At work and haven't had time

At work and haven't had time to watch the video, but I don't need to ask the question - trains are fun.  If people don't get-it, then it's not in their genes.  It's like football or anything else, either you are into it or you aren't.

Anyway, I guess I'll have to see why someone else is into model railroading and try to remember to watch this when I get home after work.

@Jim

You post all day while at work. You should be able to fit in a video .

because..........

I do what I want, when I want, how I want. I don't need to meet anyone's demands, schedules or standards other than my own. it keeps me off the streets, and my wife knows where I am.

Gotta have a reason

I have a few hobbies (more than someone in my income bracket and limited time off should have) and I have been asked many times why I'm into the stuff I'm into

I can explain why I'm into WW2 living history because I was an Army officer (why people accept that, I don't know. I joined the military for a few years because of that hobby, not the other way around)

I can explain my interest in art and comic books because I'm considered by some to be talented artist (and have been published lots of times)

My interest in the space program doesn't need explanation. When people see photos of me at NASA facilities, Space Camp and with astronauts, nobody questions that. Why, the space program is cool, right? But seriously, it's the only interest I have that nobody questions. They only ask how I get to do this stuff...

Trains? I have no real connection. But my layout takes place in the valley where my parents grew up, when they would have been little kids. That seems to 'explain' everything to people who don't get the hobby

I have no idea. Kinetic art maybe?

I dunno.  

Maybe I just like building things.  Sometimes I see it as kinetic sculpture.  Artists paint and carve stuff for no reason. I paint and carve stuff for no reason, and then it has to move flawlessly.

Because it is fun

Being a model railroader is just plain fun in my book.  I do agree, however, that for many of us it is in our genes as a lot of later generations have other types of hobbies and model railroading just doesn't fit in their lifestyle.

As for me, I enjoyed it as a child, then got away from it until I was in my forties. Even when I did not have a layout for 20 years, I still kept reading, collecting, & planning a future layout.  Then when I retired, it got built. It provides an outlet for creativity and keeps the mind working as I am always thinking of what I want to do next.   

John

Modeling the ATSF Paradigm Division in N-Scale 

https://www.youtube.com/user/tanzj

Puzzles

I'm not into crosswords, rubix cube, jigsaw, solitaire, on and on.

I am fascinated by "3 dimensional" puzzles that require multiple disciplines and culminate in a result that can be seen (or heard........I was a musician and recording engineer/producer in my former skin). I like to visualize and then challenge myself to turn the vision into reality. 

Model railroading gives me unending opportunities to play with those types of puzzles.

Dang it Matt!

Your post has had me thinking on this for days. Years ago I read Sam Posey’s book that essentially asked the same question of himself, or maybe a way to explain it to others. There was a quote from Rod Stuart regarding his layout on the cover of MR being more important to him than any music award. 

My own fascination with railroad modeling led me to a career in architecture and planning. There wasn’t a time where my interest in model building hasn’t been an influence in life choices or decisions of how I participate in the community. My current role as a building official leave me craving the historic research, design, construction, and creative aspects that are provided by this diverse hobby. Maybe the layout and railroading has always has been a source of that inspiration and outlet it provides. 

The other aspect is simply the complete immersion it can provide, maybe even similar to meditation. The hobby can, for me obviously, set my mind on a project or task that is a form of relaxation and diversion from daily issues. This is true even for those frustrating moments when I assemble something backwards or upside-down. In fact the things we consider here can send us down rabbit holes to entirely new adventures. 

I wonder if my space and time were limited to a great(er) degree if railroading would sustain my attention. Some here seem to be satisfied with only a single model at a time, building a throttle, or creating a photographic diorama, or a 12” square “layout”! Thinking about these examples there is no doubt that the “why” becomes less of the question than “what” and then “how”. 

Great Comments Everyone!

Great Comments Everyone!  I think so often we find ourselves in the "weeds" of the design and build process and we never stop to consider why we do what we do to begin with.  As you can see, I find a lot to love about this hobby and it is interesting to me to see your thoughts as well!

Purposeful Motion

Because I can't afford to buy

Because I can't afford to buy real trains. Duh!

@chuck

Enjoying yourself there?  

It's one thing to post an occasional message but another to watch videos, which is something I generally avoid at work.   

And while we are busy with the finger wagging, unlike half the people I see at offices now, I am not constantly on my smart phone - it gets put away and I leave it put away.

I generally save the video watching for when I get home when I have a bit of free time.