I like to "play with trains" or "mindlessly run trains in circles", according to some of the less-than-tolerant members of our model train club.
I am 68 yrs old and have had some interest in railroading and model railroading since birth. I was born into a railroading family, Boston and Maine Railroad being the employer of my father, paternal grandfather, and several relatives.
My grandfather was an engineer, spending his time on passenger trains until he retired in 1958.
My father was a fireman but left the railroad due to the work not being dependable enough to support a family. Periodically my father was my grandfather's fireman.
I spent many days riding on my grandfather's trains from Boston, MA to Portland, ME. On his final trip, our father, my two brothers and I got to ride with him in a consist of Budd RDCs.
I received the obligatory Lionel model train set very early on and progress through the years to HO scale, all courtesy of my grandfather.
During high school, interest waned due to fumes . . . Gasoline fumes (had to have a car!!) and per-fumes (girlfriends) but was reinvigorated by the discovery of an "N" scale model train set in the base exchange (store) while stationed at Danang Airbase, Vietnam during 1969.
While in the U. S. Air Force, I worked in a program where we had B-52 and KC-135 flight simulators mounted in railroad passenger cars. We brought the mobile flight simulators to designated bases for 30 day periods so aircrew could do periodic training and evaluation. When the cars were moved from base to base, two persons had to ride with the cars and I volunteered for as many trips as possible. We were also trained in basic railcar maintenance, primarily heating systems and generator set repairs when in route, especially during winter.
While in the Air Force, I was involved with HO Scale model train layouts at Lackland AFB, TX;, Chanute AFB, IL and Castle AFB, CA.
After leaving the Air Force, eventually got involved with the Orange Empire Railway Museum in Perris, CA and spent 14 years volunteering their in the Operations Department as a Motorman, Conductor and Brakeman on their demonstration railroad, operating trains and electric cars for the public. At the same time, joined Riverside Live Steamers in Riverside, CA for about three years.
All that came to an end when my job moved to a different state.
Eventually found an HO scale model railroad club, based on 1950's timeframe, and joined them (son also joined as he has been along for the journey in railroading and model trains since birth).
When I first joined we ran trains on specified nights but it was a free-form style, people just had fun running trains.
Eventually, the operations mode of running trains started to take hold. As the Prototypical Operations mode was developed, there started to be an attitude displayed by the advocates of prototypical operations towards those who chose not to participate in the operations sessions. Unkind comments (hesitate to say anger because that is a strong term) from some of the prototypical operations group members were directed at anyone who dared to disturb the location of any rolling stock or motive power from it's position on the layout when the once a month operations session.
On occasion they would walk away from an operations with trains block main line pathways rendering the layout useless for those who chose to casually run trains (despite club rules prohibiting blocking the main line).
Several active railroad employees joined and got involved. From time to time they would correct the "regular" members for using incorrect railroading terminology during operations sessions.
Although I did not attend the operations sessions, apparently there were a few heated discussions about protocols, terminology, etc. One member quit the club because he was being criticized during sessions for making mistakes.
As with many model train clubs, the age of most of our members is above the 50 yr old mark, many well above the mark.
The hard core prototypical operations group has been pushing for a complete remake of the layout and finally got their way. Our layout has been in place for decades. Our location is a rented room in a building with a commercial business in the rest. We are paying well below the going price per square foot for rent but have no rental agreement or contract, it's month to month.
The layout was removed, along with an extensive DCC system and sold to someone for less than the cost of the DCC equipment. Newer members wanted to replace the DCC system with a different brand because that is what they use at home.
The layout is gone, the room has had the walls patched and repainted and construction is about to begin on the layout.
There are complaints that those working on the layout are few, whereas 18-20 people used to participate in operations.
I had done an informal survey of members, their ages, etc. prior to the decision to rebuild the layout as a tool to point out the age of our members and the possibility that they may not be up to a full layout rebuild. Aging members have health issues and mobility issues that make it difficult to perform manual labor, lifting, kneeling, etc.
So, whereas I used to enjoy running my trains "mindlessly in circles", I am now in the process of selling off my lifetime collection of trains as I do not believe the layout will ever be back to it's former completed state.
Members who have layouts where the primarily focus on operations are modeled after the "Plywood Central Railroad" . . . plywood, roadbed, track and DCC system.
Buildings are represented sometimes with cardstock blocks with names of industries on them.
The timeline for the new club layout goes as far as getting the layout operational . . . once the layout is operational, then planning will start for scenery, buildings, etc. but it is not part of stage 1 completion.
Although I have had several small layouts of my own, I do not currently have one due to space constraints and health issues.
It has been a long enjoyable journey but it appears it may be coming to an end, although not completely.
I can still make trips to the Nevada Northern Railroad in Ely, NV and rent one of their locomotives for an hour or so, as I and our son have done on several occasions.
Live Long and Prosper . . .
