Model Railroading Aromas

[C855B]

... I can't say there is an aroma that takes me back or gives me fond memories or special sensations. ...

Interesting, I think you must be a rare exception to the rule. Smell is our most visceral sense, where most have very little control over the memories a distinct aroma elicits. I read a couple of academic synopses a long time ago analyzing how smell evolved as a survival mechanism, and the reaction is reflexive.

Lee's essay on extremely specific aromas recalling formative life moments describes what a lot of us experience. I have lots of memories triggered by specific aromas, such as a fire built of a certain species of pine recalling a brisk winter day riding my bicycle down Gadsden St., the scene in my mind playing out in amazing detail. Or Captain Black tobacco, with instant memories of my father's father sitting in his ugly green lounge chair next to their front door fussing with his pipe... and this was a man I saw maybe six times in my life.

[Rossford Yard]

Mike,

Perhaps.  As it happens, my father had a green leather chair he sat in, sort of Archie Bunker style, as well. And, I recall his cigar smoke, but not that much.  In fact, the smoke in the house never bothered me, but when I came back after my first semester of college for Xmas, I could barely stand to be in the house due to smoke. (Mom smoked cigarettes)

So, as per my story above, maybe I only happen to notice the bad odors, if at all.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Worse: Dullcote.

Oh god yeah.

[btrain]

The smell of laser cut wood and Elmer's wood glue always makes me happy.

[mmagliaro]

Lee, your story is positively beautiful and heart-wrenching!   It reminds me of the way Jean Shepherd writes and tells stories about his childhood.

[nkalanaga]

Mike:  Smell/taste is probably the oldest sense, long predating land animals.  Bacteria can sense chemicals and chemical density variations.  For early marine life, a chemical sense was essential, because vision didn't help much in water, hearing would produce too much information, as the water is always vibrating, and touch was strictly close range.  Smell/taste connect directly from the sense cells, really nerve endings, to the most primitive parts of the brain.  Sight and hearing have to be interpreted by the brain before the data is usable.

[Joetrain59]

Soldering smoke, you could actually taste it. It always comes right at you:(  Tamiya clear tints have a nice smell, but don't need them for tinting led's anymore.
 Joe D

[tom mann]

@wm3798 I read what you wrote in the voice of Tom Hanks!

[sd45elect2000]

Garrison Keillor

[DKS]

Adult Ralphie

[Southern Pacific]

The smell of lichen.

[Nato]

         The smell of B&0 at train shows, oh wait a minute thats BO. Never mind. The smell of burning insulation just before the old made in the Soviet Block  Atlas SD-45 quits working for good, forget to remove the shell you up dated and added to the paint job on and when you get your locomotive back from Atlas you have an all new mint locomotive which you have to re detail all over again. Charlie, I donated my Lone Star 0-8-0 to a club in California don't remember which Belmont perhapse for a display of Lone Star that they were putting together. The smell of a large Pizza (hold the pineapple) in the crew lounge during a work session break. Then you have to wash your greasy hands, fingers  before handeling the equipment again. That is why Cheetos are banned. Lastly don't leave old Lionel SP smoke pellets on the bathroom counter as a kid, when your mom almost takes one as Asprin before looking at the label. Nate Goodman (Nato).

[NSEGeorge]

Nate-

It was Belmont Shore Lines that was putting together the Lone Star display. There is a complete layout built by Wayne Lawson under a plexiglas top which, as far as I know, is still running today. Pretty cool layout and thanks for contributing. Open House June 2nd and 3rd.

NSE George

[wm3798]

Thanks guys.  I didn't realize until well after I posted that the day was the 13th anniversary of the Old Man's passing.  He was something of a writer himself, I have volumes of letters he exchanged with friends and family, each awash in chuckles and masterfully turned phrases.  He also introduced me to Jean Shepherd's essays  (adult Ralphie, as DKS identified him), which made me realize that one could in fact find something to read in Playboy.

As soon as I saw the title of this thread, those memories came roaring back.  Thanks for poking that fire.



Lee

[Doug G.]

Gosh Lee, I can't even tell the little kid in blue on the right is you.

I have very fond memories of my dad and our train layouts and his wisdom when we were kids too. I sure wish he was still here.

BTW, does anybody have any pictures of the Belmont Shore Lone Star layout? I couldn't find anything using google.

Doug