A pretty reasonable figure for the number of people into some form of model modeling and with more than just a vague passing fancy for toy or model trains, would be around 300,000 (this is more than the total monthly sales of all the model railroading publications combined).
If we further refine this so that we include only those with some sort of actual layout, regardless of size or level of completion and who operate "scale models" (i.e. eliminating tinplaters and armchair folks), I'd bet that the figure is not much more than 125,000.
So, yes, we are a pretty small group relative to the country's total population...let's realistically say about 00.1%.
CNJ831
Personally, I don't really care what people think about MRRing or my involvement in the hobby.
Sure, you're going to run into those that "roll their eyes" and think that you're a dweeb for "playing with trains". However, I find more folks who think it's pretty cool - even though they themselves are not involved with the hobby. Even those who are blase about model trains in general still tend to ooo and ahh and smile when they see train running around a Christmas tree.
Tom, above, makes a good point. A lot of times we are such lone wolves in this hobby of ours that we are often surprised to find out that others around us are either involved in the hobby in some way or curiously interested in knowing more but just don't know who to contact or talk to about it.
The best education is the one that you learn and can pass along to others around you. Their perception of the hobby is what you make it to be. Some people are going to understand; others aren't. Their loss...
Tom
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
I believe that there are a lot more folks who enjoy trains than we think. I never knew anyone in my neighborhood had an interest until about 4 years ago, when I discovered the fellow across the street was into "O" gauge and had a layout in his basement. Then a lady who I didn't know, but lived down the street, passed away. Turns out she had an "O" gauge layout in her attic. I was asked to help put some type of value to her collection for estate purposes. Then a fellow who lived a few doors down from passed away. Turns out he had an "HO" collection by German manufacturers. I also found out the neighbor who lives behind me is also into model railroading. I've lived here for about 35 years and thought I was the only one interested. The sad part is, even though we all have or had different areas of interest, we could have enjoyed going to train shows together or something, but who knew.
I bought 3 Lionel sets for my great nieces and nephews last year. It turns out their Dad's are kind of interested now that they each have a train under the tree. One has even been to a hobby shop already. Although he is mumbling about sticker shock.
So look around, I'll bet you find more interested folks than you think.
Pittsburgh, PA
Every time I mention to John Q. Public that I have a model RR, I get the same response. They don't say it out loud (usually), but you can hear it in what they say and see it in their eyes. "Awwww, he plays with toy trains."
Now I'm 41 years old. This might have been OK when I was like 7 or something, but clearly the idea of a miniture, realistic, representation of the world around us is not what the average person thinks about when they think of our hobby. I work hard on my RR to make it look like the real world. Many of you do too.
So, the question is, are we that much of a minority that our aspect of the hobby goes that unnoticed, or are we just a large, but quiet bunch? Does anyone have any idea of how many realistic type model RRer's there are out there, either by scale, or as a whole? (roughly)
I realize that the govt. probably has not paid someone 16 bazillion dollars to do a study on this, but I'm just wondering, are we just like 1% or what?
NOTE: This is not meant to offend anyone who enjoys the "toy" aspect of the hobby. There's nothing wrong with that at all. It's just that this is like comparing a custom car builder with a restoration perfectionist. They both do awesome work, and both of them work on cars, but thats where the similarity ends.