So, what does your wife think?

In your opinion, what does your wife think of your model railroading?

  • I'm single, I can do what I like!

    Votes: 47 19.7%
  • She hates it with a passion, and wishes I'd stop

    Votes: 8 3.4%
  • She ignores it, and hopes the fad will pass

    Votes: 17 7.1%
  • She's occasionally makes the odd nice comment, provided I don't spend the mortgage

    Votes: 69 29.0%
  • She's supportive and is happy to admit it to her friends

    Votes: 55 23.1%
  • She likes it, and even joins in a bit here and there

    Votes: 38 16.0%
  • She's probably a better model railroader than me, and certainly more keen

    Votes: 4 1.7%

  • Total voters
    238

tillsbury

Member
Alright, maybe partner / fiance(e) / xxxxfriend of either gender. Recent posts on here and other boards made me wonder how you guys all get on with the 'other half' and model railroading...

This poll is about model railroading only (not railfanning or related activities) -- what do you think that she/he thinks when you go off to play?
 

Zman

Member
"So, the other woman had a bigger layout, is that it ?"

It was a smaller layout in fact, just a different polarity. :D
 

TomPM

Another Fried Egg Fan
My wife is currently leading the effort to build a garden railroad around the fish pond. She and my son have figured out the track plan and what is to go where. Now we just need to purchase the track. We have a G-scale set ready to go.

Also lately she has been bugging me what to do when I am going to move on from building dioramas and getting the HO layout up and running on a more permanent basis.
 

ezdays

Out AZ way
There's something about marriage, it's a commitment you make to each other. If my wife wants to try her hand at doing something, I support her 100% and hope her choices make her happy. She in turn has backed me up on some pretty crazy ideas including working with me side-by-side for over 25 years, because I wanted to start a business of our own.:rolleyes: After we retired, we both found things that we like to do on our own, and we still support each other, because of that commitment we made almost 45 years ago.:thumb::thumb:

She has no interest in MRR, but she'll go to a train show or LHS with me and look around to see if she can find something she thinks I would be interested in. I have no interest in her hobbies either, but I'd do the same for her in a heartbeat.:)
 

MasonJar

It's not rocket surgery
I think that I probably know more about quilting than she does about model railroading. ;) :D

Andrew
 

CBCNSfan

New Member
Well for me, the situation is quite similar to Don (EZ) Day. My wife used to help, in fact was a member of the MR club when it existed. She no longer can get down stairs to the train room because of the toll multiple sclerosis has taken from her agility, but I take photos of what I'm doing on the layout and we sit and discuss the photos. If I see something on ebay she is the first to encourage me to bid on it, even if I'm not sure I want it.:D
Cheers Willis
 
Ms. Doc tolerates it. She has absolutely no interest in model railroading other than to be supportive of my interests. She and a good friend (the wife of an accomplished model railroader), like to poke good-natured fun at us. She did graciously give up most of the basement and encouraged me to build a separate work shop though. She did make it clear that the honey-do list comes first.
Doc
 

wortchillergoal

New Member
My wife is very supportive of not just railroading,but beer brewing and hocky playing as well. She loves that I take my 5, soon to be 6, autistic son to as many model railroad/railroad evnts/shows as I can. It is a two way street. She loves to play volleyball, so she gets her nights. I remember an article along time ago in MR about this subject. It talked about one wife having no complaints about the hobby. She liked the fact that her husbands boys night out was he and some friends in thier basement working on the layout as opposed to running around town drinking.
 

Tileguy

Member
ezdays said:
There's something about marriage, it's a commitment you make to each other. If my wife wants to try her hand at doing something, I support her 100% and hope her choices make her happy.

She has no interest in MRR, but she'll go to a train show or LHS with me and look around to see if she can find something she thinks I would be interested in. I have no interest in her hobbies either, but I'd do the same for her in a heartbeat.:)

Couldnt have said it any better Don,and look at all the typing you saved me :D
 

60103

Pooh Bah
My wife says that she was attracted by the miniaturization when she first saw my apartment. She definitely encourages me, although she restricted her main push to scenic efforts (feels I push the train bit enough myself). In the last few years she's started running the occasional train. She makes sure the houses we buy have a place for the layout. Our anniversary present this year was a streetcar print. HER Christmas present this year was Lionel's Polar Express, but she's talking about a garden railway.
 

Ralph

Remember...it's for fun!
My wife appreciates my enjoyment of the hobby and will occasionally come downstairs to check out my latest work. She likes mini-scenes, clever signs on buildings, and the placement of people on the layout. I think what she really likes is how easy I make birthday and Christmas shopping for her! :) My local hobby shop knows her by name!
Ralph
 

Delamaize

New Member
Well as for my wife, she says "at least it isn't drinking drugs, fast women or faster cars" I guess thats a good thing right?
 

shaygetz

Active Member
My beloved wishes we had a room or basement for me to set up all my modelwork. Right now the module I have too often acts as a catchall with no real way to appreciate what lies beneath.
 

Grantha

New Member
My wife is generally supportive of my hobby. She is certainly happy that I'm not out spending the money or time in the bar.

Also, if I carefully plan my conventions and ensure shopping is nearby the hotel I get to go to lots of neat train conventions.
 

cabdriver

Member
CBCNSfan,
Loved your post. :) What a great relationship you guys must have :thumb: -- I can just see you coming up the basement stairs, picture in hand, and sitting down with your wife to discuss your accomplishments and getting her feedback and support. :D :D :D
 
My wife likes trains as much as I do. She does not have the talent needed to work on nscale stuff unsteady hands. She loved trains enough to have a layout in the living room to show off to who ever comes over.
 
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