?>are there a lot of G scale Model RRers<?

[Anonymous]

i was just wondering how many people use G scale and how/where they use it.

[Tom The Brat]

Depends on your perspective.

There are lots of us. Most have our track outside. However, if you're comparing us to HO railroaders, we're few and far between[:-,]

[whiterab]

It's a fun question that I've never seen an answer to. Anyone have any real statistics?

I'm the only one in my neck of the woods but then there aren't many people in my neck of the woods[:D] Makes you appreciate the web and UPS.

[Train 284]

I don't know of any statistics whiterab, but there are a lot of us who have track outside. When I first started building my GRR, I only thought there were only a couple garden RR's in my area, but I discovered my local GRR society, and discovered there are at least 20+ GRR's in my area once I started subscribing to their newsletter. I will be joining that club VERY soon!

[kstrong]

Consider the circulation of GR is around 38,000. That's not a small number, but we'd hardly fill a football stadium, either. We're often described as the "fastest growing" segment of the model railroading hobby, but relative to what? We could be the fastest snail, or simply the smallest group where any increase in participation intensely multiplies the percentages. Think of a group of 20 increasing by 2 people, versus a group of 2 increasing by two. (Ain't statistics fun?)

There's no denying we're a niche market within the hobby, but just based on circulation numbers and garden railway society memberships, (where in large cities they can top 200 or more families) probably around 45,000 folks in the US. (Not everyone subscribes to GR--though they should--or belongs to a local GRS.)

Later,

K

[Curmudgeon]

Based upon informal surveys, active GR folks with actual outdoor trackage (other than a petunia circle) seems to be a WHOLE lot less, like maybe a quarter of that number.

This based upon discussions with manufactures, dealers, various GR societies.
But, there is no real way to know other than spy satellites.

TOC

[tangerine-jack]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Curmudgeon

................................................
.
................there is no real way to know other than spy satellites.

TOC

I could help you with that part, TOC[;)]

This is an interesting question. I have a hobby store, Dale's Train Station, about 3 miles from my house that specializes in LGB and Lionel. It is in a very high rent district and has been there for years. That leads me to believe they are selling enough LGB to pay an enormous rent every month. Personally I know none of the people who bought the stuff, nor are any of them from my area on this forum.

How do you count? There may be a guy around the corner from me that has 900ft of hand laid track and unbelievable gardens, but keeps it very private. I for one don't belong to a GRS because I disdain the type of person they attract. How many more have an indoor layout, or simply collect but never run? How then can you really count the numbers?

In the end, I don't think anyone can really know for sure, but all the LS manufacturers are selling stock in ever increasing numbers. As stated before, when compared to HO, we are very, very small in numbers.

[grandpopswalt]

Quote from TJ
" I for one don't belong to a GRS because I disdain the type of person they attract."

TJ,

What kind of person do GRS's attract? I don't belong to one either so I don't know what type of folks I might be getting involved with if I ever do decide to join.

Walt

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I'm finding out that there are a heck of a lot more than I ever thought there would be! I also have found that there are probably 3 non club members in the area for every 1 club member. I have talked to several who are really into HO & N indoors, but also have some small G outdoors for nice weather, and belong to an all gauge club or even HO clubs but not to a g club!

I would opine that your local hobby shop would be able to hazzard the closest guess, even in these days of mail order because we do go look around and need the small items that are not worth mail ordering!

In answer to TJ, I'd say that clubs are just like any other segment of the population, you're gonna get a mix of personality types who join. You will have your givers and your takers, The active and passive members, those whom you would enjoy having a social connection with and those whom you abhor. Likewise you will get a club that is "the good ole boy network" that is hard to break into, one that is all business and no joking around or social life, and those that get together with trains as a common tie but also enjoy the social aspect. I like the last, after a brief business meeting some go to play trains while some sit back and socialize while observing the goings on! When the wives who are not into trains have something to do at the meetings and enjoy themselves, the ladies and gents who are into trains can have some good uninterupted play time; a nice balance!

[Tom The Brat]

If you like a club, join it. If you don't, don't worry about it. Clubs certainly aren't mandatory[:)]

[Anonymous]

Also, how many people put up a large scale train to run around the Christmas tree and then put it in the closet for the rest of the year? Could they be counted?

