Go ahead, laugh at me. Mock me. I'm going to confess something here

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

I have always wanted an electric train set.

I know, I know, TOTALLY weird. I want one that has enough track to go around my Christmas tree. I want one with a real light on the front of the engine and bell and whistle sounds. And of course choo choo sounds.

I am a total juvenile. I don't have one, but it is my dream. I've looked into them and have been shocked at how expensive even simple sets are.

My close friends and my husband know about it and they don't laugh about it. At least not to my face.

I think it all started when I was five. My brother was three and Santa brought him this GIGANTIC electric train set. I mean, it ROCKED hard. It had everything. Even the bridge with the fake rocks on the side, all the stuff.

Well, he liked it until my parents turned it on. Then he screamed and cried and wouldn't go near it. It became MY train. I was mesmerized by it.

And I have no idea what happened to it. Over the years, I'd find a piece of the track tucked in somewhere and wonder about it. I think it got shoved to the top of a closet and then given to Goodwill or something.

So there it is. I confess. I'm a 34 year old woman and I want an electric train set.

Is there anything really WEIRD you have always wanted?

[XanaDUer]

1. I have always wanted one, too.

I love the little trees, and houses, too.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

3. OMG!!!

I forgot about the little trees and houses!

That must be why I am so obsessed with my Christmas village. Ceramic houses, church, school, shops, all with a light inside. I set up the whole village differently every year. There's an ice skating pond with ice skaters, street lights, park benches, everything.

Thanks for reminding me about that!

[XanaDUer]

10. Are you Virgo?

Love of miniatures is a supposed Virgo trait. ;)

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

22. No I'm a Sagittarius

supposedly we love gigantic things, so I am all outta whack! LOL!

[goodboy]

47. Me too...Nov 23rd...nt

[grannylib]

2. Nothing weird about that at all. Go for it! My dream? Fuzzy Wuzzy the Bear

soap. Anyone remember that??
Talk about nostalgia!

That, and a narwhal horn. THAT'S my BIG "weird" dream....

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. A narwhal horn?

Like a real one?

Wow. And I don't know what that soap is. Maybe I'll google it.

[zbird]

12. I loved Fuzzy Wuzzy!

It had a toy inside too, IIRC. I seem to remember a toy whistle (that tasted like soap when I blew it, of course).

[Pithlet]

30. Here's something close

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=876&item=7112268275&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

There is less than a day left on that auction, so you'll have to act fast if you want it :)

[Bjornsdotter]

84. OMG....

I loved Fuzzy Wuzzy soap! Also loved Funny Foam with the funky animal dispensers.

Didn't the Fuzzy Wuzzy poem go something like...
Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair
Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy was he?

I am old...lol!

Cheers,
Kim :toast:

[ropi]

4. buy that choo choo

celebrate and enjoy it....with the disappointment of the election..it's time to get what you want and to have fun. :-)

i want a replica Jeannie bottle from http://www.jeanniebottles.com

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

9. Almost $400?????

Are they mainlining crack? No wonder you don't have one!

I agree.....it is time to get what I want.

But I just can never justify it, ya know? I start thinking about all the other things I could buy or need to spend the money on and I wimp out.

Sigh.

[ropi]

17. LOL

ROTFLMAO

i dont know.. it's pretty steep. i do have the jim beam 1964 xmas bottles (three actually) that i found at a sale...

they were the original model for the bottle.

[ropi]

19. LOL

:hug: to you moonbeam...

you always make me laugh and smile :-)

[billyoc]

23. Psst. You won't love having it forever, you know?

And there'll always be some small child for whom it would mean the world to get that train set some other Christmas. Get it? :)

[Jean Louise Finch]

6. That's not weird!

That's not weird at all. My dad has one, that he used to get out at Christmas time and set up around the tree. It was one of the old-fashioned ones that didn't have the fancy set-up and derailed with alarming frequency, but it had the most distinctive smell (something burning, no doubt) that I can call up at any time to get me in the holiday mood. We got it out a few years ago when i was still living at home, and it was just lovely. It even made a little tooting sound. What about on ebay? the "antique" ones are just perfectly lovely.

