Poll #1 Hobby Stability

[Anonymous]

I remember when I was growing up in a middle class neighborhood I was one of a very small group who were into the hobby. This is a hobby for the older generation for the following reasons.

1) This takes time; most kids want instant gratification more so then ever.
2) With school, sports and other extra curricular activity kids just don't have the time.
3) Adults, more so now than ever do not have the time to invest in Johnny's lay out.
4) This is a very expensive hobby, which requires a certain amount of skill if you're going to enjoy it. I'll regret saying this one but it's true. How many people play ice hockey and don't skate?
5) This hobby takes up space, something not everyone can afford or is willing to give up.
And finally
6) Back to the kid’s perspective. Watching a train go around in circles is boring. Unless they can cope with 1 through 5 they will loose interest before they start.
This is, I believe, a hobby that will never appeal to the masses but rather to a select few with certain eclectic tastes.

[Anonymous]

Don't BS yourselves. The hobby is slowly but surely in decline. [V]Like all hobbies, they are being supplanted by video games, the internet and the fact that we are as a nation,all getting older and dying off. Not to mention the bad PR rep that the railroads in general have. Our grandfathers all wanted to be engineers as kids, because railroads were a part of everyones everyday life. Nowadays, most kids don't see railroads unless there is a big wreck on CNN.
Also, society in general wants instant gratification. Kits take to long to build, layouts take longer. Look at the hobby shops that have vanished, as well as falling magazine sales.
Is there hope?
Of course there is![:D] The quality of the hobby is improving by leaps and bounds. DCC, digital sound, improved scenery materials ( no more lichen![:D]) all bring a depth of realism that has never been available. Structure kits have never been so diverse.
The biggest problem we have is Image. We are still, to a large degree, viewed as big boys that play with little trains. The WGH program is trying to combat this, but it will take a much larger force to show the world what the hobby has become. Its up to you, me, and the whole Hee-Haw gang to talk up the hobby, show "outsiders" all of the facets of the hobby. It's not just trains, but woodworking (benchwork), electronics(DC or DCC, signaling and such) sculpture, geology, botony (scenery) and the whole visual package is, dare I say it, art. [:0]
So, what am I doing? In addition to exhibiting my part of a modular layout at shows with my club. I sometimes keep a train on my desk at work. I also have a PC that is behind me and faces my desk, so people meeting with me can see the screen. It has a train screensaver on it! It's a great icebreaker when folks remark,"well thats a pretty picture, where was it taken?" and I reply,"In my basement". Plus I talk up the hobby whenever I can. People who know me, know I am a model railroader!
Here's a thought. If we each could get 1 person a year to join the hobby, we wouldn't have to post surveys like this any more!![:D][:p][8D][;)][4:-)][:D][:p][8D][;)]

[Anonymous]

Hate to say it but we are running out of people. People are passing away and the younger kids arent getting in to the hobby becuase of 15 dollars for a flat car. or the kits are to advanced for everyone.

[Anonymous]

I bought the 2004 walthers catalogue yesterday and was suprised at the changes that have taken place since the last time i bought it in 1998.

The hobby is definately growing![:)]

[Anonymous]

I've only seen growth in both people's interest and the availibility of a wide range of products.

Warren

[RhB_HJ]

As I mentioned elsewhere, I've been in the hobby 51 years and counting. If it isn't stable then I must be used to a topsy-turfy world.[;)][}:)][:D]
Yep, that's probably it![:o)][:I][:o)][:o)]

[AggroJones]

I believe it balances out. Take a train to work day and the WGH campaign spread the idea of modelrailroading to more and more people, so that helps bring in fresh blood. But prices are going up and up, which is discouraging to us with less money.

[Anonymous]

Having read so many pro and con comments, both here and in the magazines, our hobby may or may not be in serious trouble. So I figured maybe with these 3 polls, we could shed a little light on the subject and really see if our hobby is stable, growing or in decline. Here's how it works. Answer poll #1 then Poll #2, and finally poll #3. After a week or so, I'll compile the results and publish on here. Ready, great. Please proceed.