Please correct me if I'm wrong but it seems that from the replies most who started later in life were exposed to trains as a child. Therefore, it would seem that encouraging parents to provide this exposure whether they themselves are modelers or not would reap dividends down the road as well as providing children with a creative and heathy activity.
Happy Railroading
Bob
Don't Ever Give Up
ruderunner One thing I'm curious about is how things breakdown by age group. A couple of responses brought it to my attention that things may not be as expected. Specifically some under 20 folks who've been in the hobby for 10 yrs and some over 40 folks who have only 5 yrs. Who really is the "new blood" that this hobby should try to attract? Kids of course are the obvious answer but is it really a correct answer?
One thing I'm curious about is how things breakdown by age group. A couple of responses brought it to my attention that things may not be as expected. Specifically some under 20 folks who've been in the hobby for 10 yrs and some over 40 folks who have only 5 yrs. Who really is the "new blood" that this hobby should try to attract? Kids of course are the obvious answer but is it really a correct answer?
It is already very well known, ruderunner, exactly who consitututes the "new blood" in the hobby today. By example, just look at who the target audience is in the eyes of the World's Greatest Hobby organization. Their mission statement indicates that one of their prime objectives is:
"...to conduct a public relations effort coupled with advertising to our target group of men between the ages of 45 and 64." (quoted directly from their official page)
Likewise, extrapolating from 50 years of published MR reader surveys, the average hobbyist's age can be rather reliably set at 60 currently, give or take a year or so. Plus this number is likely increasing by about 6 months per year!
CNJ831
Joe Fugate's webzine had an editorial about "the greying of our hobby."
The basic supposition was that those who have the time, money, and skills to create a good layout are all older. So a majority of model RR's being older is to be expected given what is needed to build a good sized layout.
While I agree with the statement, I'm not sure I agree with the conclusion the hobby is still healthy.
It's up to us to promote the hobby with lots of good will and invitations to friends to come and see how enjoyable the hobby can be.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
77, 62, N, DCC, protolance
Jerry
Rio Grande vs. Santa Fe.....the battle is over but the glory remains!
Why Randy, are you volunteering?
I figured I'd be the one collecting the data and presenting it, hence the request that posters keep the data separate from the stories.
I'm thinking of displaying the expected breakdowns of average age, avg yrs in hobby, and percents of scales, dc/dcc, prototype/freelance/protolance. Those would be easy engough but I don't think they tell much of the story.
Another thing that seems to be going on is that it seems modelers transition to smaller scales age age increases, contrary to popular belief that O is for "old man" and "N" is for "newbie". But there certainly doesn't appear to be enough useful breakdown of that info (which I didn't ask for) so it will probably remain a curiousity.
Are there any other questions that folks may have about the "health" of our hobby that may be answered with the information collected here? Could be other topics for another informal survey...
Modeling the Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the PennCentral era starting on the Cleveland lakefront and ending in Mingo junction
62, 50 yrs (on & off, armchair@the moment). HO, DC protolance
Bill Tidler Jr.
Near a cornfield in Indiana...
I'm 50 and I was in the hobby for about eight years when n scale was new with a "plywood pacific". About fifteen years ago I decided to get back into it with n scale and collected many locos and cars and finally started a freelanced layout two years ago. When everthing runs good on dc I will make the switch to dcc.
That said, I'm in this for fun and relaxation. If I want serious I will go to work and if the layout ever turns serious I will find another hobby. Life is to short and precious to be serious all the time.
Dave
Age 76, about 20 years off & on.
started at 14 with Lionel "027"
Joined Navy at 18, "Electronics Technician" on a Mine Sweeper. when I got out of the service my parents had moved, don't know what happened to the Lionel trains.
Interested in other things after military service.
Married at 26.
returned to trains at 30, building my Second layout, first in HO, for about 8 years, and left the railroad until
2002 when my oldest son introduced me to DCC. That aroused my interest in resurrecting my old layout, replaced the old BRASS track and have been at it since then.
Sam
So umm, who volunteers to read every post and record a breakdown of age groups, years in hobby, scale, and DC/DCC?
<takes a giant step BACKWARDS>
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have been enjoying this thread. If not telling of the hobby as a whole, certainly a window on the readers of this forum. Interesting to me that the new blood is not necessarily the young blood.
Age: 55
Years in hobby: On and off for forty years. First "serious " layout begun three years ago
Scale: HO New to DCC, protolance New England roads
Merry Christmas
Age: 85
Years in Hobby: 8 Lionel; 2 OO; 69 in HO
Home layout (Jan 2011 MR article) in HO, freelance, DC.