The weird thing that I really want is one of those towel/head scarf things that you can wrap around your hair when you get out of the shower, and it dries it while you look sophisticated and make your coffee. It's called a topsy or something like this; there are always infomercials about them. It is very embarassing to admit that I really want one. So a train really isn't so bad, fear not.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

15. LOL!

I laughed so hard at the cuteness of what you said. Sweetie, you need to go for it on that Topsy, I guarantee you it is priced far lower than a train set! Do it!

[ropi]

24. ooh...

that swervy topsy turvy thang! get on with that head wrap gal! i think those are cool! kinda terry cloth swamii

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

41. I think it's called a Turbie

and it seems pretty darn affordable!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=11837&item=5533215294&rd=1

[Jean Louise Finch]

54. Oh sweet!

I've been rather traumatized at the thought of being convinced by a infomercial, but if I can just get it from ebay then I don't have to feel so weird about it.

I might do it-take the plunge-fulfill my dreams! That one is even blue!

[Dookus]

7. we had a great

Lionel set as kids.... we always loved it. Even had a smaller track to go around the christmas tree. Go for it!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

11. That's what it was

God, I was trying to think of the maker....Lionel. Man it was great.

Maybe I'll do some internet shopping, see if I can find one for less than in the stores. Damn they are expensive now.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

16. So Dookus

what thing have you always wanted but don't have?

[Dookus]

Oscar de la Hoya

beyond that, now that I have a bulldog, I got everything I want.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

25. I figured you'd mention him

(Tucker that is. I had no idea about Oscar!) LOL.

[ropi]

28. ohh

does he come in a box? with a ribbon? naked? damn... i want one too... i demand cloning!

[bigwillq]

8. Why would we mock? That's actually pretty cool.

I hope Santa brings one for you!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

31. Thanks sweetie

a girl can dream, right?

Please Santa!

[bigwillq]

36. Start sending that letter now!

Maybe it'll reach the North Pole by Turkey Day. Just in enough time for the elves to build that train set!

I hope your wish comes true!:hi:

[Abelman]

13. I HAD one

But it never worked right :(

I'd like to get one again someday.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

20. Let's go shopping on eBay!

[RPM]

14. No mocking here - great hobby

Feel free to private message me if you have any specific questions that you might want to have answered...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

18. You do trains?

Did I just wet myself a little?

LOL!

I'll PM you if I find something on eBay or the internet that I might buy, ok?

Thanks!

[RPM]

42. Been doing it since i was three

Was given one for my third birthday - ever since I have been facinated with the trains (real and model), although interest waned in HS when it wasnt 'cool'. I grew up and enjoy them again. Recently bought a house - cant wait to finish law school, make money and build a set-up in the basement. We even chose the house in part because of the space arrangement in teh basement - very accomodating wife. :-)

[qnr]

21. Me too. I still remember mine from when I was a child.

I'd like one of those tiny ones these days though (what are they, N gauge or something?) so I could build something huge.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

27. If money were no object, I swear I'd have a room that was nothing

but electric trains and villages.

And I'd also have a room that was nothing but bean bag chairs.

[eleny]

26. Find a train hobby shop and you'll be in heaven

Just walking around in one is amazing. And they have stuff for beginners in all size and price ranges.

My weird hobby is collecting antique glass negatives and working with the images on the computer.

[BiggJawn]

29. I still have some bits of mine.

Coupla of wreck cranes, a caboose.
And i got dad's Lionel on a shelf.

MY wild dream?
This:


A guy spent about 10 minutes teaching me how to ride his about 25 years ago, and I've never forgotten what fun it was...

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

32. SHIT

you can RIDE one of those?

where would you find one? Cool looking, very cool looking.

[BiggJawn]

61. Very expensive, too....

Replicas cost from $2200 to $4,000. I have NO idea what an original would go for.

[whalerider55]

33. hey!

you know that Neil Young was (nay still be) one of the major investors in Lionel? he helped pull it out of vitural bankruptcy years ago.

riding that Orange Blossom SPecial

whalerider55

[put out]

78. Mr. Young is a real aficionado, and an inventor.

For children, he invented some devices. He is a hero. Disabled kids can now control an entire town, with lights and traffic, and especially, trains.

My hero, Mr. Young.

