dknelson Maintaining enthusiasm. I think this is the biggest challenge of all. I know so many model railroaders who do NOT go to NMRA meets or conventions, nor to train shows or displays, who claim to be modelers but never really progress on the layout, and who do not subscribe to any of the remaining magazines. I think there is a massive amount of train fatigue out there.
Maintaining enthusiasm. I think this is the biggest challenge of all. I know so many model railroaders who do NOT go to NMRA meets or conventions, nor to train shows or displays, who claim to be modelers but never really progress on the layout, and who do not subscribe to any of the remaining magazines. I think there is a massive amount of train fatigue out there.
In that context, quite a number of years ago MR had an editorial that outlined peoples' typical longevity in our hobby. As I recall, it indicated that at least 50% of newcomers drop out within the first few years. The fraction that do become essentially life-long participants was disappointingly small, amounting to 10%, or less, at the 20 year level of continuous participation.
CNJ831
It´s not so hard actually to build an interest for Trains, as a parent/grandparent, it is your "duty" to see to it that the young minds are exposed for FUN train related activities.
A good set of BRIO wooden trains when they are small doesn´t hurt either!
As long as the interest isn´t being forced on the kids, there will grow a seed that may grow even into their 30:s before it blossoms!
I was myself taken to various technical museums and such as a kid, and look what happened to me! Not only am I interested in model trains, but also in WW2 warbirds and warships!
So I guess they must have done something right.....
Swedish Custom painter and model maker. My Website:
My Railroad
My Youtube:
Graff´s channel
I think that we are missing a BIG "plus" about the hobby. It is real. I mean that a lot of activities (like this one) are based in the new technology. There are a lot of people who like the internet to play games, text, research ideas, and sometimes, create their own worlds. Well, if you or a group of friends are building a model railroad, well then you are creating your own world. The difference between cyberspace and the layout room are several. First, the layout actually exists! Second, one has to acquire a number of different skills to build a model railroad. Third, it can be shared with others (those who visit or operate or help build the layout). The folks in cyberspace develop only the skill of negotiating through the internet. Most have never met their "friends" from Facebook in person. That is sad.
Well, I am one of the "lone wolves" out there who builds their own layout. My father-in-law helped with some of the ideas for electronics up until his recent death. But, he was about the only one in the family who was interested. Now, I have a 6 years old nephew who loves trains. I am helping him build a few simple plastic buildings to add to his layout. Once, my layout progresses a little farther, I will let him run some trains. He and I, along with his parents have gone to some of the local train shows. We all enjoy them.
Craig North Carolina
I do agree that we should get manufactures to make more affordable products. Even a Walthers Proto 2000 DC only locomotive is out of my affordability range. After all, teenagers don't have too much money for hobbies. For a young person, inexpensive yet quality stuff would help bring people in to the hobby.
The Lone Geep
Lone Geep
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One problem in determining the health of the hobby is we are no longer a nation of "joiners", people more often do things alone. Someone pointed out in the book "Bowling Alone" a few years ago that more people bowl each year now than ever before, but far fewer people are in leagues compared to 20-30-40 years ago. People go bowl with friends, but don't want a rigid schedule. Groups like the Kiwanis, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Oddfellows etc. undoubtedly all show similar problems attracting and keeping new members.
I suspect it's like that with trains, there are probably many people (and familys) out there who have garden railroads, three-rail layouts, On30 layouts etc. who are in it "just for fun" and aren't interested in joining the NMRA or subscribing to Model Railroader so aren't counted as being model railroaders.
Kids today are more into console games , facebook games ( sad ) and cell phones then hobbies.Almost no attention span. A local shop around here has a huge DCC ( lower part is DC ) and they are not doing 2 public runs a month ( adults ) and 1 child night run ( kids get to run trains ). I'll be taking my 6 yr old there to let her run my MKT GP40 i just got. She loves trains so I would rather her have a hobby like trains then spend a vast majority of her free time on console games or buried in facebook or texting non stop!
tony314 A local shop around here has a huge DCC ( lower part is DC ) and they are not doing 2 public runs a month ( adults ) and 1 child night run ( kids get to run trains ). I'll be taking my 6 yr old there to let her run my MKT GP40 i just got. She loves trains so I would rather her have a hobby like trains then spend a vast majority of her free time on console games or buried in facebook or texting non stop!
