Model Railway Forum

I suppose most people would accuse me of being obsessed by railways!

From a very early age I was fascinated by railways and trains. From my parent's bedroom window I had a grandstand view of a mile or more of railway with a train every 10 minutes. Most of them were electric multiple units, but every now and then a steam hauled goods, and occasionally a steam excursion, would go by.

I had a Hornby Clockwork train from the age of 3, and a Triang electric train when I was 7. This eventually occupied half of my bedroom.

I started train spotting by the time I was 8. By the time I was 12 I would go round London on London Transport Red Bus and Twin Rovers most weekends (when I could afford it) collecting train numbers (and bus number too)

When I left school my first job was with British Railways Southern Region. I did this for three years, but then got distracted by motorbikes and girls. I left the railway, but within six years and a spell in college later I was back with the old firm where I stayed until I retired 38 years later. I rose from a clerk to a manager, in many jobs mostly to do with operations and safety. That was not the end of it because I then got a job with a heritage railway for five years.

In my spare time I have studied the construction of BR goods rolling stock with a small group of friends visiting numerous depots to measure and photograph numerous types. Now being less agile I spend more time in front of a computer drawing these to scale using the collected information.

I collect model railways in gauge O, OO and OO9, I have a course scale garden railway, and a OO layout in a shed. I scratch build, make kits and do all manner of butchery to old models.

In answer to your question MG, I don’t consider myself a misfit in life and never have. In life I don’t think there is such a thing. We all have our own ways and quirks and that’s what makes us unique and defines us as individuals. I only consider myself a misfit in model railways because I don’t have the passion for railways that some have, I enjoy the journey and the modelling more. To me it is a hobby that occupies my time, challenges my brain and drains my wallet But I do thoroughly enjoy it though (as I do my fishing).

As for asking questions. That is something I've never been afraid of. During my 23 years in the Navy, I spent many of them as an instructor. In fact, the most challenging were spent teaching anti-submarine warfare to Anti-Submarine Warfare Directors (and before you ask no, the “Hunt for Red October” is not my favourite film). Encouraging questions was something I firmly advocated and still do. A question costs nothing, the knowledge gained is priceless

I love the modelling side of the hobby. As I have a busy and stressful job it is great to bang on the radio and just potter. Doing everything slowly is what I love as my job demands that I do a job just given to me yesterday or if possible, last week!

Thank you for your replies. Bandit Mick... The hoobby is great for that. A de-stress.. A relax. Knowing that there is no time limit. It will get done one day.. Just the thought to that is great to recharge before one is thrust back into ones work.
Mr Bones. I like what you put about qusstions. How they cost nothing and et the information one recieves is like gold. In my past I was alaays too shy to ask too many questions as I was too concious incase I was deemed to be stupid, and yet when I overcame this I got on really well. The danger is, that when I have explored a subject like model railways or bicycles (Two of my main hobbies) and have explored right to the depths, and then have made decisions based on those depths and later new technology comes in, I want to know what it is and what it does, but I don't neccesarily want to buy into it... It is like I have found the place I love to be and then don't want to shift from there! In a way is is a good place to be as I am then really enjoying my hobby without wasting money on hyped up latest fasion items which always drop in value and come back down when the next fasion in the hobby comes along. (This happens in most hobbies so is not specific to one). The down side is that one can easily end up left behind if one does not keep tabs on what is going on. So asking questions, or occasionally taking the time to read things which one is not really interested in is a good plan just to get a gist of what is going on.

LC&DR. I am not sure where you fit in. I mean... Actually for a while I did what you are doing in that I tried and was into a bit of everything, and though I have decided on 7mm narrow gauge, I still have a lot of 00 gauge left which I will slowly sell. I am very much a missfit though.

Hi MG
LC&DR is not too difficult to fit into a category - I'm in a similar 'slot'. However I'm not going to elaborate about him since it's not my place

I will say, however, that a guy like LC has an enormous amount of knowledge, which he willingly shares with us. The problem I have is finding the information which I know I have, but he seems to have that sorted

Thank you PP, kind words indeed, I wish I could confirm I have everything neatly organised, but nothing is further from the truth. I need a house three times larger than I actually do have, to allow me to have everything easily to hand. Books are stored in boxes, some in a shed (or two) . Paper records collected over decades sit boxes and folders in the attic, and each time I get an enquiry I spend hours searching for the right bit. Heaven knows what my children will do when I snuff it, burn the lot probably!

When it comes to death it's easy - refuse to go along with it unless there are trains there!!

When it comes to 'kind words' I'll get SWMBO to e-mail our bank details to save you writing a cheque me

There are trains in Heaven.

I bet they'll all be GW or Southern

Haha. Not the one I saw.