Don’t buy me a train. Please.

[Trainman203]

It's Christmas gift giving time, when model railroaders often receive well meant but poorly chosen railroad items for a gift.  I've gotten ridiculous art work and railroad cars completely inappropriate for my layout but have to be on it when they visit.

Tell us your experiences.

[Maletrain]

Been there, gotten those.  Now, I make a "wish list" of items by compiling a set of links to them at convenient on-line shopping sites.  That way, people can easily get things for me that they know I will like.  Of course, I tailor what is on my list to the financial and emotional parameters of who the list goes to.  A relatively inexpensive item like a vehicle or other easily recognized item seems best for a child (usually actually a parent) to give me because the child can understand what it is and why I like it.  Some adults who have the same cluelessness about model railroading, so the same types of items work for them, too.  For adults who are "into" model railroading, I might ask for a kit of a building or even just some detail parts for a locomotive, or maybe even a not-so-expensive electrical device.  But, unfortunately for me, I don't have any "Uncle Warbucks" who can give me that brass steam locomotive and those 6 brass cars that go with it.

[Terry Toenges]

Someone just gave me a Hawthorne Village "Johnny Cash" diesel.  
I guess it will occupy a place on a shelf somewhere.

[Len]

Even though I model HO, when my repair shop was open I don't know how many O scale accessory items I was given at Christmas. People thought because I repaired O scale equipment, that must be what I did myself, without bothering to ask.

Len

[DAVISinGP]

IMHO, it's the thought that counts. I will always have the shelf space for people who spent the time (and money) thinking of me.

That said, if you want to get me something but don't know what, a Home Depot gift card would also be OK.

[Trainman203]

That's a good response.  A display shelf for such white elephants is a good idea.

I'm interested in hearing what absurdities people have received.

[Maletrain]

Well, I did get a Lego set to make a steam engine or caboose (depending on how I put the parts together).  t was actually fun while I was away from home for Christmas, but doesn't exactly fit my modeling period, road or scale.  So, I need to make a shelf for it, somewhere.

[Joe323]

I have had similar issues with people giving me inappropriate train gifts so now I just order and let them wrap.  Or let them order something such as a sweat shirt that won't be on the layout.

[Terry Toenges]

I just received this a couple of weeks ago for my birthday.  

[Trainman203]

What the heck "is" that?

[bbmiroku]

Streetlights and a train order post, obviously. Or it's a telephone pole...
Prolly an off-brand to go with the little magnetic trains that go on the wooden tracks.

[DAVISinGP]

They could pass for salt and pepper shakers.

I'd put 'em on the table and see what people do.

[Terry Toenges]

I wondered if someone was missing a chess piece.

[Trainman203]

😂😂😂

[Trainman203]

What's some more misfit "trains" you may have ended up with?  And what did you do with them?