A local shop around here has a huge DCC ( lower part is DC ) and they are not doing 2 public runs a month ( adults ) and 1 child night run ( kids get to run trains ). I'll be taking my 6 yr old there to let her run my MKT GP40 i just got. She loves trains so I would rather her have a hobby like trains then spend a vast majority of her free time on console games or buried in facebook or texting non stop!
That would be K-10 as referenced earlier in the thread and shown in the associated video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4rBOEvsmMQ
Simon Modelling CB&Q and Wabash See my slowly evolving layout on my picturetrail site http://www.picturetrail.com/simontrains and our videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/MrCrispybake?feature=mhum
My son is 18 now loves to work on the are layout with me in fact he does most of the work . I think what might kill the hobby is the price of products for the hobby . We are on a tight budget and love the hobby but I don't know about the thing in over scales for ho scale prices keep going up . So I buy less and less each year . That what I think that might stop youth geting in the hobby.
~ Tim .
To see photos of my HO scale / 1/64 scale layout and diorama photos base in the present day . http://www.flickr.com/photos/icr140/
simon1966 tony314: A local shop around here has a huge DCC ( lower part is DC ) and they are not doing 2 public runs a month ( adults ) and 1 child night run ( kids get to run trains ). I'll be taking my 6 yr old there to let her run my MKT GP40 i just got. She loves trains so I would rather her have a hobby like trains then spend a vast majority of her free time on console games or buried in facebook or texting non stop! That would be K-10 as referenced earlier in the thread and shown in the associated video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4rBOEvsmMQ
tony314: A local shop around here has a huge DCC ( lower part is DC ) and they are not doing 2 public runs a month ( adults ) and 1 child night run ( kids get to run trains ). I'll be taking my 6 yr old there to let her run my MKT GP40 i just got. She loves trains so I would rather her have a hobby like trains then spend a vast majority of her free time on console games or buried in facebook or texting non stop!
Looking forward to getting to run my 2 new engines in DCC on there next run day.. Running them on a temp DC track I goof around on.
I've seen this from the perspective of a younger man who is very into model RRing. One of the problems is alot of model RRers are cranky old farts who are set in their ways and arent very good (or care to) at sharing there knowledge with young people. I'm into R/C ship building also and I stopped going to our Club meetings because it was a bunch of old farts that did nothing but complain about EVERYTHING. Now, before everyone jumps all over me, its not everyone thats like this, Ive made many great friends in my hobbies, there are alot of great people in it. Now, Im not such a young man as I used to be(44) but Im still young compared to the average model RRer.
I have been involved with Lego robotics in the past year (Called the First Lego League founded by Dean Kamen of Segway fame). I was the coach for my daughter's team and attended a number of contests. Every year the FIRST organization creates a set of challenges and teams build robots to tackle these challenges. This video explains the 2010 challenge:
To all those who think that the kids of today are not interested in technology, you just need to attend an FLL event to see the incredible levels of enthusiasm and excitement in the kids. Also, its not only boys involved in this activity - there are as many girls participating as boys.
When you get right down to it, Lego robotics does have a lot in common with model railroading - mechanical design, electronics and computers. What we need is to get kids interested in our hobby in the same way. Perhaps we need to have similar widely publicized contests for teams of kids to build a layout and then write a computer program to control the trains. You definitely need a high-tech hook to draw them in.
Slowly building a layout since 2007!
rxanand I have been involved with Lego robotics in the past year (Called the First Lego League founded by Dean Kamen of Segway fame). I was the coach for my daughter's team and attended a number of contests. Every year the FIRST organization creates a set of challenges and teams build robots to tackle these challenges. This video explains the 2010 challenge: To all those who think that the kids of today are not interested in technology, you just need to attend an FLL event to see the incredible levels of enthusiasm and excitement in the kids. Also, its not only boys involved in this activity - there are as many girls participating as boys. When you get right down to it, Lego robotics does have a lot in common with model railroading - mechanical design, electronics and computers. What we need is to get kids interested in our hobby in the same way. Perhaps we need to have similar widely publicized contests for teams of kids to build a layout and then write a computer program to control the trains. You definitely need a high-tech hook to draw them in.
Not a bad idea for the younger folks,actually. I like this idea! I approve!
