Your train "work ethic"

I put a limit on how many projects I start. Too many any, and you start losing parts and tools. 3 to 4 is my Max.
Otherwise its looks like a tornado came through. Tough to run trains.

Not at all. When it becomes tiresome or my muscles ache.. I take a break and how long that break is depends on other commitments as well as how inspired I am in relation to what I am doing that is either boring with a low priority and routine or something that will really add to the layout. Or I will back off on days my patience is already thin.

Sometimes I have those senior moments. I had scenic-ed and area with grass and gave a note to myself to come back and glue it down. The next day I turned on the ceiling fan, and my work turned into a green dust bowl.  My ongoing dialog is where did I put that da..ned screwdriver..or where's that screw I dropped?

I am not shy to admit I have no guilt with being a lump with no routine work ethic..if I did have to stick to it, I know I would rebel and  bail out and take up a hobby with more flexibility..but..should something run a muck  I will stick to it like glue. Sometimes I completely ignore the layout and work on restoration projects. Sometimes I go in the room and ignore my own to do list and watch the trains run, only to think later..why didn't I do such and such when I was in there?

Simple answer: I didn't want to.

I have many projects available on my layout and for my locos.  What slows me down is that I enjoy running trains, and actually making improvements take a back seat.  I guess its a nice problem to have.

It seems like there is always equipment that needs repair or tweaking and that sure gets in the way of running the trains.  But I like to point out to visitors that everything on the layout works.  I am a big fan of action accessories and hate to have them just sit there.  I am trying to use my retirement free time for fixing all the little things before I tackle big projects like buildings and waterways.

This is a hobby; it is supposed to be fun and provide relaxation.  When you reach the point you feel you HAVE to do somethiing, maybe it's time to find another way to pass the time.

 

Curt

My project list is very formal .... I walk around the trainroom wondering what I'm going to tackle next ...

. . . . is not good.

.....

Dennis

I really enjoy putting together buildings be it a small shanty to a large factory. I will work on one of those always before anything else. When I have to wait for the paint to dry on the structure, I will then go to a different project which hopefully will be another building!

With my layout almost done, I find myself actually running the trains and enjoying that immensely. I have another layout in the planning stages that occupies a small portion of my time. Eventually, when I get strarted on it physically, I will go whole hog and work til I drop. My existing layout needs some tweaking here and there which will also take up some of my time. I guess to answer your original question, I will work non-stop on a project that I realy enjoy and find excuses to postpone stuff (wiring for one) that I don't enjoy.

I retired just over a year ago and at first tackled the layout almost  as if it was my job which was ok in the begining, but as time progressed I began running trains more and taking on projects as I felt like it.  I'm working on a fairly large layout in the basement so there are always projects to be done.  I do want to get to the point someday, where I can step back, pat myself on the back, and say "Hey, I got this thing done!" 

 

In my case, the benchwork is completed, all of the track layed, there are areas that are partially sceniced, and some areas now completely finished.   Much of this was done before I retired.  Not long after retirement I began my little website, Bo's Trains and while I could give a number of reasons why I started it, the primary reason was to help me stay focused on given tasks, large and small.  For me it serves as kind of a scrapbook of what I have accomplished and what I am trying to achieve.

 

While I generally have several projects going on at a time I have began to learn my limits.  Electroliner, you are not alone in wondering sometimes where you put that screwdriver.  I do not know how many times I have said to myself, "I just had that darn thing, now what did I do with it."  What really gets to me is after searching for it for twenty minutes, I find it in my back pocket or right in front of me.  I am begining to be prone to just taking on a single large project, perhaps a section of the railroad and then within that section work on a couple of different things.

 

I also have a couple of projects that I have been working on for months, sort of.  Like a oil and fuel facility and working up a track schematic of my current layout for my website.  I am actually pretty excited about both projects, but they are tedious so progress is slow.  But you know, that's ok.  This is a hobby and there is no real timeline for any of this other than what I might want set for myself.  I'm having fun with it.  

 

Now back to the layout to begin some work on a little scenery project!  Oh ya, I also want to work on making some building signs.  Well, I'll get started on the the scenery project first, then the signs.  Bo 

 

 

You can see my website Bo's Trains at http://www.bostrains.com

 

    

It's a hobby. If it was "work" I would probably avoid it.

