Kids and model railroading

Hey guys, kid model railroaders are a scarce bred.  I want everone to try to promote model railroading as much as you can to introduce new intrest in the hobby, you dont have to do something big, set up a display at a public place like a mall, or tell friends who might make be interested.  Everyone can do somthing to bring the world's greatest hobby to others.

As I said in another post, I don't care what people think of my hobby and tell everyone about it. A hobby is personnal and other people have nothing to do with that, but I do love to have more people who have the same hobby. This way you can discuss things with eachother and share the hobby with eachother.

RR Redneck wrote:

I would do so, but I finally got everyone to shut the up with the train boy BS. I would like it to stay that way.

same here

RR Redneck wrote:

I would do so, but I finally got everyone to shut the up with the train boy BS. I would like it to stay that way.

Weird, most everyone in my class knows about my interest and I never get made fun of for it. But I do get made fun of for about everything else.

RRFreakaziod1992 wrote:

Well thats a problem for me. Im homeschooled so i cant promote the hobby to much.

Huh! And I though I was the only homeschooled train nut in the world! Nice to meet another one!

bighead wrote:

RR Redneck wrote: I would do so, but I finally got everyone to shut the up with the train boy BS. I would like it to stay that way. same here

RRFreakaziod1992 wrote:

Well thats a problem for me. Im homeschooled so i cant promote the hobby to much.

Most public libraries in the states will allow members of the community to set up displays once each month or for a designated period of time.  Contact them and see if you can set up a display at the library.  You could print up informational fliers and set out some library books on trains or model railroading with your display to encourage people to learn more.  

A two by four piece of plywood shouldn't be too large for a relatively portable display where you can set up a nice little set to show.  Use trains you don't mind people handling.  Some people get touchy feely with displays.

Check your local paper for events that seem to happen in the same location.  For example, my town has a locally owned coffee shop that constantly hosts events like book clubs, performances, and art displays.  There may be something like that in your area, too.  

Another idea would be to start a message board or web site with some form of discussion where you can send locals and you can post images and videos of your setup and start a local train club.  Once you get people interested, you can set up events at each other's houses or a local meeting spot to visit each other's sets and discuss the hobby.  To promote the site, local businesses and the library will probably let you leave fliers for people to pick up when they come through.  You can even design membership cards on your word processing program and print them on Avery card stock.  People like membership cards. 

There are free message forums and forum hosting online where you can start your own without having to pay anything.  If you want a web site, ask your parents if your ISP includes a free site (Comcast and some others offer free web space with your service) or if you have a few bucks a month to spend you can purchase a site complete with your own web domain for about $5 per month.

We're not a dying breed. There are plenty of people who like trains you just have to find them. Be careful though some railfans can be real pricks. I visited a model railroad club once and guy had 2 nicely weathered Santa Fe locomotives hauling some intermodal cars. When I commented on his nice work he goes "well I have a hundred fifty locomotives" like a big snob. Then there were guys who actually had an argument and were screaming at eachother because the layout "dispatcher" put two "engineers" on the siding. Thats one club I'll never join I'll tell you that much. it gets pretty bad when a couple of grown men fight over fricken toy trains.

bighead wrote:

RR Redneck wrote: I would do so, but I finally got everyone to shut the up with the train boy BS. I would like it to stay that way. same here

Steel-toed boots and class ring work wonders. LOL