Posting: What Are We Looking For?

Why am I here... well, for largely the same reasons others have posted. There's a lot of nice people, some a bit more quirky than others... a wealth of knowledge. And some great camaraderie. When I have questions, I seem to get helpful, friendly answers. When I read other threads, I find learning and inspiration. Threads like OC Engineer JD's, CSX Dixie Line's, and Jim Riesing's, among others, show me how a large layout comes together and inspires me to keep going when all I have is $20, a dream, and a blank slate. The POTW threads and photography challenges never cease to inspire and awe me, and push me to try new things and learn new skills, and reach for that next level of quality in my work.

And every once in a blue moon, I'd like to think I can give back a little with some bit of knowledge or information I have, or some small achievement I make, that others can share in my happiness.

This and another board or two are my MRR club, essentially.

 

This is what I get as welll, this is why I post and why I read and its the same reason I joined a club.
To share my love of the hobby whether that means learning, teaching, arguing, or just swapping stories.

Well, I can honestly say that the same thing happens when someone asks a question at the Model Railroad club. It could take anywhere from 30 sec. to 2 hours to get to the answer to the question as people joke and chime in and get distracted and argue. Its human nature, but its amplified on the internet.

This attitude of "what can I get away with" is not reserved for the MR Hobby.

Among my other hobbies is fish keeping and this attitude is present especially with new people there as well.
The big difference being that with Model Railroading, The worst that happens is frustration with what you built. With Fishkeeping, you risk harming living creatures. It may be a $0.20 Goldfish, but its still a living creature.

Anyway, the problem with questions like this is that they usually come from an insufficient understanding of the variables involved.

In Fish keeping, buying a small tank with minimum equipment costs much less, but requires a significant increase in effort to keep the water quality up and the bowl/tank presentable (to say nothing of Fish happiness) To a point, the bigger the tank, the less the work to keep it clean and biologically stable. You input more money into buying it and electricity to run it, but less time messing with it.

Curve radius follows a similar patter.

Sure, 18in MIGHT work, but you will have to put a heck of a lot more effort into laying the track to make sure it is as perfect as possible. And you will need to pay more attention to maintenance on that track, because any little bump or divot could cause a derailment. And don't even think about grades

As radius increases though, the track becomes more forgiving. On a 30" radius curve with easements, a switch at the end of the curve isn't going to cause the problem it would with 18".

And that's not even discussing what it looks like, just how it works.

To me, this is a hobby, I don't want to have to deal with "what can I get away with." It would be like I'm cheating myself out of enjoyment. And if you can only manage to fit 18" radius curves and running modern mainline trains is a given rather than a druther, then you maybe need to re-evaluate your choice of HO scale.



In the interest of disclosure, the minimum radius I would ever recommend (unless discussing 19th century or Trolley equipment) is 22" radius. Most diesel models will run well on it, and with easements and reasonable attention paid to track it will work reliably.

But I would recommend you raise the viewing height to mere eye level and utilize cuts and tunnels to view block the worst of the overhang. And I would give the speech I just typed out above.


I find that people rarely respond well to no, in these kinds of situations. If you layout the logical reasons why...they may still not want to hear it, but at least they know why it didn't work out for them in the end.

 

This is interesting.
In my experience, unless a steam engine is involved, I find the median age of Railfans to generally be younger than Modelers. meaning that there are fewer older people out standing around watching trains, but also many more younger people.

It makes sense, chasing trains, especially if you live someplace with lots of action can be done on a bike or public transportation or with mom's car.
Things younger people can get
Modelling requires space and money.
Things younger people simply do not have.
At the same time, Chasing trains can take more energy, mobility and more free time during the day. 3 things that tend to go away as you move into and through adulthood.

As the internet provides an opportunity to virtually chase trains, the value proposition changes.

 

Trainboard offers me the following:

- a place to share my accomplishments (and failures). When I finish a structure, or complete a new section of track, I have nobody who I can yell to "Hey, come look what I did!!!!". Nobody in my house cares. None of my friends are modelers, so nobody comes over on the weekends to show stuff off to. Trainboard fills that need for me. I've gotten some valuable feedback, and great ideas (double-decker bridge!!!).

- a place to "talk trains". Again, none of my friends are into this stuff. It's not beer, football, or golf.

- inspiration and motivation. When I set out to do something, my intent is to do it right, and well. Before discovering Trainboard, my "yardstick" was stuff that I would see in Model Railroader, or at local train shows, opposite ends of the spectrum. Here, on Trainboard, I can see the whole spectrum. I can see that my stuff's not awful, but there is LOTS of room for improvement. It's hard to stay motivated when trying to duplicate what I see in MRR, but here, I can see that there are others out there like me, with a wide range of talents and ability.

