What’s your Spouse’s or Significant other’s attitude towards this Hobby?

My wife loves the hobby,  and enjoys going to Train Shows.  What more could

I ask for?  Oh yes a Lionel GG1 Post War Congressional Set in the box.  

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C

Not complaining because she's a wonderful wife in so many ways, BUT;  as for trains, she simply tolerates them.  No real interest or understanding.  I have a fairly large layout in the basement, but she would rather not have it there at all.  I simply negotiated for the use of the basement many years ago and so it's there.

 

As for real trains, not much interest or enthusiasm there.  Several years ago we took the Empire Builder out of Chicago to Glacier National Park and it was a "bore" and not a comfortable trip for her.  Haven't been able to get her onto another long distance train since then!   We did take the train to Mpls, some four or five years ago and then rode back to Milwaukee behind the #261 Mil Rd Northern, and, I guess, that was Okay because we're hoping to take another fan trip some time next year. 

 

I don't know if I envy you guys whose wives take a willing part in your train hobbies.  I'd  almost be afraid of making decisions that she would disagree with and then the fights could start.

 

Paul Fischer

My wife believes I "deserve" a hobby that helps me relax and get away from everything and thinks toy trains are a pretty good hobby because it keeps me close at hand - just a stairway away, should she need me or just wish to annoy me.  

 

She likes some aspects of my train layout, particularly the buildings and the detectives, but thinks I obsess over certain details (absolutely true), deliberately set myself up with overly difficult challenges in the projects I select to do (fairly close to the truth) and spend way too much money (not true at all - I only spend what is absolutely necessary to buy everything I must have!).  

 

Her only objection, echoed at least once if not more times a day is this.  Why do I need so many big, black, steam locomotives that look almost exactly a like.  I have tried to explain several times that, for example, I need both 3751 and 3759 because one has "3751" written on it and the other "3759" which is a significant difference, but she does not look at it that way.

My wife is the one who got me into trains!!  That should tell you the story.  I can't let her loose at York by herself

 

Paul Edgar

Supportive for the most part, though she doesn't completely understand why locomotive "A" is significantly different from locomotive "B". She's not too keen on an indoor home layout.

 

This is also a good time to mention that the seasonal "Sneaking the trains past the wife" threads are just "fishing stories" -- great tall tales meant to top other tall tales. We all know the wives know we're buying trains. Every one of these threads has one or two people who take it seriously.

 

 

Extremely supportive. Recently I told her of my desire to sell off the trains and move on to something else. She told me in no uncertain terms not to sell the trains, and to continue building the layout. Maybe she's afraid I'll find a really expensive hobby, like cars or plains, or other women.

She is part owner (together with our daughter & myself) of a meaningful portion of what can be found on our layout & shelves. and it is appropriate for her to expect that there will be something trainwize for her under the tree next week. 

While she certainly has never discouraged my interest in trains, my wife has as much interest in the hobby as I have in her shelves full of shoes.  She does enjoy attending some of my O gauge club functions though, such as our annual picnic or Christmas party.  I guess she likes these for the opportunity to visit with the other wives.

Curt

My wife Kathy loves the trains, loves I am close to her, appreciates how much it helps me stay active, enjoys train shows and meeting other hobbyist by going with me on visits.  She offers suggestions and kids me about the money spent.  She is not in the hobby because she is an accomplished quilter.  So we get to tease each other about the hours and money spent.  I am so thankful for my beautiful bride.  Ps, if you want to know anything about quilts, I've been to a bunch of quilt shows. Fair is fair.. LOL

My wife hates them and tells anyone who listens that she hates them.  She says "trains ruined my life." She is constantly trying to get me to sell off my train collection (and she is a big Ebay seller).

My wife for the most part is very supportive of my hobby. We have been married for almost 19 years. She does help me with my animation business that I build for train layouts which I have been doing for over 33 years now. She has been doing the painting and landscaping work for the animations that I build. 

 

When I first met her Christmas was at the bottom of her list of what she likes. Now this year I could not get our Christmas tree quick enough for her, she wanted it up before Thanksgiving.

