One thing in the Baltimore area that helps keep interest high in toy trains and model railroading are the Christmas Train Gardens that Fire Stations and shopping malls erect at the holidays. There are dozens of them through out the region in all different sizes, scales and guages with hugh amounts of animated accessories and scenes. Thousands of families go to see these miniture holiday wonderlands and the oh’s and ah’s are heard from the young and old alike. This has become a true holiday tradition that is even shown on the local news. Local clubs, individuals and even MTH help sponser them.
At the train shows the local clubs set up their modular displays and just seeing them is worth the price of admission. By promoting the hobby in this way we create family traditions and attract new individuals to our ranks. Even my sister now has a train under her Christmas tree for her grand children to enjoy.
They are joining the “Mom and Pop” drug stores, shoe repair, hardware stores, camera shops, etc. However, we still have a major train retailer, N. Smith Trains, nearby…and the radio control cars/planes/boats people are keeping our hobby shops solvent. Our town even has a big 5&10 type store…and a TROLLEY!
From a dealers point of view the hobby isnt dying, it is changing. I can speak from the prewar tinplate end, and basically in general. The biggest catalyst of the change is without question the devil we all know as Ebay. I hate it and love it at the same time. Basically it killed the hobby shops dead. They never had a chance. It also is doing in the TCA although much slower. It also has bludgeoned trains shows beyond expression. Prices have plummeted on most average condition toy trains. This leaves many collectors frustrated that they paid 4k for a 381E in 1990 and couldnt get 1500 today. They simply throw in the towel disgusted. People need to wake up and roll with the punches…ADAPT! I suppose i should explain the TCA comment. Many new collectors, im not talking about the people who for some reason buy repros, are weened on ebay. They dont ever learn the coveted train relationships. They freeze when contacted personally and just dont know how to handle personal relationships. I think we will see a roller coaster ride in values, and interest, but the fact remains that their is new blood we just need to nurture them and show them the ways of the train Jedi.
I know there are many factors in the downward trend in the train hobby. A few thoughts:
- Kids are more entertained by constant changing scenes (flashing lights, action, etc) the likes of which they find in video games. They can play for hours on end. - Parents have become consumed with their own issues and actually welcome the fact that their kids will sit in front of a computer or TV, or DS and not interrupt the parent’s activities. - There are more choices for entertainment, like 200 channels on TV to choose from, etc.
If we were to invest more time in our kids, and for this topic, our sons, they would come to like many of the things we like. For our home, I enjoy the times when my kids come to work on the layout with me. It not only gives us time together, it imparts knowledge that they would not likely get without the investment of that time. How many of us have learned mechanics and wiring basics from working with our Dads because they invited us along in both their hobbies and their work on the house, etc.
We have a saying at our church Whoever wants the next generation the most, will get them. Basically, they will learn about life and how to deal with issues either from their parents, or they will get them from the world. If you don’t tell your daughters how precious and beautiful they are, don’t be surprised when they run off with someone who will. If you don’t tell your son how much you love him and want to see him grow up and be a good moral father, don’t be surprised when he follows a path of poor judgement. And we do this all with being a good example for them to follow.
Unless these kids are going to spend a whole lot of time with you at your house (or where ever you layout is located) I don’t think there is anything you can do to entice them.
It’s up to parents to engage their kids in constructive activities, and to steer them away from TV and video games.
As far as the hobby being in trouble is concerned: I guess if one defines the hobby by the availability of newly made product, perhaps it is. But if one defines the hobby as building a model railroad, running trains, and/or collecting, then the hobby is doing just fine. The population may shrink, but there will folks interested for a long time to come.
Unless these kids are going to spend a whole lot of time with you at your house (or where ever you layout is located) I don’t think there is anything you can do to enti
I don’t think the O Gauge hobby is in trouble at all … otherwise Kader, which has its hand in so many gauges via Bachmann would not have bought Williams, then Sanda Kan. Mismanagement? Sure … in all the usual places. And I can think of at least one marginal player that surprises me only that they remain in business. Hobby shop closings? As it should be if they are not providing top notch factory supported repair services or cut throat pricing. Remember, per Lionel’s own filings w/ the bankruptcy judge a few yrs ago: O Gauge is a $100 million dollar hobby … and that is only for the primary importer/manufacturers. No bailouts need here … only a couple of regime changes.[oX)]
i think one of the biggest problems the hobby will have in the future if not right now will be or is the price of trains and accessories if bought from hobby shops and dealers. as far as im concerned lionel has vertually priced themselves completely out of my buying ability and now with them getting rid of k-line , i guess i wont be buying any more k-line by lionel ether. I only hope that atlas dosen’t decide to price thier items so high that you have to take out a second mortgage on your home to be able to buy a locomotive. I do buy items from ebay when i can only because i can find real bargains on trains and accessories there. I often entertain thoughts of giving up the hobby because all i can see for its future is that if your not a multy billionaire pretty soon you want be able to afford even a simple circle of track with train on it!