Observations about women in the hobby

Great observations chessiechick:

You are most definitely right.....I don't know any other women who have model trains here in Australia....the only one I have heard of is "Beth" who contributes on and off here on the OGR forum.

You should have grown-up here in Australia in the 50's and 60's like I did....there were no O gauge model trains, except for some crappy Hornby stuff from Great Brittan. Lionel was something to aspire to, and only seen in American magazines or on television (The Adams Family)...except you could not run them here, because they were powered by 110v transformers, and we had a 240v power supply!!!

Good luck with your search for other female train nuts!!

Peter.....Buco Australia.

@chessiechick posted:

I am a female model railroader, and I have noticed that there are very few of us - on the forum, making YouTube videos, or at train shows. In fact, at the last York show, I joked to my husband that if anything ever happened to him, York would be a great place to hunt for a new guy. (Mr. Chessiechick was NOT amused.)

Well, at least the spousal pool at York has been pre-stocked with 'fish' pre-disposed to model railroading!

Seriously, though, you've certainly got the demographics right, and I think that gender divide has historically extended to interest in most STEM areas as well. Dunno the explanation for that difference in hobby preference, though, and to the extent the younger generations show less of that gender divide, it seems to be playing out in a general lessening of interest in model railroading, rather than any increase in female interest.  Frankly, I'd be overjoyed if *any* of the grandkids or great-grandkids showed more than superficial interest in the toy trains!

We have several women in our NMRA Division, one of which earned her MMR a year ago!!!  This woman has served as our division's superintendent, advisor to other superintendents and repository of corporate knowledge, been featured in an article in NMRA Magazine, and assists in merit judging (now called "evaluations" for PC reasons.  ).  She is generally an asset to the hobby.

We also have several other women in the division who are working on their MMRs and assist with various things like running contests and White Elephant sales.  They are great contributors to the success of the division.

My own better half, when not keeping me out of trouble (almost a hopeless task ), has assisted me in backdrop and scenery work.  She's not a model railroader per se, but...she's dangerously close to the edge.

George

We had a female blogger on here several years ago, in Belgium, l think, whose postings l enjoyed, more for where she was, than who.  I have a distant cousin who is getting, or gotten, her commercial pilot's license. And have been intrigued by the two story lone prairie stations that were "manned"  by women in WW II.  My aunt was a secretary for the L&N, so she had been exposed to railroads. I don't think l have seen a psychological study of how these roles are set in concrete.

This thread started me thinking about a couple of women who were very active on this forum -- Nicole (N.Q.D.Y.) and Lisa Marie Tahtaras.  Both of them have sadly passed, but were wonderful people and contributed greatly to this forum and the hobby.

Andy

Does Sarah still post on here? Her last post was on 9-23-22. I loved reading her posts and her work.

My friend, Michelle Kempema, is the Executive Director of the Colorado Model Railroad Museum and one of the founders of the NMRA special interest group "Women in Model Railroading".   You may want to look into it.  You don't have to be a NMRA member to join.  Google "women in model railroading".   The Colorado Model Railroad Museum operates a 5,000 sq. ft. museum quality HO display.  You can find videos of Michelle and the museum on YouTube.  NH Joe

Susan Deats has been on OGR Forum for over 20 years, and has a web page worth reviewing. Her layout sports a tremendous helix.

Relevant though closed thread:

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/...08#15790232509077708

My significant other enjoys the trains and asks relevant questions, which shows that she's not just playing along.  She has built scenery and makes suggestions about the layout, and she wants me to get a better plan together for a layout that will involve a lot more scenery.  She scratchbuilt a small shack - we started with something crude so that she can say "it's supposed to look like that".   

At York, she's an enabler.  She often spots stuff that I miss, and her familiar line when I buy something is "let me carry it back to the car while you keep looking".  I'm often asked if she has a sister.

Like the OP, she doesn't understand the electrical aspects, probably for the same reasons - lack of early exposure.

Suggestion for @chessiechick - when attending York, go to the various meetings such as social media, dinners, SGMA, and other special interests and look for the women who seem to be engaged in what's going on (rather than killing time) - go introduce yourself.

