Hey y'all, just trying to get to know everyone a little better.

Any railfans, enthusiasts, model railroaders, buffs, railroaders out there?

I could be any of the above. I'm an armchair N scale model railroader. I used to go railfanning a good bit. But now that I work on a railroad as a conductor, I don't have much time to do any modeling or railfanning. But hey, I'm playing with real trains now.

Anyone else?

 

Im into HO scale but have really been able to do much lately since I live in a small apt. I have a friend that thats also a conductor or enginier for UP.

 

Keep at it and work your way up to engineer or whatever they call the guy that drives the locomotive. I used to mess with MS Train Simulator. Kind of boring as PC sims go, but learned enough to know that a huge part of running a train is managing momentum and keeping things under control, and thinking way ahead of the train as far as what you are going to need to do.

 

I always wanted an n-gauge layout as a kid... never happened. I did have an HO layout, though. Also had the HO AFX race car track interfaced with it. A child of the 1970's I was... lol.

 

My father had his own Private Railroad Car (see my signature below). It was magnificent!

 

Trust me, I'll work my way to engineer. With the Norfolk Southern Railroad, it is mandatory that you go to Engineer School when they send you, and you must past and get your engineer license or else you are outta a job. I should only be a few years as a conductor before going to engineer school if all goes well.

MWG2: I've browsed ads of companies that sell old passenger cars and cabooses...Always wanted one of my own...

 

I have an HO scale layout that now consumes half my basement and seems to keep growing. My daughter and I have been working on it for about 5 years.

 

Use to do a little in HO. Love to do Steam train rides. Guess you have done Western Maryland Scenic since you are in Md. Cass in WV is great and the Durango, Silverton in Co is the best scenic so far that I have been on. Would love to do Alaska someday.

 

Causual railfan and armchair model railroader. I had a half way decent HO layout when I was in HS, then a "portable" N scale setup I built when I got married and we lived in an apartment. I've learned I have to keep my hobbies in check and so I've settled on sticking with photogrpahy. I no longer have any of my trains.

Anyway, of late, we've taken a LD trip on Amtrak (Southwest Chief to LA, then on to Fresno and Yosemite NP) and this Saturday we're leaving to go to NY on the Lakeshore Limited.

 

I've held a few jobs since I started railroading.....Started out as a tower operator, then a ticket clerk. From there did a short bid in train service (conductor/collector). But I hated dealing with the public, (I work for a commuter railroad) so I went into the trades and became a high voltage electrician. Our deptartment is responsible for maintaining the overhead power system for the trains. I also worked a a bond welder. I really wanted to be an engineer, but I had to do a minimum of 2 yrs. as a conductor before being eligible for engineer training, and not being a people person put an ending to that...lol