Who has recently retired or will be retiring soon and what are your train plans?

Good Lord, is this thread still going on?  

Well, I see my first reply was in January, 2017.  I'm still retired (since 2010) and -- apart from an unpleasant month recovering from a bypass operation in 2012 -- still love it.  

During the summer months, I go biking several times a week, instead of going to the YMCA to work out, as I do in the cold months.  Of course, what with the constant rain and/or heat this July and August, maintaining the biking schedule has been harder than I anticipated.

I don't buy as much train equipment as I used to, partly because our local train store closed about three years ago; partly because there's only so much rolling stock you can put on a 6' x 8' basement-floor layout at one time.  But although I'm buying fewer trains, I seem to be working on them more, adding details, LED lights and just general maintenance.  If I ever see a nice Lionel scale PRR S2 turbine at a good price, I'd probably go for one, but other than that, I have no particular purchasing goals in mind.  There are two train shows a year in my area, and my lesser acquisitions are often guided by what appears there.

I have been moving more and more into music, getting back into clarinet playing after lo these many years, and now working on getting up to speed with my trumpet (a Selmer K-Modified, for those who care about such things).  I have a modest collection of WWII/Cold War-era military rifles that I enjoy shooting, though the miserable Pennsylvania weather has been restricting my target-shooting activities this summer.

As I read back through this thread, a couple of comments stood out to me (forgive me for not attributing them to their original authors):

"It's hard to believe how much there is to do, even though you have all day to do it.  All the stuff you were interested in, but never had the time for, is now available to you."

Words to live by.  I'm as busy now as I was when I was working (for A Major Eastern University™), but now I'm busy with things I want to do, which makes an enormous difference.  As an example: my wife and I visited the local County Fair on Monday, which is something we hadn't done in fifteen or so years.  Little things like that add up, believe me.

And probably the most telling comment of all:

"I knew it would be good, [but] I had no idea it would be THIS good."

I don't think I can top that one.

Traveling the country in style is not in a motor home, it's in hotels.

eddie g posted:

Traveling the country in style is not in a motor home, it's in hotels.

True dat, eddie g.  My idea of roughing it is "no cable".  Also I thought I would have beer for lunch every day and I've done that 4 times in 7 years.

Balshis

PERFECT!

Words to live by.  I'm as busy now as I was when I was working in 2006, but now I'm busy with things I want to do, which makes an enormous difference. 

And probably the most telling comment of all:

"I knew it would be good, [but] I had no idea it would be THIS good."

I don't think I can top that one.

Larry

I had a forced retirement about 5 years ago. I was 66 and put in for SS and my pension. Found out the pension was not fully funded as the law states. Turned over to the govt. who took over the pension and cut most of us by 50-60%. It has now been cut again, another 25%. In the meantime the company went out of business and gave every top manager $500,000 to leave the company. Nobody was ever prosecuted for not fully funding the pension fund.

Although I enjoy my retirement the cutting of my pension has put a real crimp in my plans. I do work part time now but working at almost 72 is no fun. 

Also the passing of close relatives like my brother has made living not as fun as it once was. Thank god for my close friends like Jim, Mike, Greg, Jen, Cheran and several others.  

Im still having fun with my trains and will till the end, what ever happens to them after I'm gone will not matter to me one bit. Sell them, trash them, set them on fire, I don't care. 

Sorry for the downer of a post but I just had to say it.

Dave

Been retired for 17 years and have made it a point not to be as busy as I was when I was working 50 - 60 hrs a week.  Now I do what ever I like,  when ever I like and set no schedules or make any commitments.   Sometimes I go months w/o even looking at my trains and at other times I'll spent 18 hrs a day working on them. Those that say they are busier now haven't been retired long enough.   Life is good.

david1 posted:

I had a forced retirement about 5 years ago. I was 66 and put in for SS and my pension. Found out the pension was not fully funded as the law states. Turned over to the govt. who took over the pension and cut most of us by 50-60%. It has now been cut again, another 25%. In the meantime the company went out of business and gave every top manager $500,000 to leave the company. Nobody was ever prosecuted for not fully funding the pension fund.