There is also Peachy's Trains on Youtube. Very nice videos showing a very nice layout.

Sarah, mentioned above, now spends most of her time on Facebook at 2-Rail and P-48 Model Railroading showing us all the neat things she can do (and provide) in the way of 3D modeling.  Latest, I believe, is a cab interior for a diesel switcher (SWXXXX) ??

Chuck

Sarah is a real modeler, not like hacks like me that only play at it.  I'm sad she doesn't post here anymore, her creations were something to drool over, the attention to detail is something to see.

Mark, I'm glad you mentioned Susan Deats (Google Susan's Run Room). If you're having trouble operating or fixing a Lionel or MTH car or accessory, her Run Room is the place to visit.

As far as women's and men's interest in my layout, women always seem to be much more interested than their partners. It can't just be because I'm so charming.

Hal

I'm grateful that my wife tolerates my hobby.

Back in the early 1990's she got me back into the hobby when she bought me a beaten up 1950's Lionel steamer from a local antique shop. I remind her of that when needed!

Tom

I'm in the same boat PRR8976 (Tom).

After lugging a small cardboard carton containing my childhood Swiss Buco O Gauge train set from house to house after I got married, my wife (Sue) asked to see this wonderful childhood memory, and see if it still ran. If it didn't, she was throwing it out!!!

That was her first big mistake!!!  It ran perfectly with no help at all, after almost 50yrs of storage!!! I then told her parts and other engines and carriages, track etc were almost non-existent.....that's when she said to look on E-bay.

That was her second big mistake!!! I now have one of the largest collection of Buco trains outside of Switzerland.....and I remind her of that too.

Peter.....Buco Australia.

The late Jan Altizer comes to mind. She and Dorr worked together on everything. On a happier note, the awesome Carnegie Science Center builder managed to represent an entire Forbes Field grandstand with Q-Tips. She also scratchbuilt Fallingwater.

As for me, I wanted to go into a STEM field, borked my brain on differential calculus, took numerous entertaining detours and wrote history books and a couple dozen short stories. If I were physically able, I’d be volunteering with 1:1 scale steam. Any old iron is all right by me. Heck, I AM old iron now.

Most of my help around the layout amounts to obvious mechanical stuff. I have excessive craft experience and supplies, much of which will translate.

my wife loves trains as much as I do and we go to York and Allentown every year, also go to NJ Highrailer and have a great time! We bought a Lionel big boy 4014 second edition and we both love the watch it run on Hightailer layout, always someone wants to buy it but we tell them it's not for sale!

Anna and Alan

My wife has no interest in trains other than she is happy that I am happy. She jokes that “it’s cheaper than therapy” but, at the same time, she is an advocate for our local shows and displays. She displays posters of our free-to-the-public displays in her exam rooms (she is a Pediatrician).

Peter

My wife is eager to go to York with me and enjoys going to some of the local shows as well. She generally will get a list of items that I may be looking for and begins her search at a show. She also helps me work on our layout where she regularly cuts gargraves track on the band saw and cuts lumber pieces on the Miter Saw for bench work.

My wife also works with me when we laser cut our bridge pieces and helps with testing the fit of those parts.

Certainly a help with the hobby.

idea-thinker

I believe a woman is in charge of the Carnegie Science Center layout.

Christine Braden is a wonderful Custom painter of trains near Pittsburgh too.

Like the OP, my wife never had a Barbie.  And while her dad was into HO trains, she never got interested in them but did go with her older brother to the big slot car tracks and wrecked more than a few of his cars.  By high school she was very much into physical activities, like running, biking, and skiing.  60 years later she still does all that, but a bit slower. 

Her dad was like a mechanical engineer so he did everything around the house.  So she never was exposed to technical stuff at home, and was an english major and lacrosse player in college.  Her short stint in the navy was more administrative.

So, while for the last 40+ years my wife supports my train hobby 100%, she does not have much interest in the trains.  I play with the trains, she reads.  Nature or nurture?

I wish there were  more Ladies were in our hobby . 

