An informal survey

[Sailormatlac]

Age:  28

Years in hobby:  24

Since first interested in trains: 25 years  (when my father assembled his Life-Like HO train set when I was 3 years old...  Seeing the real thing but now in miniature was a thrilling affair! The impact was so strong they had to buy me a train set for my 4 year anniversary. )

Since first electric train set: 24 years  (A CP Rail HO Bachmann train set that I still cherish as a treasure!)

Since first reading hobby publications:  20 years ago at a flea market, old MR issues. The realistic pictures on the cover where a big discovery. I bough a set of used MR and RMC back in 1997 and read them over and over...

Active in hobby:  Probably 24 years.  (from 10 to 12, I took a break. Then a teacher in High School found out about this hobby, for the first time an adult was understanding my interest in trains. He gave me a shop address and from then the bug never went away.)

Scale:  HO.

Power control:  DC, and modified crappy trainset controllers. Maybe DCC if I find a system I really like.

Subject:  Proto-freelance, Canadian National (the fifties and the eighties).

[swoodnj]

Maybe the doom and gloom is warranted, not too many young folks resonding!

Me:

44 yrs old

30 yrs in the hobby, first 20 in N, last 10 in HO. Starting to think about O 2 Rail...

 

 

[RailfanS]

It's been a while since my last post, I'll add mine:

• Age- 17
• Years in Hobby - 15
• Scales- HO (primary scale), O (first scale, have alot), G (1 loco, 1 car, not enough track...)
• Layout (HO) -freelance, Modern class 2 with a mixed up fleet of loco's and cars :)
• Layout Power- DC, with MRC blackbox for sound equipped loco's

Cheers,

Jamie

[CTValleyRR]

Age:  47

Into MR:  39 yrs (although with a long stretch of armchairing in the middle)

HO Scale,

Mid-50's

DCC (for 3 yrs now)

Protolance.

[PJM20]

Age 15; 10 years; G, O, HO, N; DC (want DCC); prototype; freelance

[tbdanny]

Just turned 24, started with HO when I was 6, went to N scale at 18, DCC at 22, then made jump to HOn3 in April this year.  So I've been in the hobby for 18 years already.  Currently protolancing a branchline of the D&RGW narrow gauge in 1928.

[blownout cylinder]

Age: 55

Years in hobby: nearly 15 all told..

Scale: HO and N--running between 2 layouts

Era: 1960's to late 1980's

Layout type:  Protolance, northern plains/western prairies

Power: DCC

[citylimits]

[hon30critter]

Age 56. Been modeling for about 10 years. HO using Canadian Pacific in the late 50's but the layout will be freelance. NCE Powercab DCC with sound. Still 'armchair' because of a lack of spare cash but I have almost all of my structures in one stage or another of construction, and a lot of rolling stock all weighted to NMRA standards and with metal wheelsets and Kadee #5's. I have installed DCC with sound in a few engines including an S3 and the first engine my wife bought for me 10 years ago which was Hogwart's Express. I know Hogwarts is pushing the freelance option a bit but I will run it as an occasional excursion train just for fun. I will use the same excuse to run steam from time to time. Currently learning how to light structures with both incandescent and LED lights. I like to do scratch built structures as well as kitbashing. Layout construction will begin after my son finishes spending our money at school.

Dave

[CNJ831]

I'm not at all sure just what this "informal survey" is supposed to demonstrate, if anything at all. The only information it might produce is simply a listing of a tiny fraction of this forum's members vitals and the fact that there is a wide diversity in the members' ages and time in the hobby.

Considering that it is unlikely this thread will generate much more than perhaps 100 responses, this is minute compare with the actual number of hobbyists, or even the number of forum members. As such, any numbers derive would not have any statistical significance regarding any hobby demographic. 

Further, even if the response was much larger than 100 individuals, the results could not illustrate anything meaningful for the simple reason that the group being polled is younger than the average of all hobbyists to begin with. This is a problem common with just about any poll conducted via the Internet. In fact, in this case it would likely insert an even greater bias, since the bulk of newcomers to the hobby over the past two decades apparently have been well beyond middle age, with many of the older ones probably not even Internet participants!

CNJ831 

[lone geep]

15 years old (in 2 more weeks). 3 years (wanted a model railroad for several years previous). HO and N scales. DC (but wants to convert the HO to DCC soon). Freelancer.

The Lone Geep

[superbe]

A year ago last July I enjoyed my 80th birthday as pictured below. My wife says I'm still a kid and you know what, she's right.

My first trains were Lionel which I played with when I was 6 to 12 years old. They were brought out of storage when my son was of the right age and of course we added a lot to what was mine. This lasted three or four years.

In Feburary 2007 I registered on the Forum and started my HO journey.

I model the transition era and it is mostly free lanced except for some industries.

At first I thought I'd just be running trains but after seeing what is done by forum members the scenic aspect has become very important.

