Why do we LOVE Trains? From Model Railroads to Real Life: What keeps us Running?

[@huntercoleman460]

This hobby is called the world’s greatest hobby for a reason Mike.

[@RABSTRAINS]

I am 59 years old and have loved trains since I was a child. I love the sound, roar, ground rumbling and power of a diesel engine flying past. Even more when multiple engines are connected The intrigue of transportation and the idea of traveling along the rails throughout America. Nostalgia for sure. I enjoy both rail fanning real trains as well as model trains. Model trains allow me to be a child again. People who aren’t into trains don’t get it, but us train lovers do and aren’t we lucky 👍👍🙏❤️💪🇺🇸

[@Dadified86]

We sure are! Love how we can all find ways to enjoy them. It’s a common bond!!

[@DRCRailroard]

Ralphie in the Christmas story said it best. Mechanized Electronic Joy. And over the years it has never lost it's appeal. Only stick in the muds never smile and never seem to get it. They must of lost their joy. Who could've imagined it could be found in something as simple as a toy model train. Thats the reason we hobbyist seem to have a common understanding. We get it, therefore we know you get it. It just comes natural to a kid. That's why they get it.

[@strasburgrailfan90]

I think you hit the nail right on the head with this one, it’s not about the trains themselves, it’s about the people in the hobby.

[@Dadified86]

The trains bring you in but the people make you stick with it!

[@kevinnolan3569]

This was a nice reminder of how I got back into trains. My son loved Thomas and I got the families old Lionel’s out and can’t wait to share with my grandkids

[@AJScola-cq2ec]

Trains are the greatest hobby that involves everything from family to friends and covers every age from the youngest to the oldest. Terrific video, Thank You!

[@FostoriaOhiomodelrailroadclub]

I have been in trains all my life and I remember being 12 years old and told my parents I like to start a moderator cup to share the hobby but our basement and she told me the basement wasn't big enough for people. Now I inherit my parents house and the garage. That's where our club layout is in now and I like to share the hobby with everybody. My dream came true and I got my first train set in 1987. I was five at the time. I still have it.

[@jamesdenny4734]

Many, many moons ago(1969-70), I bought my first N scale set (a Trix diesel set), and then I bought an atlas 4-6-2. I fell in love watching the valve gear go round n round. Now a days manufacturers blacken everything. I can't see them, so well! 😢

[@elleryparsons2433]

It Brings Out the Creativity in All Of us.

[@johnandrus3901]

Very nice! You and your son are so enthusiastic, that you just can't enjoy watching your videos. I've loved trains ever since I was a little kid. I have movies of me when I was 1 year old, in 1958, with my brother's trains running in the background. He first got his in 1948, with a 2026 freight set, along with the 2400-series passenger cars. He later got the 2343 Santa Fe ABA's, along with a set of AMT passenger cars, in 1950, with the big 275 watt ZW. He got the #41 Army Gas Turbine switcher a few years later. He had a real nice layout, back then. When I got older, I could play with the O27 stuff, but never with the O gauge 2343 set and the AMT passenger cars. I still have all of his trains. They will go to his grandson's, my great nephews, when the time comes. I still collect and run my trains, especially the AMT passenger cars, of which I have 45. My layout is a 24x18 L, which is plenty good enough for what I run, these days. BTW, that is me in the video that you have from the York show in April. I'm the blonde guy at the end of the table, as Chris is filming with Caleb Easter's camera. That was a great time and it was nice meeting you. Hopefully, I'll see you there in October. An excellent video, as always.

[@The_British_Director]

Just entered my teens but i have loved trains because i lived in Bratislava and regularly visit a museum full of engines and roling stock. But also because of a certain blue puffball.

[@Drockthe3rd]

For me, my brother unintentionally got me into trains. This happened back in 2009, when I was only 3 years old. He used to be obsessed with them, and apparently caught wind that Southern Pacific 4449 (which was returning from Michigan), was in Spokane. He wanted to go see it, so my parents took him, my other brother, & myself to go see the locomotive

[@Dadified86]

Oh man what I wouldn’t give to see 4449 in action again!!

