The question comes up on this site as to increase or decline in the hobby, I remember in the 1950’s in a city of @ 25,000 people there wasn’t even 6 guys into HO, there was a LOT of Lionel trains around, do you include these Lionel childhood setups as model railroaders?? I would think the amount of equipment back then was fairly limited, but still they must have sold a lot of stuff, I guess now we have to find out comparatively the difference in volume then and now, and will this be accurate, as some model railroaders have 300 locomotives along with several hundred cars. Now that I think about this, it becomes a very complicated question, I have no idea about the state of the hobby. Do you??
I remember in the early sixties almost every kid either had a train set or wanted one. Granted, they were Lionel (like I had) or “train set quality” HO. Lionel may have been out of scale and tinplate, but it was robust and worked well. I think the hobby, and this is my opinion as I have very little facts to back it up (nor do I care), is much more diversified and divisive than it was in the past. There are many more SIGs, magazines and web sites that cater to different scales, gauges, prototypes, eras, model and scratch building vs operation and layout conctruction etc than there were in the past. No longer can a general magazine, LHS, or manufacturermuch satisfy everyone’s special interests.
Besides the big companies and Walthers that cater mostly to mainstream modelers, there are many proprietary cottage industries that are not listed in Walthers, general magazines or most LHSs that can only be accessed via online, phone, specialty hobby shops, or through mail order. I’ve noticed that modelers in minority scales and gauges are more numerous today and that more major companies are supporting these interests with quality RTR, kits, and other supplies. For example: On30, Large Scale, S scale, narrow gauge, traction, and even TT scale.
I think sometimes we overestimate the popularity of trains in the 1950s and 1960s. Sure, lots of us got trains for Christmas or birthdays, but how many stayed with it for any length of time and got seriously hooked. I don’t remember any of my friends having trainsets of any scale. Slot cars were catching on in popularity and model car building was very popular too. Trains were an expensive hobby back then, probably more so than today if you adjust for inflation. I don’t think their were a lot of kids who could afford to keep a layout going. Model railroading is and always has been a niche hobby. I don’t think it ever has or ever will have a large segment of the population seriously involved.
The hobby seems to be doing fine. Look at the products, look at the array of information. Look how many guys have really nice layouts. There are layouts posted on this board that are as fine as anything in the magazines.
The undersigned model railroader, by contrast, is definitely in decline.
Dave Nelson
As in the past, I think this thread is just going to turn into a multi-page conversation of speculation. Whether the popularity of our beloved hobby is in decline, increasing, or maintaining status quo is irrelevent.
We need to do our best to make the hobby as appealing as possible, at the same time not worrying if folks see it the same way we do. The last couple of train shows that I’ve been to seem to indicate it ain’t doin’ too badly…
Tom
I think the hobby is doing just fine, thank you.
I was in one of my favorite LHS’ the other day and was really pleased to see several families shopping. Not only for Dad, but Dad’s Little Helper, and gloriosky–the wife, who was critically eyeing some kits.
Actually, I tend to see this more and more, when I’m in my LHS–people half my age–and their kids, browsing and buying. And not train-set stuff, but really quality model railroad items.
In fact, I remarked quietly to one of the clerks, “I’m beginning to feel like an Old Fart.”
He grinned. “YOU are? I’m only thirty!”
Things look pretty good for the hobby from my perspective.
Tom [:P]
If we look just to train shows for an indicator of the robustness of the hobby, I would have to say it is at least holding its own. There are three on Vancouver Island between February and Victoria Day long weekend in May. The places are packed, dollars kaching there ways back and forth, packages enter and exit the doors, people shout in each others’ ears, grins and claps on the back, photo albums come out, …
On a sad note, though, the LHS in Nanaimo is shutting down due to retirement and also to pressure from internet sales…this from horse’s mouth. That leaves two about four hours apart, and the one closest has the wife running the business while her husband slowly loses his battle with Parkinson’s. There will come a time when the only communion we have with one another will be at clubs and shows…well, here, too.
Like others have said, the hobby is maintaining its own. However, train shops aren’t doing all that well anymore due to all the internet stores out there now. I very rarely walk into a train shop now a days because I can either buy locos and rolling stock off of the web, or go to Hobby Lobby for track and other items.
Tracklayer
I think that’s true. At least for S scale times have never been better. While there isn’t nearly the hobby shop coverage, internet and shows keep me going very well. The major hole has been steam engines, but that is changing with 2-8-0, 4-6-2, 4-6-4, and 4-8-4 currently available in scale.