Happy Railroading

Bob 

[Doughless]

Age: 47

Experience: approximately 20 yrs

DC.  Protolance

 

[Train Modeler]

Myself, 52, 15 approx, HO, DCC, Proto UP Memphis, Ark

My son, 12, 6, HO, DCC, Proto UP Memphis, Ark.

But my son has become very discouraged with the Athearn BB going away.   They weren't hard for him to build and like most boys they like to build things.   They were also cheap enough that he could save up enough money and buy them himself.    So the RTR craze is pushing him away from the hobby.  For his last birthday he wanted a kit for an SD90Mac H.   I found a way through mostly Rail Power Products(Kato HM5) to make it happen.   But this kit is requiring more help from me than he really wants.

Richard

[Prowler7]

Age 40

1 year (armchair)

HO (eventually)

DCC (eventually)

freelance

[csxns]

51,here and 51 into trains,HO modern most CSX and NS but have some of everything that runs in Canada and Mexico,DC and looking for wireless DC.

[twhite]

71, here.  Started in HO when I was 14. 

Present layout is 'proto-lance'--Rio Grande and Southern Pacific steam during the WWII era.

Tom

[jacon12]

Age:  67
Years in hobby:  about 6 or 7. I have a lot of catching up to do.
Scale: HO
Era:  April 27, 1950 @ 4p.m., give or take 30 years
Power: DCC

[dowop62]

I am 66, 40 Years in hobby 10 N,30 HO, DCC since 98, Proto/freelance

Larry

[TMarsh]

48 years young. I got my first HO trainset at age 10 or 11. An AHM. Played with it for about 5 or 6 years, then came cars, girls, jobs, marriage, you know, life. Now about three years ago I found my old trains and layout while cleaning out my Mothers house and I decided to take it home and set it up in the room in my basement that for the last 14 years has been saved for the day I can restart my Railroad Empire. Currently I'm DC but the layout will be DCC and that is kept in mind when wiring. So I guess I have about what 8 or 9 total years in the hobby but only the last 3 were what I'd call "hobby".

Oh and by the way for those curious. No, the TYCO's don't run anymore, but my very first loco, an AHM ALCO S-2, still grinds along like new.  

[fisker76]

39 years old; 36 years interest; HO; DCC and Sound, Proto-Freelance.

All the young ones come over and think model trains are way cool.  All guests that visit want to see the trains.  People of all ages love trains and some have started in the hobby from seeing what I've got going on. 

[PL&M RR]

Here we go:

Age: 34.

Years in hobby: As long as I can remember, I've had some sort of train. 

Scale: HO

DC/DCC: Currently DC, but plans for DCC.

Protolancey. 

[P&Slocal]

42 going on 43, my grandfather gave me an O scale Pennsylvania steam locomotive at birth, but worked to buy my own HO set at age 7, still DC, freelance.

I doubt that this is a dying hobby, but I think model railroaders are a niche group. Besides that model railroaders are mostly solitary figures hiding in their basements! Kids (and parents) have different ideas about being a kid these days. My fiancees nephew will not be 3 until July, but in his idiot parents eyes he is a minature adult so for Christmas he is getting an ATV. A real gas powered one, not one of those battery powered things. How does one compete with that?

I remember when one broke into the hobby of remore control planes for a couple hundred bucks for a decent beginners plane. I thought that was a lot of money then. Now I look at locomotives and say "Sheesh." Guess I won't be buying a new loco anytime soon.

[bdpeters]

Well Here's my story. I'm 41and have been in and out of the hobby for a while now.

my dad built my first HO layout when I was about 3 for Christmas. Then later on when I was 8 I helped him build a larger double track HO layout with a couple of sidings. Got it part way sceniced before I gave it up. had other interests in my teens. then started to get interested again in my late 20's but did not do too much as far as another layout. i've been interested in other hobbies and pursuits over the years. over the last couple of years I've started modeling in N. I don't have much room for an extensive layout right now but Iam in the planning stages of a layout in the 3' by 6' range. The only real problem is cash flow right now. Just recently discovered TTrac modules that sounds interesting.

 

I am not sure about DCC yet

as far as Prototype or freelance I would say freelance right now and leaning towards western railroads Such as the UP and Utah railway.

 

Brian

[TravelinJohnnie]

I'm 50 years old and have a 18month old Protolance layout that I will call my second layout.  It is my first completely dedicated to model railroading.  Ho scale, DCC with sound so far.  Have loved the process so far completely--- my wife says I need to find a balance and get out of the mancave!!!!

Merry Christmas everyone,

Bart

[Utley26]

I'm 37, and I'm new to it, so say less than 1 year.   I am starting a small layout in HO scale, undecided on DC/DCC, and freelanced. 

I'm glad this thread was done and I am happy to see a number of people my age or younger.  It is also nice to see people on YouTube like Big Al Mayo who break the mold of the stereotypical model railroader.  I think MR could do a lot to grow the hobby by changing public perceptions.