[@MWTrains]

A goal of mine is to have this dynamic, as someone who’s LIFE has revolved around trains, to have that same experience with a son and watch him experience all the things I did when i was little would be incredible, I’m 100% gonna be the dad who’s found in the train room at 1 AM when the kids can’t sleep

[@Dadified86]

#goals

[@doubleutubefan5]

I'm not sure why but my mom tells me that when I was only in a car seat at about 1 or 2 years old before I could really speak properly, I could identify what a train horn was. I was just born with it. 2 years ago I got hired on with the company called railserve and I worked there a whole year switching out cars for a Cargill plant. It was a great place to learn. I since moved on to the refinery section for that same company. But I still get to play with trains every few days or so by because we load them out anytime you drink Coca-Cola I made the fructose corn syrup that went into that.

[@TwistedMacGyversTrains]

This is fantastic Mike! He is just adorable, reminds me of my sons of when they were little. Everyone of my family always had a Christmas layout when I was little including my parents and that’s how I got hooked. Frank

[@rogerlee3941]

Great video and a great, thought provoking question! I'm 75 and I still have my first train set from 1951 ( a Lionel twin Alco Union Pacific set). I began collecting in 1987 and it's been all down hill from there! I love trains, Lionel post-war in particular, because it's a very interesting hobby, it gets the creative juices flowing, and there's a lot of great history associated with it all. My favorite thing is ressurecting an old dead train engine. Instant gratification!

[@Dadified86]

The creativity side of it is in full swing with these! I feel like postwar really captured the imagination with all the accessories and interactive elements. Forget video games, give me an operating track with a dump car!!

[@therosejewelrailroad489]

I remember as a child. The emphasis my parents put on owning o gauge trains. They were the top shelf toy. So I’ve always enjoyed giving them attention. Seemed like the toy you didn’t have to give up playing with. In recent years it’s been relaxing to go down to the basement at the end of the day and just let them make there loops. It’s crazy because even on a large layout. The train is right back where it started within a few minutes at best. As for sharing the hobby. This part is all new to me. My brother gave up trains right away. None of my friends had trains so it was all me. But after connecting with other u tubers online. I feel I’ve finally come out of the basement! So interesting to see there train world. I soon learned your layout could be a simple carpet looper or a high rail deal like Norms. It just doesn’t matter as long as it brings you joy. Enjoyed the video! Ken

[@Dadified86]

Thanks, Ken! Been great connecting with folks here to enjoy them together. Glad you’re part of it!

[@Coreyt1976]

Great video. I got into this because I love trains. As I started posting videos, going to shows, meeting people, and joining my club, my love grew. Now I can go to shows just to interact with people.

[@CWFTrains]

Another fun video about the greatest hobby in the world! 😃

[@alleghenycityproductions]

i'm on the autism spectrum and trains mean the world to me. i've loved trains since i was 2 and i'm 29 now. i tend to love diesels more than steam. i model in traditional o but would love to have one of those ride on model trains from RMI Railworks and build a back yard railroad to give rides to friends and family

[@Dadified86]

A ride-on train would be EPIC

[@metalheadrailfan]

To quote the folks at TM Books & Video, "Trains Are Cool".

[@Dadified86]

While I was working on this I had James Coffey music stuck in my head 🤣

[@BrandonGreen-g6h]

The reason i love trains cause my brothers had trains it was ho scale and when start watching thomas and friends when i was a kid that what got me liking trains nice layout love your videos

[@sodanotrains]

Great video Mike! For me it was the bonding I had with my dad and pap! Every Christmas setting up the layouts! Some of my best memories and I hope to pass that on to my kids!

[@Dadified86]

That is awesome! Love hearing stories like this 👍

[@daivdwalker2374]

I love trains myself far as playing with them, I love the construction of the layouts and all the details of it and the other is the commodity with other train enthusiasts and also watching other train videos too like yours thanx and keep the videos coming please

[@Dadified86]

We will thanks to supportive viewers like you!

[@karstenkremer9135]

Very nice Greetings from Germany 🇺🇸🚂🇩🇪

[@denisebasile3813]

Sound of wheels on rail it's nice that moves an it's nice cause you can lost in them an forget all your stresses me myself loves for calming effect I love all kinds your layout looks aweome

[@Dadified86]

Thank you! Yeah the sights and sounds for sure make it great

[@TomsTrains0718]

Hey Mike great video I am so jealous that you have your son to enjoy the love for tains I have 2 daughters and yes they like to see the new models I buy and maybe if I can pull them to the layout they will look at the features it offers so I am on my own as far as the passion but there is a Ray of hope my nephew is showing intrest in the hobby we shall see great video Mike see you soon in the next one

[@railchief74]

That was an amazing Video Mike! Dr.Dadified saved the Lionel lines Tender from possible catastrophe. I also find it very cool to see Colin to point out the obvious lol

[@columbothecat7225]

You’ve got a great channel. I wish my kids were as into trains as your son.