62 years in same Club on same location.
Major interest: Scratch-building Steam locos, cars, Structures
Ruderunner,
This angst being shown here is just much ado about nothing. Thank you for starting the Thread, I've enjoyed reading the responses and I will be interested to see what results and conclusion you have drawn.
Enjoy our hobby and have a Merry Christmas,
Wayne
Modeling HO Freelance Logging Railroad.
No worries, Buddy. It happens on media such as this one. Hopefully two adults can try hard to analyze the situation and repair any damage.
Good character and good will...and all that.
Crandell
Crandell...
I have to confess at this point, that I have no clue as to what is going on with this thread, and who said what to whom... there wasn't a 'quote' attached to your reply, and I made a presumption that you were offended by my contribution.
That being said, if your comments were not aimed at me, then I STAND CORRECTED and was wrong for leveling my rebuttal at you.
In that instance, I extend MY appologies to you...You've Manned Up enough for me. Now, excuse me while I go wipe the eggnog off my face.
Again, Have a Merry Christmas.
HF1
I do regret if you feel the location of my post offends you, HF. It was unintentional. I posted after reading the last several pages, during which you placed your comment. And you bet, I was scolding. You should now understand that, since I had not seen your comment, you could not have been its target.
A thankfully few people should lighten up, especially this time of year.
And a very Merry Christmas to you.
Based on your reply, following my participation in this thread, I will presume for a moment, that your scoulding was aimed at me.
WHAT exactly is your problem, and what is it that I said, that has apparently offended you? I certainly don't need a Beer to collect my thoughts and I see nothing in my comments that could be offensive to you or anyone else.
I'm well aware of the subject title.
In the future, I strongly suggest that before you and some of your cronies, that are apparantly are in the realm of your influence, come unglued over something as simple as someones verbage, that you FIRST try to PM that individual, instead of lashing out like some adolescent on the forum - your condesending attitude is certainly not appreciated by me.
As a moderator of this forum, if you are indeed a moderator, you owe me and everyone else on this thread, an appology - let's see if you can MAN-UP.
Merry Christmas, Crandell.
I agree with Crandell and Bob in their last posts. This thread is for fun only. CNJ831 is entitled to his opinions, and there is no need to argue with how he feels. I like seeing CNJ831's inspiring pictures such as the ones he posted in Crandell's backdrop thread. Friends do not have to agree about everything to be friends.
Have fun everybody.
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Will skip the beer, as it might offend my brother pastors, but otherwise sound advice. Three deep breaths also might help. My only comment is I get enough debate from church members and other pastors, plus wife, so I don't need it with my hobby too, yet some seem to get all puffed up with self-proclaimed importance. Crandell, you are right, it was an invitation to participate with right to skip over to the next subject. It has been interesting, and even informative, even if it does have no relevance to some. Merry Christmas and may you find all sorts of trains around, in and under your tree.
The title of this thread suggests that it is not meant to be definitive. It was an invitation, subject to rejection or decline, to share some information about oneself. No promise or undertaking was expressed about conclusions that would hopefully ensue, be derived, or be inferred. So why gnash your teeth and try to impose on it a characteristic that was neither attributed nor intended?
Go get a beer, drink it, take three deep breaths, and come back to other threads if this topic offends you.
well...
I thought we were supposed to be doing this on the PROFILE section of the forum, but it appears to be a great thread.
I'm 53 Yrs young, was introduced to HO trains at the age of five with a plastic ballasted oval of MARX track and a NYC DieCast Hudson with operating smoke(my, how things come full circle), under the Christmas Tree. My father was a Pittsburgh Steel worker and was laid off a lot, so any sturctures were scratch built from match sticks, balsa, toilet paper tubes, etc, and painted to look like structures -I'd give anything to have those simple things back at this stage of my life.
I thank my Father for introducing me to a wonderful hobby, and this time of year, is special as those memories flood back, of the several layouts he and I built together- the last one in N scale - as a project to take my Father's mind off the sudden death of my Mother. I wish that he was still alive to see how far things have come and what wonderful models we all have to choose from- its amazing when you think about it.
SO, I've been in HO for 47 years now(including the N scale)and currently reside in Texas, built a new home 3 yrs ago, with the entire second floor designed and dedicated to a two-tier layout that extends through three different rooms. I model the Union Pacific modern era, from 1990 - on, and still have a soft spot for the Pennsy and B&O, where I grew up.
My layout, while not depicting any specific area, has a theme that reflects the look and feel of the UP operations on the Overland Route and extending to parts of Texas over the Choctwaw Sub.
