I've been doing allota thinking about this lately. I've often seen on internet discussion forums people talk about the future of model railroading (and O gauge of course within that). There's a good number of doom and gloom predictions. I am young(ish, 30? I feel old), and didn't take the normal "dad hands down his trains to son" route. I'm also a church organist, we're having the same discussion with regards to the future. I don't tend to be an optimistic person, but I do feel optimistic about the future of the hobby.
This is the main reason. People say one of the reasons model trains/Lionel fell out of favor in the 1960s was because real trains stopped being a part of every day life. Well, at least in certain parts of the country, aren't real trains making a comeback? I live in the Boston area, and yes, here trains are still a part of everyday life (and maybe too, geographic location informs your worldview and outlook). 5 days outta the week, I can hear train whistles from my house. At many of the train shows I go to (including the mammouth one in Springfield), I do see more younger faces that I did when "I was their age." When I was back in elementary school we had Thomas too, but he wasn't as big as now, and they have now have Chuggington and Dinosaur train (who knew there were trains in the Jurrassic?) And needless to say, Harry Potter and the Polar Express. I should point out, some people say the PE is just a fad, however I know that the Conway Scenic RR started doing PE trains before the movie came out and even back then were VERY popular. I see allota young railfans and model railfans also on train excursions, on Youtube and other social media. When I post train pics on my FB, I get likes from many different people, and I've come to learn many of these people liked trains all along and I didn't even know.
And now there's something called Steampunk, which what I guess is SciFi./fantasy books and the like which are sort of like Jules Verne and the Wild Wild West that imagines an alternate reality where steam is the primary source of technology, and I guess trains often figure in this a lot. Some tourist railroads are now taking advantage of this.
I think what's missing is we as hobbyists have to find ways to help people make the next step. Every time I see a public train display around the holidays, out come the iPhones to start taking pictures, now we have to show them where.how to buy trains. November is National Model Railroading month (same month as my birthday, convenient isn't it ), and I'm going to do what I did last year (but did it too late last year), is online talking about buying a train set, have a link to a nice booklet World's Greatest Hobby put out, and offer to take questions. I'm very hopeful too, looking at the new products Lionel is coming out with (Lionchief, those WIFI controls, etc)
I don't think the hobby will be exactly as it is now (but it's changed over time since the beginning), but I do have hope, more than all the bad predictions. Maybe I'm just crazy/deluded.
I'm guardedly optimistic myself. When I go to a big train show, like a Greenbergs for example, I'm heartened by how many families I see. Also I deposit all my used train and hobby magazines on the reading materials tables at the gym I go to. A week later they're all gone. I'd like to think it's having an effect somewhere.
On the other hand when I go to a train meet sponsored by a local club it seems like I'm "The Kid" at 61! But then I remember all those young families and I feel a bit better about things.
As long as there's trains under Christmas trees anything's possible.
Your right about trains not being on the forefront any more but I think the train modeling will survive because it is much less to model a train layout than an Airport.
I sure don't have the money or time for this. Check the video.
http://singularityhub.com/2011/05/11/worlds-largest-model-airport-completed-in-hamburg-germany-150-square-meters-costing-4-8-million/
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
and of course a lot more fun!
Firelock brought up about Christmas. Here's a little anecdote from last year. I'm a church organist so after every Easter and Christmas I give myself a little reward for making it through another "big time" in the form of a few nights in NYC (taking a train over the real Hellgate, going to Trainworld, and riding copious amounts of trains among other things), last year due to how the weekends and holy days fell, I had to go in early January. However, I had a unique situation last year. I have a friend from college who's from Stamford and another friend who lives in MA but is originally from Staten Island, both said they were going to be home for Christmas, do you want to get together the day after Christmas in Manhattan. Well, I said, I'll get some extra Amtrak points, and I went down. Friend from Stamford's coming in on MN, I decided to meet her at GCT. Hey why don't I check out the Transit Museum Annex's Lionel display. To say it was overwhelmed with kids was an understatement. I got a few pictures, but then I said "I'm coming back in 10 days, I'll wait till then.": I could barely get in.
