Where is the hobby going?

Model Railroader
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The recent thread about the NMRA has raised this question several times with people saying the NMRA should focus on where the hobby is going, not where it has been.

But despite my requests, no one has offered an explanation of where the hobby is going that the NMRA should be focusing on?

I see a model railroading hobby that is more diverse than it has ever been in the 57 years that I have been involved in it.

And “diverse” is not automatically positive or negative, mostly it is just different, with many more “choices” and approaches.

The hobby has always had those individuals who did new and innovative things and the exposure of their work in the hobby press has lead to general trends in how people view and practice the hobby.

This is a good thing - for the most part.

I have watched trends come and go, I have watched the products evolve, and I have watched new technology give us features previously only dreamed about.

And I have watched, learned, read about, tested, tried, and evaluated lots of these “innovations” over the years.

I have embraced some, and rejected some. Sometimes at significant waste of time and resources.

Others were easily dismissed as not being right for my modeling goals - a set of goals that has not changed much in 30 years.

So, I am asking, where is the hobby going - OR - where would you like it to be going? What are your modeling goals?

Maybe if the NMRA, the manufacturers, and the model press had a better idea of what matters most to most modelers, they could all do a better job?

I will be happy to share my views about any aspect of model railroading, but I would like to here what others feel is the “direction” of the hobby.

Sheldon

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The thing that worries me is the loss of local hobby shops. I don’t think that the internet replaces those, especially for people just entering the hobby.

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One area that’s growing in model railroading is called “S3R” or “Scale 3-Rail” modeling. Unfortunately, too many model railroaders have it stuck in their heads that any layout using an inside third rail is a “toy train layout” and has nothing to do with scale railroading…even though there are layouts (as has been featured in MR) that feature 1:48 brass engines made by Sunset, using DCC and/or Blunami to control the trains, 1:48 full-scale cars with Kadee couplers, and buildings and scenery as good as any other layouts. I would like to see model railroading become more inclusive for things like that.

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I have seen those types of layouts and they are very impressive, no question. At least in the modeling circles I travel in, I have never heard anyone disparage that type of modeling.

I will admit that beyond casual interest and simply enjoying the moment at an open house or modular setup at a train show, I am somewhat indifferent about all the other scales I don’t model in. Meaning I don’t need to know about what is available, or the details of what or how it is being done.

I have never really been tempted to model in more than one scale at a time, the idea of dividing my time or resources between multiple “separate” projects is not appealing to me. and I have never been tempted to change scales.

But I have plenty of respect for any and all good model work. In my youth I worked in several hobby shops and sold all scales and gauges.

Sheldon

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I am excited for the Hobby…

I am by no means an expert or even close to the level of skill and knowledge as the folks on here; why I am here to learn more…

BUT LET ME SAY THIS… I see the hobby going from “toy trains”. to uber levels of detail and “rivet counting” accuracy. Operations too… even better… Gone are the days of my American Flyer oval track on the carpet..

Can’t say much more because I don’t know much more, but computer scanning, AutoCAD, infinite detail at a push of a button … heck even sound and computer command…

Guys I think we’re just getting started.

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:cry:

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I am not sure where the hobby is going, but I see young kids enjoying it.
The owner of my local store says he has a large following of younger modellers now than of previous.

Our older granddaughter has a garden layout that is radio controlled.
Our younger granddaughter is more interested in 1-1 railways, and often helps me in running Sovereign Street.

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Consider yourself lucky. We no longer have “local stores” over here. It has become almost strictly Internet.

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I do, Rich. Only three miles away, and a very good one.

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I say that it’s mostly going in the right direction. One thing that isn’t going in the right direction is prices–and that’s because they’re going up. I like highly detailed models, but they’re the wrong thing for modelers to begin with. As such, I think that we need an option for less detailed, cheaper models.

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If you participate in various Model Train groups on Facebook then you will see tabletop and 4x8 “toy train” style layouts are very much alive and well.

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I am very envious. Not so many years ago, I had three with easy driving distance. No more.