I must say that all my experiences with clubs and going to open houses as limited as it may be.
i have been taken back by the help i have recieved at the Pasadena Model Railroad Club and the San Diego Model Railroad Club and the most at my LHS.
caballorr,
Aikidomaster, you are spot on. Sense I've decided to get back into the hobby after my time away. I've noticed the prices seem to be more directed at the older modelers ( they usually have a better financial base ) and less towards attracting younger potential modelers . I've also seen and met some people that are less than friendly and willing to deal with new comers to MRR. They seem to have little to no patience or are for a lack of better terms,loners. They join clubs, but do very little interacting. They run and leave and barely say 2 words.
I have no one to MRR except my daughter ( she's 6 ), but it's a good bonding experience for us both. MRR should be a social activity, but many don't care to MRR with anyone but themselves and immediate family. Why? I couldn't tell you. Lack of patience as I mentioned? Lack of people skills? Maybe it's just they've had a bad experience! But to me, this should be a social activity for people to enjoy together. I love being around other MRR's.
You can see in my earlier post that this is really not being handled well by the industry or clubs(overall) Do you remember when Legos, Lincoln Logs, etc were forecasted to be history when video games became popular. Well guess what, Legos are doing great. Boys like to build things. I see it as a Scout leader all the time. It's also a turnoff if they're told all the time not to touch things. That's what they're hard wired to do as a part of learning( I'm not saying without consideration and supervision).
When's the last time a LHS has had a youth night for building something? They could attract new customers, sell kits, etc. It takes some work and coordination. Kids like to do things together as well. But keep it simple so they can succeed. Think of successes like the Pinewood Derby and Soapbox Derby as well.
Richard
My club has begun a program to promote the hobby in youngsters and their parents. We have a lot of Athearn blue box kits that were donated to the club. When we are at a show we bring several kits with us and for a small donation to the club the child and his/her parent get to assemble a car and then see it run on our layout. They then take the car home with them hopefully to start in the hobby and to begin a layout of their own. This was a bit of a hit at the last show we did in November and we plan to continue it at upcoming shows.
retsignalmtr My club has begun a program to promote the hobby in youngsters and their parents. We have a lot of Athearn blue box kits that were donated to the club. When we are at a show we bring several kits with us and for a small donation to the club the child and his parent get to assemble a car and then see it run on our layout. They then take the car home with them hopefully to start in the hobby and to begin a layout of their own. This was a bit of a hit at the last show we did in November and we plan to continue it at upcoming shows.
My club has begun a program to promote the hobby in youngsters and their parents. We have a lot of Athearn blue box kits that were donated to the club. When we are at a show we bring several kits with us and for a small donation to the club the child and his parent get to assemble a car and then see it run on our layout. They then take the car home with them hopefully to start in the hobby and to begin a layout of their own. This was a bit of a hit at the last show we did in November and we plan to continue it at upcoming shows.
AWESOME! That is great to hear about your efforts and the results. And I really cogratulate you on having a club that is not insular.
Earlier today after my post I sent an email to one of the shops around here with the idea of helping them coordinate something. If they don't do it, there are a few others. We don't have a strong club in the city. The NMRA isn't really that strong here either, unfortunately. I know with these things that driving distances can discourage parents sometimes. Wish me luck, I'm just tired of talking about it--time to do something. Your efforts are going to do a lot to help the hobby. I plan on talking with some of the key players at the WGH show in Feb as well.
As I've said in a similar thread I really think a large part of the problem is lack of advertising. As a kid back in the 80s and early 90s I remember between the cartoons they would have at least one McDonald's commercial. You also saw commercials for other toys yet none for model trains. Tyco was promoting their R/C cars instead of their trains at the time. You saw the kids in the commercials having a great time with the R/C cars, dolls, and action figures or scarfing down their McDonald's happy meals but yet none of them were playing with model trains. Also around then Boys Life would sometimes have articles on model railroading projects yet no ads for model railroad equipment. No ads for train sets in comic books either.
Now obviously I don't expect the local Mom & Pop hobby shop to run a commercial during The Superbowl but still companies need to do a better job of getting the word out. Sure we have ads plastered allover hobby magazines they're pretty much a big part of what pays for them but I feel in a way they're preaching to the choir. Do commercials for train sets during cartoons or run ads for them in comics. Advertise hobby supplies in magazines like Boy's Life. A local hobby shop could do small things like helping to sponsor a local little league team or something like that.
dirtyd79 Advertise hobby supplies in magazines like Boy's Life. A local hobby shop could do small things like helping to sponsor a local little league team or something like that.