Although I enjoy my retirement the cutting of my pension has put a real crimp in my plans. I do work part time now but working at almost 72 is no fun. 

Also the passing of close relatives like my brother has made living not as fun as it once was. Thank god for my close friends like Jim, Mike, Greg, Jen, Cheran and several others.  

Im still having fun with my trains and will till the end, what ever happens to them after I'm gone will not matter to me one bit. Sell them, trash them, set them on fire, I don't care. 

Sorry for the downer of a post but I just had to say it.

Dave

That is a terrible situation about your pension, Dave!!  Also, losing good friends and loved ones defiantly will put a damper on all of us who live long enough to see so many go ahead of us.

Wow, great thread, and I have been retired since April 2, 2018, at 4:00PM.... I miss the people, and customers, but, I do not miss my job....I waited until the age of going on 74 to call it Quits. Now, I attend most all local train meets, visit friends, and have enjoyed doing home projects that need attention. I was fortunate to attend the past LCCA Convention in Chicago.....Traveling with my wife at the spur of the moment is Fantastic.... We prepared for this, it’s simply a Lot Of Fun. I plan to liquidate most of my collection over the next few years....This forum is one of my favorite places to be, we have a Great Hobby....Happy Railroading.

You all are scaring me!  Thought you were a lot older than me then realized I'm getting up there.  

Hopefully with pension, social security and savings we will do alright.  They guys who want to charge us big bucks to plot our future tell us so, but we have to sign up soon.  

As for the trains, bought way more than I can run.  And the next home will probably have even less space, so it's time to consider selling the bulk of my toys.  

Larry,you beat me by two years but I retired four times,the last in Sept of 2012 finally never looking back.I spend a lot of time in winter playing with my trains and in Spring and fall traveling in Europe riding trains thanks to my wife going along with it but I always give my wife seven days in Paris at the end of our Trips.

Mikey

Farmer_Bill posted:

You all are scaring me!  Thought you were a lot older than me then realized I'm getting up there.  

Hopefully with pension, social security and savings we will do alright.  They guys who want to charge us big bucks to plot our future tell us so, but we have to sign up soon.  

As for the trains, bought way more than I can run.  And the next home will probably have even less space, so it's time to consider selling the bulk of my toys.  

 

 

Bill, yes it is scary, and it just kind of sneaks up on you!  As I said on the other topic similar to this one, I’ll be 62 in two months.  My dad and father-in-law both retired right after they turned 62.  I don’t think or feel like I’m that old.  I just had a job interview for a full-time job yesterday!  Not that I really wanted to.  They weren’t doing that at 61 and 10 months.

I'm just about to turn 61 and I retired last November. I still teach a little piano, and I hope to do some writing, but I'm enjoying having the time to do some of the things I never had time for before, and trains are a big part of that.

Jeff C

leikec posted:

I'm just about to turn 61 and I retired last November. I still teach a little piano, and I hope to do some writing, but I'm enjoying having the time to do some of the things I never had time for before, and trains are a big part of that.

Jeff C

Congratulations Jeff!

For those fellows that are preparing to retire, remember,those BTO trains We ( I am Guilty) have ordered will be coming in, One-Day, and that my friend, could be a really Fun day with the Wife....I mention that because my favorite Hobby Shop sent me an email saying my Lionel Legacy F3 Sante Fe ABBA is do in Friday....Wow....So, now I need to maneuver things around to let this set Blend with the rest of the trains.. I did prepare for this, but will have to Really slow my buying down from now on. It’s an addictive hobby....Happy Railroading....

I don’t do BTO.  On the one hand you have time to save, but on the other hand the order could come in right after a major unexpected expense!!

