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then send these images to other members of a railfan group to show them how good you are. However, it does not compare with the expense of building and operating a model railroad.

Model railroading is very costly. Buying a single locomotive that is scale detailed can run into $500 or more. Model railroading comes in three sizes, O Gauge, HO Gauge, and N Gauge. As the scale gets smaller, the costs also get smaller, but the detailed accuracy of the model tends to diminish. Building and operating a model railroad will also take a lot of your time as well as a lot of your money. Be prepared to have an understanding spouse and above all, keep the family cat out of the model railroad room.

Be prepared to invest a lot of money and time by belonging to one or more railroading groups or rail museums. These groups also work with large full sized trains and trolley cars, but they confine their operations to their own right-of-ways and will teach you good safety habits if you do not already have them. These groups go out regularly on fan trips that are sanctioned by the railroads that support them, and are great subjects for photography. There are also a multitude of e-mail posts available on any railroad or railroad fan group through Yahoo. Here, your investment is very inexpensive and you can get a good background in how trains operate. A search through Google will tell you where these groups are located.

Talking to other railfans or other railroaders is an excellent way to network yourself and to communicate with others that have "been there done that." You can even start and develop your own web conference room, where you can invite railroaders from all over the US and Canada to go over every issue related to the railroading hobby.

Learn more about this author, Bob Carper.
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