I'm sure there's more, but these are the biggies. Basically, this is the support group that I wish I had locally, but haven't found yet.

 

Perhaps You Are Right....Consider

Mike, And of course all tuned in. This isn't a P.M. so read on.

Your observations as quoted here are appreciated. Yes, I realize this put's things on the edge or as you said "Edgy". This board (the owners) and it's members are a important part of the hobby. We need to interact with each other on a positive footing. It's important to me that we have a clear mission statement or sense of purpose and policies that are clear. I would be more then happy to help assist in creating a policy and procedure manual for moderators and administrators alike. To provide guidelines for specific disciplinary steps based on the severity for less then appropriate conduct. It's important into today's litigating world that we have a clear understanding of the positions we take and subsequent consequences. As is with patient's rights in a hospital there should be member's rights, as well as privacy issues. Whether we can turn this into a reality or not has to start from the top down. Just offering my assistance, voiced as a concern. Standing by to help, if and when it's needed.

We do need, all of those who will help support TrainBoard, to make it work. We can make it happen. A us, against the administration will never work. Tottttttally, inappropriate. To be said and understood that it isn't administration against us, as well.

Does that help to give a better understanding as to where I was coming from?

Sometimes an open discussion of these things can lead to a better understanding as opposed to the closed door alternatives.

Mike,

When I served in a rather insignificant role in hospital administration, I knew what our manual stated and what offenses, required a warning and how to state such a warning in the proper disciplinary format. If you are going to serve as a moderator, on up and through to the Administrator of any given business concern you need to know personal policies and read it like a road map. A problem identification and problem resolution approach to any less than appropriate working condition, will eventually lead to a happier work environment. Or as is our case here, to communicate our love for the hobby.

Before, this goes from offensive to defensive or am I already offensive? Let's see you went on the defensive so I must be the offensive team player. Is that right? Grin!

I want to apologize to any I may have offended with my comments and perhaps moving us off target. Although this seems to me the perfect place to discuss this. Just my thoughts from the "For what it's worth department".

I come here to enjoy the day, to visit with friends, to have a few laughs and to provide some serious answers or resolutions to those frustrating hobby problems identified. Not to forget the help many of you have provided when I've been up against the wall and wondering if I could dig myself out. Kind of like right now...sheez...grin!

The main reason I stay with this hobby and I come here to visit... is for the FUN! A better three letter word then the alternative four letter word.wink:

As always it's good to visit with you and thanks for sharing your thoughts.

A friend.

 

Wow! What a response,

Are we focused? Yes sir-ree we are!

Each posting here provides proof that TrainBoard is extremely important to each of it's participants. Wow! What a response.

What did I scare you off?

Don't freeze up now.

Why do you post here?

 

My first model railway was in about 1975. That disappeared into boxes when I left home in 1981. I had too much going on for the next few years to build anything, but in 1987 I had a decent job so built a small N gauge european layout. That went in 1991 when I moved. Again, I had too much going on until last year when I began panning for my new layout.

I never read the magazines as it seemed a waste of money because they didn't cover aspects or topics I was interested in and also because I found myself feeling that 'I'll never be able to do that' and that knocked my enthusiasm.

I'm not interested in the 'latest model release' or the uber expensive exact models as I have so little money it would break the bank. Example, the NCE power panel. £19.00 here in the UK. I've just built one for £1.87. My modelling is in the 'modelling on a budget' group.

I am unable to join any local MR club as there really isn't a local one to me and to top that I suffer with agoraphobia so going out is a little bit of a problem.

So why am I here? I'm here to learn. To learn what I want to know, at a time when I need to know it by reading the topics posted that interest me, and asking the odd question.

Of course I will answer questions if I know the answer, or enter into discussions if I have anything to add that hasn't already been said but I'm mainly here to learn. This forum, as with the many other MR forums, have more information than any library. The availability is immediate if it's already been said, or within a couple of days if you ask.

Many of the so-called 'grey-beards' are used to the mindset of actually 'making' something rather than buying it in kit form or even already complete. Whilst I'd never build a loco due to the specialist tools, equipment and materials required, I do want to build my own buildings. I am also building some of my own electronics for my MR as everything is so over-priced for what it contains.

BTW I really hate the title 'grey-beards' for those with the wealth of knowledge and years of experience who should be respected, but I do get where it comes from.

Anywho that's why I'm here

Angie

 

I think that being part of a forum makes us feel ''included'' so to speak even when not posting. In a certain way, we can understand each other's pain and frustration, joys and feeling of accomplishment. We can sometimes relate and realize that we aren,t the only one that has ''been there and done that''. A reality check from time to time always helps!