Well, I have been retired since March of 2014, when I turned 62.  Glad I did, was tired of always being out-of-state managing construction and Safety of powerplants, etc.  Besides, my wife had the train room built above the new 3 car garage (2010) and now I am able to make more use of it.... LOL!!  Actually, busier now than ever with property work, animals, the usual along with new out door projects.  Now.. as of today... did interview to be operator of the new streetcars in Oklahoma City when they begin service late this year.   Just couldn't pass up the chance to actually sit in the cab and run the rails.  Even if it is a streetcar, it is still an opportunity too good to passed over.    Besides, the chance of supplementary income, for trains, gives a strong incentive.

Jesse   TCA    12-68275

Mark Boyce posted:

Well, I will read and comment on others' responses later.  Shooting from the hip, My story is, I was hit with an early retirement offer a year and a half ago.  Knowing I would have to work a little longer somewhere, it still seemed in my best interest to take the offer and look for something else.  As it turned out, I get two small pension checks a month that is paying into my IRA and for some bigger dollar train items I probably won't be able to afford when I retire for good.  It also happened, that I have been able to work as a contractor for the same company, converting engineering records from companies they buy into our company's system.  We have a backlog of 3 companies to get integrated, so there will still be work left when I retire for good.  This coincides with out last daughter getting married, leave me a room, and I have been able to start planning this layout that will carry me into retirement.  

Well, it’s been another year and a half, and I’m still at the same company working part time now for the last year.  I got started in the daughters former room, then my wife realized we weren’t using the family room, so she suggested I build there.  You can see the details in the link in my signature line.

 I haven’t been able to get much done since my parents moved into personal care, and I’ve been maintaining and starting to clean out the family homestead. 130- year old house and average and outbuildings.  We will see how things go.

Two of the recurring themes I have read is people selling off big chunks if not all of their train collections and people backing off if not completely stopping purchasing trains.

If thinning out or selling off my trains were part of my retirement plan I would make it a priority and sell them now. The average age of a 3 rail O gauger is getting up in years, pretty soon it will become very hard to sell those trains, especially the expensive ones.

I am not saying that to get anyone scared, I do not believe for a minute the hobby is dying, its not. As we all know, the baby boom generation is significantly bigger than the generations behind it. Everything will change as we retire and die off.

As an example, I was into O scale trollies 2001. I sold off everything, I had no problem getting decent prices for my stuff. Fast forward 17 years and the market for trolley parts is about dead (parts to build model trollies from scratch). The prices of complete working models has flattened out or dropped off. This will happen with all of the 3 rail stuff that has been made over the last 30 years.

I have 8-10 years to go, if I could retire now at 55, I'd run away from my job and go back to driving 18 wheelers around part time. My hat is off to all of you that made it!

I don't want to darken this thread but I am getting a little nervous about retirement lately, I was planning to retire in about 2 years and build my last layout, but seeing what has been going on around me I don't know. In the last year 3 of my friends and co workers have retired, One lasted almost a year we buried him 1 month ago, another really good friend and co worker who I have been deployed with several times when we were in uniform retired on monday and was gone by wednesday, and another good buddy who retired in july just past yesturday.  To all who have made it congratulations and God bless, for me I am going to take it one day at a time and continue planning my last layout and god willing and the creek don't rise I might get to run some trains on it.

Old toymaker, I retired early ( medically ) at the age of 59. I do not regret a day of it. I had open heart surgery 2 years ago. I'm still doing fine. I know how you feel thou, Back in 2002 I no more got done going to a friends funeral ( he was 47 ) that I got a call another who was more like a brother than a friend passed away ( he was 46 ). We were the three amigo's in high school. I was sure I was next. It happens and you never know when, but don't let it worry you. I never made a deployment with either, but if they had been in the Navy I'm sure we would have somehow. 

I don't want to darken this thread but I am getting a little nervous about retirement lately, I was planning to retire in about 2 years and build my last layout, but seeing what has been going on around me I don't know.

