|
|
Post by curtis on Jan 19, 2023 16:09:24 GMT
How is it that my trains can relax me so much when I am alone running them and having fun switching? Then the minute I go to show them to someone, BAM, all heck breaks loose. Things that have worked for years suddenly don't, trains derail for no reason, switches fail or lighting stops? How is this possible? AND don't say Murphy's law. I don't know him but I am sure he is not a friend of mine. Did someone sneak him into my layout room? Yet without doing anything as soon as they leave everything returns to normal without doing a thing. I am trying so hard this year to be positive about things and be nice. My wife even said she is really impressed with how well I am doing. But this kind of relationship is a problem maker!
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Jan 19, 2023 18:59:03 GMT
I can remember getting angry about something going wrong and pulling up the track swearing never to run trains again.
|
|
|
|
Post by harborbelt70 on Jan 19, 2023 21:16:18 GMT
Well, my experience is that you make a lot more allowance for the inevitable quirks, accidents, maintenance issues and the like when you are running trains for your own enjoyment rather than for someone else to see. Troubles of that kind are more easily forgotten than when your trains are on display for other people's amusement. With more complicated trains there is a lot more to go wrong. In other words, the problems are always there and it's just a matter of how much annoyance they create!
|
|
|
|
Post by pjackson on Jan 19, 2023 21:35:35 GMT
I know the problem well. Alone, I run the train forwards or backwards without any issues. When I am showing them too others, train will derail, not respond to remote or crash. It’s not just me! Guess it’s part of the love/ hate for the hobby.
PJ
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Jan 19, 2023 21:56:53 GMT
I love all aspects of trains, even when I encounter problems. But I really enjoy fixing things and troubleshooting so that ties into why I like that stuff.
My hate part of the equation has to do with getting into a rut. I’m sort of in one now with the layout. I find that I need new things to work on to keep the excitement going. I think I’m starting to come out of the current rut with a new idea for a drive in theater and diner idea.
|
|
|
|
Post by Country Joe on Jan 19, 2023 22:32:53 GMT
Whether I'm enjoying my trains alone or showing them off to visitors I haven't had any problems other than having to occasionally replace worn batteries in my remote. My layout is a good size, 10'9" x 20'4" but the trackplan is fairly simple. I only have 5 switches, all trailing point for industrial spurs, so there is little reason for trains to derail.
You can have a love/hate relationship with trains but I don't. My only regret is that I don't have more room to run more trains and have more scenes for them to run through.
|
|
|
|
Post by Traindiesel! on Jan 19, 2023 22:55:08 GMT
"Don't worry about a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all rightSingin': "Don't worry about a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"Rise up this mornin'Smile with the risin' sunThree little trainsRoll by my doorstepSingin' sweet songsOf melodies pure and trueSayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou")"Don't worry 'bout a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all right"Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"-apologies to Bob Marley 
|
|
|
|
Post by josef on Jan 19, 2023 23:36:34 GMT
My feelings are more like Adam's. Problems that arose are 99% something I did and caused. I learned from those. When friends come over, knock on wood, never had a mishap.
My enjoyments come early in the mornings, wife and cats asleep or one is in my lap watching the trains. We rarely watch TV, but do read a lot. After supper and around 7PM we go into the train room, wife will bring a book along while I play with setting up a consist using my card system. Keeping a passenger train on schedul and dropping off and picking up cars. usually a 2 hour session. The wife comes up with scenery ideas and makes sure the room is cleaned up before we end my session.
My needs are simple so they make my worry simple or non-existent.
If there is a problem, I set it aside to go over the problem later, rather then become a hindrance in my enjoyment.
|
|
|
|
Post by firewood on Jan 20, 2023 6:09:23 GMT
Murphy's O Gauge Law #103: Only with an audience does the train misbehave.
Dave.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Jan 21, 2023 14:35:40 GMT
"Don't worry about a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all rightSingin': "Don't worry about a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"Rise up this mornin'Smile with the risin' sunThree little trainsRoll by my doorstepSingin' sweet songsOf melodies pure and trueSayin', ("This is my message to you-ou-ou")"Don't worry 'bout a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all right"Singin': "Don't worry (don't worry) 'bout a thing'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"-apologies to Bob Marley He's happy you posted that. I have to remind myself of that quite a bit.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Jan 21, 2023 14:43:05 GMT
I love all aspects of trains, even when I encounter problems. But I really enjoy fixing things and troubleshooting so that ties into why I like that stuff. My hate part of the equation has to do with getting into a rut. I’m sort of in one now with the layout. I find that I need new things to work on to keep the excitement going. I think I’m starting to come out of the current rut with a new idea for a drive in theater and diner idea. I am replacing a speaker in my TMCC FM Lackawanna Trainmaster. I burned the crap outta three fingers at one time. As many times as I burned myself in my cooking career, it still sucks.
|
|
|
|
Post by ptc on Jan 21, 2023 21:13:23 GMT
Nope, love them all the time.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsda on Jan 22, 2023 3:53:41 GMT
Curtis, It is perhaps a universal phenomenon - things go wrong when you invite someone to see the layout. It never fails for me - when I test something or practice a run, then show my wife or kids - things never work. I never hate my trains. Although at times I want to name my road SWSD RR - no, it does not stand for Southwest South Dakota RR - it stands for Sometimes Works Sometimes Doesn't Work RR. Alfred
|
|
|
|
Post by bobthetrainguy on Jan 22, 2023 15:24:20 GMT
I love trains. There's no hate there, but...
What I do hate is paying a lot of money for something that is poorly designed, made, or assembled.
Poorly designed like MTH's original Proto-Sound 2.0 5v electronics or Lionel's recent self-detonating gearbox.
Poorly made like Lionel's awful new couplers, MTH's zinc rotting PRR P5a shells from years ago, or Lionel's zinc rotting JLC GG1 side frames.
Poorly assembled like Lionel's Acela.
I also hate that Lionel seems intent on only squeezing value out for some shareholders, and isn't focused on the future of their brand.
|
|