[2Design]

34. I have a electric train set - it is in boxes right now

I got it when I was 8 or 10
It is a lionel - it is black
came out the year the pink train with colored cars came out
my dad used to say - now don't you wish you had gotten that
it is worth a lot

I have tracks and I got some houses at some train shows
I used to spend my afternoons in the basement in Crestwood NY playing with the trains
putting together the houses
painting the table and putting fake grass down
I wanted to make it look good

I have set it up at different times
hard part is finding a place for it
haven't had it set up in over 10 years

I believe my engine is worth over 1000 now
it is a Norfolk and Western 647 I believe - It is one that is prized by a lot people

has a whistle and smoke comes out if you have the fluid

nice coal car too

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

43. Now that sounds VERY nice!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

35. I'm looking on ebay...

why do they call all the trains HO?

[ropi]

37. for you

go all out...get one of these!

http://www.ridingrailkits.com/

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

38. Can anyone

tell me if they think this one is good?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=19132&item=5932529437&rd=1

That's my problem, I don't know what I'm looking for.

It's another HO train.

[2Design]

52. go to some train shows or places that have set ups

there are lots of places around the country with set ups

there are train clubs

search on dogpile for lionel and shows and see when a show will be near you

the local train collectors usually set up their tracks and trains at that time - great way to meet people who are knowledgeable

especially if you are going to invest any amount of money into it

the children's museum here has a huge train collection
more on the walls than running

but they take up a 50 by 100 foot room easily

[2Design]

59. this is a good price to get an inexpensive complete set

get this and see if you truly love training

then you can move on to bigger things

this is not collector set so should stay low priced

ends in 14 hours 27 dollars

not sure how much you would pay in a store but depending on your time zone you could either go tonight or tomorrow morning

there are all night stores that might carry them

I am sure the toys are already out for christmas

[2Design]

44. ho trains are miniature and you need reallly good eyes to get them

back on the tracks

I sold a ho engine and coal car on ebay for 45 dollars last year
a norfolk and western 611 still in the box

I have a bunch of ho track I need to sell

[RPM]

51. HO = 1/87 scale...

BY THE WAY... stay the hell off of Ebay - best way to pay 200% of what a trainset or model is worth.

Go to your nearest hobby store - even if a bit of a drive; better way to get a feel for what you want.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

57. Thanks

I was looking at them there, but I really can't buy a train from eBay simply because I don't know enough about them to know what I am getting or what I am looking at anyway.

There is a good hobby/train shop in the next city over, not too far, think I'll go out this weekend and check it out!

Thanks again!

[Lizz612]

82. It refers to the ratio

The ratio that determines the size of the train and its tracks in comparison to a real train and its tracks. HO is the most common. There are other ones but much less common. My mother once told me what HO stood for but I forget now.

[RevCheesehead]

83. That's the gauge or scale of the track/cars.

My brother was into model RR big-time. The rest of us had to endure his passion. :)

I still have my Dancing Ballerina - about 1-1/2 feet tall, she used to pirouette and dance on her toes. She was still working (after 30+ years) until my niece got ahold of her last year. I also have my "Tiny Tears" doll in her cradle; and my mother's doll house/furniture.

[sundog]

39. you dork

:P

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

46. FINALLY someone mocks me

(the rest of these people are just too nice, aren't they sundog?)

[sundog]

48. just showin you some love sweetie

:loveya:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

60. Get over here

:hug:

[nickgutierrez]

40. If you're going to dare us to mock you...

...at least make it something worth mocking you for.

:evilgrin:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

45. I really, sincerely thought it was!

Hey sundog mocked me!

[nickgutierrez]

50. You call that 'being mocked'?

Bah. Just BAH.

:evilfrown:

[Sin]

49. I had one when i was younger

My dad kept his toys when he was young and has in perfect conditon lionel cast iron trains i still remember the times at xmass we got them out and set it all up brings back good memories + its quite fun.

[fortyfeetunder]

53. Moonlight ..go get a train set!!!

I have one. They rock. I went through the same crap you did as a little girl. Once I became an adult, someone sold me a crapload of N scale track and I was hooked.

You can get some HO and N scale sets rather inexpensively (less than $100) but you'd better start looking now before the Christmas rush.

Or if you can wait until after Christmas, they'll be on sale.

Also check out the Great American Train Show website (www.gats.com) and see if there is one near your hometown.

PM me if you want to talk more about model trains. When I get through with some commitments, I am going training....

