Young Sheldon

I don't know, George Cooper's very prominent midsection is not a wise choice and not something typically seen on television sitcom fathers in the 50's and 60's.

What, me worry?

@Alfred E Neuman posted:

I don't know, George Cooper's very prominent midsection is not a wise choice and not something typically seen on television sitcom fathers in the 50's and 60's.

I believe the show is set in the late 80's.    I think the dad is great... and realistic.  Hey, he's not meant to be Ward Cleaver or Steve Douglas.   And while he wasn't a sitcom "dad," how about Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden?       

@RadioRon posted:

And while he wasn't a sitcom "dad," how about Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden?       

If still around today Ralph Kramden would be arrested and jailed just uttering, "One of these days Alice, POW! Right in the kisser"

It is fun, though, to spot and recognize items from our own collections seen on Sheldon's table like the Cape Cod Plasticville house and telephone poles.

SPOILER: Sheldon's train table eventually gets moved into his bedroom. Now that's not prototypical!

Not really, when I was a kid, my layout was temporarily in my bedroom.

Well, the train set had to go somewhere when "Georgie" moved into the garage.  Plus when Sheldon and his sister moved into separate rooms (Sheldon got Georgie's old house bedroom) he probably had more room to set up his trains inside.

Chuck

I'm also a big fan of both shows.  For quite a while I was concerned that MANY people would associate liking and owning trains with people that are nerdy.  But I've gotten past that and now think it comes across as no more than an young kid (in YS) and continuing to like them later in life as in BBT.

walt

I have to disagree with you a little bit, Walt.  I real enjoy both shows, particularly BBT.  The writers have a serious problem getting any train related information correct.  The best example of this is the Wine Train episode where the train is pulled by refurbished ALCOA locomotives.  Later Sheldon asks if the 1928 Pullmans have the original link and pin couplers - it seems Sheldon is not such a genius when it come to trains he supposedly loves.  All that aside, after all it is just a comedy show not a documentary, the real problem is the way train enthusiasts are portrayed.  Train store clients are referred to as pathetic, lonely and obese.  There has never been any positive comments about people like us.

There have never been any positive comments about people like us.

Absolutely correct. We are admirable, popular and athletic.

The skills required to design, fabricate and operate a model train layout are considerable.  No one should feel down trodden being part of the model train community. 

"Train store clients are referred to as pathetic, lonely and obese.  There has never been any positive comments about people like us."

I have found most train folks to be Chatty Cathy's you can hardly break away from once you get talking about something, and like many folks that seem  aloof and lonely, their brains are working on something they want to do, change, build, fix.  Have you ever stood and stared at something in a train store and your mind is figuring out why you need to buy it as it plays around with locations, "If I add a spur here it would work...,  "My tank car will just fit in that doorway...", well to the observer, you might seem aloof and alone.  But what should be a concern to all hobbyists, and their hobby that require more than just pushing buttons on a game controller, it seems they are only kept alive by old, and mostly white,  men.  I'm sure there are plenty of reasons that can explain that, but the bottom line of that is no one is following behind, or not enough are following behind to continue a hobby, support the vendors and stores, that will otherwise die off when the last of us is gone.  Our only hope cannot be in old men who reach retirement age and need something to do.  As to the obesity and train enthusiasts comment, I don't think it can't hold a candle to the ham radio hobby in the girth dimension.

@CALNNC posted:

As to the obesity and train enthusiasts comment, I don't think it can't hold a candle to the ham radio hobby in the girth dimension.

I'm getting a little off topic here, but on the subject of train people let me share a negative recollection of "those" people.

Back in the 80's and having not touched a toy train in well over 20 years, I saw an ad in the paper for a model train show at a local hotel. I thought it would be fun with no expectations of what would be there.  It turned out to be a 2-rail show of various scales, with highly scenic-ed layouts. I was amazed at the detail and really had no idea that model railroads can look that realistic. But when I started talking to people and mentioned Lionel, 3-rail or toy trains, it was obvious that I was literally coming from "the wrong side of the track".  I got the distinct impression that several model railroaders were snobs who looked down at toy train people like they were 2nd class citizens. On balance, the show was a negative experience for me and I didn't give trains a 2nd thought until about 10 years later.

It was then a fellow ham radio operator mentioned to me about this thing called "York" , an organization called TCA, and told me about a couple of magazines I should read. He dropped by the house giving me a copy of OGR and CTT which I immediately devoured. I really had no idea that a world actually existed among people interested in toy trains! He signed me up for TCA along with a signature from a local train store owner. After passing the TCA schmuck test, I was ready to go to York. It was a profound and memorable experience with lots to buy, lots to see, lots to eat, and a lot of friendly people to talk with....and the rest is history.

I still go to other train shows but it's always one where I know there will be toy train people there!

@Danr posted:

….Train store clients are referred to as pathetic, lonely and obese…..

As Meatloaf once sang, “Two out of three ain’t bad”.

@Traindiesel posted:

As Meatloaf once sang, “Two out of three ain’t bad”.

I was going add that I am not 2 of those things.

As for Train layouts moving in the bedroom, it was not uncommon in the 50's. I lived in a tiny 2 bedroom house with Mom, Dad and 2 kids. My dresser was at the foot  of my bed and the headboard was about  the same height. I was 5 years old. The train board was cut to fit over my bed. All the kids in the neighborhood thought it pretty neat. When I was 8 we moved to a larger house and my train was setup elsewhere, but still in my bedroom.