The Future of MRR, is it growing or dying ?

[TurboOne]

Happy New Year to all ! [:D][:D][:D][:D]

I have just returned to trains after a 20 year break. I dug out my old train box, HO guage, and looked over the hundred of engines and cars I have. Turned out I only have 5 engines, two working, and about 15 freight cars, 4 passenger cars.

I took my kids to GATS and they had fun, and I went a second day and learned a lot. I am looking at switching to O gauge because of all the gimicky items. No offense to bigboy, real is very cool, but my 5 year old loves Thomas, and has enough wooden Thomas to buy the best O gauge layout. I wish santa had looked at electric trains a few years ago ! We love going to Lionels webpage and seeing all the videos of cool moving disney, sponge bob, toystory, animated buildings, etc....
I believe if not for these items, model trains will disappear within 25 years or less. If we don't get the younger crowd excited about trains, their hobby dollars will all go to playstation, xbox, and nintendo.
If the older crowd shows a little one the "cool" stuff, and then show them the real trains with sound, lights, on a scenery layout, then they can grow to love all trains, and like bigboy says, especially real trains. I would love to take them on a train ride, but everytime we travel we fly for the speed, or drive because we want a car everywhere we go.
HOers are so serious about their trains, that some of the fun isn't there for the next generation. Show them the fun, and the growth will take them and their dollars to realistic trains and models later in life.
I am thisclose to switching to O, and getting some gimicky sets, then, when I take over the whole garage, building a serious layout. Then bigboy, we need to talk about a real bigboy engine, with the works, lights and sound DCC control included.

BTW I was on MTH on played the video on the McDonalds...way fun and cool !

Excited about bringing up a whole new generation into trains...

Toot, toot ! Good to talk to train people again. They roll with the best

Tim

[Anonymous]

I try to do my best to get people interested. I am the new NorthEast Rep for the TAMR, getting teens and kids interested in trains. We do shows with operating layouts and encourage others to join in and have fun. www.TAMR.org

Chris

[mpzpw3]

I think the hobby will survive. I am only 33 and am hooked on O-gauge trains. The key to getting kids hooked on trains, is to build the layout with them. It doesn't really matter wether they see these things in real life, it's the time spent with Dad. My Dad started me out with a starter set from the early 70's. We then aquired his Scout set from the 50's, and then built a train board, scenery (camo. material with newspapers under it, and a tunnel. with plywood portals!). That is why I am in the hobby, for the memories and the great equipment made today. My father comes over and thinks I am crazy now, but you just can't beat those nights we spent together building the layout. My Wife and I are going to try to have a baby soon, and the first thing I will do, is destroy my current layout, so that I can spend time building a new one one with my child. That's what it is all about, spending time with a child. The hobby will live forever, as long as someone is there to pass it on to.

[Anonymous]

The World Greatest Hobby On Tour and All their Sponsor did a Great Job in promoting our hobby with the Show they did this month in Edison, New Jersey. There where almost 17,000 paid custemers plus their children at this Show. So if every paid customer brought one child with them, we had about 34,000 PLUS people at this Show. People are interest in the hobby, but the competions from other outside interests are great. The hobby on the whole should grow as long as there are Shows like this and there are other avenues for people to get the correct information they need.

[pbjwilson]

Turbo,
Go for it! Make the plunge into O gauge.
I've got two kids 5 and 9 years old.
Been doin trains since the 9 yr. old was born. Got into Lionel for his first Christmas. We've had a layout under the tree every year since. With kids you have to go for the operating stuff. For his 8th birthday I got my son an Area 51 alien train set. Lionel came out with it a few years ago. It's very cool. Lot's of lighted and operating cars and the color scheme in grey, black, and neon green is way cool.
But, I have to tell you that evean with all the trains and layouts my kids would rather play gameboy or gamecube. It bothered me for a while, but then realized theres nothin I can do about it. They still get excited about the Christmas layout, and we set up our trains now and then on the basement floor and have a ball. But given a choice gamecube wins out.
I'll still keep collecting my trains and try to get the kids interested but modern toys and the computer are tough competition.

