Why didnt you choose that other hobby instead of toy trains

 I have other hobbies, I just like my trains the best. I have a rather huge collection of diecast cars and trucks. In fact, diecast collecting lead me to trains. I received a Christmas catalog from Matchbox, and it included an HO set that I thought would look good under my Christmas tree. That jump started the whole danged thing. I don't buy much diecast anymore, only models that will fit on my layout, or certain models that just really jump out at me. However, I still like to move around my displays, and I'm getting ready to build a new display case for more cars.

 I'm also really into old horror and sci-fi movies, collecting DVD's and even the occasional action figures and movie posters. A large horror convention is held twice a year in my hometown, so I make it over there at least once a year.

 Then there are my Jeeps. I've had my 1981 Scrambler for over 30 years now. It is in rough shape these days, but it is mechanically sound and can run through the trails with the best of them. I also have a 2005 Rubicon that I've been driving for the last 10 years, and I'm currently investing in a lot of upgrades as I prepare to pass it on to my son.

 To address the original question, my old hobbies were basically drinking and smoking. I found that those ran contrary to my desire to remain married, so I decided to leave them behind. Toys and trains were my way of filling the time, which is probably why my wife never complains about my current hobbies.

Hmmm, not sure.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFYugShhLA4

Having multiple hobbies helps in that when I get tired or uninspired with one hobby, I can take a break and switch.  Hobbies have come and gone with me, as well, but trains are here to stay.

Andy

Model trains, real trains, shooting, playing low brass, guitar, and traveling are ALL enjoyable to me. Model RRing is right at the top of my interests though.

aussteve posted:

I don't know what they all are but to name a few: remote car/airplanes; stamp collecting; wood carving; beanie babies; antiques; knives; guns; automobiles; plastic models of ships/cars; military dioramas; sports memorabilia; thimbles; picture art; books; baseball cards; postcards; etc.  The list could get quite long.

What makes you think we limit ourselves to one hobby?  Trains and shooting are both hobbies for me.

For many years I was a cartoonist/occasional characaturist (sp?), finally focusing on being a "CARtoonist", drawing spoofs of movie posters, TV shows, cartoon and comic characters, and other things from popular culture. My single panel cartoons used antique and contemporary cars and trucks with "faces" that suggested the characters or punch line.  My main character's name was Vigilante Volkswagen, a 1979 4-door Rabbit with an attitude.  That was one of my favorite cars in real life.  Vigilante VW had a side kick named Mr. V, a bug with a mohawk and lots of gold chains.  This was prior to the Cars animated movies and it was always a fantasy of mine to script and draw a full-length animation.  Unfortunately, it took me too long and too many weekends to draw a single panel to make any $ off of it.  But drawing and planning jokes satisfied my ongoing desire to make people laugh without having to "stand up". 

I was a multiinstrumentalist and lead singer for about three decades (rock and jazz).  But 6-plus years of ongoing elder care and four more years of a part-time doctoral program have completely halted that wonderful and fulfilling hobby. My PhD subject is history (religion, law, rioting) and I love old architecture and history - especially train stations and real diners.  Prior to these grown-up world responsibilities, I used to photograph both types of structures.  I took general architectural and landscape photos for fun and also created art cards using a cheap digital and old but decent film cameras.

Two years' ago, I tried creating Lego sculptures/buildings as an artistic outlet but got frustrated by the high cost and difficulty of finding the right pieces in the right colors.  It was a peon to my childhood days of American Bricks and Kenner Girders and Beams.  For the money, I get more satisfaction and less frustration with trains.

I still casually collect coins but only from circulation -- something my father and great uncle helped start.

So trains it is. It's a bit more physical - what with setting up and tearing down the track on the floor for the cleaning lady. Then there are the sights and sounds, memories, prototypes, imagination gone wild; and as others have said, it can be so meditative and relaxing for those of us with stressful jobs.  And like the coins, it keeps me connected to prior generations.  Maybe someday I'll get into the art aspect of the hobby and renew that interest.  So far I haven't "seen" any faces in locomotives nor come up with any "riveting" punch lines (get it?) but I have found myself pondering it ...

Tomlinson Run Railroad

I do have another hobby. I'm also a Amateur (Ham) Radio operator. Have been for almost 20yrs. You go down into my man cave and the radios are right next to the layout so while I'm running my TMCC stuff, I talk on the radio. I spend more time with the trains though.

It is generational? I love my trains not just O but G and N. I also dabble in model building for  indoor hobbies, including reading OGR and other hobby magazines.  Outdoor hobbies, downhill skiing in New Hampshire in the winter. Lake and Ocean Boating, swimming and fishing in the summer. 

