What would you say it is? I would say the shows
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I'll offer Picking up your first Pre-Ordered Engine.
Or Perhaps your latest one, heh
To me it's being able to take a locomotive that's ~60 years old, and without doing anything but cleaning and lubing it, go put it on the track and have it take off runnin'.
Pete
Since I don't have a permanent layout, probably the yearly collection move from the east side of Detroit, to the West side to put together my Redford Theatre display. It's a ton of work, but thousands of people get to enjoy it each year.
Originally Posted by Russell:
I'll offer Picking up your first Pre-Ordered Engine.
Or Perhaps your latest one, heh
I can't wait, I'm in this situation waiting on a new locomotive to arrive! It's about to kill me and I'm not the impatient type either!
Originally Posted by Texas Pete:
To me it's being able to take a locomotive that's ~60 years old, and without doing anything but cleaning and lubing it, go put it on the track and have it take off runnin'.
Pete
I like this also, my dad's Lionel trains are a blast. He gave me a #675 last year, a basket of parts and I had it running a few days later. We were both so excited!
My favorite part of O Scale is the size of scale steam engines. Nothing like it.
The great FRIENDS that you meet along the O-Gauge railroad tracks.
I have trains in ALL scales....
O scale is the best because it offers the best size and detail for (old guys) me to handle. It also is head over heels in accessories and availability over S or OO. It tracks better and runs more reliably than HO or TT. N and Z are just too small and I do not have enough inside room for G.
And to (para)quote part of a Langston Hughes poem
And it is just fine
Thank God it's mine....
Swinging my 20 oz hammer when it's time to dismantle the old display in order to make room for the new one.
Nostalgia is a big factor, especially in its association with Christmas.
I would also say, for traditional-sized trains, at least: more opportunity in less space. The selective compression of the trains, combined with clever engineering (such as truck-mounted pilots), allows O gauge trains to operate in an area that can even be smaller than what's required for HO scale. Passenger cars in O abound that can negotiate O31, but you'd be hard pressed to find any in HO that are rated for anything smaller than 24" radius (roughly O48).
I would also say, for traditional-sized trains, at least: more opportunity in less space. The selective compression of the trains, combined with clever engineering (such as truck-mounted pilots), allows O gauge trains to operate in an area that can even be smaller than what's required for HO scale. Passenger cars in O abound that can negotiate O31, but you'd be hard pressed to find any in HO that are rated for anything smaller than 24" radius (roughly O48).
Most exciting: running the trains!
The fact that there is so much of it from which to choose. I spent 40 years collecting American Flyer and then switched to O gauge. The collection is bursting at the seams, there is so much to buy, modify, and play with.
For me, probably the details and realism. You just can't get that in other scales.
The memories that a father and son built together over the years…..
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O gauge hands down beats all other scales for being user friendly. I tried to put a HO layout together and canceled those plans as soon as it came time to laying the track and switches. I traded all my HO stuff for more O gauge fun.
The trains.
Passenger Train Collector hit the nail on the head...it's the friends you make!
-Greg
-Greg
Originally Posted by Texas Pete:
To me it's being able to take a locomotive that's ~60 years old, and without doing anything but cleaning and lubing it, go put it on the track and have it take off runnin'.
Pete
I'll add to that by saying taking someone else's discarded piece of junk that is headed for the trash and bring it back to life with minimal effort. and you do meet some pretty good people.
PTC summed it up for me.
It has to be the friends you make.
It has to be the friends you make.
The memories that a father and son built together over the years…..
You said it Stephen! My son and I are having a blast.
Ron
Smooth running trains that are older than me! Trains big enough to make their own clickity-clack and AC power! LOL
Yes, Passenger Train Collector hit the nail on the head, It's the Friends in and Around the Hobby That Makes it Fun, Rewarding, and Fulfilling. Yes, Father and Son relationships are Icing on the Cake....Happy Railroading...
I can't say a favorite part of the hobby because I enjoy it all. Planning and figuring out to get as much action into ( for me) a small layout, creating my own crazy ideas along with using great plans from others and bringing it all together. The friendship, information, wisdom, and help from the greatest minds in the hobby right here on the OGR forums. Now if I could stop falling apart and get healed up maybe someday I'll get this layout up & running. Rehabbing from major rotator cuff surgery, had several bad tears and had to be cut open to have it fixed couldn't be scoped so can't do much with arm in a sling but doing physical therapy to stretch all the tendons out at least 2 more weeks of just that before the real work starts , NOT FUN but hopefully in a few months maybe I can get back to work & working on the layout. Enjoy your layouts ! God Bless you all and have a safe Happy New Year!
For me it's the interaction between freight cars and operating accessories. You can watch trains run around a track in any scale, surrounded by simple or realistic scenery, but only this scale allows you to move logs, coal and scrap metal endlessly back and forth for loads of additional fun (OK, I'll give the nod to S gauge for the same qualities)
I modeled in smaller scales for over 40 years. For me the most exciting part is I can see the details and can handle the parts again. I am really impressed with the detail, sound, smoke; the overall WOW effect that's just wasn't there in smaller scales.