[dougdagrump]

Hey Turbo, Welcome to the forum! Nice to see another San Diegan here. If you are considering the move into "O" be sure to come by the Model Railroad Museum and checkout the SD3Railers layout. In the museum you will have an oppourtunity to see some of the best layouts around. I ran today and I'll be running again tomorrow, new years day, from 11am to 4pm. In my opinion this is an excellent way to get some exposure for the little ones to the fun of "Toy Trains". You indicate that you have a 5yo, he is a little to young for the Kids Cub now, but that is also another possibility in the next few years.
If you stop by tomorrow just look for the old guy with a Jack In The Box antena ball on his TMCC controller. [^]

[TurboOne]

Thanks for the invite, will have to see if family is alive after our party tonight. It is 2am and bed is calling after the shrimp and nachos get put away. I would love to see the fun you 3 railers have.

Has anyone done O outdoors yet ???

Tim [:D] [:D] [:D] [:D]

[seacoast]

I agree that Toy trains will survive in one way or another and so will model trains. I am only 40 years old and I think I was on the tail end of the trains for Christmas childhoods as my Dad and Granddad were Train nuts, my grandfather was a Engineer for the MEC in Portland, Maine.
One thing the hobby needs is new blood, the kids today are much more into video/computer games than trains. The magazines should bring back a student fare type column. Also the I wonder what the average age of the CTT O gauge runner is?

As time ticks on how many of the manufactures will be able to survive in a market that already seems to be greatly over saturated with tons of O Gauge engines. Looking at my area in NH, there are 4 O gauge type shops and 1-2 scale shops (40 mile radius of my home), it seems as though the Hi- Rail O crowd is much more popular- maybe due to the realism and the technology that is available. In the long haul the train hobby will survive as long as it keeps pace with technology and it has if one just looks to the huge availability of digital type products.

[Anonymous]

If you want to see the future of this hobby, visit this website.
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeo5q9u/

[Anonymous]

I used to be Half-O for a few decades, and I agree with those observations. 3-rail O Gauge is the way to go, and unlike the smaller scales, has experienced substantial growth. These trains are big enough to be impressive (and heavy), and the sound systems are icing on the cake. You won't regret it! Half-O is okay for display cases (IF you have good eyes), but I would not use it with kids. Besides, why have only Half-O when you can have the FULL O Gauge???

[Anonymous]

My son is 5 and has been interested in trains since he could talk. He had Thomas first, and got his first O set for christmas when he was 4. He watched the instructional video that it came with over and over like a favorite tv show. Even then he could use all the features (station announcements, and uncoupling cars.)

He does not want any of the Sponge Bob or Disney stuff he will tell you "I like real trains." He will gravitate to what I have learned are O "scale", more life like trains.

I never had nice trains. There was no dough for such things, but based upon my son's level of interest the hobby should be in good shape.

[TurboOne]

Hey prrsd, that is awesome. A club of kids. How did they get started ? I would love to have a club like that, where all could enjoy building, modeling, and training. I am extra excited to see that. I see a good future there, now if I could do the same in San Diego.

Thanks for the link, I will share it with my kids.


Tim

[TurboOne]

Hey Santafekent, love the humor, that is what life is all about. Fun, and a good laugh. Thanks for the great attitude.

Bosgood: That is awesome that your son likes the real trains. Mine really like the Santa Buffet, (that is what he calls it). I love it that he watched the video, he must be a very smart guy. I bet he enjoys the O gauge, but you proved my point. Thomas was the start. Use the " kid" stuff to interest them, then let them graduate up. One of our favorite engines is a snoop and woodstock handcart. Way cool. My daughter loves a pink engine she saw on a friends layout. Use these type items to start, and let them move up when they are ready.

Watching their eyes when a train goes by, that is priceless.

Tim

[TurboOne]

Hey Bosgood, saw your pics on the other thread. Your layout, especially the bridge looks great. How big is your layout, and how long to get it up on the wall ?

Tim[:D]

[Anonymous]

Hey TurboOne,

thanks for the positive feedback. We are having a blast. The layout is 10X14 It is actually my sons bedroom. He can run it whenever he wants.

I built the shelf in half a day, but had done a lot of planning. It took me an additional day to wire the accessories. I researched standard track sizes and decided what I needed and went to train show and got it. I layed it out on the floor and made templates out of news paper.

the best best part...

