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[Anonymous]

Hi All
I am new to this hobby, enjoyed trains all my life and have been commuting on CalTran here in CA. for some time. Yesterday I saw that a supplier of train stuff was going out of business. The article said that model trains and such are fading in interest. Say it isn't so! I see there are a few more stores in the Bay area but tell me anyone is this true that the hobby is fading? I see some great stuff in MR. Can't believe it.

Very concerned
ZB

[IRONROOSTER]

[#welcome]

Many hobby stores are closing because they are unable to compete with prices on the Internet, mail order, and train shows. While there is anecdotal evidence of an aging hobby population that may be leading to fewer hobbyists, at the moment there are plenty of model railroad supplies to chose from.

I would enjoy the hobby and encourage others to do so. If there is a decline in the future then there will be some wonderful bargains at estate sales[:D] Seriously, I think the hobby will survive, but with fewer hobbyists. This seems to be the fate of many craft type hobbies.
Enjoy
Paul

[daniel3197]

Yes this is really sad that the San Antonio Hobby Shop of Mountain View CA is closing. It was such a nice and large store to visit with a good selection. I fear that video games and the internet are probably grabbing the interest of a lot of kids and young adults in their teens and 20s. It is so very true that every hobby and interest needs to be passed on to the next generation or it will die quickly. I hope that full-size historic railroad preservation does not suffer the same fate.
Here is a google search with some news stories and links about the closure of this store:
http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&safe=off&q=san+antonio+hobby+mountain+view

Thank you for posting this very historic item for hobbysts in the southern San Francisco Bay Area of California !
--- Daniel