Is the hobby doomed?

[CNJ831]

Instead of an endless, totally meaningless, series of, "Well, I think..." or "In my opinion..." posts, how about someone offering some concrete evidence (facts, figures, surveys, industry publications) demonstrating the current state of the hobby and its future?

CNJ831

[joeyegarner]

I think it will never be doomed, but its important we all try to introduce new ppl to the hobbie. I have 2 sons one of them likes model rr and the other has no intrest at all. My 19 year old not what I would call a very active follower of the hobbie, still he likes trains and has made some purchases and runs his trains from time to time. I dont always stay active with it myself. I have take long breaks from it too. I think this is my first post in about 4 months. I just watched another hobbie shop close and was a little suprised, it was a Hobby Town in Huntsville Al. They had a good business but the corp made the call. Im sure we will always struggle with the fact that its not the most popular hobbie in the world and will always wonder how ppl just dont understand why we love our trains so much.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the hobby was created for "older kids" in the first place and not for the young. I think the older folks just got tired of their sons messing up their layouts and decided to give them there extra parts to play with.[8D]

[Anonymous]

I'm new to this hobby and asked the "doomed" question a month ago. After going to a few train shows and visiting some hobby shops around the country (yes, I travel for my work), I don't believe the hobby is doomed.

BUT.... It seems to be in a transition.

1) The internet is weeding out the bad and weak LHS and e-bay and on-line stores are taking their place. For the model railroader who is not on-line, the loss of so many brick and mortar must seem like the end of the world.

2) Manufacturing techniques are improving the quality of the products but also increasing the price.

3) It seems that older manufactures are selling out or closing and there are questions as to how and where the new guard will take the hobby.

4) Finally, it seems that the hobby loses it's members from the ages of 15 to 35 but they come back after they had their first child. This is either a new phenomenon or some that the internet has exposed.

[Milwhiawatha]

I ponder the question at hand “Is this hobby doomed” I think back to when Video game systems where starting to hit the market and I don’t mean just the Atari. I am 29 yrs old and don’t remember the release of the Atari, but I do remember the release name Nintendo What the critics said it’s a phase and the kids will grow out of it. 20 yrs plus later the kinds didn’t grow out of it but the Video games adapted to us and yes more expensive.

As with every hobby such as Modeling Train planes or automobiles there will always be this question of is this hobby doomed. I don’t think It will be doomed but it might get close to it. As I have seen advancements in the Hobby I noticed the manufactures are aiming for the 20+ crowed with the high prices, better quality gorgon. But who is the future of Hobby of Model railroading? Answer: The kids. Ok so they have dads and maybe even mom’s trains to operate but soon they get to the age of Want which in return turns to Need money which at a certain age turns into Chores and then a job. Now lets say an 8 yr old gets money for picking up his or her room or mow the lawn. Gets 10.00 a week to do these 2 things. They want a locomotive that costs 135.00 plus now he or she has to work awhile to make that much money. Is it fair no, not really? Infact is it fair we have to pay that type of money to? I personally think if the prices keep rising this Hobby could eventually in the future become doomed. Cause sooner or later it will end modelers will say that’s enough I am not paying that price. Everyone has a limit on cash flow. And to little Timmy or Jane who cant afford a decent locomotive will stop operating trains and let the layout turn to dust and never return.

[Berk-fan284]

Yes it's doomed (the day I die-from a personal perspective)! Just kidding. The hobby will have it's ebbs and flows just like anything else in life. A perfect example in microcosm is the on going number of hobby shops in my city(pop 800,000+) where I live it seems only 7 hobby shops (models, remote control, railroading) can survive at any given time. One goes belly up and within 2-4 years someone else is giving it a try and rounding out the number to 7 shops again. Granted these are broad based hobby shops.

[Anonymous]

Model Railroading is not doomed in my opinion. There are many people who enjoy the hobby very much. Some people simply do not have the time to get involved in the hobby, but that doesn't mean they do not like our hobby. I know a few people who like Trains and Model Railroading and enjoy talking about them despite the fact that they are not involved in it. Over time, I believe more people will become interested in our hobby. Model Railroading and Trains has a bright future ahead.

[Marc_Magnus]

A good complement to this topic is the one I posted a few months ago about the question IS MR TOO BASIC?

It was interesting to see all the feelings why the hobby doomed, even with the articles in MR

[Marc_Magnus]

Hello,

I don't know for the USA but it seems it's in a better state than in Europe.
Even Marklin have some problems in the sale.
And certainly, the young people didn't play a lot with trains.

When DCC begun to be everywhere the sales where a little better, but not four the kids.
Generally an European modeler is a 35 or 40 years old man.
When going to train fair, you see a lot of father coming with their sons but I don't see a big interest for trains.
I must too admit that the level of modeling is more in the low range in Europe.
We never could publish so many good model railroad as seen in MR.
Often they are "toy like" and Marklin was certainly somewhat responsable of this situation between 1960 and 1990.
Now there is a better interest in fine scale modeling but still in the low range.

[Darth Santa Fe]

"Is the hobby doomed?" I'll have to say........................................................................NEVER!!!! MWAHAHAHA!!!!![:-,]

Ok, I'm better now.[:)] There are still plenty of teens in the hobby, and little kids, and people of all ages![:D] So, I don't think a hobby with so many people who enjoy it would die very easily.[:D]

[modelalaska]

No way! Sides, I believe God likes to model. [:D]

[Anonymous]

I'll just add a bit to what everyone else is saying..there is no way Model Railroading is doomed, despite what others (usally on the fringes of the hobby) seem to think.

