Sorry if that title is a bit nebulous, but I was wondering if, for those of us who don’t have the luxury of having an extended model train layout, there exist places where one can go, pay a fee, and run his/her own model train for, say an hour?
I am envisioning a timetable, stops, track changes etc.
As a kid of 53, I think I would be in heaven if such places existed, and would be willing to travel to get to one.
Thanks
Q
Perhaps there is a model train club in your area that you might be able to join. You might be able to help other people work on their trian modules or whatever and perhaps help run.
Just a thought.
Probably the best place to find out would be your local hobby shop.
In Scranton, home of Steamtown National Historic Site, there are several hobby shops focusing on trains and such, as well as some that have large displays of model trains, notably one at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in Dunmore (just outside of Scranton). I don’t know off hand if any actually let you run the trains yourself, but they certainly attract some grown men (and women) reliving their childhood, such as you are looking to do.
You can run trains on your PC, and create your own layout or download layouts others have created. Check out TRAINZ at http://www.auran.com/trainz/default.htm
You can download rolling stock as well as buildings and other accessories.
You didn’t mention what scale of trains you’re interested in. Atlanta-area N-scale model train club. Call them and ask them.
Well, if one is going to mention Trainz, I’ll have to throw in the other name, too: Microsoft Train Simulator. Possibly not as good as Trainz out of the box, but a few downloads from the excellent community, and it’s the most realistic thing there is.
That said, if you’re looking to run real models I’d say look into clubs. I’ve never joined one, but I understand that often they work together to build large layouts. I’ve seen some of these club layouts at train shows, and they can be quite impressive.
Also, Casey1505, model trains are not about reliving childhood, etc. Maybe for some people, but the majority of enthusiasts just like trains. Those who don’t, don’t understand why I sit by the tracks and take pictures and sound recordings on my vacation time. I can’t explain why I like them so much, but I think they’re mesmerizing and comforting, and beautiful to watch.
My brother (and dad, but mostly my brother) joined the local train club a few months ago, and it sounds like what you’re looking for. They’ve got layouts in 3 different gauges, and anybody can bring their own stuff and run it around. (Well, anybody that’s paid the membership fee, but that’s only $15 or something like that.) I would definitely look into something similar for where you live.
Another option is to find a modular train club. Members of these clubs build small sections of a large layout, usually 2’ by 4’ and join them up a few times a year either in rented spaces or at train shows. It allows you to do a little modelling in a space that’s much less than what’s needed for a full layout.
Oh, no, I didn’t mean to imply that there was anything childish or immature about it. I’m sorry if I left that impression.
My grandfather used to run trains and build scenery and things in his basement for years before he died. Not to the scale that many enthusiasts do, building entire cities, switching stations, and landscaping, but it kept him happy.
I meant to say, in talking to a couple of hobbyists, is that it brings them back to a time when things were simpler, when they weren’t distracted by the worries of now. It is from that where they draw some relaxation and a sense of escape. I know a few who can map old RR routes through the region, and collect memoribilia from Scranton’s railroad heyday.
I actually envy the patience and eye to detail that it takes to create their displays. I know that I don’t posess any of that, and I enjoy seeing the end result of that dedication.