Yes there is gloom and doom in the robby but it's not just trains it's almost eveytjing diecast cars trading cards and action figures are joining the list
BUT there is hope At a hobby shop happened upon a mother and son buying an HO Train brand new over two hundred dollars kid had gift certificates
Plus a local church sale where I sell items kids specifically come to look for trains last year a kid named Lionel was buying HO
And yes the layout display EVERYONE is taking pics the key now is to make them want to set them up evenif its once a year
And I am pushing the half century mark
I think that fretting over the state of the hobby produces nothing. Everything changes over time and no one controls any of that. The hobby will change and in terms of O gauge, it's already shrinking due to a number of factors that are further evidenced by built to order manufacturing, pre-purchases, cancellations etc. I dont think it will vanish. the secondary market seems very healthy. There is no shortage of product. there...prices are healthy..no loss of value.
Does any of this mean the hobby will vanish? The simple answer is no. A lot of the state of the hobby depends on the gauge you are involved in. S gauge shrank and then returned as did O.. they did not vanish. completely.....HO has a wealth of new products...Theres always been an ebb and flow in this.
Why worry?
Nothing is more fairly distributed than common sense: no one thinks he needs more of it than he already has.
The same question was being bantered around 30 years ago. And, as Wallyworld stated, there is an ebb and flow. Trains will probably be around for the rest of your lifetime. No reason not to be optimistic.
Two areas where my optimism wanes, are local hobby shops, and National organizations. The Baltimore region used to have a train shop off of every other exit. Now there are 2, and one of those is so filthy my wife won't go inside anymore. I try to patronize 2 other shops over and hour drive from my house, but I suspect that when their proprietors retire, that will be that.
As for the National clubs, the NRHS is taking a hit in membership, and its rumored that a couple O-gauge outfits may be merging. Some of this is self-inflicted internally, but I think the paradigm changed, and they didn't change with it.
Jscola30, when you say "overwhelmed with kids" I can relate to that! The last time I was in the B&O Museum in Baltimore I tried to get in the cab of that C&O Allegheny. I couldn't, it was swarming with kids! Reminded me of a beehive.
That's OK with me, the enthusiasm's got to start somewhere.
By the way, this was the day after Thanksgiving and there were tons of families visiting.
Fife, I got to agree with the LHS demise. A lot of the thanks can go to internet sales. Less overhead + more profit but the product is still there. There is a whole generation out there who never had or feel the need to look, feel, and see a product before they pull the trigger. Just not me.
There is a shop that is opening up this month with both a store front and on-line sales. One out by you in PA.. I know I can't post the person or business here but PM me and I will let you know where and how to contact him. If they don't scrub this. I know he want's to advertise here but he needs to get his feet on the ground first. So I am just trying to see the hobby survive and I would hope we all do.
My wish is the best for them. Here in the Midwest the stores have all been closed for years. It still seems strong on the east coast.
fifedog Two areas where my optimism wanes, are local hobby shops, and National organizations. The Baltimore region used to have a train shop off of every other exit. Now there are 2, and one of those is so filthy my wife won't go inside anymore. I try to patronize 2 other shops over and hour drive from my house, but I suspect that when their proprietors retire, that will be that. As for the National clubs, the NRHS is taking a hit in membership, and its rumored that a couple O-gauge outfits may be merging. Some of this is self-inflicted internally, but I think the paradigm changed, and they didn't change with it.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
yikes 50 people like that..yea I can definitely see that, that book sounds interesting, may check it out
Heck yes, I'm optimistic too. Sure, this is a niche hobby; although I'd argue trains are still pretty visible (around Chicago-land) and still exciting for youngsters (like me) to watch. The hobby (like others) is family-based - in other words, my kids and their friends were introduced to it through me - not TV, not a LHS, not a magazine... and they can choose to pursue it with me or not (as teens) or return to it if they're older (maybe using my stuff as a base).
It's fun to run a train around the track. It's fun, like Kev mentioned, to build a layout if you're creatively inclined. I miss the LHS too, but the Internet has opened up some many possibilities to connect with fellow hobbyists and to pursue all sorts of new or used items.
Doug Murphy 'We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...' Henry V.
KRM, I've posted the names and websites of hobby shops I've visited on this Forum and have never gotten any flak for doing so. Some are CTT advertisers, some aren't.
I don't believe the "powers that be" will have a problem with your assisting a new hobby shop getting started.
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