Don't have time in my schedule for sports other than personal work outs......and then, I can't play golf or tennis worth a ****. Lousy swimmer. Dislike cards and gambling......got brainwashed at an early age by my grandparents.....Maternal grandfather used to carry me on his shoulder to see the number 6 EL at Middletown Rd in the Bronx. Paternal grandparents live next to the New Haven main line before 95 was built. I watch McGinnis liveried engines whiz by up close......Trains were thus inevitable.

Peter

I love trains.  I brew beer too.  Both provide their own level of satisfaction.

TomlinsonRunRR posted:

For many years I was a cartoonist/occasional characaturist (sp?), finally focusing on being a "CARtoonist", drawing spoofs of movie posters, TV shows, cartoon and comic characters, and other things from popular culture.  

I have done cartoons for various publications over the years and was the staff cartoonist for a history-themed magazine out of the UK before it went belly-up.

I've known several cartoonists and comic book artists over the years and was surprised to find that many of them are 1:1 or model train fans. Many are also into old airplanes, as well. Beats me why.

p51 posted:

TomlinsonRunRR posted:

For many years I was a cartoonist/occasional characaturist (sp?), finally focusing on being a "CARtoonist", drawing spoofs of movie posters, TV shows, cartoon and comic characters, and other things from popular culture.  

I have done cartoons for various publications over the years and was the staff cartoonist for a history-themed magazine out of the UK before it went belly-up.

I've known several cartoonists and comic book artists over the years and was surprised to find that many of them are 1:1 or model train fans. Many are also into old airplanes, as well. Beats me why.

Very nice work, Lee!  And an interesting suggested connection/observation about hobby overlap.  It would be interesting to explore the "why" someday ...  I also had an undeveloped airplane character, Connie the Constellation.  There's something appealing about old aircraft as well, and I loved the WW2 aircraft with "faces".  There are several private pilots and one top aircraft mechanic in my family but none of them were cartoonists/railfans.

TRRR

My middle son and I collected comic books some years ago.  After we got a compete run of MAD plus countless ancillary items, we were done.  Trains slowly entered the picture after that and really took off after the Polar Express (Lionel set and movie) came out in late 2004.  Haven't looked back but still fine tune the MAD collection.

In addition to trains, I like pistol shooting at the range. Bought a Springfield 45XD 4" for home protection (don't get me started on the hoops you go through in California). As I believe in being proficient, I went to a nearby indoor pistol range, then subsequently found that range shooting was addictive...and expensive as .45ACP ammo costs way more than 9mm (about 40 cents/round). Since I shoot 150-200 rounds per session (plus range fees and targets) it adds up.

Considered conquering the world and subjugating humanity as a hobby, but the costs and infrastructure required were over-the-top. Then, the failures of some of my support group members like Auric Goldfinger, Drax, Carl Stromberg, and the SpecTRE group told me that it wasn't a good pursuit.

AGHRMatt posted:

In addition to trains, I like pistol shooting at the range. Bought a Springfield 45XD 4" it for home protection (don't get me started on the hoops you go through in California). As I believe in being proficient, I went to a nearby indoor pistol range, then subsequently found that range shooting was addictive...and expensive as .45ACP ammo costs way more than 9mm (about 40 cents/round). Since I shoot 150-200 rounds per session (plus range fees and targets) it adds up.

Considered conquering the world and subjugating humanity as a hobby, but the costs and infrastructure required were over-the-top. Then, the failures of some of my support group members like Auric Goldfinger, Drax, Carl Stromberg, and the SpecTRE group told me that it wasn't a good pursuit.

I could join you on saving the US from itself lol.

From Mikey, above:

"In addition there are Cars 1967 Plymouth Belvedere 426 Hemi,bought new...".

66 - 67 Belvedere/Satellite - beautiful, classy ride. My best friend had a '66 Satellite hardtop back in the day - only had the 318, but beautiful nonetheless.

The 426 Hemi. Oh, my. If you sold it, shame on you; if you didn't, props to you. Photos?

DennyM posted:

I do have another hobby. I'm also a Amateur (Ham) Radio operator. Have been for almost 20yrs. You go down into my man cave and the radios are right next to the layout so while I'm running my TMCC stuff, I talk on the radio. I spend more time with the trains though.

 I should pick up my license..listen in using a yaesu ftdx 1200 w/ band scope.

Woodson posted:

I'm retired and I have too many hobbies.. Need to go back to work to catch a break.. (Not really) I've been in and out of O gauge railroading all my years.. I'm planning my final layout and 'testing electronics' on the old one.. I'm remodeling a bedroom to a dedicated train room!! BTW, did I mention that I'm a beekeeper, have old cars, shoot pool, throw darts and 13ac. to keep up?? At 66, my mind tells me I'm 30, but my body sometimes disagrees.. lol

 What is 13 ac?

