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Every one is at least partially correct. Just blame it on the UP management. Those are the 'greedy folks'. Here is one way to handle the problem so that we, the consumer do not get "screwed again". Have the manufacturers supply sales data for each item they sell of each railroad name. They would then pay 2-5% of what "the profits were for each item sold". In other words, if they made $1.00, they would have to pay 2-5 cents for each one sold. Raising the prices to "increase profits, while blaming the copywrite deal, would not be beneficial. This might give them second thoughts on just 'jacking up the prices'. It would be very difficult to enforce, so very unlikely to happen. After all UP needn't tell anyone but their stock holders what their profit margin is. It does make you wonder, though. UP (management side) has always been a GREEDY unfriendly, self-centered group. But they must be 'hurting for cash' to spend the amount of money they will spend to 'pu***his deal through' for the amount cash returns they will get on it. It almost sounds like a company 'grasping for straws' to survive. But, then millionare athletes charge $10 for an autograph because "dealers" (I and I despise those 'sports dealers') made money on those autographs in the past (still do). So why can't UP make 'side money' on their name? Anyone heard of anything similar from the BNSF group, yet? Interesting topic for discussion. Allows us all to 'vent some of our frustrations. If you enjoy model railroading and/or railfanning, you have to have some opionion or feeling on this topic. There is no "real right answer' or "right opinion". Here's a topic that would be interesting: What can we all do, manufactures included, to increase the level of new and younger folks participating in the model railroading hobby. As per most of the age surveys, the average age is 40-50 years. The older folks (60 and over) are dwindling in percentage, but many of them are modeling in the 'hereafter'. The big concern is the 20-30 year age goup. It represents a very small percentage, definately not enought to replace the 40-50 year folks as they tranverse into the 60-70 (and "hereafter") group. Model railroading, today, utilizes computers and electronics and many sophisticated devices. They aren't "just toys" anymore. What will it take to interest the "younger group". These younger folks could be very benifical to the hobby, providing fresh ideas. The hobby could also present that 'free time' recreation necessary to help keep some of them out of trouble. It also can provide a means for the 'generations' to collaborate and work together on common goals. I know of two problems. Cost and "potential lawsuit' age we live in. No longer can people 'railfan' the way they did in the old days. Companies, like UP (especially), seem to make extra efforts to keep people away from their stuff (no pictures, policing the the Tehachappi Loop area, etc). Potential lawsuits due to liability issues have created much of those problems, but some are still just reflections of the 'unfriendly' attitudes of upper railroad management (like UP). Railroad employees (not upper management), though, are often quite friendly and courteous. Many of us became interested in modeling trains through are expereinces with railroads, either as rail fans or railroad employees. A discussion on how we might remedy some of these things and (hopefully) improve the hobby would be interesting.
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