I remember Nicole for sure.     I thought there was a Beth other than the  one that runs the hobby shop.   Beth used to ask questions once in awhile.

There are some wives out there that tolerate our hobby.

I worked at the LHS for about 20 years after retiring from my first (corporate) job.  Especially during the holiday season we'd get occasional comments from prospective buyers  that 'girls don't play with trains!'.

Au contraire!!

Exhibit A:  I kept a copy of this old Lionel Accessories catalog handy behind the counter for moments/comments like this...

Inside were photos/descriptions of folks in the hobby.  On one page was a pic of Sara Pennington and her Lionel layout...which I gladly showed in testament/contradiction of the passé paradigm...

I have no idea whether Sara has continued in the hobby.  I posted this info several years ago on the forum seeking whether someone might know more about her, her family, her kids and their interest in 'mom's hobby'!?...but with no comments in response.  I always thought it was especially 'cool' to see the fairer sex wholly engaged in this great hobby.  Our (LHS) customers agreed.

Exhibit B:  I've mentioned this several times before...  On our first date in 1994, my wife, Deb, and I exchanged comments over dinner about our own interests...hobbies.  Now, for me this was starting over in life after a very difficult divorce from wife #1 who had absolutely ZERO interest/support of this hobby.  Anyhow, when I mentioned my lifelong interest in trains, Deb's beautiful blue eyes grew as big as a full moon...and the rest of the evening/discussion was about...trains.  It seems she had grown up somewhat envious of her two brothers' holiday gifts of trains.  Yes, she had been invested in Barbie, et alia, typical for young 'boomer' girls.  But, her technical interests (engineering/physics) dominated her professional life.

Suffice to say, we have now been most happily together for these 30 years.  And my beautiful wife is very, very much into this hobby.  In fact on our first trip to a York meet many years ago, her registration number was posted for a door prize...and she claimed a Lionel Christmas train set!   Talk about a serendipitous experience!!!  And, since she's the CFO of our family, there's NEVER a question or hesitation about spending for the hobby!   

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And, to our OP...and in support of Mallard4468's suggestion re York...I think it would be great if there was a special get-together for the women in the hobby.   In fact, I think such a socialization at the October meet, in particular, would be a most interesting and enthusiastic precursor to the coming Holiday Season...and the trains thereof!! 

Thanks to Chessiechick for getting some discussion going!

KD

I have greatly appreciated the presence of every member of the fairer sex which have joined and post on this forum. I wish we had more female members.  I truly miss Nicole (N.Q.D.Y.) and over the past few years have thought about her on many occasions.  She really was a bright star on the forum.    Trains like hunting, fishing and firearms normally don't attract too many women but in all of these fields more and more women are joining in and its great to see.  

Great contributions everyone!  I'm all in for more women joining our hobby and certainly celebrate the one's who already are model railroaders!

Let's also remember Carmen Webster, who played a major role in the model railroading hobby back in the 1950's - 1973.  She was a major player in the NYC train hobby scene, owning her own train store,  and within the broader model railroading community during that time.   She knew everything model trains.   I remember reading a magazine feature about her perhaps over a decade ago, and never have forgotten how outstandingly significant she was.    Do a Google search to find out more about this amazing woman's contribution to our hobby!  

@Andy Hummell posted:

This thread started me thinking about a couple of women who were very active on this forum -- Nicole (N.Q.D.Y.) and Lisa Marie Tahtaras.  Both of them have sadly passed, but were wonderful people and contributed greatly to this forum and the hobby.

Andy

I also remember Nicole, that lady was very knowledgeable on many aspects of the hobby, she bailed me out several times, I miss her posts. I believe Nicole was from the Netherlands.

Ray

When I saw the title of this thread - "Observations about women in the hobby" - my first thought was - why does it matter at all whether a modeler is male or female, and why do we persist in outdated stereotypes and notions of ability or interests based on gender? By now, I think we all should realize that women are just as capable as men of doing anything they choose - including model railroading, science, law, medicine, engineering.... and on and on. And, they are certainly much better than men at many things. As far as I'm concerned, women's achievements and abilities in all endeavors are to be expected, acknowledged, welcomed and anticipated.