I was into cowboy action shooting for a while. Here I am with my '98, showing targets, "what fer":

I really enjoyed it and the people were great, but the ammo rocketed up in cost right after I first started. Then, the mandatory OT pretty much every week started at work and didn't end for several years. The idea that I'd have a full weekend off was a laughable concept for so long, nobody I worked with ever counted on getting time off for anything. So the idea of spending a rare full day off at the range got to be a questionable use of what little time off I could get.

I kept going less and less, it got to the point that I quit missing it. Soon, I started wondering why I bothered keeping all the stuff. I went to a couple of more shoots, had fun but I decided I would rather use that time and money on other things. This was about the time I decided to build a layout.

So, I used all the money from the sales of gear, cowboy clothes, hats, gun cart and supplies, pretty much everything except my matched set of Ruger New Vaqueros (which I'll never get rid of) to find the initial build of my layout.

I have my 98 12G shotgun, my 92 Winchester, and these pistols and one gunbelt for them (same one in the first photo above), along with a lot of stockpiled .45LC ammo for the sidearms. Everything else is gone. And really, I don't miss it, especially when I walk into the layout room...

p51 posted:

I was into cowboy action shooting for a while. Here I am with my '98, showing targets, "what fer":

I really enjoyed it and the people were great, but the ammo rocketed up in cost right after I first started. Then, the mandatory OT pretty much every week started at work and didn't end for several years. The idea that I'd have a full weekend off was a laughable concept for so long, nobody I worked with ever counted on getting time off for anything. So the idea of spending a rare full day off at the range got to be a questionable use of what little time off I could get.

I kept going less and less, it got to the point that I quit missing it. Soon, I started wondering why I bothered keeping all the stuff. I went to a couple of more shoots, had fun but I decided I would rather use that time and money on other things. This was about the time I decided to build a layout.

So, I used all the money from the sales of gear, cowboy clothes, hats, gun cart and supplies, pretty much everything except my matched set of Ruger New Vaqueros (which I'll never get rid of) to find the initial build of my layout.

I have my 98 12G shotgun, my 92 Winchester, and these pistols and one gunbelt for them (same one in the first photo above), along with a lot of stockpiled .45LC ammo for the sidearms. Everything else is gone. And really, I don't miss it, especially when I walk into the layout room...

We are really getting off the train topic. However, I remember paying $0.25 per round for 222 in 1968 before I decided I didn't like killing animals. I do like shooting guns, but not killing animals. 

scale rail posted:

Crashed RC planes don't make good shelf queens. Don

But they do fit nicely under my layout

Oman posted:

We are really getting off the train topic. However, I remember paying $0.25 per round for 222 in 1968 before I decided I didn't like killing animals. I do like shooting guns, but not killing animals. 

I was never into hunting. My Dad and brother both used to be, though. But Dad grew up in the depression, so I think they ate everything he trapped or shot as a kid.

I tell people that once you've been hunted, hunting looses its appeal, suggesting my previous military service.

But frankly, I don't find pitting your wits against a deer, rabbit or a fish all that sporting. I never found hunting or fishing sporting at all. Now, an Inuit youth being given a knife to go take out a polar bear on an ice flow? Or a Maasai warrior given just a spear to take out a Cape Buffalo? Now, that's hunting, as the opponent could kill you easier than you, them. I had uncles in WW2 and two of them got together in Burma and one day tried hunting tigers with Tommy guns (though they never got close enough to cap one and came back empty handed). I've always considered that sporting as in the tall grass they were in, a tiger could have easily gotten either of them before they could have squeezed a trigger. Maybe that's where my view of hunting came from?

I did choose other hobbies, old cars for summertime,and WWll history,mainly aircraft.

I've found that a lot of train buffs are also into military and aviation history...

I still collect baseball cards. My first big year was 1963, but no Pete Rose rookie card. That card still trades at a huge premium, especially for ones in a highly graded condition.  I wish I stopped buying new cards around 1977, but I still love baseball and over the last ten years or so, I have enjoyed putting the Topps' Heritage sets together.  The problem with cards is that there is a limited amount of things you can do with them.  As noted in earlier posts, there are so many aspects of the O gauge hobby, that it keeps you interest high.  I especially enjoy fixing vintage Lionel engines, improving my layout and running all types of motive power, including the latest Legacy equipment. 

In my case, I believe it was because my mother took a long train ride from DC to Upper Michigan with me in utero.  The rocking, train noises, etc. had an impact and were incorporated into my developing nervous system and cellular structure.

Much the same thing happens today as people have been know to read, play music, etc. to impact upon their future child.

What, you don't believe that can happen?  Well, when my mother was in Upper Michigan after the train trip, she was startled one night by a noise outside the cabin. She opened the door to be confronted by a black bear. She was so scared she couldn't sleep the rest of the night.

Sure enough, I was born with bear feet.

