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.
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
NO !!!
Stan.
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.
[#ditto]
Rick
Nope, and I’m a 64 year old teenager!!![(-D][(-D]
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.
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).
If it is doomed-----why am I still spending money on it ?
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
[#ditto] again!![:D]
Not as long as I have a bank account!!!
[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]
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.
Check the Teen Coffee Shop. There are 20+ teens on there and we all model.
I love modeling! The hobby is not dieing.
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.
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 .
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
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?
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.
No way! Sides, I believe God likes to model. [:D]