I was just at the York pre TCA train meet and noticed that I was one of the youngest there. Now, I’m not trying to be negative in any way!! I’m just concerned about the future of the hobby. I’m 35 years old and it seemed to me that most people involved were of the age of 55 or older. Is this aspect of the hobby going to disapear in the next 20 years? Or will more young people become involved in it? Give me your opinion.
I am 42, and have done my best to see that the Hobby stays strong, I have given O-Gauge trains to 6 Nephews, 2 Nieces a Grand Daughter and some Family Friends, and ALL have been Thrilled with them.
At my LHS, Whistle Stop Trains here in Portland, OR Charlie the owner has said that while 3-Rail O-Gauge will never be the market force that HO is, it has been increasing in Popularity, and that sales are growing. Plus look at the improvements in the equipment available. It may not be the 50’s again, but it is a GREAT time to be into O-Gauge.
Doug
I am 27, I thought I was the youngest train collector too. I have been collecting since I was 6 years old, started with Z, then N, then HO, Now at O scale. I have been collecting postwar O gauge since 1994, and I probably have the biggest collection of anyone my age. I have umm 20 locos, 21 operating accessories, about 120 cars, few passenger sets, thats about it, few odds and ends. As of now, I have no one to pass it down to, I am single, more money for trains, hehehe. But, will prolly be an uncle in the next few years, then i will pass it to my brother’s kids. Yeah, when i go to train shows its always like men that are like 40 to 60 years old, never many younger men like myself, just keeps me wondering if the hobby will survive. I think this is the greatest hobby and would like to see it stay alive. Ebay and online things are helping beginners get trains for cheap, but train shows, no one is buying cause they are comparing to ebay prices. I am not sure what the hobby can do to get more young people to join TCA or whatever to make the hobby have a younger croud.
I’m 51 and almost 5 months here.
laz57
I turn 50 next week but have been involved in the hobby off and on for 25 years. Trains took a back seat to raising a family over many of those years. The hobby has been dominated by the 50 plus crowd for as long as I can remember. On a serious level, O gauge trains take up a lot of space and cash that many young families aren’t willing to commit. Once the kids are off on their own and the home is paid off is when people get serious about the hobby. The hobby has grown imensly over the past 25 years. Today’s Lionel catalog is 4 times thicker than the postwar and MPC Lionel catalogs. If the hobby were to die, the worst that can happen is a mountain of trains will become available for cheap prices. It is a waste of time to worry about the future. Enjoy trains for what they are today. We do a better job of promoting the hobby when we enjoy our trains anyway.
Just hit 53. back in it (now about 4 years) after being gone since 1969. Dabbled in HO for a while in the '80’s but that realy dosen’t count. Had trains all trough my early years up to about 14 when we moved. Just got to see and catalog Dad’s stuff in January and FINALLY got his 1666 to run. Never remembered it running, but it does now. My oldest helps out, he’s 29 and the youngest, she’s 14 and she does all the artestry. Wife, not so much, but she tolerates that and the car thing OK.
There is no way I’m telling anyone on this forum that I am 68 until June, not going to happen.
I grew up in Toledo Oh. trains ran everywhere. The 20th century limited stopped in Toledo but It ran through town at 70 MPH. My dad would take me to the station to watch trains. So I can’t remember anytime I did not like trains.
By sniffing around the major toy train forums, you’ll find many, many similar threads about demographics and the future of the hobby - my reading on their consensus: Like many other hobbies, whilst there is a huge ‘bulge’ of baby boomers and pre-boomers, interest among us young’uns will keep it going. And whilst this might be a sort of second golden age for O gauge, the hobby has always been shifting / changing. I’m 45 for another two-weeks anyway.
40-somethin’-something. Back when I was 20-somethin’-something there was this concern for future of the hobby…
…breathe into this paper bag…
I remember going to train shows in the Chicago area in the late 1970’s (when I was about your age) and noticing that I was among the youngest there; most others appeared to be in their 50’s and up. Now I am part of the older crowd.
I am 62 and have been involved with trains since I can remember. Let’s say 4-yr old through 14 with Lionel; from 20 (when my first son was born) through 48, with HO; and as of just recently, with ‘O’ gauge.
I think perhaps, regardless of specific era, many kids in their teens have other interests that take up all of their time. Then, when they marry, finances are sort of skimpy. A bit later things look better and ‘we’ return to trains.
Alex
If you really want to know…2 x 33 + …[:)]
50 is the new 40 …
Bob – not according to Dennis Hopper in those investment commercials!
Anyway, uh, uh, what was the question???
Oh yeah, I’m 60 (I think).
NAILED IT.
I’ll be 51 in two months[:P]
The Chief is 105 and I am 4 1/2, see photo on the left of this post. Kinda look old for my age.
Right…and I’m 19.
I’m almost 36. I’ve been involved one way or another through my dad, who is 70, since I was 6 years old.
I’ll be 67 in 1 month less a day. Have had trains since a Marx set in 1947 followed by my first Lionel in 1948.