Re: NG not equal to 1"

pmc...or pms?
Since I don't live next door to the yards I can't work on the real thing. Since it won't fit in my garage I don't have anything here to work on. In the mean time I model. I understand you point of view and will fight to the death your right to think that way....wrong as it may be.
I have learned a lot from this board. I've become interested in how the real engines work and that has helped me become a better modeler. I've asked a couple of questions here that were modeling related and they were graciously answered. I have tried to ask about the prototype, when I can, so that it fits the ‘spirit’ of this board.
Personally, there are several posts on this board that don’t mean a thing to me so I don’t read them. My interest was only in Colorado narrow gauge. I have since learned a lot about the SVR among others and hope to visit them one day. I learned it all from this board and it started from my modeling.
My modeling has caused me to buy books and learn the history of the railroads. That history I have shared with my father who also models. I have been sharing it with my 5 year old nephew who is already interested in trains. He could very well grow up and work on one of these roads that we love so much. He could decide to dedicate time and money to those efforts as well. Thus the modeling has now sparked the interest of a child that will be the generation to take these trains over in the future. I, myself, am part of a generation that will be taking it over from many of you. And I am here because I model and like many of us here, fell in love with the narrow gauge roads the first time I laid eyes on it. The “toys” have lead to me learning about the real thing and passing that on and keeping the history alive.
Teachers told me that my drawing in my free time was a waste. Tell that to John Coker. His work is incredible. I don’t think that any of us find it a waste. There are many in the art world that won’t bother to give it a second glance because of the subject matter. We, on the other hand, can’t get enough of it. It’s all in your point of view.
The urge to post a message just saying, “Bite me” has been hard to overcome. I’m sure that there is something that you enjoy as a hobby that I might find childish or boring. Difference being is I’m not posting messages to the entire world complaining about it and showing my butt.
If it keeps the history alive, great! If it can help to get kids interested, great! We’re not ‘taking the easy way out’. Unfortunately some of us can’t be more than cheerleaders to those who can do the preservation work. Until that changes for me I would rather spend some time playing with my ‘toys’. As for questioning our manhood, we may have to take you out back and beat you with our teddy bears.
Duane Richardson