[corsair7]

ruderunner

It seems to be a common complaint that there's less "new blood" entering this hobby than years ago.  I won't even try to deny that since there are lot's more hobbies to get involved in nowadays.  But I don't think it's all doom and gloom as some folks think.  And since I've not seen anyone put up any actual numbers to confirm the situation, I figured maybe a quick survey to feel the pulse of the hobby is in order.  I'll keep it breif:

Age of modeler, years in hobby (armchair hobbying counts), scale, DC or DCC, prototype-freelance-protolance

I think that covers the big splits, one could ask lots more questions and micro manage this but that may be too much to handle without having professional surveyers doing it.

So I'll start:  age 36, approx 30 yrs, HO, DCC (recent convert), protolance

I am 62. I didnt start as a kid since my parents couldn't afford either Lionel or American Flyer' in the 1950s. When they could I wasn't interested since I had gotten into plast ships, aircraft and armored fighting vehicles.

I didn't get involved in model railroading until my oldest was almost three when I took him to a store that carried TYCO HO trainsets. I bought one and also got other stuff until I figured out that HO and garden apartment didn't get along to well together. So I was into HO from about 1977 to 1981 when I began to dabble with N-Scale and found that I liked it. Meanwhile the kid had no interest in trains.

In 1982 we movedf out of the two bedroom garden apartment into a basement with a house attached. I had a trainroom at last and began building a layout in 14' x 12' 3" room set aside for the purpose after negotiations with she who must be obeyed. That layout was under construction of the next five years but never got as we enlarged the house and had to store some stuff in the train room. It stayed that way for the next 20 years while I pursued my profession (accounting) until the company I last worked for in 1987 went bankrupt and closed its doors. So in 2007 I decided that I weasn't interested in trying to find another job in and NYC that was already in the throes of a recession and the great flight of employment either overseas or across state lines I would retire and try to find some part time college teaching to supplement my income. I aso devcided to see wha had become of my N-Scale layout.

Over the 20 some odd years that it had served as what can best be described as a garbage dump, certain things on it had gotten crushed or otherwise destroyed. So I gathered up the garbage and threw it out. That inlcuded my crushed turntable and most of the structures. So I decided to dismantle what I had and start from scratch. And that is exactly what I did.

I am not unhappy that I took that 20 year break. I probably needed to do that as I think I am a better model railroader today than I would have been without it. I joined a club which I had never thought to do in the 1980s. That was a good thing because I have learned many new things of which I would not been conscious of otherwise.

My new layout which has been under construction since the beginning of 2008 is based on the New York Connecting Railroad which never had any locomotives or rolling stock but provided a very necessary srevice because it owned the track and bridges (including the Hell Gate Viaduct and Bridge which allows trains to run from the Brooklyn Army Terminal through Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx and also connects Grand Central Station to points north and into Connecticut.

Irv

[johncolley]

Ok, I'm 73, got a Marx at age 9 and a Lionel at age 11. Been in and out of active for many years, dabbled in N for a couple of years for my kids. Now active HO for 16 years, have 3 years active Free-mo and now 1 year with a home layout under construction. I am NMRA and OpSIG and currently do monthly Ops sessions on 3 different layouts, and play around on the local club's home layout weekly. John Colley, Port Townsend, WA

[vsmith]

Age: Late 40's

Years in hobby: ignoring childhood teen and earlier adult forays into O N HO & HOn30, years in current scale : 10+

Scale: 1/22.5 scale on 45mm track (G Gauge) straight DC, and strictly maybe even ferociusly Freelance

 Era: Mid century

 

[BATMAN]

Well I'm 53 and have always been interested in trains. Real trains were a big part of our family when I was young, so I guess it was natural to have layouts of different sizes into my teens.

I had a hand me down "O" setup that I played with so much that Santa brought me a "Lone Star Treble O" train set in the early 1960s. It was about the same size as "N" scale. I still have it all carefully packed up in my trainroom office.

I now model HO/NCE,DCC. Based on a ficticious 1950s CPR Rocky Mountain Division. It takes up a 15' x 24' room. I have a space larger than that to expand into if I ever find myself near completion on that part.

Four years ago the Rheumatologist/Sports Medicine Doctor looked at my MRI and X-rays and said "judging by these and all the broken bones you've had it must have been a heck of a ride. Was it worth it? My answer was absolutely. I am now full of Arthritis and on Medical retirement.

Unable to Golf, mountain bike or downhill ski anymore I turned to trains and that has help me to keep sane. I ride a recumbent bike most days to stay skinny and in shape. After that it is to the train room.

I thank dear old Dad for getting me into trains at a very young age and have had a lot of interest in it throughout my life.

Even though he died in 1993 I always feel he is there with me in the train room grinning ear to ear at our layout, as it is something he could only have dreamed about having.

 

                                                          Brent