Do you think retiring caused their death?
I guess that if you really enjoy your job, and/or retire to a life of inactivity then death could be hastened.

I looked at it the other way. I wanted to get out while I was still healthy enough to enjoy being retired. Didn't have friends and acquaintances dying around me. But if they had been, it would have contributed to my desire to get out. 

"Do you think retiring caused their death?"

Obviously no answer is possible.  But retirement is a huge change in one's life.  Change is stressful.  Folks with borderline health, which they may be unaware of, may experience a sudden cardiac/vascular event due to the stress, even if the change is largely desired one. 

I know a number of friends, particularly men, who found the loss of identity that occurs to some with retirement a strikingly difficult change.  Obviously doesn't apply if work is not a source of any pleasure and friendship for someone.  If work is stressful, retirement may reduce stress in your life. 

Many men are not introspective enough, or simply don't know,  to ask themselves these questions, but I've come to believe they are key determinants of how retirement goes in the early months.  How will you spend your time?  What will give your life meaning?  How will it affect your view of yourself?  How will you pay for that life?  Who can you turn to in difficult moments?

I am retiring in about six weeks. Thinking about selling all of the trains and layout.

I retired eight years ago and sold it all.

Landsteiner posted:

"Do you think retiring caused their death?"

Obviously no answer is possible.  But retirement is a huge change in one's life.  Change is stressful.  Folks with borderline health, which they may be unaware of, may experience a sudden cardiac/vascular event due to the stress, even if the change is largely desired one. 

I know a number of friends, particularly men, who found the loss of identity that occurs to some with retirement a strikingly difficult change.  Obviously doesn't apply if work is not a source of any pleasure and friendship for someone.  If work is stressful, retirement may reduce stress in your life. 

Many men are not introspective enough, or simply don't know,  to ask themselves these questions, but I've come to believe they are key determinants of how retirement goes in the early months.  How will you spend your time?  What will give your life meaning?  How will it affect your view of yourself?  How will you pay for that life?  Who can you turn to in difficult moments?

I agree 100 percent. I was fortunate to make a career working for NYS. One great aspect was all of the support they provided for retirement planning. A major theme was: "What are you going to do with yourself?"

Some folks write about selling off their trains. I've known people who have done that, and downsized.
That wouldn't be for me. While I have done some thinning of the ranks, and probably could do a lot more, I still enjoy tinkering with my trains.

I recently bought new tires for my wife's Expedition.  Fourth set of tires in 18 years, but none ever wore out or succumbed to road hazards (not even a flat).  First set replaced in manufacturer recall after three years, next two sets retired due to age.  Did I mention the Expedition was rated the longest lasting SUV and the only way I could persuade her to drive a Ford truck?

Oh, wait, maybe that's not what the original poster meant.  Never mind.

What, me worry?

I'm still planning for my retirement , 860 days 12 hrs but not really counting,  I'm not letting the lose worry me you can't predict what is going to happen in the future, I said I was taking it one day at a time but actually planning a year at a time, instead of downsizing I am planning on upsizing the layout.  Have started cleanning out the basement and trying to finalize the layout plan. It has been suggested by some of my friends to turn my other hobby of making kayaks into a business and that would keep me busy and give me some added cash for the trains but I don't know does anyone think something like this would sell

When you retire you need something else to do with your life since you will no longer be a work.  Lots of alternates come to mind but a hobby is one great choice.  Model trains keeps both the mind and body working which all help keep that other bright light at the end of the tunnel in the more distance future.

old_toymaker posted:

I'm still planning for my retirement , 860 days 12 hrs but not really counting,  I'm not letting the lose worry me you can't predict what is going to happen in the future, I said I was taking it one day at a time but actually planning a year at a time, instead of downsizing I am planning on upsizing the layout.  Have started cleanning out the basement and trying to finalize the layout plan. It has been suggested by some of my friends to turn my other hobby of making kayaks into a business and that would keep me busy and give me some added cash for the trains but I don't know does anyone think something like this would sell

What a beautiful Kayak!
I am certain there would be no shortage of folks would would love to have one like it.
The question would be: what would one cost? The cost might limit your sales, but how fast could you make them anyway?