I call it train ADD. I am constantly getting sidetracked on something. I have buildings that are in various stages of construction, scenery, etc.  Got the tinplate bug 3 years ago and that started a whole new project. Seems like I see something new in the latest catalog and I have to create space for it. My logging scene has been virtualy untouched in the last 3 years.  Life can also get in the way. Having 6 kids and a long commute to work along with medical issues impedes progress. I envy those modelers that can dicipline themselves to create projects in a limited amount of time. The goal is to enjoy your layout no matter what stage it is in. Sometimes I run trains and ignore my projects.  When I got my MTH Monorail, I worked non-stop till the track was done and itwas running smoothly. At other times, I'll go into the train room intending to work onsomething, but I'll see something else instead.  When I can't get to mylayout, this forum hepls give me my train fix. OGR Forumand coffee first thing onthe am and last thing at night & numerous times throughout the day. Remember to just have fun,

 

Bob

I agree with JuanitaGuy and Ace. When I am in the mood to play, I play, and that includes when I am doing craftwork - "craftplay" (I'll coin a term for it) - for an upcoming York TCA Meet or doing custom craftplay for a client. I cannot say to myself, "Create, now ! " and expect the juices to flow and to produce something worth my while. The inspiration and creative satisfaction - the playfulness of it all - must be there for me even to sit down at my "playbench" (which is where I am about to go, once I finish this reply.) I have to be inspired, albeit self-inspired, but I simply cannot commit to creative play on demand. The whole thing needs to be fun; if not, it stops, or doesn't even begin. Concepts such as "work" or "must" don't even come into the picture for me.

Maybe, that's just me (?)

FRankM.

Layout Refinements

I have some projects I plan and think about and then abandon before starting.  But once I decide to start a project I work at it pretty diligently until finished and I generally don't abandon it ever.  However, typically I work on two or three projects at once - right not I am waiting for glue to dry on one while working on the other, etc.  so if I get very involved in one project I might not work a lot on the other for a day or two.

I am project mission orientated. I learned this in my professional life. Once I start something, I have to get it done, leaving it unfinished plays on my mind. I however do not start a project unless I have allocated a sufficient amount of time to finish the project.

 

As an example, I have just this past week started to renovate two large portions of the layout. I have put this off for some time because I did not have the time to work on this with everything else going on in my life.

 

After four days of dismantling and removal a good deal of very heavy ballast (enough to create a pile about three feet high) I am very sore but this will not get in the way of me working on this renovation project.

I usually have about three projects going at once.  Maybe even a fourth one, but then I would start to get overwhelmed.

 

I recently promised myself not to start any more projects (and I have several in mind) before I finished all my current projects.  I'm almost there and I feel good about it.  I'm glad I forced myself to finish what I started. 

OMG! 

 

I think my real hobby is making lists of things to do on the layout!

 

As a kid, my father would tell me that my eyes were bigger than my stomach.  Still seems true, at least where projects are concerned.  I have about 5 projects in the concept phase, 5 in the not started phase, 6 in progress, and way too few in the completed phase. 

 

And all the time, my imagination is working overtime.

 

I whittle away at them when I get the chance.  I try to work on projects one at a time, but sometimes get sidetracked or blocked.  Then it's off to another.

 

George

I generally work at finishing a project, something that became ingrained when in the workplace, but at a slow, steady pace, learned from my grandfather (definitely not from the workplace).  I do often work on 2 or at most 3 items if drying glue or paint is involved. 

I'm in the middle of a large reconstruction,I keep at it steady until all the lumber is covered with foam, base color, ballast and some scenery. then I can run trains and figure out what I want to add or change. Once I run trains I relax and all projects are fun. Now that I am comfortable placing turnouts in existing ballasted track or moving them it is better.

 

Clem    

WORK ETHIC?

 

In my 38 years back in the hobby, I have never considered having a "work ethic" with regard to any of my hobbies.  What ever I do with my trains and layout is "play" and I  jump all over the place but mostly I always include running the trains as a priority.

 

With all the pleasure my trains have brought me, I hope I never begin to feel I must schedule and prioritize "work" or projects for my layout.

 

My wife used to ask me when I was going to finish certain parts or items on the layout and my answer is always the same - maybe someday.  The only exception was hooking up her favorite working accessory - Lionel's Hobo tower where one of the hobo's  play "Beautiful Dreamer" on the harmonica.  It brings tears to her eyes every time she listens to it because she says it sounds just like her father's playing.

 

Happy railroading,

Don

Toy train-Work Ethic is this some kind of new Oxymoron?

