I've noticed that some of our members prefer certain aspect of this hobby and dislike others. In fact, some activities are so disliked I wonder if anyone would choose them as their favorite. Of the following list, which are your favorite activities? I left an option to choose two if you can't decide .

For me, I scenery is #1, followed by rolling stock building.

I picked research as mine. I'm HUGE history buff. I love researching history, railroads, historic railroads, and railroad history!

The other loved aspect of the hobby is building a world in miniature, which comprises all of the choices regarding buildings any part of the layout.

My favorites is :

1.Operation

2.Structure building including kit bashing

3.Research..I really like the ease of on line research..A few mouse clicks and you have the general idea.

Im going to have to say Structure Building, there isnt anything that I enjoy more then building them lol. Of coarse, ive yet to actually run a train, so once I get my La Mirada Project going, that will change (which by the way, supplies were shipped from Walthers today and will be in next Tuesday to continue work)

My wife says that mine should be called the Reading Railroad -- because that's what I do mostly. The next item up is structure building.

That would be present tense for what your wife charges you with, but past tense for in the black diamond that graces the side of my coffee cup!

Why only 2..??
I picked wiring & operation....Would'a liked to add structure building, benchwork, scenery, researching.....etc., etc....

Steamtrains Wrote:Why only 2..??
I picked wiring & operation....Would'a liked to add structure building, benchwork, scenery, researching.....etc., etc....

Well, if you could pick as many as you like, it would kinda turn into a "what do you like least" poll (the loser being the winner )

I really like structures, lately especially wooden kits. I also check planning, simply because that's what I've been doing for the last 2 years. For me structures include scenery, and planning includes research. Oh, for you "wire nuts" (pun intended) , I've got plenty of joy and fun for you!

I chose research, and scenery..........if the category "building everything" was there I'd have selected that, and research .

BR60103 Wrote:My wife says that mine should be called the Reading Railroad -- because that's what I do mostly.

Sounds very similar to my Better Half "When are you going to quit reading, hunting for information on the Internet, sketching out track plans, and do something with all that stuff you've got in the basement?"

1. Operation is No. 1 with me
2. Structure building/kit-bashing/scratch building is No.2

In years past, I haven't gotten much past No. 1 - once the track is laid and I can start switching - well I get into No. 2 some - but seldom beyond that point. Hope to go further this time - ONCE I GET STARTED!

I tried to pick more than 2 but it wouldn't let me. So I picked operation and something else, I think scenery. I love it all, my wife says that it is all I think about. She might be right. I am now financially & physically limited or I would have already doubled the size of my layout.

I am fascinated by the results so far. Looks like a lot of structure builders and people interested in operation so far. I am a little surprised weathering isn't pulling more interest - there are some people who seem to really enjoy it, and some that are quite good at is.

I chose Rolling Stock/Locomotive Building and Structure Building. It was a tough choice as there are more than just two activities about the hobby I enjoy, I just happen to be building structures right now.

But ... I really do enjoy laying track. I've been spiking it down, one twenty-two inch string of ties at a time for about 23 years (I built a fixture to set up a "section" of ties on an upside-down length of quarter inch masking tape ... the piece of scrap 1x2 that I used for the fixture just happened to be 22" long.) Sliding those three tri-point track gauges along, spiking down the rail in between them, moving back and forth, spiking both rails on a tie, four spikes to a tie, the half-a-dozen ties farther along do the same thing, then back three ties, four more spikes. I keep working like this as I move along and a rhythm starts to develop that feels very theraputic, very relaxing ... a nice calming activity to immerse one's self in after a hectic, nerve-numbing day at the office. :cry:

I can remember like it was yesterday that night when I arrived at the location of a turnout, stopped momentarily, studied the situation, swallowed very hard and then continued spiking. after a lot of filing and fitting, filing and fitting and then spiking and soldering, when I rolled that little Fox trucked, lightly weathered, silver "Darling" tank car through there and it rolled on through smooth as butter on waxed paper I had the most incredible feeling of satisfaction! That's really why I like to spike down my own track by hand ...
... it's that feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment!

No doubt that structure building and scenery is my top choices. My railroad supports these things rather than them supporting my railroad.