Some folks enjoy running a hobby business.
IMHO, nothing kills the pleasure of a hobby faster than making it into a business.

I was thinking of building one or two and then put them up for sale instead of the custom ones that i have made for friends. material cost is about $600.00 and at 8 hrs a day about a month to build. I have seen them go for $12,000.00 to $16,000.00 but I'm one of those people that couldn't sell a dime for 10 cents.  

Beautiful work on the kayak.  Would think the market at that price will be limited, but there's only one way to find out.  Make one or two and see whether you can sell them for a price you find reasonable.  If it takes about 150-200 hours to build, that's paying yourself perhaps $75 per hour, which is nice if you can get it.  Probably depends on the area you live, in terms of interest in kayaking and prosperity of the population.

Probably depends on the area you live, in terms of interest in kayaking and prosperity of the population.

I think there are people who would travel to pick one up or perhaps pay to have one shipped.

I've been an aerospace engineer for a well known northwest company going on 55 years, I can't seem to find the door out.

Trains are in the basement, those not running on the layout can be found in several cabinets. They'll be there when or if I die. The old lady if I go first or the kids if I go last can figure it out. Who knows; my plan may force a new generation into model trains and onto Harley's this could be good for everybody.

Traveling in style is a sleeping bag on the back of a Harley, I still vacation that way though it's now on a Softail Heritage bagger not a hard tail chopper. My wife never did this except when we were dating. Her idea of roughing it is having a view of Central Park from her hotel window. Been there a couple times with her, not my cup of tea. Museum of Natural History was a gas, MOMA is full of childish attempts at painting by people who need therapy. Needless to say with rare exception we don't travel or vacation together. Beats me! It mutually was love at first sight an it's lasted a lot of decades, but we are very different people. She goes to the opera, I go to ABATE's spring opener and of course train shows. OK; hot rod shows, motorcycle shows, gun shows, 4H and FFA displays at the county fair, and oh-oh tractor shows too! She is east coast city and I'm west coast country just in case you were wondering.

Lynden Lions Club model train show is October 7th and 8th, if the weather holds dry I'll ride the hog up there and come back with the saddle bags full of treasure. Otherwise, I'll truck up in my 89, S15 running a 95, LT1, 350 for power. That's always fun in the rain as it can't make a gear change on wet pavement without barking the tires no matter how easy you are on the throttle.

Stay young my friends always in spirit even if the body is an unwilling follower and believe me there are days when that is mighty hard for me to do. But the good Lord's been kinder to me than I deserve, not complaining, just noting.

Bogie

I retired (or was retired) after 26 yrs 9 mos last December 2017 because my 2nd career was getting in the way of my govt career job. My environmental/natural resources 2nd career job is the same, just me as my own Boss minus the 2+ hour daily commute after 33 years. This first year on my own and a small pension has been nerve wracking settling into a routine, finishing paying off (debt) that LAST big piece of specialized equipment...otherwise everything is paid off and we finally might be able to save some money. We won't get rich but hope to be snug and comfortable.

The basement is ready for basic, no-nonsense, no frill trainscaping. I fell in love with O27 half a dozen years ago and have been accumulating track and parts, proto design and realism ideas sketches, scenic concepts on my pro-based outdoor experiences, table/module ideas to start winter 2018.  I also have some O scale 2-rail; 2-rail brass and HO brass collected (quite a bit) I'm planning to work with...the O27 based on the micro/small layout concepts but I'll stretch it out to bigger scale on vignette scenes in the basement...lottsa room for expansion based on my local prototype here in Maryland Delmarva.