how long i have been in this hobby

[FFJOHNL312]

1978

[RAM]

I have been in HO 60 years.  I have seen alot of changes.  I have seen Bachmann go from junk to great, and other companies die.  The only one that I can think of that is still going is Walthers.  Also Model Railroader Mag.

[BIG BEAR]

         First layout was with my Dad & Brother 1968-1974, Tyco train running around Tyco slot carset, Both HO. I even joined the "HO" club at our grade school. 3rd-4th grade 69-71. I remember grandpa's cigar boxes covered in construction paper made for good "strip malls" W/ parking lots full of Matchbox & Hot Wheels cars.
        Second go was also in HO, I purchased my son a Tyco HO G.I. Joe
set from a garage sale we used it from 1985-88. he also had the slot cars.
I still have his train set.
        Third time I wanted to add some thing to my wife's Christmas village
so in 2004 I took GI Joe track and ran a Christmas trolley (Bachmann Brill) HO. Well my wife has Relinquished ownership of Village so I could run my  
On30 passenger train in 05, and added On30 freight train for 06. She now Knows this will last 'til may or June than 2 Mos. planning 2 Mos building next years display.  
       

[Mark Damien]

'64 was a very good year.
a very good year,
for wide eyed boys,
with sinders in their eyes.
Two ovals of track,
a pair of locos to play.
It was a very good year.



Thanx for the memories Big Bear.

[SteamGene]

I guess I got my first trains when I was five - Lionel steam.  When I was seven, I guess, I received a New York Central streamline passenger train - AA diesel with three cars.  It was taken apart, never to run again, when we moved to Japan in 1953.  In college I dabbled with HO but gave away the stuff to some friends with young children in the early '70s.  The "stuff" included a painted Jeresey Central ten Wheeler camel back, probably brass.  I went back into HO about 1989 when I purchased an undecorated Walthers single sheaf wooden boxcar.
One funny story concerns my reserve service.  I was in a unit in Richmond, Va and for long time I'd leave the meeting on Saturday and go to Cheseterfield Hobbies to check it out and buy stuff.  Then I'd meet a friend from the unit who lived in DC, and we'd have a couple of beers and eat dinner.  One evening, John said, "Gene, you always dash off as soon as we're released.  You having an affair with some woman?"
Gene

[Gene P.]

I started my first layout in '76 at the age of 8. Mov3ed on to other things, then re-discovered the hobby in '02. Lot's of fun!!

[BIG BEAR]

          Mark,
   Your very welcome.


          Memories are treasures from ones own past, when shared with other generate stories oh so fast.

         I'm a poet & didn't even know it.

[tiny]

Well it a all started about 1943 in frisco, I was about 4 or 5 yrs old wein i "hooked" my 1st ride in a engine, & the 1st HO train was a varney docksider and some ore cars with it, wein i got older I had the SP round house as my "toy box". By then my mom moved to San Mateo,Ca. But i spent A LOT TIME at Misson bay round house & Bay shore shops, But that was a long time ago................Thank's Mark.

[tiny]

OOPS!!!! Make that BIG BEAR, sorry.  tiny.

[Paul M.]

2007 marks my 5th modeling anniverary. 

[Seasaltchap]

Pre-War TRIX out of a shop window display on Christmas Eve 1947 with two 0-4-0 locos LMS & LNER; such were the shortages. It was printed tinplate on Bakelite base track. The back of the track was printed ex-food cans.

[jschmid]

1986, i was 3 i recieved a lionel O-27 0-4-0 oval 2 cars and cabbose, probably worth hundreds now.

HO scale since 1985!