 

When Lionel had their service center open house this past August we went as a family (with our 17 & 15 daughters) and we planned on stopping at Horse Shoe Curve which was also my 1st time there. Our oldest daughter did not care for it too much. But my wife enjoyed so much that she cannot wait to go back.

 

I do make it a point to buy her trains that go along with her love for the Army & Alien themes.

 

The little bit that is left from the most part of being supported, is my buying of trains. I do have a very bad habit of buying trains which I would love to see running on my layout. Which would not be a bad thing if I had room for a layout in our house which is being occupied by the mountains of trains in their boxes.

My wife is my endless source of encouragement for me in all that I do; my passion for my layout is no exception. 

Shannon is the first to talk about my trains in new enviornoments. She talks of the beautiful details and realism, of chugs and whistles, of towns that come to life with lights. She speaks proudly and in my mind paints a picture to others of my layout that is far brighter than I see it.

Shannon orders our tickets to trainshows well in advance and clears our calander. She also has a great relationship with our LHS and often surprises me with train items that are exactly what I hoped for. She has hiked with me miles into the Pennsylvania woods to see an obscure train bridge.

 

Shannon also encourages my train time when I look or seem stressed.

 

Best part of it all is she throws on a dress and a pair off heels and we go out for dinner and dancing, no talk of trains here.

 

Shannon somehow ensures my life stays in balance with family time, work time, play time and train time. I am blessed to have such a partner to battle though the crazy days of what I call the " new world order" that began around 2007. 

If it makes me happy she is for it. Very expensive though and she knows it. We spend many an evening downstairs. She is an accomplished piano player and I have live concerts while I play trains. Works well. Be both go to bed happier.

Try being 17 and explaining to your girlfriend what a whole room filled with trains is doing in your basement and you still ask for trains for Christmas. Actually she thinks they are cool and she knows they make me happy. In fact I taught her how to use Legacy and she got really excited when she ran a train with me. She does ask me why I still play with trains. I tell her I'm not playing, I'm modeling.

She's all for it. She even tries to claim ownership to a few of the engines, goes to the train shows with me, the club, and most important.... encourages the pusrchasing of more. Doesn't get much better than that! I'm usually the one that says NO, I'm not going to buy that one.

My wife just thinks I'm getting even more eccentric as I get older. Nothing I do or get involved in surprises her.

My wife is fine with it as long as I don't ask her questions like "Why do you need 86 cook books?" or a 40-pound $300. mixer, etc. Live and let live.

I started dating my wife 22 years ago.  I had a one bedroom apartment next to real railroad tracks with a 2' x 16' L shape N scale layout in the main small living area.  I guess from that day forward, she knew that trains would be a part of our life.  

Hey my wife loves trains. she gets to watch any tv while I'm in the basement for hours on end. Some day I will get around to posting a video on the layout 

Here we are on The Napa Valley Wine Train during the 2011 TCA Convention in Sacramento

KC,

    My wife accepts the fact that I constantly build & repair things, the O gauge train layout is just one of those projects, the fair sized 5 level layout was up in our game room and office for over 10 years.  She wanted to get involved with ceramic lighted housing, which turned out pretty darn cool.  Now I set the layout up at Christmas time, and it seems even more special to both of us.  Every time I talk about Tin Plate

houses, she tells me no way she likes the ceramic lighted houses much better. 

PCRR/Dave

 

This PRR bumper car belongs to my wife, she asked me to build it for her and I did.

 

My wife is fine with what I buy (I usually bring home junk box treasures) as long as a trp to the antique shop or country store is there for her. I have a permanent layout n the basement, and she lts me set up the Christmas platform after Thanksgiving and lets it stay up well after the holidays.

My wife and I have been married for 41 years and during that entire time she has remained essentially neutral on the issue of my train addiction.  She neither supports it or discourages it. However, she is very understanding about my love of toy trains to the extent that she doesn't complain when I take over the living room at Christmas time to set up a 6x12 Christmas layout under the tree.  Of course obtaining that 6x12 bit of turf took some gentle pressure being relentlessly applied over several years.  In the same token I do not attempt to interfere with anything she is interested in purchasing.  Each of us gives the other some wiggle room and that has worked for 41 years. 