The layout when finished, will include a room entirely dedicated to a modern Coal-Fired Electric Generating Station, competely scratch built and will be built nearly to scale, inlcuding all the electrical switch yards, Substations, etc.
The other main industry and purpose for the layout, will be a modern Petrolium Refinery. I hope to have trains running by the end of this coming year, but its a big project and requires a lot of planning -it's going to be done right.
I want to take this time to wish everyone new to the forum as well as the old regulars, a Very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosporous NEW YEAR!
Have a great Holiday and have fun Model Railorading!
HeritageFleet1
Age: 39
Time in Hobby: picked up again 6 years ago.
Power: DCC
Proto-lance C&O transition era from the hills to the ocean
Sir Madog I would be sorry to see this entertaining thread getting locked by the moderators. If you find this informal poll a useless issue, than just not participate in it, instead of imposing your singular opinion onto a large number of members enjoying it.
I would be sorry to see this entertaining thread getting locked by the moderators.
If you find this informal poll a useless issue, than just not participate in it, instead of imposing your singular opinion onto a large number of members enjoying it.
Good point Ulrich. Perhaps the OP could try tabulate the so-far-results of the survey before too many of us, like me, fail to bite our tongues, er, fingers.
- Douglas
Age 40
1975-1989 HO (Family layout) DC
2006-present N scale DC ... Want to go DCC (cost and skill set)
2010 Z (given to by a friend that said "make it run and and it's yours"DC
Freelance LV,CSX, B&O, P,L&E
What qualifies as a serious hobbyist. I may not have a huge layout or expensive brass models. in fact right now I am only an armchair hobbyist per say. however I am serious about trains. I seriously like to watch, read about, take pictures of and attend shows. the hopes are that one day I will build the layout of my dreams. I may take a break off on on for a while but this hobby will always be in my blood and will keep me busy for the rest of my life.
I was dissapointed that the first post I made on this forum turned out like it did. Don't get me wrong I like all the info i am seeing in this thread but it has become something else.
Brian
CNJ831 Yes, but I've continued to participate largely because I've been here since the beginning, a time when this site was more legimate and populated largely by a more serious cross section of hobbyists. I keep hoping against hope that somehow it might return to that state. A false hope, I suppose. CNJ831
Yes, but I've continued to participate largely because I've been here since the beginning, a time when this site was more legimate and populated largely by a more serious cross section of hobbyists. I keep hoping against hope that somehow it might return to that state. A false hope, I suppose.
Hmm. From a relative newcomer to this forum, and one who knows nothing about you, at face value your remarks are not likely to help you reach your stated goal. Any hobby hoping to continue to thrive needs new people who can be mentored by experienced people. I have found that here. When I first started posting here, I was inexperienced and could be seen as not serious. I know you would probably like to chat with a bunch of people just like yourself - experienced and very serious hobbyists, but most newcomers are going to seek out a group like this for solid advice and ideas. Frustrating as it is at times, I continue to see people like Ulrich, Paulus and Stein patiently give the same advice over and over to newcomers which is great. Perhaps a thread for experienced people to chat together would help?
My Build Thread: https://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/11/t/185298.aspx
Follow me on Instagram: https://instagram.com/stephenkingsmaine
Gentlemen, I wake up this morning to a beautiful day in Montana, get a cup of coffee, look out over the hills covered with a few inches of beautiful snow, log on to the pc, and my gawd: I'm bombarded by so much anger and vitriol over a simple polling question.
Let's just pause for a minute and reflect on any national political campaign in recent years. I've seen 'national' polls on national issues or national personalities that say this or that about the opinions and feelings of the American people. And then when looking at the fine print it is discovered that all of 1800 people were polled via a telephone.
Now we're a nation of 300+ million people and how many here would believe and trust in such a poll where only 1800 people were asked a question? Probably many, if the polling results confirmed their own preconceived belief. 1800 people by phone, not cell phone, just a land line. And yet polls like this get National attention on many media sites. Do you complain about the low number of participants and possible inaccuracies of these polls? Probably not.
And here we have a gentlemen asking for a simple, informal poll, about model railroading and some people here get their nickers all bunched up in a knot over nothing. Good Grief!
Get a grip, get over it, it is an informal poll that someone wanted to start for his own reason. If you don't like it then quit reading about it. Start your own poll, start your own thread, do something constructive. Go run a train or something, relax, it is a hobby, it is a simple poll. Why the anger?
Craig
Sorry to hear that you had a bad experience visiting a club.
Unfortunately most are this way!
Our Club - the Clarion Model railroad Club - try to be different. We remind our members that they need to talk with the visitors - but few do!