MELGAR

There is a "Women in Trucking" organization that is very well organized. I also saw a "Women in Toys" organization. These are about supporting womens careers.

Maybe they could be used as a model for a "Women in Model Trains". This would incorporate all scales and not just O gauge. It would also be for growing the hobby and not career related.

Maybe something Lionel/Bachmann/Atlas etc. would help promote??

Thank you MELGAR.   I just wan to play trains and chase them too.

@MELGAR posted:

When I saw the title of this thread - "Observations about women in the hobby" - my first thought was - why does it matter at all whether a modeler is male or female, and why do we persist in outdated stereotypes and notions of ability or interests based on gender? By now, I think we all should realize that women are just as capable as men of doing anything they choose - including model railroading, science, law, medicine, engineering.... and on and on. And, they are certainly much better than men at many things. As far as I'm concerned, women's achievements and abilities in all endeavors are to be expected, acknowledged, welcomed and anticipated.

MELGAR

I believe that Chessiechick is just looking to connect with other female modelers. I don’t think she is trying to stereotype anything.

Got my 5 year old daughter the Lionel Girls Set reissue in hopes of starting her off in the hobby.  It never appealed much to her, but I tried.  Took her to car shows starting at 1 year old, she does love old cars and she drove a cool old Mustang for years.  I think my job as a dad was to expose her to as many things as possible so she could have a lot to choose from and figure out what she liked.  She is 27 now with her own baby girl about 7 weeks away, maybe I'll get a chance to play with that Girls Set again with my new grand baby.

I hope more people will bring the younger girls (and boys) to the hobby.                           Otherwise, what am I gonna do with all this stuff?

@Traindiesel posted:

I believe that Chessiechick is just looking to connect with other female modelers. I don’t think she is trying to stereotype anything.

I agree, but I don't think Melgar had that in mind in his reply.   Underlying the overall thread title are some long-standing paradigms and stereotypes.  I can well understand why Chessiechick is reaching out for some gender communication.  All good...no, VERY good, IMHO!

BTW, for any of the fairer gender who would like to communicate with my wife about the hobby, I'd suggest Private Messaging.  Simply begin your address with something like  "Hey, Deb!!!".   She'll reply.  Re York meets, we're not as mobile as we once were.  York is a 10-hour drive away.  We have two four-legged 'kids' (Goldens) who don't board well...IOW, they travel with us.  Our RV days are long gone (Thank Heavens!!)  Also, just sold our Florida winter home (More thankfulness!!).  No more excuses for not working on the layout!!!...except for the body's joints that don't bend as easily as they once did!!!!

KD

@dkdkrd posted:

I agree, but I don't think Melgar had that in mind in his reply.   Underlying the overall thread title are some long-standing paradigms and stereotypes.  I can well understand why Chessiechick is reaching out for some gender communication.  All good...no, VERY good, IMHO!

KD

You are correct. I didn’t mean it as a criticism, it was just an observation.

Thanks to all of you for your insightful comments. To those of you who emailed me privately, I appreciate it very much, and I will get back to you shortly.

I would LOVE to see an organization promote "Women in Model Trains." Any takers?

@MELGAR, you are quite right. Gender shouldn't matter, and we should be long past stereotyping. There are many people who do celebrate women's achievements and don't care a bit about what gender someone is, and I am all for that!

And yet it bothers me that there are still fields where women are not proportionately represented. STEM in general. I think a lot of it is that women choose not to go into those fields, for whatever reasons, so perhaps it is largely our own fault.

In hindsight, even though my parents were quite progressive for their time, one of the worst pieces of advice my father ever gave me was to not bother taking physics in school. I was quite good academically and could have handled it. I watch my engineer husband use those principles frequently today, and wish I knew more about them (as well as electronics and carpentry). Perhaps I'll take some online courses in those areas one day - AFTER the layout is built!

Well said and good luck with your layout.

Tom

@New Haven Joe, thanks for the info. I've applied to join the group.

After the layout is built you Won't NEED any online courses.  You be a master. Lol

My wife was always involved in my hobby. In fact many of the engines we bought were "hers".