Hey Guys, I was just pondering all my books. I seem to have a thing for wanting books that cover my modeling interests. What I mean is: I love the SP, so I have a vast collection of SP related books. I can't seem to get enough. When I purchased the Kato Super Chief train, I found myself buying whatever books I could on the subject.I just picked up a Kato Zephyr train, Now I'm wanting to find books on the WP(to do up the loco's more accuratley). I build 1/35th scale M4 Shermans. Guess what, I have a ton of Sherman books(and a bunch of other WWII armor related books.) Am I alone in this affliction? Am I just old fashioned? Should I rely on the net more? Just wondering, Wolf
No. I've always loved good books and have a pretty good library, mostly reference, for all my hobbies (and then some). I've thinned out all the lesser books and ones I no longer care about. Recently I've been spending some time in the special collections room at the city library. They have an unbelievable amount of out-of-print train books I could never afford, even if I could find them. One book I was pouring over has been on ebay recently for upwards of $250.
Oddball? There are those who think that anyone who wants to play trains is an oddball. So in that sense...maybe? In that case include me in with the other great oddballs! When it comes to books I'm one of those who is looking for the prototypical and realistic operation of the trains on my layout. I rely mostly on my memory but the older I get the less I can depend on it. So, in come the books to refresh those memories. I don't have a large library but what I do have is specific to my interests. Perhaps that makes me an oddball, in a light hearted sense of the word? Naw, I don't think any of us are oddballs in the "Put down... sense of the word". I'd rather think I'm one "Oddball" having loads of fun with my hobby of choice. Enjoy!
I suppose liking printed material could be classed as old fashioned, but then what does liking steam engines, etc, make us? There's another thread around somewhere (the magazines one I think) which gave the paper vs PC argument a hammering. I think the conclusion was a bit of both is ideal. We're a pretty middle-of-the-road bunch here I think You certainly aren't alone. I have quite a few books on various railway subjects (incl. SP) and enjoy owning a good book the same way I like a good model. I'd have more (of both) but cost and space limit me somewhat. Oh, and time too ...
Yes you are! Well, not too odd. I'm the same way. You should see my WWII book/DVD collection:tb-shocked: Welcome to the club:tb-wink:
NO,but you are a readaholic instead of alcoholic its readaholic almost all or us are readaholics it is not bad to be a readaholic it just means you like to read and that you are smart because you read alot of books an a certain subject like trains whenever i get the model RRer or the trains magazene or even the walthers catolog you cant get me off of the coutch untill i am done whith it or if a train is coming or if my eyes start to strain from reading for awile or if i just want to save the rest for later dont worrey your fine unless you stay up all night in your little library reading books in front of the fire place nonstop untill morning when you crash wake up around dinndinn time and repeat than you have a big problem
Not an Oddball! Regarding keeping information in books versus accessing it on the Internet... Books certainly cost more, take up more space, and the Internet may be more up-to-date, but I prefer the convenience of having a hard copy of the information, where possible. Lately, too, it seems like I've encountered more information on the Internet that is poorly reasoned, badly presented, or simply inaccurate. Books could have the same flaws, but at least the most glaring flaws are usually edited out before the book appears at the bookstore.
Thanks Guys, I was just a bit concerned--not really. I am just curious as to how many others were like myself. Fellow oddballs and book collectors. Keep on reading, Wolf
By no means are you an oddball. Unlike a lot of folks who sincerely wish they had a hobby like trains or for that matter, reading, you do! I model the Northern Pacific but I like all the lines (UP, MILW, GN) that connected with the NP and then some. I have books on all of them. I moved from Washington State to California and guess what? SP and PE! I have a Daylight consist, complete with a beloved 4449 and a set of SP PA's. I thought the SP FM Trainmaster was tops. But I didn't stop there. VHS and later, DVD's round out the interest. Odd? Tell you what... The most satisfying thing of all is that my wife, my sons and my daughters all say "there goes pop to the train room!" When your family signs on to all your loco, rolling stock, book and magazine purchases, the word "oddball" falls out of the dictionary. I learned early that if I saw myself as an oddball, I could be sure that others would to. So... Throw that thought out of the window and enjoy your trains, tanks, books and any new thing that you come across.
This is an excellent point. There is absolutely nothing like a hard copy, one that's been edited, probably over and over, to insure quality and accuracy. I hadn't thought about in this way until you mentioned it but you deserve a high-five for that.
While the world wide web may be a wonderful primer on just about any topic these days, you will have difficulty sifting through enough sites to find the depth of information one good book on a subject will have. As for being an "odd-ball", the Creator made each of us unique individuals. Add some biographies to your book collection and you'll soon find that great leaders are often called odd-balls before they become respected and famous.
If you are an oddball then I am, too. I understand the whole book thing. I am co-owner of a bookstore. Books mean a lot to me. The information is often vetted a little bit more than what you will find on a typical website, and I love being able to peruse a book on the bus, during lunch, while lying in bed, while sitting in my backyard - wherever. As far as interests, mine range from trains to old logging practices to art and music to organic gardening to green building to DIY projects to photography to cooking to bicycling to many other things. My average bed-side stack of books ranges all over the place.
Not really an oddball when it comes to model railroading..but motorsports...I have more races on tape than ESPN does probably,and well over 500 magazines and (year)books on various series. I have one that's been signed by about 20 drivers and series officials. It's one of my more prized possessions. I also have tons of pictures I've taken over the years,and I'm working on a decent sized 1/24 diecast collection of old school NASCAR cars,suppose I need to post a pic of it here sometime soon.
I have as many bookd related to the Frisco as I can find, and I'm always looking for more. The Internet is a great source of info, but there's nothing wrong with having more than one source of modeling information. Shoot, were I you, getting more SP-related stuff would be a goal-bordering-on-obsession If that's being an oddball, oh well..........if I weren't a bubble or two off plumb, I wouldn't know how to act.
Shoot, were I you, getting more SP-related stuff would be a goal-bordering-on-obsession Well...That's where I'm at. I just plopped down near $400.00 for four SP Passenger car books.(Done by the SPH&TS). I've been buying SP related books for about 20+ years. I don't figure I'll be stopping any time soon.Now I just add a little ATSF,UP and perhaps WP. If that's being an oddball, oh well..........if I weren't a bubble or two off plumb, I wouldn't know how to act.[/quote] I knows what ya mean. My plumb bob can never find center.That's how I like it. So do my oddball buddies. Oddballs keep the world interesting, Thanks for your support, Wolf
Since the era I model is now a part of history it can ONLY be found in books. Although I like web-based stuff too, I agree that it can be inaccurate. A more immediate problem is that just when I find a web site I can really use it seems to go away...books don't go to the cyber-dead file! I really use books for prototype models and especially like historic photos I can revisit over and over again while I build the model. Reading about the railroad helps me set the tone of the layout as well. In todays fast-paced hyper-cyber world those of us who still read may well be oddballs but we will be the ones that people turn to when the cyber hype fails them!!