Rich

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My closest model train store is about 45 miles and 45 minutes away (assuming no traffic issues). It’s a generic hobby shop (HobbyTown) with a section for model train stuff. I only stop in there if I am up in that area anyway (Parkside Dr, I tend to be up there to pickup orders from Total Wine :grin:).

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I agree about the loss of hobby shops. Roanoke VA will be losing the Railyard later this year, but a good railroad club can go a long way toward helping newcomers to the hobby. I joined the Roanoke Valley Model Railroaders 11 years ago and have never regretted it.

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If I had to predict where the next major move in model railroading would be, I’d guess it will be something with very small powerful batteries to power trains. For us N scale people, we might have to wait the longest.

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Lost hobby shops are a gigantic part of the future of model railroading both “toy” (have you looked at any recent Lionel Catalogs?) and scale. However over on the CTT side of things we see more and more people who had Lionel, American Flyer, IVES and Marx trains in their youth and evolved into scale HO and N modelers when they “grew up” returning to the simplicity and creative elegance of the toys of their youth.

Often they regret selling, trashing or giving their childhood trains away and they sell the HO and N (not often G) trains so they can buy back what they lost. For a fair few this happens as their eyesight becomes diminished or maybe (like me) their fingers aren’t as nimble as they used to be. Grandkids are also a common impetus for switching back to O, S and Standard Gauge as they discover the delights of introducing those youngsters to the same trains that captured their imaginations “way back when”.

Of course many of us never really left the three rail universe. Their ease of use through uncomplicated electricals and the durability of many of the products, notably Lionel, have kept us from looking elsewhere. In the 90s there was a dramatic Renaissance of the toy train universe as baby boomers started retiring and spending disposable income and free time to build the layouts of their dreams. (THEIR dreams, I’m early Gen X) And that drove a massive round of innovation in the marketplace as Lionel faced it’s first real competition since the 1960s.

MTH especially forced Lionel to innovate and compete and those of you who only model in the smaller scales are only recently starting to employ some of those high tech capabilities with simplifications and miniaturization of the electronics developed for O gauge 30 years ago. We had TrainMaster and ProtoSound where you now have DCC and Tsunami Sound.

Perhaps the best thing that came from the toy train wars of the 90s was that hobbyists started demanding and appreciating the higher level of detail and accuracy our larger scale affords. We have in die cast and brass today what was previously only available in HO and N. More importantly and worth nothing is the simple fact that those beautiful scale and semi scale models we acquired can really take a beating, especially the die cast locos.

Take a look at some of Lionel’s latest offerings. Especially the “Built to Order” expensive models. They now have features like whistle steam, cylinder exhaust, moving bells, programmable effects and even sparking pantographs.

Personally I still prefer the 20th century trains that are easier to maintain. I had early locos with electronics but they weren’t quite what they were claimed to be. So I stick with locomotives that can move when I open the throttle and leave the fancy sound effects to my imagination. Or a DVD playing in the background like “Big Boy Back In Steam”, “611 In Steam” or the classic “Life Begins At 40” featuring the 765.

What is the future of model railroading? Data. 3D printing will dominate and acquiring highly detailed files for everything from Locomotives to manhole covers will continue to dominate the growth sector of the hobby. Forget about dispensaries, they are cropping up everywhere. If you want an investment strategy get an excellent multi color 3D printer and start producing the kinds of models that hobbyists have had to make for themselves up until now. There’s a lot of room in the marketplace because specialty products that wouldn’t sell very well in a store, at least not well enough to justify the expense of stocking them in quantity to be profitable, coupled with the almost limitless possibilities for niche products and variations of those products will bring in a lot of money if marketed properly.

But above all getting your eye down to track level is at least twice as impressive in the larger scales. :wink:

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I have been following this thread with interest, but I have no idea where the hobby is going. I am not even sure what this means. Sheldon, I think that you need to help us here. Where is the hobby going?

Rich

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Long as I am alive the hobby is going great.

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You haven’t seen my layout. lol

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Can we?

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