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tom thorpe
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 Posted - 03/15/2009 : 21:32:56
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In speaking with some people off list it seems like there are different things holding different folks back from getting their RR up and running.
Just curious, if your construction has hit a speed bump or if you are having difficulty getting started what seems to be the stumbling block at this point?
I am sure with some of the really fine photos posted any difficulties you may have could be addressed by many here either conceptually or details.
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Country: USA
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railroad-guy
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Posted - 03/15/2009 : 22:17:50
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I am waiting for my bailout from Washington... for now, here I am waiting....
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Regards,
Dan
Richmond, Danville & Southern - Route of the Mariner
http://rdsrr.com
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Country: USA
| Posts: 268 |
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Sroten
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 00:22:24
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Wife and kid(s) and job eating up time $ and my layout easement -- I used to buld much more stuff when I was single guy
. And a flooded basement (six inches in and out in under 12 hours but what a mess) this week that is making me wonder how to prevent damage to the benchwork. The latter issue is due to living in the swamp we call South East Michigan
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d tuuri
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 00:59:33
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Lack of time - lots of OT at work (not complaining at all) and 3 small kids keep my wife and I running (again - not complaining at all - always family first!!!) "someday" I will have more time - but I just posted a thread ref those ScotchLok wiring connectors - directly related to this. Seems some folks use them and they work great - I can see me cutting track laying time in half with those - so I am going to give them a try. I am always looking to save time lately (as long as the job gets done and it works). I am sure soldering everything is better but if it works - then its good enough for me.
Don
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Mojave Mike
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 01:17:54
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Working LOTS of ot....40 hrs extra this 2-week paycheck alone, all to close the gap of funds that Barry & Arnold say I owe them....4 pre-school age grandchildren. So essentially, no time & no money.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 269 |
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bxcxdan
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 08:35:22
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Gents,
Mine is, "AMS" or advanced modelers syndrome. Getting bored with the model RR. Also, work gets in the way. Family, friends.. ahh! it's a conspiracy! "they" don't want me to work on the model RR. but somehow, I get things done!
Dan
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Daniel M. Bigda
Boxcar Services L.L.C. |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 405 |
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RR
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 09:02:43
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I remember what kids can do to a schedule...So can too much TV!
When I get "bored" I look for a change. I invite a couple guys over and watch some videos. Recently I joined the NMRA. Gives me a new group to talk with, and the AP programs are going to be a challenge.
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Jim Bengert,at
Jim's Express
New web page coming! |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 630 |
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phrwy1
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 09:03:37
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Folks,
I'm on the other end of the spectrum with a completed railroad, but I have learned a few things along the way. The journey has taken over 40 years and I discovered a couple of keys. First is that it only takes, say 20 minutes a day to accomplish a lot. I used to get my time slot between the time I arrived home and my wife served dinner. I too had many responsibilities between four kids and a job that required travel, but the consistent dedicated time really paid off in the long run. The second key is that the railroad should be designed for realistic operation when complete. The problem with most of my rr friends is that they never finish because they either change concept or gauge or both. Holding to the initial concept also helps avoid the temptation to purchase what is not necessary. Like it or not, building a railroad is all about choices. There are far more choices today than when I started, so it is more difficult.
Once I chose my concept of a railroad, which was a shortline, I found I could make other adaptions, yet stay with the design. The first of these was to install 24 hour lighting effects. Operating at night is very different from daylight and must be seen to really understand, but it is like having two different railroads in the same physical space. The second technique is to consider two eras. We can operate in the 1950's with steam, early diesels, and mostly 40' cars, or change the look through building signs, vehicles, etc., and bring out 1970's diesels and per diem boxcars, larger tank cars and the like and reset the whole scene.
Sure, I still build a few things as a modeler, but today operation of the railroad is where it's at.
Regards, Ben Brown
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gpandwrr
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 10:02:40
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Space
When I moved into this house I was promised the entire basement for my layout. By the time I started construction on the first layout my space had been reduced to half the basement. Four years ago that layout had to come down b/c we had family temporarily moving in with us. After they left squatters quickly moved in and took over.
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OWMac
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 10:41:38
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I've been working on car projects that I've acquired for the past 30 years. 11 are complete and 18 are in progress. Thats about 1/4 of them. This has stopped layout progress dead in it's tracks. After the 18 are completed I'll work on the layout if golf season soesn't intervene.
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| MAC |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 449 |
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CBQer
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 11:40:08
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Simple. Time is my biggest problem as I travel through 5 states, and as my bride owns 3 horses, money is also a consideration. I do take a project to work on in a motel if I stay in one place for a couple of days. I often wonder what the maid thinks when she sees a project.
Dick
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Charter Memer Golden Spike Club
"Welcome Home" |
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Country: USA
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OWMac
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 20:12:42
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Ouch , horses!!! You feed $100 bills in one end and get manure out the other.
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| MAC |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 449 |
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Trevor D. CSX Crr fan
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 20:49:21
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I think it's because I'm a "Nighthawk" and really want to get going on the layout after 9:30PM. The only problems are three little boys(7,5 & 3) and the Better-Half(who wakes up at 5:00AM) who are usually sleeping when I need to use a saw or two!
Then there's that @*&^%*&% XBOX 360 that I'm on alot! 
Trevor D.
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Country: Canada
| Posts: 461 |
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John Albee
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 20:59:11
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MAC, you remind me of politicians...
Don't know if I should go here or not because I'm not proud of it. Maybe it will save someone a heartache.
My biggest obstacle is that I let this beome an all consuming obsession. First place, ahead of wife, family and all. So it cost me a wife, even though we'd just bought this house and I had started a big layout. I sent her messages for years that she was 2nd or 3rd on my list and that my discretionary $$$ was going to be spent in trains and little else. After she left and I got thinking about things, I realized that she was right and that she wasn't to blame, she had only reacted to my messages.
After much conversation, frankness and apologies, we are talking and maybe we can get together again under a diferent scenario where we have priorities that are mindful of family first and all. I notice that most of you guys defer first to wives, kids, etc. I have learned the hard way a very difficult lesson. Once again, even at my old age, the school of hard knocks came acalling.
This time, thank god, maybe I learned before it was too late.
It's still a GREAT hobby and I'm thankful for it.
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John Albee
Caribou & Sierra Falls Ry. |
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1487 |
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UP6903
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 21:45:46
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I find it hard to get motivated as we have few if any LHS that do any O and I know of only one other in
Az. that likes O, AZ 2rail. It is hard to get the products one needs to build, structures, plaster, tree, etc.
anywhere but from a UPS guy a week late.
I hopefully solved the wife problem as I built her a sewing room with computer and TV. BUt after a day at
work I am in no mood but to sit on my butt and watch TV myself or go on the computer and look for bargins in the O scale world. I used to be so motivated when I was young. What happened?
Phil at 60
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Country: USA
| Posts: 1556 |
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MikeRR
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Posted - 03/16/2009 : 21:59:56
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Finding time is my biggest problem right now.
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Country: USA
| Posts: 135 |
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