Model Railroading and camping

[oxcamper]

Any Model Railroaders out there?

How much can or do you do with your "other expensive hobby" while you are on the road or in the CG?

I take a kit or two and mess around with it in the leisure times,

[Reverse_snowbird]

We do model RR but at a slightly larger scale. We're 7 1/4" gauge which is a little hard to haul around and work on. Although some people haul trailers with their trains in them from track to track.

We have traveled to different tracks around the country and really enjoy seeing the different layouts. Usually we can hitch a ride around the track from other railroaders. We use our second hobby - photography - to document our travels.

This was our home track: Houston Area Live Steamers - About Us just west of Houston. Closed now due to covid19.

[oxcamper]

Thats cool!
One of our local MetroParks, at Lake Metroparks Penitentiary Glenn, is host to a permanent layout for the Lake Shore Live Steamers since 1969. If you haven't, check it out! It is impressive even for us HO gaugers.

https://www.lakeshorelivesteamers.com

[rsdata]

Model Railroading and camping

Now this is a topic I would never have thought I would read about...
but here it is!

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by rsdata

Now this is a topic I would never have thought I would read about...
but here it is!

You'd be surprised about how many rvers are out there that do model railroading. In addition to many conventions that model railroaders attend, we have gatherings called 'meets' where they operate their models like real railroads. Similar to people who travel to cities for dog and cat shows, model railroaders haul their trains in their in their rvs or in trailers behind the rv.

There are 'private' scale model railroads where the owners invite other railroaders to camp on their private land and join the fun. They even have water/ electric hookups.

Not to mention the rvers who chase the full size steam trains. You'd be surprised how many class A's and C's will line a road next to a train track to get video of the 'Challenger' steaming by.

Also, the retired people who camp all summer to help on the tourist railroads like the Cumbres & Toltec Railroad. We even camped in an rv park where the majority of the campers were volunteering on the railroad. Once you start looking, there are a lot of us out there.

[youroo]

Originally Posted by oxcamper

Any Model Railroaders out there?

How much can or do you do with your "other expensive hobby" while you are on the road or in the CG?

I take a kit or two and mess around with it in the leisure times,

The #1 Member of FRF in regards to "Model or Real RR" has got to be "Aceinspp" who also is the "Georgia Peach Rally Org" also! He will take sets to Rallys and has a Wonderful setup on his Estate also! He is the "Gold Spike" of FRF! Youroo!!

[SimchaSabre]

Up until recently all I did was visit local train shop or an occasional show, but, now that we've been going to Rincon Country West RV in Tucson for the winter, that's changed a little. https://rinconcountry.com/

In addition to all of the typical 55+ RV park activities , they also have a Garden Railroad club that built, operates and maintains a very large 5 track layout. It is quite different from my vintage O Gauge layout at home, but, it's great fun while we're there.

[jtatum65]

Originally Posted by youroo

The #1 Member of FRF in regards to "Model or Real RR" has got to be "Aceinspp" who also is the "Georgia Peach Rally Org" also! He will take sets to Rallys and has a Wonderful setup on his Estate also! He is the "Gold Spike" of FRF! Youroo!!

Hey Ace has a very nice outdoor G scale layout that not all of us can afford. But for those of us that can't afford that scale, we model a little smaller. I myself have a 40x15 dbl decker HO scale layout in my basement. But sad to say I never take anything with me camping to work on as I would rather enjoy my time at the camper and around the campfire with friend.

Also I have a Youtube channel with some videos of my layout.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfn..._as=subscriber

[Villagerjjm]

I built an HO train set and a N scale train set over a couple of years while camping in NYS finger lakes. They were the old Roundhouse passenger cars.... old west stuff. Great looking trains! I finally sold them last year because I was not using them. I saved one HO set and a Bachman Trim-a-Train. I would be able to use the N scale Trim-a-Train in the trailer.

[BILL49]

My wife and I own a lot at Riverbend Motorcoach Resort in Florida and one of the many activities is the Riverbend Railroad built and supported by a number of the members. It's really a must see for any model railroader when you plan a stay at Riverbend !

https://www.riverbendflorida.com/act...s/rb-railroad/

[Reverse_snowbird]

Very cool links. We now have 3 more tracks to visit.

And I'm very impressed with the 1200' of G gauge track.

Thanks.

[rockfordroo]

Model trains in the winter. Prototype in the summer.

[AFDON]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

We do model RR but at a slightly larger scale. We're 7 1/4" gauge which is a little hard to haul around and work on. Although some people haul trailers with their trains in them from track to track.

We have traveled to different tracks around the country and really enjoy seeing the different layouts. Usually we can hitch a ride around the track from other railroaders. We use our second hobby - photography - to document our travels.

This was our home track: Houston Area Live Steamers - About Us just west of Houston. Closed now due to covid19.

Just east of Fairhope Al there is (or was) a campground with a large layout. about a mile of track, if I remember right, live steam and gas both. wish I could remember the name of that park!

[GoneSouth10]

Originally Posted by AFDON

Just east of Fairhope Al there is (or was) a campground with a large layout. about a mile of track, if I remember right, live steam and gas both. wish I could remember the name of that park!

Wales West RV Park and Light Railway??

[pgandw]

Yes, camping cuts into modeling time. I'm OK with that - model railroading is my indoor hobby. Camping is a holiday with DW.

I belong to a modular HOn3 group (Near-Sighted Narrow Gaugers) that sets up at train shows. On those rare occasions when we do a layout at a train show that is too far to drive to daily, I prefer to camp nearby in our A-frame instead of staying in a hotel. The modules fit in the back of the minivan tow vehicle, and our camping stuff fits in the A-frame.

But if not attending a show I don't take anything with me. We just don't stay inside the camper enough. We do however occasionally visit tourist railroads and railroad museums in the neighborhood of where we are camping or enroute.

Fred W
2019 Flagstaff T21TBHW A-frame
2008 Hyundai Entourage minivan
camping Colorado and adjacent states one weekend at a time

[jtatum65]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Model trains in the winter. Prototype in the summer.

Are you a member of the NMRA and the Rock River Valley Division?

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by jtatum65

Are you a member of the NMRA and the Rock River Valley Division?

Yes.

[oxcamper]

This is great, how about some photos of your current or past projects?
I model in HO, a fictitious line called The East Hickory Creek Railroad, loosely set in the oil discovery area of Western PA. in the 50s.

This is my latest project: Olive's Ox Yoke and Supply. It's still a WIP.
As we raise and train teams of Oxen on our farm, I wanted to include something on the EHC.

[aceinspp]

Well I usally take my Love steamer with me when camping and its G scale. Kids love it and its RC controlled. I took a larger engine to the Brass Ring rally last year but weather did not quite cooperate. I will usually bring trains to rallys also. Later RJD

[Egghead]

I know exactly what you are talking about Simcha Sabre. My inlaws have been going to Ricon for the past 3 years and they just love it. we will be going there next year to visit them so might have to stop and say Hi.