How did you get started in model railroading? - The Whistle Post

TallDude · #1 (**permalink**) 01-26-2006, 06:50 PM

Model railroading for me started at the early age of 3 on Christmas Day when my parents gave me a model railroad on a 4 x 8 piece of plywood, complete with scenery. They evidently stayed up all night long and built it from scratch. I still to this day have no idea how they got so much done while also wrapping my other presents. Needless to day, that started a life long love of model tailroading and trains.

Kevin

Trainman1965 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-26-2006, 08:33 PM

Well lets see i was talking to Talldude one night and bama after hearing and seeing all the cool stuff i just had to do this. So far TD has made me spend half a weeks check on model RR stuff but hey i have some nice stuff now. Thanks TD for showing me this cool hobbie and helping me get started in it.

3ace · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2006, 09:18 AM

My three year old son is train crazy, be it Thomas or real trains. In the last 18 months, we have gone from a Thomas table to a 5'x9' HO scale layout in the garage! I got my son a bunch of Bachmann Easy Track and some Life-Like engines and cars for him to "layout," and I work on the real layout.

Firemanbill · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 05:40 PM

It all started with this... My uncle "Burr" God rest his soul, took me to town with him to the Local Hobby Shop in Morristown Tn when I was about 6 and bought this Atlas model that at the time was still being made in Austria. Before he passed on he gave me the Loco to hold for him for a while. Mind you he didn't give it to me as he said he would get it back someday. It wasn't long after that he passed away. Anyway I've been into trains ever since that trip to the shop. I do not currently have a layout due to lack of space and other hobby bugs but will again soon.

Trainman1965 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-2006, 09:46 PM

That is cool Bill. And welcome to the whistle post.

tishman · #6 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 10:13 PM

hello.........it started last Christmas,i bought a cheap h.o. oval to go under the tree.......i got hooked....when my 18 y.o. moved out in january ,i had a vision of a large layout in her empty room.........i am starting a 16foot by 6 foot layout.........man it has been fun!!!!!!!!........tishman

Trainman1965 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 10:23 PM

You sound like me tishman i am going to have a RR room in two more years LOL i have one that is going off to collage and i am thinking already.

ak-milw · #8 (**permalink**) 02-15-2006, 10:59 PM

Hey Tishman,
Be carefull those eighteen year olds tend to move back after they move away!!
I got started when I was about ten. My uncle switched from O scale to HO scale and my dad bought his O scale off him. I played with these for a long while but didn't have the space for an O guage layout. So I switched to HO and have been going ever since. I belive I am currently on my 15th layout not counting a few small switching layouts. Hopefully this will be my last!

Firemanbill · #9 (**permalink**) 02-16-2006, 06:06 PM

I know the feeling Tish. My 19 y/o just left for NY. And yes they go and come. She left once to go in the Navy, didn't make it their so came back. Now she's back in NY.

I have my den back... wooohooo. just kidding. I do miss her but I do have some room to get going again.

Boss Boomer · #10 (**permalink**) 02-20-2006, 10:17 AM

My very first train set was an old tin plate wind-up toy when I was maybe four years old. That would have been about 1956. I remember it was predominently red in color and had a metal tunnel to travel thru which I thought was rather fascinating. I remember putting my head down on the floor to see the train pass thru the tunnel from eye level!

After that--Lionel 027 from my dad, in the basement, on a sheet of wall board. Then HO scale when I was 13 y/o. The rest is history, as they say!