[tangerine-jack]

Walt,
I'm not bashing any clubs as such, nor am I saying in any way that you should not join one in your area. I'm only stating that my experience with the local GRS was negative at best. I found the people there were arrogant and all about money not trains. After a very short time I decided I wasn't welcome and I've never been back. The atmosphere may have changed since then, but to me the damage was done. I hope it was an isolated incident and not indicative of GRS's as a whole. Because of that experience I guess deep inside I hold resentment for that sort of person which I now associate with GRS's. As a therapy to recover from my emotional trauma I will immediatly go out and contribute a large sum of money to my LHS in exchange for some merchandise.

Didn't want to go off topic like this, sorry!

[Anonymous]

A survey in a Dutch model railroad magazine a few years ago put the percentage of G-gauge railroaders at just a few percent of the total. This corresponds with my experiences when demonstrating on our regional model railroad fair.

But then, this is a Dutch survey: Dutch houses usually don't have a large enough yard for a railroad, so it's confined to indoors, where smaller scales have obvious advantages.

[Anonymous]

tangerine-jack sorry to hear about your bad experience with a large scale club. I belong to one of the best - the Ozxark Garden Railway Society in Springfield, Mo. The members are very friendly and welcome all new people. They have layouts from modest to fantastic, yet everyone is treated the same. But I know what you mean because I have heard of other clubs shunning new members because of an elite heirarcy that wants to keep things the way they are. I belonged to a car club like that. I owned Studebakers and they were all Ford and Chevy men. Boy was I an outcast!

[FJ and G]

OK, I'll venture a guess.

About 5% of garden RRers subscribe to GRR mag. or go online to forums like this one.

The other 95% of Garden RRers build high fences so no one can see their trains and lurk in the evening hours on their garden layouts, not wanting to be bothered by anyone, as they sip Tequilla and run their mini trains, imagining they are railroad barons.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I'd say it's more than 5% for the simple reason that even the lurkers need GR for the ads --- so that they can buy more stuff!!!

Maybe 5 - 10 % on forums, but I'd guess more like 1/3, have come out of the station and can be seen as garden railroaders!

[tangerine-jack]

Ok, I'll settle this once and for all, this is getting to really annoying me! Every one who is a Garden Railroader raise both your digital hands, keep them up and type "here!". Ok, now count the hands. There you are, zero! Just as I thought.

[Anonymous]

Guys,
As an admirer of 'G' scale items (I received a USA trains GP-7 for Christmas, which is my third loco), I suppose I fall into the category of those who don't have an outdoor layout (not yet anyway) but who likes the hobby.
To give a better idea of the lure of 'G' scale in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area, this last weekend there was the first of our twice yearly train shows. In the train show, the 'G' scale display was given it's own room (10+ trains running in the room). I was pleased to listen to the other visitor's comments as the trains went by. It truly attracted a large crowd.
As I wanderer around the various displays with my kids in tow, it helped me appreciate the large scale trains even more. For instance, I still don't see how those folks put the N-scale locos on the track.
Large scale is the way to go!

onward...

P.S.: This is my first post but I've been visiting this forum for several months. I just didn't feel qualified to submit an opinion on any of the other topics.

[Southwest Chief]

Well I think we can say we're more prevalent than S scale, I think (never know with all those old American Flyer Sets).

But G scale is very small when compared to HO, N and even O!

But things are changing. The last train show I went to (GATS in Anaheim CA) was very G scale prevalent. And many people were buying G starter sets. So maybe we are the fastest growing segment of the hobby, but we're still few and far between.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Tifren,
And who says you have to be qualified in anything to open your mouth (type an opinion) on this forum??? All that's required is that you like garden railroading!!! I guess you could even dislike it and really start an on line arguement!

Who's to say you don't ask a question that 23 others have been wondering about in the back of thier heads, but haven't phrased in the way they wanted to state it? I've gotten lots of questions answered that I didn't even realise I was wondering about until I read the answers on here!

Fire at will, but don't shoot at me!

