RAILROADS!!

[beana51]

Great new site,what it has done for me was to visit the "HOBBY SHOP" There I was confronted with railroad heaven. Checked with Lionel,Yep,you can still get those magnificent trains,some Pre-war.A basement or spare room,a sheet of 4x8x3/4 inch,plywood or two,rolling stock,track,switches,Ect,Ect,model scenery supplies, and a fertile imagination and you can do CHOO! CHOO!.Guaranteed to take a lot of ole years off of you,and occupy your time.Of course an Airport could be the center of your line,a place to bring freight and passengers to.. "ALL ABOARD!!... ;D...vin

[sgtmajor]

Vin.... that's so true. I was in the back room a few days ago going through some old photos etc., and up in the top of my closet was my box of old trains. Yep.... had to get them down and look at them. Might have to get the out and oiled up and do a little choo choo'ing around here myself. Brings back a lot of old childhood memories!

[beana51]

Hi Steve,When I had a large barn,I was a pack rat.You bet I had my Ole Lionel,American Flyer,and my Erector set. From the 40s.My 30s trains got lost to a dim memory.As my Grand kids became aware of my stash,they asked for them.So,being a river to my people,I let them have it...What a boneheaded thing to do!In no time they became a memory....My4,6,2,my 0,8,0,and my 6,8,6, "0" gauge,now expensive items...gone!!So that trip to the Hobby shop,and this site,renewed the Ole interest.But there were choices to make,Locomotives could not fly,yes they were there,steam engines,took them for granted,but the thrill of flight won out,at least for me.Now that all steam locomotives are gone,except in some remote area's of India,we fondly remember them.I mentioned I still had an early Stereo LP of railroad sounds,played it first time in many years to day,shook the house,,the mournful train whistle in the distant do bring memories....Oh well, its good for "Round House" talk now.... Thanx.Vin

[sgtmajor]

Hi Vin.... yep.... I've ALWAYS been fond of steam engines and can't even tell you why as that was just a little bit before my time, however, for a reason I can't explain I love to hear a nicely tuned engine purr. (A John Deere Tractor ALWAYS brings a big smile to my face.)
I think this is one reason I'm enjoying some of this train sim stuff.

As a kid I ran around with a classmate whose father built and ran small steam engines on the kitchen table. (Used Sterno for the fuel) I'd love to have a few of his old steam engines.

I'm not sure if I can get a link to it..... but if you go to the "Tonight Show" web-site Jay Leno has some video's of some of his automobiles. (I think the call it Jay's Garage) Look for the video of him firing up this "Stanley Steamer"..... very good stuff. I'll see if I can get a link to the video and post for others too.

Cheers,

EDIT: I went to the Tonight Show web-site and under video there is a spot called Jay Leno's Garage. I'm out on a business trip this week and unfortunately the Company I work for has us pretty much locked out of what we can do with the lap top so I can't grab the link. It's a video of a 1909 Stanley Steamer.
Sure wish I could afford toys like that.... but of course if I could it would probably cut into my computer flight time so I'm probably better off. (smile)

[AirCoaster]

In 1985 I built a replica of The East Broad Top Railroad, a 3ft. narrow gauge operating railroad in Pennsylvania. It took up half the basement, but then my basement isn't that big, 24 x 26 ft. It took three people to run it during a normal operating session, and had most of the normal daily operations for the EBT from around the turn of the century, 1800s-1900s. It was built in N-scale, open frame girder style, mesh, and special plaster compound scenery, and took darn near my whole "return on investment money" for three years to build. Of course, the wife wasn't very happy, but after getting her involved in the project, she changed her tune a bit.

I don't own the layout anymore. One of the fellows who helped with the sessions bought it from me. We spent three days sectioning it, and moving it to his house. Then spent another week trying to get the darn thing to run properly, and patching the scenery. Sure does bring back some memories.

We use to have some great running operation sessions on Saturday nights. There is nothing like a good operating session to bring folks together, and have a good time, except maybe a multiplayer ATC session in Flight Sim. I see them both in the same way. After working with the same people for some time you get to anticipating their next move, and you usually are ready for the callouts.

Yah, I have kicked myself in the rear many a time for selling the route, but I made a healthy profit when I sold it, and the family was in dire straits at the time, so all worked out.

[beana51]

These are all pleasant stories of times gone by.Other than airplanes,and flight,the Big Iron ,Steam ,living ,breathing behemoths of the rail were a fascination to many.I guess we all had that proverable "Electric Train Set" under the Christmas tree.This exciting forum is starting to bring back a desire to get to laying rail...Wife thinks I'm nuts..Second childhood,and such,but all the kids are pushing me on...think I'll hang around with the kids..especily the "Boys" on here......much more fun! Vin