Getting a bit of that Christmas train itch.

SleeperN06 Nov 16, 2013

  1. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    I decided to NOT put up my Christmas Train display this year because it’s so much work and nobody to enjoy it with. So I’ve been getting a lot of train catalogs with O-scale Christmas trains and it starting to kindle a little spark.

    I have 3 tracks now, but I bought another Lionel train last year and wanted to spend the summer figuring out how to add a forth track. I left the layout outside under my patio cover all year in hopes that I would redesign it and have it ready for Christmas, but just had too many things going on. Well the hot desert summer has done a lot of damage to the paint and foam. The FastTrack doesn’t look so good either and may need to be replaced.

    I haven’t been too happy with the layout in recent years because it has gotten too heavy with all the modifications over the years and I would like to start fresh. Plus I need a change because I just don’t have the same motivation as when it’s an all new design and I’m working out the problems.

    I don’t know yet if I’ll start it up again or not, but I’m not going to put up the old one. I’m just getting it off my chest and feeling it out for now. For me it’s just not fun unless I can share with someone and since I’m still using the same track design after so many years, nobody is really interested anymore.
     
  2. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    I get a similar feeling many years. But then as the Day approaches, that urge becomes stronger. My thought is if you let it pass this year, how more future opportunities...?
     
  3. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks BoxCar. I do this every year, but I really was going through with it this year. It wouldn’t take much to get me started if I were to buy a 4x8 sheet of foam or two and maybe some track. I’d be hooked then.

    Last year I bought a video camera to mount on the train and wanted a tunnel to video the trains going through the tunnel and I was hooked. it needs a lot of work, but I started at the last minute and was in a hurry.

    [video=youtube;d-HRNcbIV5E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-HRNcbIV5E&feature=c4-overview&list=UUba1zM-b0hhU9ygkuSei7WA[/video]

    The year before I built a new bridge and again I was hooked.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Awesome Johnny, just awesome.

    Now I want to put up a Christmas Train. Darn you Johnny. Grin!
     
  5. ScaleCraft

    ScaleCraft TrainBoard Member

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    For decades we set up the Lionel at Christmas. Then, 28 years ago, when my lovely bride put hot fireplace ashes in the trash can, we used insurance money from the damaged Lionel to buy Large Scale. Now, we plop it down, use one of the radio battery locos, six or seven stripped flatcars, and spend 3-4 hours delivering packages.
    Some day I may go back to the Lionel.......I have two milk crates fill of 031 track......might be interesting.\
    Dave
     
  6. Kevin Anderson

    Kevin Anderson TrainBoard Member

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    I haven't put the Lionel around the tree for a couple years now ever since my wife fried two power supplies back to back. May be time to pull it out again.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
     
  7. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yikes, eek and ouch! :(
     
  8. Kevin Anderson

    Kevin Anderson TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, one was the one that came with the set, the other a really old one. And by joking I cannot remember the website where I got one for a really good price. It was a clearance place. :/


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free
     
  9. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Talking about transformers now that I have 4 trains, I may have to invest in a MTH O 40-4000 Z-4000 Transformer because my power controllers are in adequate. And 4 will just take up too much space.

    [​IMG]
     
  10. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    Rick mentioned something that maybe I should clarify a little. He asked what I meant by "No one to share it with".

    My son is in Afghanistan and the grand kids have relocated as far from here as they can so there isn’t any family close by to enjoy it. The neighborhood has changed so that nobody decorates for Christmas anymore and it’s just my wife and I.

    I was so desperate to show my trains last year that I was out in the street looking for kids ‘any kids’ to come and see the trains like some pervert. Of course I only asked kids who were with their parents at the time, but it was awkward because most didn’t even speak English.

    I also dragged the mail and delivery people in to see it, but I get the feeling they try to avoid me until after Christmas. Maybe it’s because they’re too busy. And it probably was the only time I enjoyed the Jehovah Witness people coming around because they enjoyed the Christmas layout

    My coworkers are all into video games and hate Christmas. The only time we did anything together for Christmas was when I dressed up as Santa on Christmas Eve and went to thier home to deliver presents to their kids. Now their kids don’t believe in Santa and don’t want to be bothered.

    [​IMG]

    I suppose that a lot of the disinterest has to do with the layout itself. Even thought I do make changes every year the basic design has not changed and unless you are really into it, you would not even notice. I might replace a bridge or even add a track with in another but nobody notices. They just look and think ya I saw that already and move on.
     
  11. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    And you make such a great Santa Claus. I think my suit has been in the closet for to many years. Ditto.

    Yep, knowing Johnny and his good wife I was having misgivings. So I fired off a "What's Up". Turns out we both have empty house syndrome. Kids are gone, along with them any interested grand sons or daughters. What's a Santa Claus to do?.:crying:

    Johnny, I knows what you mean. The kids in my neighborhood barely speak English and I don't speak Mexican. So it's a quandary but they still come to my door, to tell me what they want for Christmas. That helps...a little.

    I may put up my S scale freight train. that was given to me as a gift....not so long ago. I can put it up under my Fiber Optic's Christmas Tree. I'l pass on the figey pudding. Grin!

    Hey, the cat's might enjoy chasing it.:wideeyes:
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 17, 2013
  12. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Well, the edit feature (fuss fuss fume fume, accompanied by unrepeatable expletives) has shut off.

    Correction to the above post. Not empty house syndrome but empty nest syndrome.
     
  13. SleeperN06

    SleeperN06 TrainBoard Member

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    LOL, I hate that timed edit too. It really need to be a longer time. I guess I'll have to write up what I want to post then wait a day before posting to give me enough time to see any mistakes.
     
  14. BarstowRick

    BarstowRick TrainBoard Supporter

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    Me too~!

    It is what it is and there are just some things I can't control. For example: I ain't perfect so I'm going to make mistakes. My speeling wll be oph and me grmma'r wel pe brd. It do.nt ma++r mobodie is reed ing tis an@waie. whas all the red limes for?:sweat:

    Now, I'd like to be able to fix them but... did I say, it is what it is?

    Where did I hide my American Flyer set. Ok, how about the G scale Christmas Train? Got it!:teeth:

    Oh, and I love it when they say, "I don't believe in Santa" No problem one less stop to make. LOL Who said they had to believe is there a religious rule or something out there. I usually respond with, "Ok, so you don't believe in Santa, no problem" followed by, "Just tell me what it was you wanted for Christmas". Uhh...errr...well I would like......etc. Funny, just to funny. I want to laugh out loud but know better, at a time like that.
     

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