Lets see, when I was a kid, I built plastic model cars, played with trains, and flew model airplanes.  When I got older, I played with automobiles and toy trains.... That still seems to be the case although I have dabbled in control line model airplanes a few times over the years.  I used to play racquetball religiously until I blew out my ACL, now I just jog.  I always seem to come back to toy/model trains no matter what I may stay off after.  My guess is deep down, they still hold the deepest fascination for me, or at least the most affordable one.

Model railroading is year round activity, available space, available time  and onsite  hobby. Considered RC aircraft and muscle car restoration as a hobby, insufficient available garage space for ground up restoration, repair, storage and available spare time. Have friends that have vintage cars  they restored personal knowledge of time, financial cost and space requirements for this project. As for RC aircraft good year round hobby but I questioned my hand dexterity to operate the RC transmitter. 

As others have said; too little time, too many hobbies. No idea how I ever fitted work in. Besides trains, I love cars (especially 'vettes), boats, Harleys (and riding in general), computer refurbishing, and just general tinkering in the garage. Our summer season is a  little short here, so the trains and computers tend to be a winter or bad weather interest, with others taking the front seat when weather permits. Used to like flying and owned a turbo Cessna 182 with a partner. Those were great times, lots of memorable trips, but gave that up a few years ago. The wife and I like camping and trying out nice wines. I also like a nice Cuban cigar occasionally. Aaahhh; life's good. We haven't told the kids yet, but we are having lots of fun spending their inheritance!

Rod

Although my train hobby certainly gets the lion's share of my free time there is just too much out there to relegate myself to one hobby.  Hiking, hunting, fishing, cycling, American Civil War history and writing take up the rest of my free time.  In fact, tomorrow I'm headed up to the New Jersey/New York State border to do some hiking on the Appalachian Trail.  When I was still in the work force I used to complain my job got in the way of my hobbies.  Thankfully, I don't have to deal with that work problem any longer. 

Oman posted:

I remember paying $0.25 per round for 222 in 1968 before I decided I didn't like killing animals. I do like shooting guns, but not killing animals. 

Same here.  I love target shooting and collecting interesting (usually old) guns.  But I have no taste for killing wildlife.

There are other hobbies?

I chose Model RR'ing because of all the chicks.

D500 posted:

I chose Model RR'ing because of all the chicks.

LOL! (And I'm a work.) 

What, are there like all of four of us? 

Tomlinson Run Railroad (one of the "chicks")

Well I would still do trains but it would be 2 1/2 inch Scale that would first on 7 1/2  gauge scale

Other than that I would probably be doing Cars instead and keep playing Golf

D500 posted:

I chose Model RR'ing because of all the chicks.

I'm reminded of a module group I saw where a structure had a sign out front saying, "Old white man's club" and noted a model railroad underneath that. I heard that didn't go over well with some, but let's face it, that is clearly the biggest demographic in the hobby by far.

I think I should add to my initial post....

Yes, my short attempt at an aquarium was an utter disaster.

I love having a pond. That keeps me plenty busy in the summer!

I have always loved trains and am interested in all trains in addition to O. I've had layouts and still have trains in N, HO, O, and G. I was once the engineer on our local park train and have long enjoy park railroads. One day when I hit the lotto and have enough property, I want to build a ride-on railroad with park train equipment that I've long been around. See www.arizonaandpacificrr.com for one of the website's of a private operation using MTC equipment I've been following for years. I am firmly in the B&O Railroad region and am very interested in the B&O's impact on my county (the B&O and canal literally built my county) and the branch line the B&O had from the main line into Washington (Georgetown Branch)

I enjoy local history, gardening, cars, boats, planes, and many more.

I'm deeply interested in the history of academic Universities and their development, particularly the ones I've been affiliated with over my life. The Images of America books are great for local history. They also have a series on Universities that I enjoy.

Lots more than this....too much to list!

I didn't, I chose both.  And I seem to keep adding to it, just recently picking up another expensive hobby.  My wife thinks they are all expensive.

I coworker into RC planes once asked why I wasn't into it, too, as I also love WW2 aircraft and have flown on several over the years. I told him of the time I watched a 1/6 scale B-17 doing a high-speed fly-by at an event and the thing vaporized in mid-air as if a scale bomb load suddenly touched off. All that was left were shreds of plastic, metal and foam flying through the air, and the whine of 4 disembodied motors going four different directions before they each smacked the ground. Other than that noise, it was silent. To this day, I have no idea what happened. Those guy put years into that build to literally watch it rip itself to tiny pieces for really no reason.

Even on a bad day, if your locomotive does a half-gainer off your benchwork, you can probably get it running again after some work. Not so much with an RC plane meeting the ground quickly.

Just watch this video starting at about 1:20 and you'll see why I'll never get into RC:

Ughh. Good reason to stick with model railroading.