[ropi]

55. that's a good idea

wait until they go on clearance...

after xmas is always better..more train for the buck

[darkstar]

56. Never had a set, but a friend did as a child

What I recall most vividly were smells: the transformer box once it warmed; the machine oil as it heated up; the way you could even tast the of thes fake smoke vapor....

[Elidor]

58. Anyone who loves trains is okay in my book!

:) Go for it, I say!

I still want my Hot Wheels back. Is there an age at which Hot Wheels is no longer becoming? I'll be 40 next year.

[BlueJazz]

62. Here's the best I can do right now.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

64. IS that a train SET?

Wow. Thanks! :hug:

[FuzzySlippers]

63. Toy train enginerd!

Toy train enginerd! Ha ha!

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

65. LOL

that's a good one! Did you just make that up?

[FuzzySlippers]

67. I guess I did.

I hope you weren't offended. I meant it to be a very gentle mocking.

[GreenPartyVoter]

66. Weirdest thing I want is a double wide trailer

which actually isn't so odd considering it's a move up from this single wide we're in now. :P

------------------------------------------------------
Fight the fraud; fund the recount!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[CornField]

68. Cabbage Patch Doll

Remember the first wave of Cabbage Patch? I was so jealous because my nieces were getting one for Christmas and birthdays while I was not -- I was a bit too old for a doll baby and my parents really didn't have the money.

I confessed all this to my husband. I figured he thought I was a loon. Lo and behold for Christmas that year... there was a Cabbage Patch for me under the tree. :)

I can relate to the train thing too. I always wanted one with an elevated track ... holes cut in the walls so the train could travel all around the house. Of course, the cats would think it their own elevated race track.

[Mr_Spock]

69. OMG - my mom went through this phase once!

We got her an "N" guage set for under the Christmas tree!!

I've had a very large HO setup since I was a child, so I can understand the fascination with model railroad.

[Left Is Write]

70. My dear...nothing I want is weird, is it?

Heeee!

Just my huge collection of vintage cookbooks, 50s and 60s kitchenware and memorabilia, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby CDs and holiday DVDs, and just about anything that is throwback nostalgia to an era we don't *actually* want to return to. ;)

Yeah, I guess I'm weird that way.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

79. Smooch

and :hug:

Well weirdness I expect out of YOU! LOL!

[acmavm]

71. It's cool, because I've got one. Needs to be set up and I think that the

transformer thing might have blown so may need another one. Didn't get it until about four years go.

[flamingyouth]

72. I always wanted one too

But I was told that they were only for boys when I was a little girl. :cry:

Yes, I am a 35-year-old woman who still longs for one. :hi:

[2Design]

74. buy one for yourself - I am 56 and have had mine since I was 8 or

10 - I have enjoyed it upon occassion
needs to be set up again
in boxes right now

[LoZoccolo]

73. self-delete - never mind!

This reply was too Maxim or something.

[Flaxbee]

75. ooooh, I love trains! And I'm a 35 year old woman!

Maybe it has something to do with age and femaleness. Anyway. The local Bi-Lo grocery store has one hooked up around the bakery section, it's a raised track about 10 feet in the air and I always get distracted going in there, standing and staring slack-jawed as the neato choo-choo train makes its rounds.


But, I've wanted a cool vintage-style set since I was a kid; my dad's old Lionel train set got trashed by the five sisters ahead of me. I was seriously bummed that it didn't get handed down to me.

[realisticphish]

76. i have one

N-Guage. its an interesting diversion, and can become obsession if you're into building models


:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Forkboy]

77. I play Trainz on the computer...lot's o fun designing track layouts.

As for weird things I want,the ones I can mention on DU :evilgrin: are;

Going down in a shark cage with Great Whites gnawing on the bars

and

Going to Mars,even if it means dying there shortly after arriving.

:shrug:

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

80. Well that's the #1 nice thing about DU

you find out you aren't alone.

:hug:

I am going to a big hobby store this weekend that has trains. I'm going to indulge myself and really look at them and shop for prices. I'm dragging my husband, too, so he can see which one to buy me! LOL!

Thanks guys, some of you want weirder things than me! (Going to Mars, dude?)

[cheezus]

81. every xmas we break out the O scale

Lionel. It's got 3 rails,which makesit easy to do reverable layouts. We usually put together a swith yard and change the order of the cars. After xmas it chuggs around the tree for a few days.