Advertise hobby supplies in magazines like Boy's Life. A local hobby shop could do small things like helping to sponsor a local little league team or something like that.
I just quickly checked over this months issue of Boys Life I get monthly as a Scout leader. Guess What--there is an ad for the "100 Years of Scouting Express" featuring the art work of Norman Rockwell. It's by Hawthorne Village/Bradford Exchange. It looks kind of like a Bachmann set. I think this is the first railroad ad I've seen.
http://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/917331_boy-scouts-train.html
Does anyone know how that 0-6-0 will run? Entire set for $70, not expensive.
The magazine also has a kit ad by Revell for Pinewood Derby cars. There are other kit ads and building related ads for projects.
This magazine almost always has articles on how to build something. Again one of my major points--boys like to build things.
I believe the Hobby will die only if we do not incorporate the children into the Hobby. Any event that involves the word show and trains draws children out of the woodwork. They LOVE trains ! We can take many steps to encourage the young in continuing the Hobby, such as Inviting small groups to visit our layouts, Educate, invite, hands on activities, take mobil layouts into the schools,churches,libraries involve our own children, invite their friends, buy a subsciption of Model railroad for a child or give a subsciption to a child as a prize, invite kids groups over for work shops, in our clubs we should have a kids program.... I could go on and on. But the first step is to invite.Then share.
Just a note about a step in the right direction. Stopped at Wing's hobby shop in Lakewood Ohio this afternoon. They had a hand-out about a clinic being put on by the local NMRA division. Going to be at a nearby church. Didn't catch the date or time, but it's apparently going to deal with items like laying track, operation, general basics. The hand-out is inviting parents to bring their kids.
Now, the next step is to make more model railroaders less anti-social, especially about kids.
My son is 5 & a massive train freak & very willing to talk to people.
A few times we went to a train show, TA462 allowed him to run a train on his clubs layout.
The last time I took him to a show, here in Whitby, TA462 wasn't there, so as we we walking around, Liam went up to one of the host club members & started yaking to him & the guy allowed Liam to run a train, which was cool!
Last year, my wife hosted a party for my 9 yr old daughters ringette team, most of the girls didn't leave the train room until it was time to go home! & there were girls!
There is an interest there, we just need to be able to find what sparks an interest in young people
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
CP5415 My son is 5 & a massive train freak & very willing to talk to people. A few times we went to a train show, TA462 allowed him to run a train on his clubs layout. The last time I took him to a show, here in Whitby, TA462 wasn't there, so as we we walking around, Liam went up to one of the host club members & started yaking to him & the guy allowed Liam to run a train, which was cool! Last year, my wife hosted a party for my 9 yr old daughters ringette team, most of the girls didn't leave the train room until it was time to go home! & there were girls! There is an interest there, we just need to be able to find what sparks an interest in young people Gordon
Great! Youi're right. BTW, I will go ahead and expose my ignorance, what is a ringette team?
My daughter has an ACL SW9 in purple. I put a girl figure in the engineers seat and a man in the conductors chair. More or less trying to get her to identify with the engineer. I'm sure some modelers will say it's not prototypical to have a little girl as an engineer for the ACL. That's OK, in this case I'm modeling a concept.
The bonding experience Tony 314 is an important aspect of this hobby. I purchased a Bachmann Mckinley Exporer trainset obstensibly as a birthday present for my five year old grandson's birthday. I chose that set because the 89 ft domed passenger cars would provide good clearance checks of the layout that I intend to start soon. I showed the trainset to him the day befor his birthday, advising thim that he would only be allowed to play with it when I was present. The next day, his birthday, friends bought over a variety of different toys, including remote controlled construction vechicles. He played with the new toys for a few minutes and then came over to me, "Pop-pop, I want to play with the trains." This was while the friends were in the same room. All trainsets say that they are not for kids under eight years of age. My grandson knows he can play with the trains only under my supervision, but waiting until a child is eight years old may be too late to kindle an interest. Previously I had taken him to a model railroad club open house and another mall display where he was actually able to run a Thomas the Tank engine around a circle of track, himself.
Also, if modelers enjoy hearing the sound of engines, how much more exciting do you think it is for a child to hear it.? It may very well hold his interest in the hobby the same way an interactive computor game holds a child's interest better than just plain tv. POP-POP