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Guys, I have to preface my remarks by saying that I think Model Railroading is an expensive hobby. In spite of my previous statement, I am having a hard time seeing what the ruckus is all about. MSRP is one thing, street price is another. Athearn blue box kits can be bought for as little as $3.00 each on E-Bay and other places. I am sure that there will be 1,000s and 1,000s of these kits floating around for years to come even if no more were to be produced.. I have bought Proto 2000 and branchline super detailed kits for as little as $5.00 each on Ebay (most usually around $7-10). I have even bought fully assembled P2K stock cars for $8.00 each. Most of these kits smoke the old Athearn stuff. The branchline Yardmaster and Accurail kits fill the niche that the blue box occupied and can be had for cheap as well if you shop the deals ($4 or 5 each). I think locomotives are still relatively cheap for what you get... I see Spectrum 2-8-0s for $50.00 each brand new and lots of other deals on E-Bay once again. Remember we are talking about a well detailed fantastic running (compare to Rivarossi and most older brass) locos here. I think BLI, Kato, Atlas, Proto 2000, Spectrum and others are in many ways better than most of the old brass (especially steam) in how they run and value for the dollar. I think the hobby is getting better and we are getting more for our hobby dollar than ever before. I think another positive aspect of the new generation of rolling stock is that the old stuff is now around used for very reasonable prices for kids and those just starting out as those who can and are willing to pay for the better stuff turn their old stuff. I'm thinking that Athearn's biggest obstacle to selling its blue boxes for more is the vast amount of the old stuff still out there for cheap (and the higher quality stuff out there selling for not much more). As for kids ad those starting out in the hobby, I have a little bit of difficulty with the idea that price should be the only consideration. This hobby is a lifelong endeavor. There is no big rush (with the exception of myself at the LHS). I believe that it is better to save for some gear that runs well and provides years of pleasure rather than cheap stuff that doesn't. I'm sure you have all experienced the frustration of trains not running well. It doesn't do much for the hobby when beginners and kids encounter this. As far as comparing prices to days of old, I think you might find that when you factor in inflation (Yes I know that not all things inflate evenly, but they all do inflate over time) trains may be the same price or cheaper than they were fifty years ago and the quality is light years ahead of where it was then. Just my 2 cents Guy
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