Family and trains

I retired at 56, but my career went back and forth between field service engineer and project manager, whichever was available.

All the while I was working, I kept up with several hobbies: toy trains, antique automobiles, antique radios and singing/performing. I never wanted to be one of those guys who lived for work and then just dried up and died after retiring.

Your father in law sounds like a real dick to me. Hopefully your wife is nicer.

Electrical Engineer. What does your Father-in-Law enjoy creating? I'm assuming that he is perhaps a Brain Surgeon, Nuclear Physicist, or both????  

As a retired business owner of 31 yrs and a small business consultant for 8 yrs, playing with trains just comes natural. One it is a great stress reliever and best of all it allows me to channel my creative talents into something that brings others joy. Just look at the face of a youngster as they blow the whistle and ring the bell. They love to choose the flavor of smoke, cinnamon bun is a big winner, watch the trains with the lights out. AS they say, big boys and their toys. Ain't is great. I only went as far in school as a BS in Business/Accouting.

I work in Global Trade for a major pharmaceutical company.  Don't ever listen to anyone who belittles you or your interests.  I have had similar things said to me by individuals in my family and I make a point to completely ignore the remarks and those individuals.

My wife and I enjoy all that this hobby has to offer and the time we spend together building the layout, going to York and meeting others involved in the hobby makes us very happy.  In the end that's what matters most.......

Now, there is a line I am going to remember. I'll bet that sentiment applies to a whole lot of us.

FrankM.

BBA: U. of Miami (Go 'Canes)

MBA: Rutgers

I design, furnish and install physical & electronic security systems for banks.

Your father-in-law sounds like a real jerk.

Retired IBM mainframe systems programmer. BS in physics and mathematics. I continued trains after my dad died. He had a PhD in mathematics and loved trains. Trains remind me of the bond that I had with my dad.

Gerald,

   I surely understand where you are coming from, the trains due the same for me with my Father & Grandfather, it definitely is part of our family tradition, especially at Christmas time.

My 35 years in IT were all IBM or Amdahl CPU mainframe based. 

I am amazed at how many folks I meet in this hobby and the classic car hobby that are mainframe computer folks. It would make a neat case study to see if there is a 'why'....

I agree that this isn't going to do much good. Either he gets it or he doesn't get it. Your life do what makes you happy and don't worry about other's opinion.

I am an Electrical Engineer working in the defense industry for 40 years. I have done Electronic design, Been a Test Manager and a Program Manager. I know a judge, a bank Comptroller many other engineers, Police Officers, Orthopedist, teachers and other professionals who love model trains.

I too have folks in my life that don't get my love of Trains.

Not my problem. I'm not spending money they earned so I don't have to care what they think about my hobbies.

Yes Hobbies, plural.
I also build and fly High Power model Rockets and Dress up in Real Armor and do Medieval RolePlay. (We use foam covered weapons)

Oh, and I'm an active electronic Designer. I have enough credits for a degree, just spread around too many schools to get a diploma.

that's what happens when you pick them up a few at a time while being active Military.

I have a BS in Aerospace Engineering (my dad's favorite joke: it really is rocket science!) and I design helicopters for the US military

B.A. in psychology.

M.Ed. in school counseling

Ed.S in school psychology

Ph.D. in educational leadership

22 years as a school administrator

Buy him a train set for Christmas and see what happens!

Personally I have always been in awe of most of the guys on this forum.  You are an amazing collection of highly educated, artistic, intelligent and successful people.  

I'm just retired!

I'm a "Whiskey Drummer"         

Unfortunately, no matter what evidence you provide your father in law has already made up his mind.

Tell him, for fun, that you gave it some thought and came to the conclusion that after many years you now realize how wise and correct he is.  Then tell him you have decided to collect Barbie Dolls based upon his inspiration.

WOW!, looks like I'm the only grunt here but I feel at home with you guys. I run on 2 rails.

Ray

...and Beanie Babies and Cabbage Patch wonders, too!

What nonsense. Your love of trains puts you in good company judging by all the responses so far.

For your survey, I'm a software engineer and former traffic homicide investigator for the state highway patrol. (Had to change careers when the state couldn't afford to pay me enough to raise three kids). BS and MS in Electrical & Computer Engineering and MBA with concentration in management (all done at Univ Miami).

I'm layout-less at the moment, having to put those plans aside so my youngest will have his own room. But we do put together the occasional carpet runner and had two trains around the Christmas trees last year (Polar Express and Disney). The kids favorite train is the Alien Recovery and the half dozen or so extra cars we got to go with it. One last funny tidbit - my oldest's favorite (he's 8) is the track cleaning car and he insists that it must be pulled by the 6-18840 Army GP-7.

