Where is the FUN ?

[ericsp]

Who is the manufacturer of the track? Go to http://www.walthers.com/ and do some searching. If you want to look at specific catagories instead of a specific product the print book (about $25, yikes) might be easier, but you can find what you are looking for on the website.

As for expensive locomotives, if you do not want to pay for DCC, don't buy it. Athearn Blue Box stuff is reasonably priced and are fairly nice (http://www.athearn.com/).

I am not a member of a club, so I do not really know how many model railroaders count rivets and the weight of the paint on real cars (don't laugh, soon there will probably be people doing that, if they can find out, okay, laugh). The amount of rivet counters does seem to be increasing, and it does appear that there are people who think that if a product costs less than $100 it is worthless. However, model railroading is what you make it. Only you can make if fun or frustrating, as long as kits are available.

[TurboOne]

This is long, but I am excited, happy, and frustrated with my local MRRs.

I used to be into trains back in the 60s and 70s. Computers and life has been replacing trains since moving out of my parents house. My son and daughter have way too much wooden Thomas the Train, so this Christmas we decided to check out where trains have gone. I started on EBay, checking out trains for sale. Thousands and thousands were there. I went to my local dealers in town, 2. Most were very high end, and the people came across as better than the common man. One guy though said to go to the GATS show and see the sights. The kids and I went and had a blast with the out of town clubs that showed their sets. Some dealers even had a running train. Play-Mobile I think. The kids had a blast playing, looking and even got to run some trains. We saw a 20 x 30 foot circus HO scale with moving rides. AWESOME.
Thanks to the internet, I have a pletoria of information. However here lies the question.
WHERE IS THE FUN ?

I dug out my 30 and 40 year old trains, set up a 4 x 8 on two sawhorses, and built an oval. Within 5 minutes rolled my engine off the table onto the cement garage floor. I went to the train store and got this answer: This train and the others ( I brought the rest in) were old and just basically junk. I needed to throw away my 200 pieces of track, old icky brass says he, and start all over. I bought some getting started books, and found out that to buy the track for they layout I liked was over $500. No trains, no power supply, just track. He showed me a 30 second demo on a new DCC engine, and then asked if I was ready to buy it. No smoke, no running on their nicely modeled display layout, just up and back on 3 feet of demo track. I could buy a inexpensive DCC controller and the engine for about $600. I said I would think about it. I went to the local club and they said my old trains, including some Tenshedo Brass, wouldn't be allowed on their tracks as it wasn't good enough. Most of the members were very nice, and answered my questions.
Most of the people I met, are over 50. No one at the stores acknowledged my kids, encouraged them, or said hello to them. I see the train business dying if this is the typical store salesmanship. Older people may have the money now, but in 20 years if there are no new customers, there is no business.
I would encourage all to make trains FUN. When someone new comes in, don't tell them their existing stuff is junk, throw it away. Tell them, I bet they have had fun with what they have, and look at some of the new stuff now available to ADD to their layout. Have classes for new people. How to classes, and how to take it to the next level. Not everyone wants a "real train."
For me personally, I want a train to go around my tree. I want presents as my tunnels. I want cheesy lights, and exciting buildings or decorations. I want to see the magic in my kids eyes when they see a train. Real is great to look at, but if you forget that not everyone wants to spend thousands on trains, you as the leaders can make it fun for everyone.
Spend 5 minutes and show everyone what a DCC engine can do. The smoke, the sound, the incredible detail, it all is fantastic, but treat us beginners like we are important. And most of all, make it fun for the kids, they are the future.
At the club, most of the members were very nice to the kids, and answered their questions and did offer encouragement, but were very serious about the train. The layout is incredible, but trains should be fun as well.
Todays newbies are tomorrows big "whale" customer. I love the new trains of today. The detail is fantastic. The question is, will I buy it from my semi caring, list price, dealer, or someone I don't know on the internet, or will I get lucky and find a dealer who wants my business, now and in the future. Better yet, a dealer who wants my kids business also !
Merry Christmas to all !