[Tom The Brat]

Tifren, there are no qualifications! You see something you think is cool, just say so! Got a smart aleky comment? Just try and dislodge me from the position of "brat."[:-,]

[vsmith]

TJ, to quote my favorite Marxist..er... Groucho that is:

"I got a good mind to join the Club and beat you with it"

Havent joined a club here either, mostly for lack of time but also because the local GRS should really be called a regional GRS as it seams to cover the LA basin from Santa Barbara all the way to San Diego with most members down behind the Orange Curtain in the OC (Orange County) or out in the 909 (area code of San Bernardino County) as we like to call it. Way too far for regular participation. So between the time issue and the distances, its been easier for me to just use the forums for the same purpose.

[vsmith]

Just to add, its took me 2 years to go from lurker to active modeler, another to go from modeler to active forum member, so I think some of the figures quoted are pretty accurate. I've been modeling here in the San Gabriel Valley for 5 years and still have only come to know of a very few other GR's nearby, mostly thru other forums. However I have yet to encounter at any LHS or show another GR'r who's been interested in sharing their layout with others. I often feel that to the majority of purchasers of GR's that their layouts are very much a PRIVATE affair and are viewed as very personal layouts only shared with thier families and a close circle of family friends. Afterall how many times have you invited what in reality would be a complete stranger over to look into your backyard? I think this is one of the chief reasons while their seams to a alot of GR stuff being sold, there still this apparent overall lack of active participation in forums or GRS's nationwide. Just as in HO where 75% to 80% of the HO layouts in America are likely nothing more than the ubiquitous 4x8 plywood sheet with varying degrees of completeness and skill, maybe a similar number of GR's are just a simple loop of tracks in the shrubs to run trains on a lazy Sunday afternoon in the backyard. Something to enjoy but nothing to write home about.

[grandpopswalt]

It’s interesting to read the various comments about GRS’s. My impression is that you need to attend a few meetings to see if their operation is compatible with your needs. But keep in mind that most organizations of this type are started and then run by type “A” personality folks who are very competitive, very structured and very goal oriented. However, after 40 years in the corporate world, that’s the last thing I want in my hobby. As soon as I see monikers like “club president” or “vice president of eastern div.”, etc. etc. I know with absolute certainty that this is NOT a group I want to be associated with.

I’m looking for a group of LS modelers who want to get together to have fun and who agree that the only rules are that there are no rules. It should be a complete democracy with no leaders or followers and with all issues settled by referendum during open debate. By issues I mean things like “should we meet at Joe’s or Pete’s next month and who’s bringing the beer?”

Walt

[Anonymous]

[:D] I'm probably going to make hash of the quote but here goes: "It's best to keep quiet and let them wonder if you are an idiot then to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

I do admire you intrepid folks who have put the effort into getting your railroad up and running and I hope to join you this summer. It will probably be then that I will have a lot more to ask everyone in the forum as the track is laid.

[Tom The Brat]

I'm not sure I'd want to belong to any club that would accept the likes of me[:-,]

[JamesPH1966]

IMHO although G-scalers may be one of the smaller groups in the overall hobby, I do think that there is more potential for growth in this "scale". G manufacturers seem to provide more "bang-for-the-buck" than makers of other scales (look at the pricing structure for Hi-Rail O for example) and G has a definate appeal to kids (you're not going to buy a DCC/sound equiped HO loco for a 6 year old). To be honest, if I were just starting out and didn't have a large investment in time/energy/attachment to O, I would be all about G (when I started as a teenager, LGB and Marklin Maxi was about it in #1 gauge). I've always liked the "look" of large scale trains (as a teenager I worked in a museum with a Standard Gauge layout - another "large scale" and with a recent resurge of interest of its own) and there is some excellent product out there (I got a USA Trains GP-30 for x-mas that is awesome and am looking closely at Bachmann's Heisler for my next big purchase). In addition I think O is suffering from aging boomer syndrome so the potential there may be fading (plus all the manufacturers are sueing each other out of business) and G makers and modelers are more than ready to fill the niche.

[FJ and G]

Hi SW Chief,

Some of us garden RRers are not G so guess that makes us a minority within a minority.

James,

You're right. You do get more bang for buck with G as O is very pricey, with, for example Atlas 3 rail track outpricing G track. And us aging baby boomers, well, that's a whole nother topic