handlers.  Later on, railroad history, its effect on the USA's development, the Civil War and such became of interest.  I very much enjoy going to RR museums and tourist lines.

 

I don't mind stopping at a crossing either, but don't chase trains with a radio or anything.

I am a lifelong model railroader and casual railfan, who as an adult hired on the real thing, and spent 40 years in the industry, My family was not a railroad family per se. One grandfather worked for ACF, and the other, Pullman. Uncle Charlie worked for the Chicago Tunnel Company, and then the Soo Line briefly, and retired from the B&O Chicago Terminal. My father worked a while on the AT&SF after he mustered out of the Marines, but quit to go into business with his brother. A cousin worked for the C&O while he was in college.

I'll retire by summer, but for now I put in my hours, and come home and still involve myself in the hobby. My sister says there's something wrong with me.

Yes, I have always liked both.  One fuels the other for me.  I see something on the prototype, I am interested in replicating it in model form.  Likewise, I may be stumped on how to properly implement a concept on the model, so I look at the prototype (or at least a "close-enough") for reference.

I am spotting more and more the inaccuracies in my model equipment, both O and HO, but I don't let it bother me.  I agree that loop-running doesn't hold my attention, especially on a 4x6 table top, and am really trying hard to avoid the "train set" look.  (I admit I have a lot of train set-quality equipment, but how I intend to use it is what I'm talking about.  Introducing operations turns a model railroad into something of a giant board game.  I have been looking into developing fictional scenarios while maintaining loosely prototypical equipment and practices.  I have my favorite roads, and do research them relatively frequently, but my interests are really too broad to stay absolutely prototypical.