What I find especially great here on Trainboard is the politness and seriousness of the responses. It really does help us progress on our self esteem development, I believe.

Again, as mentionned before, the quantity of information available, seeing the progress being done on other people's layout, the tips and tricks being shared and more all create an atmosphere making us want to come back and want more. We just never cease learning!

So why did I joined Trainboard? When I did, I needed help. I was one of those who had very little experience and needed to be guided. I still have little experience but I did learn a lot. Thanks to Trainboard, I conquered my fear of getting the X-Acto knife out and start modifying stuff after seeing how things could be done.

I also realized that finding people who are actually interested in trains is hard. Talking about something that passionates us is always great; it seems that when we get started, we can keep the conversation flowing forever as long as the other person/people is/are interested. However, outside of a train related forum, club or group, it is hard. By joining a forum, all of us who want to talk trains and share our passion can and at any time of the day.

Another special thing about Trainboard, the other members' writing quality. I think that for everyone who's first language is other than English (including me!), being part of Trainboard is an extremely good English class. People here seem to take more time to write properly and even come back and check there spelling.

This is what I think made me want to join a forum and keep coming back. Also, being able to share experience, pictures and more to others is a very gratifying as it might be useful for anyone.

Oh and by the way, great thread subject Rick!

 

As to "the rules" of Trainboard, its been a number of years since I signed up here, but I believe that when you register, you are required to agree to the Terms of Service or TOS.

That document defines the rules of the board. I could not find a link to it on the main page, and frankly, it might just consist of the vBulliten default TOS, but that is the primary "legal" (if you will) document that covers appropriate behavior on this board.

 

As I read this great thread (Thanks Rick) the responses are fantastic. No short answers from anyone. The question can't be answered in just a sentence. Thanks to all and this is why I am here.

 

Ha, I'm just here to shoot the breeze about something I love playing around - model trains!

[One Sentence!]

 

I correct my own spelling and grammar when I notice it. As a moderator, I do add information or correct spelling in other member's thread titles to improve response by the search engine. Misspelled words are not recognized. FWIW.

 

Sheesh! That's a point I had never considered, Flash....good thing to keep in mind. Thanks for the tip.

 

Now there is a question that has been on my mind for quite some time now.

It all started out about 10 years ago in the spring of 2000. I was posting a very little over on Trainorders.com. Didn't like it there very much at all. The attitude over there seemed to be look for the slightest reason and slam a poster. Many times it happened for no reason at all. However, while there, I came into contact with a young man of about 14 who was doing custom painted locos for folks. At 14, his work was top notch and he kept bugging me about checking out a new website called Trainboard. Well, I did and thank you to him for stearing me here.

So, that brought me here and I liked what I found. Helpful and most importantly FRIENDLY folks. I felt welcomed and at home. That is the reason why I started posting here and until not that long ago, was the reason I continued to post here. Like life itself, everything changes including Trainboard and including me. Now I continue to post here because it's just what I do.

The moderators here have done a great job over the years with this website. No matter what they do, they can not make everyone happy all of the time but I thank them all, each and every one that is or has previously been a moderator of this site for the work they have done.

Over the years I've gotten a lot of enjoyment out of this site. Lately, despite the efforts of the moderators to keep things positive, this board seems to be taking on more of darker edge for lack of a better way to describe it. I see a lot more sarcasm (and yes, I've been guilty of that a time or two over the years) and much much more negativity in threads. I see far too much of that out in the real world and until a year or so ago felt I could always come here to get away from it. Some of you may read that comment and laugh but for me, it's just how it was.

Now don't get me wrong, there are a lot of great folks here and I still feel like I learn a lot, ask questions, and contribute knowledge when I have some to share. It's just not the same anymore though. So, now, I just post here.

Well, I'm going to crawl back under my rock now that I've rambled on a bit. Happy railfanning and moderling to you all.

 

Information. So much to learn, so much to do, so many mistakes to make. Sometimes it's faster to let someone else make the mistake for me. And though I joined a club with some very talented, experienced modellers, they may not welcome a call at 11 PM. And they not have the answer, either. I was able to install a Kadee coupler and improve the tender pickup on my wife's 2-8-0 using information gained here.

Affirmation. Sometimes you just need someone to tell you, "Good job!" And again, club members may not welcome a call late at night. It's also a boost to the ego when I have an answer for someone.

Inspiration. Sometimes just reading a long thread with lots of pictures gets me motivated to get back to something I set aside. Train shows do the same, but they aren't available 24/7.

 

I enjoy learning about the hobby and seeing the work put up by others. I spend more time reading posts and learning about techniques.

 

I can't speak for anyone else, but I was told there would be punch and pie... and that's why I'm here.