When I was trying to gen up an entry for a Kalmbach "scene" contest, I was into that

bigtime...developeing the 16 sq. ft. scene and building three structures at a time on  three worktables, to meet the deadline..... glue this, paint that, Zona saw the other.  Now I have abandoned a ghost town I was building, where I had to design and cut out of model clapboard the structures, to work on and almost complete a kitbash of an MTH "grainery".  I have other projects, mostly small locomotives, and steam coaches, that have been unfinished for years because I have never found the right drivers or power for them.  I WILL get back to the ghost town when the mill wheel and flume (and the chimney from the Chicago O scale meet) are added to the "grainery".  And then, of course, there is that project of turning the "scene" into a layout...no progress has been made on that at all.

I'm learning how to balance things. This morning I got up early and drove north on the coast road to made some rubber rock molds. I noticed some interesting rock outcroppings on that road before. On the way home I pulled over and jumped in the ocean for a swim. It was great. I could/would have never done that before.

I always have more than one kit building project going. Most of my train time is doing the layout. A very large part of this new layout is through the Cascades. Much bigger than my last layout and my city area will be larger. We are so glad we are out of California. A friend called me this morning and told me some girl ran a red light as she was texting. Hit him good. He asked witnesses if they would give a statement. No one would. They didn't have the time. He told her they had better move their cars off the street. When he turned around his car was stolen. Nice. There are much better places to live. Can't believe I loved the place at one time. Don

I don't think I've ever completed a project from start to finish without something in between.

 

I have 1/2 dozen or so going on now:

 

Need to finish laying ground cover on the layout

 

Need to finish building my Vanderbilt Tender

 

Need to finish building my 4-6-0

 

Need to finish building my Seaboard Sun-Lounge car

 

Need to add weight to 4 PS-1 boxcars I recently repainted/lettered

 

Need to add a 2x14 foot yard to the layout

 

Money, time, and parts, that's all it takes

Trains are only one of my many brief escapes from reality but I learned many years ago to finish one thing at a time.  Loose ends don't exists in my world.   

How does one define work? I consider earning money to pay my bills as work, because I have no choice.

 

Trains, however, are a diversion from "work" and, even though energy is expended to accomplish things, they are not required.

 

I enjoy both my "work" and trains and see them as mutually compatible to enjoy life. Best to combine them: if I have court at Norristown, I can later either go to Nicholas Smith, as a diversion in Broomall, about 20 minutes away or Henning's in Lansdale, also 20 minutes the other way.

I agree with barrister2u.  Work is my job that brings home the paycheck and pays the bills.  My trains are my escape from that, so I don't consider it "work" or that I have to have an "ethic" or schedule to do it.  In about 14 months I will be retiring.  Maybe then I will have a more formulated "ethic" when I "work" with my trains.  Matt

 

So well stated and I totally agree.

 

But York is a HUGE priority. Certainly more social than working on the layout, but I do get a lot of things there so it has an impact on layout work.

 

Gerry

Work ethitc does not mean work-work, but it does mean how we approach things. 

 

I have what my wife calls "a stubborn focus on getting the current project done" - which is why I'm up at 5 AM this morning so that the glue on my latest project will dry for two hours while I work on taxes and I can get on with it later today.  I'm delaying the unpleasant Turbo Tax thing by hanging out here for a bit . . .

 

We all get from the hobby what we want to take: to me York is (or would be, if I ever went) a waste of time - it would take me away from my projects.  More important, perhaps, socializing is something I get too much of at work - meetings, oncference calls, visits to customers all the time.  I avoid the big meetings: I can hear what I need to hear here.  I can buy what I need to buy on the internet, at my LHS, or at swap meets.

 

We each get what we need from this hobby, by taking only what we want.

 

 

My trains are always in the train room. They are available 24/7 for my efforts. I choose to visit them, play with them, and work on them according to my fun schedule. To be honest, sometimes I just go and sit with coffee for a few minutes and look over the layout not even bothering to run the trains. Unlike anything else in the world they exist for my pleasure. WORK? Easy on the ears brother!

One of the great pleasures in life, actually.

One distinction for me has been the pace that has slowed in retirement versus always feeling squeezed for time when trying to balance ten different obligations at once. Now the joke between my brother and myself is we can spend more time thinking about a project versus the impetus to get it done quickly. We sat on his front porch about a year ago when I spied what looked like a sack of sticks. He identified it as a rose bush that's been hanging out leaned against a tree still inside the bag for a year. "Whats with the rosebush?" I ask. "I'm not done thinking about where it will look best.."The older I get the more I enjoy thinking about projects rather than doing them...I got a lot of projects and a lot to think about.."