Trains have always seemed to have some sort of mystique that interests everyone when they rumble past. I've seen this with my 10yr old son when visiting my father-in-law, who happens to have a portion of the old D&H (now CP Rail) line bordering his back yard. As soon as he hears the approching train blowing for the near-by crossing, we have to go outside to watch a freight or AMTRACK go past.

To take it one step further, whenever I'm working on my small layout, he'll stop and ask me questions about what I'm building or what locomotive I'm working on.

I think with the current availabilities of different modling supplies, buildings & equipment; the up and coming generation of modlers have some excellent choices. And in having these choices it creates the demand for more and better of the same.

And that, my friends is what I think secures the future of our hobby.

[Anonymous]

I fall in the 30's somethings gettng back in to the hobby after leaving it in my teenage years. My son being born last year really got me thinking about the hobby again and I started building a layout. I also talked to my older brother yesterday who had all of our train stuff from years ago. (his boys are teenages now and are moving on to other things) I'm getting the old trains stuff from him today. I wonder what kind of shape it's in?

[Anonymous]

im 22 and love it to death if the other guys dont enjoy it then it is more enjoyable by me as being unique in my own way, guys my age pimp out there 2004 honda civic i just pimp out my 2006 C44-9W its all relevant

Nick

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 3railguy

QUOTE: Lately it seems that someone is always posting something about how the hobby of model railroading is slowly falling apart young people are not getting into it.

The sky has been falling for some people for as long as I can remember and it just keeps getting better. The hobby has never been as good as it is today. The quality and selection is a vast improvement compared to what we had twenty years ago.

We've always had peaks and valleys which is the case with anything whether it be golfing or automotive sales.

I agree with 3railguy.

I remember when skateboards were all the rage in the mid to late seventies. Then they kind of went in to a period of dormancy. Then all of a sudden they are back in the 90's with a vengance and stiil going strong today ( gulp, they may even be an olympic sport someday [:0] )
It is that way with many sports and hobbies, I don't think our hobby is dying, it's just reacting to the current state of our economy .

[jecorbett]

Has there ever been a time when somebody wasn't asking this question about our hobby. I'll bet the first time was within a week of the first toy train being carved out of a block of wood.

[coborn35]

Check the Teen Coffee Shop. There are 20+ teens on there and we all model.
I love modeling! The hobby is not dieing.

[3railguy]

QUOTE: Lately it seems that someone is always posting something about how the hobby of model railroading is slowly falling apart young people are not getting into it.

The sky has been falling for some people for as long as I can remember and it just keeps getting better. The hobby has never been as good as it is today. The quality and selection is a vast improvement compared to what we had twenty years ago.

We've always had peaks and valleys which is the case with anything whether it be golfing or automotive sales.

[maandg]

Not as long as I have a bank account!!!!

[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[CMSTPP]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RedGrey62

QUOTE: Originally posted by BMRR

NO !!!

Stan.

[#ditto]

Rick

[#ditto] again!![:D]

[Anonymous]

Any time you think the hobby is doomed just invite the neighborhood kids in.

Got a Garden RR, you won't be able to keep them away.

Darrell

[1train1]

If it is doomed-----why am I still spending money on it ?

[Anonymous]

I know I made a promise to myself not to swear on here any more, but this time it is justified. Any one that says the hobby is doomed is a *** liar. I know for a fact that it is just as strong as ever before. I even converted two goths last week. (See Lionels Still Appeal To Everyone.....even goths on the Classic Toy Trains forum).

[CASSANDRA CROSSING]

I don't think so. With the vast array of products available, and more coming out every day, not to mention the incredible detail , i think the hobby is progressing nicely.

[Eriediamond]

Nope, and I'm a 64 year old teenager!!!!!![(-D][(-D]

[RedGrey62]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BMRR

NO !!!

Stan.

[#ditto]

Rick

[tomikawaTT]

Every time Gloomy Gus or one of his relatives posts a rain cloud on these forums, two other people come back and either show their (or the neighbor's) youngsters getting into the hobby or admit that they are teenagers themselves.

Yes, the hobby is doomed. So is the Earth. When the Sun goes nova, there will still be some model rail trying to lay kink-free track for his (fill in the blanks of scale and prototype.)

Chuck.

[BMRR]

NO !!!

Stan.

[Anonymous]

Well i have to say, im in my 20's, and i love the hobby. It just takes a certain kind of person to enjoy it. And trust me, not all people in their 20's can appreciate the hobby. But there is a few of us out there

[Anonymous]

Lately it seems that someone is always posting something about how the hobby of model railroading is slowly falling apart young people are not getting into it. I must said I bought into that for awhile, but lately looking at the number of newbie theads that have been started up , I am not sure thats the case.
It seems that alot of the newbies are in the 30's & 40's, they have finnished with school, and are now on track with the rest of their lifes, homes,kids, have a dependable job. They are now looking to get back into a hobby they left behind years ago for all the reasons above.
Looking at the bright side these are exactly the kind of people we want getting back into the hobby. Why? They have money to spent, maybe thats why in the pass few years this hobby as grown so much as far as the new items that are available to us. Just something to think about besides the ever present doom and gloom.