Some might like to see this piece on a California backyard RR. The writer was well intentioned, but probably could not have made more references to the builder being crazy or an overgrown child.

http://www.modbee.com/life/friendsfamil ... 92999.html

Well........... did you happen to notice the photographer's name?

None other than the legendary (to us rail photography denizens, that is) Ted Benson, long-time photographer for the Modesto Bee, with lots of central California and other Western rail photography to his credit........

It's farm country and you will find that farmers -- at least here in California -- have taken up some different hobbies.

How about collecting and restoring old tractors and other old farm items? I am sure that articles about those and similar pursuits have just as light hearted articles written about them.

Ted Benson, of course, did not write the article, but you would think he might have suggested using a few less demeaning words. I recently saw a CTV piece with Valerie Pringle (a respected Canadian reporter) riding the VIA Canadian across Canada. Along the way, she interviewed three enthusiasts in a group. One is a principle in creating a museum in the John Street Roundhouse in Toronto, another a manufacturer of high quality HO scale passenger cars and the last a very good photographer. All accomplishments of some merit. How did they describe themselves? Foamers. Which they then had to define, bringing a laugh from Ms. Pringle, who then used the term at least 20 times during the rest of the program. Sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

Amen to that. My other big hobby is collecting, displaying and using WW2 US weapons, equipment and vehicles in living history and display events. You can't begin to imagine how many times we've been written about in newspapers as "playing war," or people who never got enough of playing with GI Joes and such things. There's no difference here...

Geez............. I found the article to be complimentary and a fun light read. Perhaps we need to remember that very few of our fellow citizens are anywhere near as serious about this "train thing" as we are!!
IMHO-Ross Rowland

I didn't get a negative feel from it,
just kinda jokin around

also, realize there are very fine gray lines between:
normal, different, unique, eccentric, fanatical, and call the guys in the white coats

I think I am pretty moderate (unique), but my wife keeps seriously looking at the phone

dr

I have to agree with Ross Rowland - I really don't see a problem with this piece. In a rational world, what this guy's doing is very "Field of Dreams" like, and the article seems to think that's just A-OK.

We all get tired of the usual "trains chugging", "foamers foaming" kinds of articles, but this really isn't one of those. For me, the key quote here is: "As you will find, Baglione isn't like most people. And isn't that refreshing!"

That seems pretty positive to me.

Scott