I suppose its the art of pondering as sort of self satisfying activity in a way that makes the actual work involved a secondary priority. 

Gentlemen,

   Work ethic?  Not at all, my trains are my Father and Grandfathers gift to me,

which I use with great pleasure, I would be very unhappy if it ever turned into work for me.  Work- Being payed for doing something that you most times do not want to do.  This in no way describes my train hobby, that has led to a fantastic engineering career and memories that I cherish.  As far as ethics go, I was raised to be a decent moral Christian man, with very good character.

PCRR/Dave

 

The 2 year old boy on that big mans lap never thought of his Christmas gift as

work, the grown man behind this computer never will.

 

 

I really appreciate all the thoughtful comments on my question, however I feel that I do owe an apology for my choice of the words "work ethic".  Yeah, I know that our trains are not supposed to be "work" per se, but I didn't know what else to call it.  I just wondered about our disciplines when it came to being active on constructive efforts being expended on our trains. 

 

From the answers, without any scientific analysis, it seems that about half of you, or so, start a project and then see it through to it's completion.  Others, and I'm certanly in this group, might start something, perhaps loose interest in it for a while and start something else, only to set that aside and take up something else.  I also agree that no one is insisting that I must finish something or other and that there is no timetable for completing anything.

 

And I agree with those of you who have commented that sometimes they want to accomplish absolutely nothing; just run and observe the trains.   After all, that's probably why we're going through all those efforts anyway, isn't it?

 

Paul Fischer

fisch330, I got the gist of what you were asking.  For me there is kind of a "work ethic" involved as I enjoy my railroad very much and get a lot of satisfaction from seeing the results of my efforts.  It is very much an individual matter, but I do think of the MARS as a project, one that I enjoy and I do work to do the best that I can with it.  That doesn't mean that it is not a lot of fun.  It is and that's the the kind of work I enjoy doing.  You've heard that song "I've Been Working On The Railroad".  The payoff is the fun and satisfaction it provides.  Well, it's just one fellas take on things.  I has been an interesting thread.  Bo 

  

This is a great hobby, not a money maker, but very interesting and rewarding. I just bought a "over the top creeper" (from a forum member), that will make it easier for me to work on some wiring and senery I have been putting off because it was a "reach" to the middle.

 

A project will last for as long it is working well, when I have a problem, it is time to watch "FOX", think about the problem and when the nap is over go back to th garage.

 

Yes , I am retired and loving every minute,.

 

Brent

For myself I might refer to it as "hobby drift". I've let the balmy breezes of opportunity take me to interesting way stations in the O-gauge realm.

I have a list of over 20 projects that have yet to be started. This allows me to purchase items that fit into my plans. If I see something neet that I must have, then I may have to add yet another project to the list. The order of implementation is not fixed. These projects cover scenery, model building (kit bashing & simple painting and assembly), electrical wiring, LED conversion lighting, adding Miller signs, rewiring my layout for track detection, converting uncouplers and switches to run off Aux power, some relocation of operating accessories, train automation (to replace my hardwired controls with Ipad local control pannels) and some track modifications.

 

I choose the order based on the mood I am in, with general categories being Operations, Maintenance, Electrical, Scenery, Buildings & Design/research/reading. This is what makes trains such a great hobby, it covers so many different aspects. If I get bored, I just switch to another type of activity within the same hobby.

 

Right now I am working on layout wiring, train detection and upgrades to the operating systems to allow me to run my local control pannels using Ipad(s).

 

Joe K

Brent, yes retirement is a wonderful thing!  When I was working, the railroad (MARS) was perhaps more of an escape, a means of relaxation.  Now that I too am retired, I have time to truly just enjoy the passions of my life, model railroading being just one of them.  My greatest passion remains my wife and family!  Bo 

BReece, is that the "over the top creeper" the one that Micro-Mark sells? If so, let me know how you like it after you tried it a bit. I have some hard to reach areas also and have considered buying this creeper. Sorry everyone for getting off the track but this is important to me. I am disabled and this might do the trick for me.

Would "Play Priorities" be a better term than "work ethic"  that fisch330 apologized for using? We all knew what he meant but work and model trains should never be used in the same sentence!