Hmmm...why model railroading? Good question, hard answer.
I've been fascinated with toy trains since I was just a young'un. Somewheres around here I have some pictures from when I was only 3 or 4 years old. (That was about 50 years ago, or thereabouts.
) Anyway, there I was, on the floor playing with my wind-up tin plate train running around the track going thru the stamped metal tunnel.
Fast forward--here we are 50 years later and I still get a thrill playing with my trains, although I did have a table-top version some years back that I built, and one day soon, I hope, I'll have another one running around my spare room. (Something always interfers with having fun--lately, it's been the heart troubles.
)
For me, I think the thrill is "being in control"--I have the trains I want. I run 'em as fast or slow as I want. I can imagine or pretend my trains are a "real business" moving passengers and goods all over the country. In a way, it IS my very own business--in miniature, granted, but it's ALL MINE! I can be as successful as I imagine in my little world!
At least that what I "think" the fun is all about! Could be nothing more that us being carnivorous animals that enjoy seeing wee, little things running that we enjoy watching and pretending we can pounch on them at any moment and eat and torment like a cat and mouse!
Heck, I don't know!