My wife puts up with my love of trains .

"It cost HOW much?"

Ok so first off as much as she rolls her eyes, Michelle will be getting the first layout in the house.  A tinplate B&O 384 around the ceiling in the living room. My trains are ugly, her tinplate trains are pretty.

Now for the reality........

• Bring up trains, she rolls her eyes, BUT she kows what to ask and has a fairly decent knowledge of the hobby.
• We were traveling once and I said "Wow look at that there must be over 100 coal cars down there!"  She asked immediately" hmmm I wonder how many engines it took to pull those cars?" Then she got the most horrified look on her face and said "I CAN'T BELIEVE I ASKED THAT!!!!!"
• Ok she goes to every York I ask her to go to. She socializes with everyone and as long as she gets to watch her soap operas outside the orange hall sh is pretty content. She smiles at hugs from Ed Boyle and Steve Berneissen.
• Overall I cannot ask for more than this!!!!
• Her main thing though, is it keeps me off the streets!

Lucky to have a spouse of 41 years that is 100% supportive of my hobby - she has ridden in the cab of the 611 Class J at mainline speed as well as 4501 and 630. She has supported my interest in multiple gauges over the years including gauge one live steam locos, one of which cost $4500! 

Well my outher half don't care for the trains.

She relized that when she got me the trains came with me to.

We grew up together and all through school.

She know that was our familys bussness and I had collected for years.

 She dose here things and I do mine and outher things we do together.

It works better that way.

 

What do you think?

Scott Smith

A woman needs her own hobbies and interests. If busting your balls and making you miserable IS her hobby, it is time to cut your losses and move on. Life is too dang short to be unhappy.

Rob

My love and companion likes the trains and encourages me with them.  She realizes I need an outlet.  She likes to decorate and views the rolling stock as decoration.  She likes the pretty rolling stock.  She also enjoys going to train shows.  If I miss one, she wonders why.  But, she is the perfect mate, so why not?

I have been widowed and divorced, but both of my previous wives didn't criticize what I did for a hobby.  I have been lucky, I guess - a lot of heartaches, but also a lot of support and good memories.

I always thought I had it bad!

The other day I was making a list of trains to sell. She hates when I get new ones. She tells me not to sell any of the ones I have?? Good thing she doesn't like guns! It could be worse.

My wife is somewhat indifferent as long as my play money comes from selling or my part time job. Today though, she likes it. Christmas shopping money was starting to get thin until I got home from the TTOS SP meet and handed her a few hundred dollars for more shopping. Sales were good today.

 

Syeve

 

Rob; you're right!  My wife is indifferent mostly, I've got 34 years shift work in and counting, everybody else Is taken care of....  I truly enjoy the hobby to relax.  Lately she has been telling me that she will someday sell them all...I' m not sure im too comfortable with the comment...

She sure has a great sense of humor. I'll bet neither of you ever gets bored with the other. That's gotta be true love.

The ol' lady ( heh... my girlfriend) tolerates them and enjoys the scenery aspect of it all. She didn't really understand it until I pointed out that it was basically creating a fantasy world for yourself where the streets are clean, people are friendly and the corner store always has what you want. She likes the old tin Marx stuff I've got, not so much on the newer plasticy things but she does realize, the hobby as a whole is one of my outlets besides working on vintage cars (which can get kinda expensive) and blasting paper and 4 legged, hooved animals.

 

At least it keeps me out of the bars, off the streets and away from the drugs

My wife is extremely supportive and has been bugging me for a PE around our Christmas Tree. 

You would think she would be happy your out of her hair for a few hours. I have be buying trains and fixing them for 25 years and never once has she said your spending to much time or money on this hobby. She loves to show off my layout to all the kids and her friends Guess I'm very lucky 

About 20 years ago my ex said "either those trains gotta go or I go."

At first I really missed her...........

 

Rod

Well, this year she was working out of town and I set up a new train table that takes over 1/3 of our family room.  When she got home, not too happy.  I tried to explain it was for the grand kids.  She ain't buying it.