Although we do watch the visitors that come in and we can usually tell the ones that are really interested in model railroading! Some are shy - others are afraid they will be exposed that they might really like trains. But we watch them and if they don't strike up a conversation with any of our club members - and they hang around more than a simple walk through - we go over to them and begin talking with them.
This is how we have brought in many of our new members!
Any way it sometime take the visitor to make the first move - I know that I have tried to strike up a conversation with many and they had little or no interest in trains - just wanted to see what everyone else was interested in!
Now to get back on topic:
63 and have been modeling 58 of those years - although I was pretty lax in my early 20's! ;-)
I have been active in our local Club for 27 years - have built or helped built over 20 layouts (Club - Home - Friends) - with my current home layout under continual construction with over 2000 sq ft. to fill.
HO - DCC - Prototype CR in late 70's to early 80's - Conrail Lowgrade (Driftwood to Red Bank, PA)
Member of the Clarion Model Railroad Club - NMRA and I-80 Operators Group
BOB H - Clarion, PA
Aikidomaster Having been to a recent club "open house", I can tell you why there is no "new blood". I showed up on Sunday (they were open on Saturday too). There were maybe 10 visitors in the layout room and about 15 or so club members. I was by myself. Not ONE individual spoke to me. This is a club accepting new members. At my age, I might have been "the kid" in the group, but gee, why not at least talk to the visitor? I came there with the idea of possibly joining. I left after spending about 90 minutes looking at the layout. I have no intention of going back. So, if groups are acting this way to guys like me, how are they acting to the younger individuals such as teenagers and young adults? Not going to get anyone interested in the hobby who is not already into trains, much less into their club!
Having been to a recent club "open house", I can tell you why there is no "new blood". I showed up on Sunday (they were open on Saturday too). There were maybe 10 visitors in the layout room and about 15 or so club members. I was by myself. Not ONE individual spoke to me. This is a club accepting new members. At my age, I might have been "the kid" in the group, but gee, why not at least talk to the visitor? I came there with the idea of possibly joining. I left after spending about 90 minutes looking at the layout. I have no intention of going back. So, if groups are acting this way to guys like me, how are they acting to the younger individuals such as teenagers and young adults? Not going to get anyone interested in the hobby who is not already into trains, much less into their club!
CNJ831 Yes, many here find this thread "entertaining", but overall I'm afraid, it actually is representative of why this site is not taken seriously, or participated in, by most serious hobbyists today. CNJ831
Yes, many here find this thread "entertaining", but overall I'm afraid, it actually is representative of why this site is not taken seriously, or participated in, by most serious hobbyists today.
And that may be where there is a disconnect between the "informed" and "great unwashed". When it comes to model railroading, I am a proud member of the latter. As a member of the unwashed dolts, I know enough to know that there is no such thing as a serious hobbyist.
I know or know of, serious doctors, serious bankers, serious welders, serious farmers, serious parents, serious students, etc... but there is no such thing as a serious hobbyist. Perhaps the definition of that term lies only within the minds of people who call themselves serious hobbyists. Therein lies the source of the disconnect.
I've enjoyed the survey and would be interested to know the results. I like to know the backgrounds of the members, so I would even enjoy expanding the questions to include other things. However, I would never quit my serious job to open a hobby shop, or to try to market a product or service, based on the results.
As far as the hobby being on the decline, well, it follows the declining influence trains have on the national economy. The "great unwashed" model what we see, and we see fewer trains today than in the past. The hobby probably peaked in the 60's to 80's at levels that we will never see again. The fact that I am participating in a hobby that is in decline relative to its peak has no influence on how I want to spend my disposable, i.e: "nonserious" time and income. There are plenty of trains, and plenty of young people interested in trains to keep the supply of products flowing, albeit less than in the past.
Onward march......more survey results please....
rrinker ... by your logic the MR magazine surveys are just as pointless - they only gather the subset of model railroaders who subscribe to Model Railroader magazine. ALL surveys are going to have this problem - and not just the people who don't bother responding, but how to reach a truly representative cross section, be it hobby or politics. --Randy
... by your logic the MR magazine surveys are just as pointless - they only gather the subset of model railroaders who subscribe to Model Railroader magazine. ALL surveys are going to have this problem - and not just the people who don't bother responding, but how to reach a truly representative cross section, be it hobby or politics.
No, Randy, you are quite incorrect in that assumption. If you'd care to start a separate thread to discuss such matters, as well was what constitutes being an "adult scale model railroader", a term Model Railroader coined long ago to define who we are, I'd be glad to partake and clarify a number of points and situations.