Edit post

Edit your reply below.

Post Body
Enter your post below.
Don't BS yourselves. The hobby is slowly but surely in decline. [V]Like all hobbies, they are being supplanted by video games, the internet and the fact that we are as a nation,all getting older and dying off. Not to mention the bad PR rep that the railroads in general have. Our grandfathers all wanted to be engineers as kids, because railroads were a part of everyones everyday life. Nowadays, most kids don't see railroads unless there is a big wreck on CNN. Also, society in general wants instant gratification. Kits take to long to build, layouts take longer. Look at the hobby shops that have vanished, as well as falling magazine sales. Is there hope? Of course there is![:D] The quality of the hobby is improving by leaps and bounds. DCC, digital sound, improved scenery materials ( no more lichen![:D]) all bring a depth of realism that has never been available. Structure kits have never been so diverse. The biggest problem we have is Image. We are still, to a large degree, viewed as big boys that play with little trains. The WGH program is trying to combat this, but it will take a much larger force to show the world what the hobby has become. Its up to you, me, and the whole Hee-Haw gang to talk up the hobby, show "outsiders" all of the facets of the hobby. It's not just trains, but woodworking (benchwork), electronics(DC or DCC, signaling and such) sculpture, geology, botony (scenery) and the whole visual package is, dare I say it, art. [:0] So, what am I doing? In addition to exhibiting my part of a modular layout at shows with my club. I sometimes keep a train on my desk at work. I also have a PC that is behind me and faces my desk, so people meeting with me can see the screen. It has a train screensaver on it! It's a great icebreaker when folks remark,"well thats a pretty picture, where was it taken?" and I reply,"In my basement". Plus I talk up the hobby whenever I can. People who know me, know I am a model railroader! Here's a thought. If we each could get 1 person a year to join the hobby, we wouldn't have to post surveys like this any more!![:D][:p][8D][;)][4:-)][:D][:p][8D][;)]
Tags (Optional)
Tags are keywords that get attached to your post. They are used to categorize your submission and make it easier to search for. To add tags to your post type a tag into the box below and click the "Add Tag" button.
Add Tag

Update Reply

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Model Railroader Newsletter See all

Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!

Subscriber & Member Login

Edit post

Post Body

Tags (Optional)

Subscriber & Member Login

Users Online

Search the Community