-David

It is fun to see the accomplishments and interests of my fellow toy-train buffs. I've served as an administrator and teacher helping adults return to college for nearly 30 years. Degrees from Notre Dame and DePaul.

Interesting to me, 'everyone' - friends and family alike - relate to the concept of 'Lionel trains.' Visitors to the layout have stories and memories of their experiences. It might be the light, sounds and toy-train-ish-ness of the layout. When I was active in smaller scales, I got a few eye-rollers...

Retired is the best profession I have found thus far.  More time for trains!

PennsyDave,

   Man I like your idea, Jeff should purchase the guy a nice remote control RTR starter set for his next Christmas present, for under the Christmas tree.

PCRR/Dave

Jim, If I were your Father in Law, I would Keep my mouth shut.

Just so this survey is too college-education heavy, I would like to point out that I also know electricians, Millwrights, Car salesmen, and at least one sewage treatment plant technician whom all enjoy o gauge trains.  Many of the folks I am referencing are Vietnam era veterans, as well as fathers and grandfathers, if that isn't "real manly" enough it's time to give up arguing and give him a train set as others have suggested.

Retired Professional Soldier

B.A in Liberal Arts

A.A.S in Computer Technology

Professional Portrait Artist

The Leader of the MARSH Family aka MARSHELANGELO - "THE FIRST OF HIS KIND"

What is a "CEP"?

Last I knew, there was nothing wrong with being a UPS driver.

HE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO LOOK DOWN ON YOU AGAIN AS LONG AS YOU LOOK HIM IN THE EYES

Walt Disney was a model railroader.  He built a live steam layout in his backyard.  All of the Disney parks are surrounded with a model railroad.  Many Disney cartoons and movies feature trains.  

Joe

The Disneyland RR is the ultimate model railroad.......7/8 scale model train you can ride!!! 

Sorry ceo ,dam auto correct

Jeff,

   The 1st thing I was taught as a young boy is that Christ was a Carpenter, I figure

if the Lord wants you to be a UPS driver, that is what, you will be.  Those that look down on you and judge you for it, will answer to the Supreme Architect.  It's his plan not your father inlaw's.  Jeff you just keep being you, walk the line and never listen to what other people believe.  The sentence at the end of each of my posts is how a man must live.

PCRR/Dave

From the responses so far, you can pretty much tell that the problem is not you.

It's your FIL. So just ignore him and cheer up and keep playing with trains.

 I've seen quite a few people in here who have had issues like this with family or friends, and I'm still surprised by it. Wasn't everyone taught that whole deal about "If you can't say anything nice...."? Besides, with everything going on today, a nice hobby seems to be the last thing that would raise a red flag.

 This also makes me appreciate my family even more. No one, and I do mean no one, in my circle has any interest in trains, yet none have ever said a word against them. I have a life long friend who is the all work, no play type, yet he was more than happy to spend a whole day walking around the Allentown show, talking to me while I looked at trains. A few years ago I tore down my layout due to some home remodeling. While feeling a little low, I mentioned in a family email that I might give up the trains. Siblings and siblings-in-law all chimed in that I should rebuild. Again, none of them care about trains, but they all know that I enjoy them. My mother and father in law even bought me a set of locomotives while wandering an antiques shop. Wish my Dad had been around long enough to see me get into trains. He never had time for them, but he was a guy that always dug Lionel trains. Indirectly, he is the reason I got into them.

 Sorry if I'm rambling, I just thought I'd point out that there are non-train people that still understand that it is important to those of us that do like them.

Hello Dave

Amen.............

Tiffany

Hello Tiffany,

    Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

PCRR/Dave

There is dignity in all work. (JPii)

Your father in law may be well educated, but he sounds rather ignorant to me. His people skills also seem to be lacking. You should feel sorry for him, but accept what he is rather than try to change his negative ideas, as it is unlikely he is going to change. And he is entitled to his own opinion. 

Although I have a BSET and an MBA and was a Manufacturing engineer for most of my working days, I do not believe formal college education is the primary proof of either knowledge or intelligence. Life skills and how you live your life and treat other people are more important to me as a measure of a person. Because of a "reversal of fortunes" due to health reasons, my last job was a fork lift operator in a warehouse. That job was just as respectable as my engineering jobs. A man's occupation is NOT the measure of a man.

Best of luck dealing with your father in law,   Paul Goodness

No... If you were his father-in-law you'd both be in the basement with a beer and a remote running trains.

Ron