LGB on Good Morning America

[Bucksco]

Here we go again!
LGB of America has supplied ABC with trains for a spot on Good morning America and a segment called "In the mix" on thier internet news service.
I believe they will air the internet segment on Monday at 7:40 pm (and various other times during the week) and the Good Morining America segment at 8:30 am Tuesday. These spots are specifically about toys so I've got my fingers crossed!

[Anonymous]

Large Scale trains and garden railroading have been getting a lot of TV exposure lately. I've seen garden railroading featured on "Rebecca's Garden" and "U.S. Farm Report" in recent weeks, and have sen Large Scale trains used as props on several other shows in the same period. Large Scale works particularly well for such segments because it's big enough to see well and it operates darn near silently.

[Bucksco]

This spot is dedicate to toys. We've sent two starter sets ("Peanuts" and a NYC frieght set with sound) a Snoopy "flyer" and a selection of PIKO buildings and LGB accessories. From what I'm told a child was put to work playing with them. I hear a lot of talk about the future of the hobby- this is it! Efforts need to be made to expose Model Railroading to potential new customers-I intend to pursue them!

[Anonymous]

My feeling has long been that the best way to grow the hobby is one person at a time, and the best resource for assuring this growth is US--the folks already involved. Just imagine the results if every member of this forum, and the huge number of other forums out there, attracted just one person--young or old--to the hobby every year.

The best way to do your part is to simply share your hobby with others in your circle. Could be your family; could be friends; could be a school group that visits your layout; or could be colleagues at the office and their families.

I already "hooked" my prospect for this year. I have a colleague at the office who is going to retire in about 18 months, and she wants to build a garden railroad. I'm going to help her get started with a decent starter set and a bunch of additional track that I'm going to contribute to the cause. She developed the interest after seeing my trains and after I gave her a copy of my garden railroading book. Best of all, she has a close friend--an avid gardener--who is also interested in getting started in garden railroading to supplement her current hobby. So, in effect, I've hooked two for the price of one!

IGrowing the hobby doesn't require massive expenditures on national advertising campaigns, although that certainly is nice when you can get it. All it requires is for those already in the hobby to openly share the diverse benefits of what truly is the world's greatest hobby.

[underworld]

Now I have to get up early Monday!!!!!

underworld

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter

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

[Bucksco]

Underworld-get up early on Tuesday!
Alan- a couple of starter sets and accessories are a small price to pay to expose our product to a multitude of people!

[Anonymous]

Hello All: A Lot of good comment's. I also think the Hobby stores have to be fair to the kids & teens that are in the hobby. Some of these kids are saving & coming in with paper route money, I hope the stores are cutting these kids a fair break. We all know the Mcdonalds theory, Hook them when they are young, they will be back for life. Regards Steve

[Anonymous]

Hello All: A Lot of good comment's. I also think the Hobby stores have to be fair to the kids & teens that are in the hobby. Some of these kids are saving & coming in with paper route money, I hope the stores are cutting these kids a fair break. We all know the Mcdonalds theory, Hook them when they are young, they will be back for life. Regards Steve

[Anonymous]

Bucksco:

I fully agree with your comments about those starter sets being well worth the effort in light of the tremendous exposure gained. No question about that!

I got started in Large Scale with LGB way back before there even was an LGB of America (my ex had bought me a Blue Train Set as a Christmas gift), and am still a devoted LGB enthusiast these days. Now that LGB is offering a U.S.-style trolley, I'm about to start adding those items to my collection since I'm a big-time trolley and traction enthusiast.

Every time I see an LGB or other Large Scale train on TV or in a film--and that has been quite frequently these days--I know that the chances are very good that at least some of the millions of eyes watching the segment will be inspired and subsequently led to explore the hobby. Works for me, and bodes well for the future of this segment of model railroading (and garden railroading is most definitely the most family-oriented and healthy of all the segments).

[Bucksco]

Allan,
We're on the same page!