On the day I got it running I was working on something in the next room he is working the train and yells out from his room "Dad" I say "what buddy" He says "thanks for making my dream come true." Nothing will ever beat that one for me a moment I will remember always...

[TurboOne]

Hey Bosgood how does it feel to be the hero in your sons eyes ????

Not even a million dollars can buy that feeling huh ?????

Happiness tear from my eye.

From one proud papa to another. Happy New Year

Tim

[Anonymous]

yea so good I cant even describe it!

and Happy New Year to you!

[Anonymous]

Turbone
See if there is a 4-H group near where you live and contact them to see if you and a few good freinds may set up something like this with thw 4-H. Let us know how you made out.

[TurboOne]

QUOTE: Originally posted by prrsd35

Turbone
See if there is a 4-H group near where you live and contact them to see if you and a few good freinds may set up something like this with thw 4-H. Let us know how you made out.

Good idea. I will check out some of our back country areas where I know they have clubs. Also I am going to bring it up at church. Hmmmmmmm trains and God, wasn't there a song about that when I was young.....[:)]

Thanks prrsd

Tim

[Anonymous]

I tried ho and it was a learning experience, but I came back to o gauge. If money is the issue, starter sets are a great help. If space is an issue, that is a whole different issue. When I was living in a one bedroom apt, you would be shocked to have seen my living room or lack of it set up in trains. At the end of the day, I still stick to o gauge. My son is like my ex-wife, he hates the trains, until he runs them!

[TurboOne]

Hi David. Its not the money, well from the wifes perspective it is, but HO high end and O high end seam to be priced similiarly. Its not the space, I moved in with the wife 13 years ago and she hasn't seen her garage since. I am a pack rat. Although when she said I would never have a train up in a year, one day later I had the two saw horses, 4 x 8 and two oval loops with a Christmas village and blinking lights around the whole piece of plywood. Plus I could go to 15 x 15 if I wanted to in the garage. It is the fact that I have 100s of pieces of HO track, albeit it is brass track, about a dozen switches, again brass, and about 50 frieght and passenger cars. Now Santa has added Thomas the train, Percy, James and all the Thomas available. So I haven't decided what I am going to do. I am going to start and finish an HO 6 x 10 with the track upgraded to nickel silver. I also have a bachmann DCC unit with 1 DCC engine. However I have been cruising the ebay listings, and keeping my ears open to any sales I hear about. At the 3 railers club, I saw a blue comet, and Doug here has a great B & O passenger train, with smoke, lights, sound, I will add one. It is just when. Hard to show the wife a new O gauge and convince her that I already had that in a box.[:D][:D][:D][:D]

Tim

[Anonymous]

Tim,

HO high end and O high end price the same? I wish! Sure HO quality is rising as is evidenced by the Broadway items with great sound, but if you spend $300.00 for a 1/87 size train versus 1/43 size, which is the better return? Plus I'd love to see the fellas out here pull apart a 1/87 engine and find a place for the extras you can add to a 1/43 engine.

No the hobby will NEVER go away, as long as TRAINS are run in the world, it will stay as a hobby. And with the fact that new highways are TOO expensive to build without toll lanes, or the fact that the Airline industry was bailed out with billions of dollars, and is STILL failing, one only has to look at all of those abandoned or short line rails as a solution to gridlock and transportation. Sure fallen flags are resurrected by Lionel and others, but you can every once in a while see a fallen flag piece of rolling stock and relive those great memories.

I'm only 35 and I have more fun with O scale, yet my dad started me off with HO scale as a kid, due to size issues. You can get a lot of great action on a 4x8 sheet of plywood with HO, but not as much with O, so I have expanded his thinking and gone with a 6 x 13 layout for O (it takes up half my garage) with room for growth for certain "industries". My wife thinks I am nuts, but hey, O scale high end still costs me less than the price of a beach condo! ;-)

Take care and keep the faith!

Mtraininjax

[TurboOne]

Hiya Mtraininjax,
thanks for the encouragement. By price I was comparing a lot of scenery, $200 + per building. Some trains I have seen are $1k-$2k. Yes O has in general some higher per car prices, but I have been looking at ebay. What I probably will do after building my basic two loop HO, is go to a 6 x 13 O gauge with a circus theme. Then I can use the HO as a toy train in my amusement park.

Tim