Question - Are you into real trains and models?

Great story Ron045.  I would have double liked it if I could.  Usually it is the father that gets the son interested.

I love them both, in the real world my first love is steam followed by E and F units and in the model world as well.

My mother was a B&O EA Diesel; my daddy a PRR J1 !    'Nuff said.... U-rah !

Fan of all sizes of trains.

If it runs on a rail then i love it.

romiller

I grew up a block away from the Baltimore & Ohio roundhouse and the New York Central main line was just a little farther away. I am just old enough to recall the last days of steam. I loved trains as long as I can remember and did serious railfaning in my youth. I was an HO scale modeler for years but sound was the siren call to O gauge. Although I don't count rivets any more, I still have a deep appreciation for a well detailed model and sceniced layout.

Growing up backed up to the FEC mainline,  real trains are a big part of the reason I got serious about scale proportioned O gauge back in the 90's.  Fun to recreate all those memories.   Lionel 2026 around the Christmas tree each year so it is a combo thing for me...........

Mark

Yeah, I really love them both.  Have had Lionel since I was a youngster, then after I retired I took on a position driving the steam engine at Knott's Berry Farm.  And really loved it.  UNTIL I fell from the cab and shattered by leg by landing my heal on the railhead.  Four surgeries and a year and a half later, still off work, just getting able to walk somewhat.  So I guess you can say I was committed.

Yes, I love model trains, 1 ½ inch scale live steam, and full size steam railrading. In fact, my son restored and owns a 1909 Porter 0-4-0 tanker locomotive.
Love them all!!

Picture of my son and me and his engine, running at Roaring Camp in July.

John

Does the Porter run TMCC/DCC or conventional ??  Hand held remote ??  Cool though. They were made in Pittsburgh and the only one in the city went to Ohio to Jerry Jacobsen's place.

My love for trains started at a VERY young age.  I literally grew up around them..... My father was not much of a train guy but had a very simple lionel Pre-War set that as a rare treat we would setup and play with, but my REAL love for trains really came from the real thing.... From the time i was 1 year old to present my mother has worked at a open air museum which has a running 2.5 mile perimeter railroad. They had 2 working locomotives used for the revenue trains and in the past few years restored another.  After 28+ years of riding behind them and looking at them, i got the courage to talk to the manager of the railroad program and am now Volunteering (for now) on the railroad.  Learning all that goes into maintenance and running of steam locomotives.  Hoping to get a paid position in operations should one become available.   Working at the same place forum member santafe158 works.

 

I will include a couple pictures of what we run, there is more but this is all i currently have saved. pictures borrowed from Co-Worker's facebook pages.

 

Below is #7 an 1897 Baldwin 4-4-0. Lettered for the Detroit and Lima Northern Railroad as delivered.  Into her 2nd full running season after a multiple year restoration. Photo taken Weds. April 15, 2015 during the opening day of the season.

 

Second Picture is #3 "Torch Lake" an 1873 Mason Machine Works "Bogie" 0-6-4T Lettered for the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. 

 

Third Picture is #1 "Edison" a 4-4-0 American style Locomotive (Our smallest running locomotive) Acquired and Rebuilt in Ford's shops to it's current configuration and named after his friend Thomas Edison

 

 

We like both in my house. My son and I go to the local Amtrak Station and watch trains once or twice a week. At 3 in the afternoon we usually get to see a Norfolk Southern train or two and the southbound Crescent.

Art,

I'm one of those guys!  No interest in modern real trains, only models. 

 

However, I love the history of the UP steam era and research for my models. 

 

I think that's why I love model trains-I take a 'snap shot' of history and recreate it in miniature.  It's something to capture a moment in history to share with others!

Well.. You could say both. My Step-Dad was retired Southern Pacific Conductor. I lived with my grandparents every summer. Their home was on a Espee ROW. I remember the freight & passenger trains passing every thirty-minutes, 24/7.

After my Step-Dad's retirement he went to work for our local shortline until his death thirty-years later.

My grandpa introduced to std gauge trains in December 1947. I've enjoyed trains almost seven decades, real or toy. 

It looks like there are more people into models only and not real trains than I thought.  As I mentioned, I have two friends that are that way.  They have great layouts and are a lot of fun to do model related activities with, but when I suggest going real train watching they aren't interested.  One of them is a civil engineer that worked for a railroad right out of college working on bridges.  He is a great resource for bridge ideas, but not a train watching pal.

 

Art

Really, Really, Really, Like both!  For instance, I went to Seattle yesterday, and I-5 runs right along side BNSF's yard which parallels Boeing Field south of Seattle, so during that particular section it is hard to keep an eye on the road when your trying to take a look at what happens to be on the tracks.  I am a drivers' ed instructor, during one of my drives with a student, up ahead I see the crossing arms are on the way up at the crossing, and then I'm disappointed that we didn't get stopped so I could watch it go by.

 

My interest of real trains dates way back to the 1950s.  I recall seeing and hearing a Northern Pacific GP7 or GP9 sitting on the tracks adjacent to Kneeland Park in Shelton and being in awe of sound and size of that engine.   The NP track was also within 500 ft. of my parents' house on Walker Park Rd.  I would run up Alder Rd. to watch the train go by if I heard it early enough. 

 

Larry

My interest in model trains comes from an interest in the prototype first and foremost.  If I had my choice, I'd model 1:1 trains.

 

If that makes me a rivet counter, so be it.  I love seeing how accurate to the prototype I can my models when I have the time.  Thanks to my employment part time in the industry, I really enjoy seeing how accurate I can make the models you purchase accurate to the prototype even if it doesn't matter to some people. 

 

It's great hobby and there is room for everyone, but I enjoy trains that replicate the real ones I have seen in person or in historic photographs.

Love both.  Can't have the models without the real thing.

When my work brought me into Conrail's Oak Island service facility in Newark, NJ years ago .... and certainly when my boys were small. But now ... I pretty much just like to play with model trains.

 

Though, it still is fun to catch the local ... bringing lumber to the building supply joint near my house.

 "Are you into real trains as well as models? "

 

   Yep,  took this photo today .....DaveB

Two forums members are coming over this afternoon to have lunch and see the layout.  I can't wait to continue this discussion with them. 

 

Art