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I look at the situation of the hobby today and I fear for its life. This legal action on the parts of Union Pacific and Mike's Train House has done serious damage to the foundations that make up the driving principles of the hobby. From the very begginings of the hobby, model railroading has been about creativity, resourcefullness, fun, and most importantly friendship. No one was worried about Union Pacific not making money from royalties for models produced with their roadname, In those days, modelers were happy to have anything decorated at all in their roadname. Some railroads like the Santa Fe thought it imparitive that models be made in their roadname and paid manufactures like Lionel to make them. I feel that we have just passed through the golden age of model railroading. Everyone better get really good at scratchbuilding, making decals or dry transfers, and making parts they need, because given the state of affairs, I fear that manufactures of model railroading equipment won't be around much longer. I just heard rumors that MTH won its suit against Lionel for their Train Control System, (DCC for three rail basicly) and the judgement was 40,000,000. That is quite a chunk of change ladies and gentlemen. I doubt that if you totaled up Lionel's total sales since they opened for business and adjusted for inflation, I doubt you would get that. <br /> <br />I fear the model railroading hobby is going to die a much tortured premature death because of people like MTH and Union Pacific.
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