When I first looked at S in the late 70’s, it looked like it was going to die. But in 93’ I made the switch and have been really happy with it. Every year it seems to get better.
Enjoy
Paul
Judging from the turnout at our club’s annual open house, I do not see a decline in interest in model trains. Sure, not everyone who attended is active in the hobby, but we had our largest turnout ever this year, and with less advertising! We are in a pretty small town (Delmar, MD) and had 2000 or so a weekend for 3 weekends!
The sky is falling! The sky is falling! Maybe not.
the thing is that most people see trains, real trains and they really dont care, or they dont understand how the whole system works, real or model trains. i think the reasearch is the best part, you can learn alot about your community and railroding , get a camera out and take pictures.
Depends on who you ask…Ask any dealer today at the Bucyrus Train Show and he would tell you there is a ill wind blowing…I seen older release Atlas locos as low as $50.00 for the Alco switchers and $65.00 for the older release GP38-2s…I seen the older P2K locos for as low as $40.00 from the SW1200s to the E8s.DCC sets at bargain basement prices.I have notice INFLATED prices on lower price engines and cars like Athearn,Walthers,Accurail and Atlas Trainman.I notice inflated prices on track and switches.DCC/Sound was 5-10% below full MRSP…
Of course there was tons of TYCO,AHM and Train set Bachmann at ridiculous prices…
So,yeah,I think we are seeing a shift in the hobby again.
We know the hobby has been in decline for several years now.This should not come as a great surprise seeing all hobbies are in decline.
I am a self-admitted post-war Lionel fanatic. I’m 62 years old. I too, grew up in a town of about 25000 to 30000 people in the 1950’s. Back then, practically every childhood buddy of mine had a Lionel train of some description. There were a few who had American Flyer, and some had Marx; the point of this statement being that toy trains were THE toy of choice back in the fifties. We had at least six different hobby shops back then, and all seemed to do well, because they were here for years. Then the chronology of newer interests (hockey, baseball, etc.), then girls, then marriage, then kids (hopefully for most, in that order) had a drastic effect on the hobby. I remember a few guys that were into HO back in the fifties, but they were much older than I was, and were real serious modelers, but I suspect that they too got to their serious hobby after the girls, marriage, etc.
Nowadays, there are MANY more interests for a kid to get involved in, albeit a few of them are into trains (I know my 3-year-old grandson is!) Like anything, it takes encouragement from someone who has experience to get the newer generation interested.
I can’t speak for all train enthusiasts, but judging from the HUGE interest in Lionel postwar trains, on places like Ebay, Stout Auctions, Maurer Auctions, Choo-choo Auctions, etc., I’d say that the hobby is MORE than alive and well. A lot of the old-style train meets (you know, the ones that were held in a school auditorium, or some public hall) at least around here, have virtually disappeared, but I don’t think it’s from lack of interest in the hobby; it’s because it’s a lot more convenient to sit in front of a computer and either bid on or buy an item from a seller on the other end. Times sure have changed, haven’t they?
Hoo boy. Here we go around again.
I dont think it is in decline, today’s Pine Bluff Trainshow was FULL of people buying and participating with Model Railroading in all scales. Later on, the Hobbyshop was full of people coming and going.
True,but,thats the old choir.I seen that today at the Bucyrus show…A lot of old faces I see around…In other words old line modelers was filling the show.
Yes, the Old Line. Hopefully they can hold the place long enough for our children to grow into the hobby.
I hope we can…I was at the Bucyrus Train show yesterday and didn’t see that many young smiling faces.The majority was gray and white beards…A worrisome sight considering how popular the hobby is in this area.Of course the Internet prices may be a factor as well.
There was some deals to be found but,most prices could be beaten by shopping on line.
Tatans here: WOW what a great bunch of responses, I have to agree with every one, there are some of the most intelligent replies I have read*( and I promise never to mention this subject* again) this indicates to me that the hobby is in a reliable state with the comments posted. I assume the ups and downs of the hobby really don’t matter to the individual, it’s assured the hobby will be around for a while with the attitudes posted here. This was not intended to be a poll, but the results so far are very encouraging.
At our Model RR club we have two junior members.[tup] Me and another member.
A lot of clubs don’t allow members under 18.[tdn]
I’m glad I found a club that excepts junior members.
Bonus: Club is 5 minutes away! [tup] [swg]