[@Dadified86]

Thank you very much!

[@TheTrainboard]

"Diesels are boring" 🤣 can't say I disagree! This was a great video! Really hope I can share trains with a son someday - Ryan

[@Dadified86]

They have their place, but give him the choice what to run and it’s always steam

[@elleryparsons2433]

Cause of the Challenge it Brings and Gets To meet different people And It Keeps Me Out of the Bar.

[@trainspa]

I have been into trains since my dad put up a small n scale layout for christmas for as far back as i can remember as a child. We still have all the locomotives and cars from those layouts but sadly not the layout itself. Since you and your son like steam locomotives, I would highly suggest the Strasburg railroad up here in PA. It still runs steam locomotives as well as a Thomas train as well.

[@Dadified86]

It’s on our list! 👍

[@jamesdenny4734]

I wanted a son but had two daughters. The youngest loved trains until she was in the 4th/5th grade she's 31 now. She sent me a text saying 4014 was headed her way n she was going to see it. Then texted again, saying it was canceled! I wanted pictures! 😢😢😢 I'm thinking maybe the bug bit her again.

[@denisebasile3813]

An trains help me deal with health issues I can put to the side when running them

[@Dadified86]

Therapy Trains! Heck sometimes after a busy day at work I run em just to relax!

[@Heroduothecomedian]

Ive always loved trains since my first Thomas the tank engine ertl toy my mom got me when I was three. They are just so big,powerful and colorful (depending on the railroad) but being autistic I loved steam engines from the get go cause you get to visually see all the parts moving and doing their work unlike with diesels. I may not have money to enjoy the hobby like I would love to but that won't stop me from loving trains

[@Dadified86]

That’s awesome how these trains can help you, the rhythms of the wheels and all the repetitive moving parts, really gives calm to people. Glad you love em, too!!

[@Heroduothecomedian]

​​ I honestly wouldn't be surprised as your son gets older will get into transformers (if he isn't already) or like Gundam model kits when he gets older. I thought it was just special chase growing up to not grow out of them as I got older but my therapist said that common trait for autistic people is to be able to take one thing and change into aka like the transformers going from robot to car or vice versa, We get the sense of joy and accomplishment doing that or when building something out of what seems like nothing to the untrained eye aka Legos or model kits. If your kid already loves robots I'm sure it won't be long before he gets into one or both, so look forward to that lol. I always thought I would only be into trains and transformers till I found that if it wasn't for what mobile suit Gundam aka Gundam 0079 did for Mecha/robot anime in the late 70s/ early 80s we wouldn't have a lot of the robota shows we have today so I gave Gundam a chance and that threw me down another rabbit hole and burn another hole in my wallet xD. Sadly I'm a budget person so I can't spend like I would love to on my hobbies but I could never give them up cause they make me happy and feel special and not an every day joe like everyone else to which I couldn't ask for more

[@elleryparsons2433]

It Doesn’t matter What Scale you run It All About Comradery Of The Hobby.

[@Dadified86]

It’s all trains, it’s all good

[@colestrains1]

Simple. Trains are badass

[@DJHProductions]

I agree with your son, diesels are boring!!!

[@Dadified86]

🤣 I didn’t even prep him to say that I swear

[@DJHProductions]

@@Dadified86 hahaha I discovered your channel recently from the podcast you do with the other guys. As a new dad I’m not understanding the next element of my hobby of sharing it with my son. So I hope that my son will enjoy it as much as yours seems to. Keep up the good work!

[@MrToby844]

Tell me why! there 2 is daylights!??

[@Dadified86]

You’ll find out soon enough

[@MrToby844]

@@Dadified86 ok😳 I can’t wait

[@john2914]

Well we dont love trains. This hobby has dried up. If you like them thats great.

[@CWFTrains]

(Pulls out a chart of the human body) Can you show me exactly where the train touched you? 🧐