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With the rising cost of everything in today's world, and with the new generation less interested in classic hobbies like model trains, is this hobby still worth it? More and more model train manufacturers are going out of business. Do you think that in terms of survival, should model train companies only offer made-to-order trains and accessories? Or will this hobby survive solely on used trains on ebay?
Is the hobby still worth it… I think that anything that puts a smile on your face is worth it.
This hobby is still enjoyable whether you run the latest tech out there or eighty year old blue box locos.
Brass, plastic, wood, Lego, all good.
Am I going to run a thirty six car train made up of super detailed freight cars at a hundred dollars a pop, not likely although there are some that can and will and it makes them happy.
The tariffs won’t be around forever, I’m not getting into that.
As someone in their very early 60s - yes it's worth it.
The problems the industry has to deal with are the same as for every other hobby business.
I'm in both Table-top Wargaming (TTWG) and MRR hobbies. They are similar but very different.
The TTWG hobbie has a broader and younger hobbyist base. Kids love games. Especially building and painting models, using terrain techniques to "base" the models, making portable terrain pieces for their gaming tabletops.
The is a small pipeline between the two hobbies, but there needs to be a broader one. Sooooo many hobby activities are shared between the two.
We are still in the Golden Age of Model Railroading. Look around and see the opportunities for equipment, structures, track and endless power possibilities. Prices, if you compare prices of equipment in the 1970’s it’s not really much different then hearing dad say in the 1970’s what gas cost in the 30’s when he was growing up or the cost of bread. It’s all relative. I remember having to save in the 1970’s to buy a Athearn engine or save awhile for the piece of PFM steam brass I wanted. It’s no different now but jobs pay better so goods will cost more. It’s always been that way
I’m fortunate and worked very hard to get to where I am in retirement. I have 105 freights cars (just finished the inventory yesterday) and 5 are Accurail the rest are higher end models. I have at home 6 diesels, 5 Athearn Genesis with sound and 1 Bowser with sound. There are 3 more AG at the painters. My layout is smallish at a 61’ long point to point main. It’s a switching layout.
I was at an OPS session Saturday on a huge layout. 600 cars on the layout. Not a higher end freight car on the layout. The owner said a 50/50 split between Athearn BB and Accurail cars. All with Kadee couplers, heavily weighted and steel wheels. This was his beta operating session as he has spent 10 years building the layout and buying equipment. It takes time.
Most model train companies that have gone out of business are the mom and pop shops where there might have been 2-3 employees and most likely family members. They had no real business or succession plan and if they were making a true profit they were rare. I can show you many 3-d printer guys who have model railroad details for sail.
As for the video, it’s been around at least 2 months now. Of the group that spoke they will survive or be brought out. Walthers will find a way as will Scaletrains. Tariffs are annoying but I can go scorched earth on those but my rant or anybody else’s right now is worthless. There is one man who thinks he controls that. The courts and eventually Congress will have their say. They are not around forever
I’m not worried about the hobby. I actually think it’s more accessible and community friendly because of social media like Facebook, YouTube Tube, Instagram, Reddit and forums like this. As for pricing people out of the hobby, I don’t think so. It’s always been expensive
There are many entry points to this hobby. It won't die. There will be shifts in the market.
Inexpensive, not cheap, modestly detailed DC engines or more costly (and yes expensive) highly detailed DCC w/sound engines. You get what you pay for. Some run flawlessly and some are almost disposable. The same goes for rolling stock.
Yes, you can buy old Tyco, Bachmann, Athearn BB, Stewart/Kato, Atlas etc from the 70's-90's if you want, but with the quality that's available now I would rather buy once, cry once.
I have spoken with a lot of people at swap meets and at LHS and the general consensus it that people really don't want to build anymore. There's a reason Woodland Scenics is doing so well with their pre-built structure line. Walthers has found their niche with fairly easy to build (their instructions have a lot to be desired) plastic kits, with color already molded in. Scratch building and wood kits are a small fraction of the market.
Heck, there are some people that just like to collect and display stuff.
I guess my point is that this hobby has something for everyone.
You know, if push comes to shove, model railroaders can always go back to scratchbuilding using wood, plastic and sheet metals that are readily available without being affected by tariffs. That may not appeal to everyone, but it is still a potential source, not to mention providing and opportunity to engage in new efforts in the hobby.
You know, if push comes to shove, model railroaders can always go back to scratchbuilding using wood, plastic and sheet metals that are readily available without being affected by tariffs. That may not appeal to everyone, but it is still a potential source, not to mention providing and opportunity to engage in new efforts in the hobby.
You pays your money and takes your choices. I don't have the adjusted figures for today versus an HO scale steam locomotive in 1954...$24.95, for DC only, no sound. The late Paul Harvey used to tell about the old man who remembered when a dollar was worth a dime. Inflation has boosted the value of a dollar to where it is too expensive to mint pennies and nickels. Personally, I haven't got the money to buy a DCC with sound steamer from BLI, but then again I have more locomotives than I have space to run them on.
OP asks: "With the rising cost of everything in today's world, and with the new generation less interested in classic hobbies like model trains, is this hobby still worth it?"
Once I built a railroad
Made it run
Made it race against time
Once I built a railroad
Now it's done
Brother, can you spare a dime...?
This hobby won't die. We will, however, eventually lose the plug n play hobbyists. Those who are willing to put in the effort will find their rewards. Those who don't will drift away. It's like anything else in life. You get out of it what you put into it
With the rising cost of everything in today's world, and with the new generation less interested in classic hobbies like model trains, is this hobby still worth it? More and more model train manufacturers are going out of business. Do you think that in terms of survival, should model train companies only offer made-to-order trains and accessories? Or will this hobby survive solely on used trains on ebay?
Here we go again! If you don't think this hobby is worth it, find another. For each manufacturer that goes out of business, a new one will enter the market....
With the rising cost of everything in today's world, and with the new generation less interested in classic hobbies like model trains, is this hobby still worth it? More and more model train manufacturers are going out of business. Do you think that in terms of survival, should model train companies only offer made-to-order trains and accessories? Or will this hobby survive solely on used trains on ebay?
I’ve only been fully involved in the hobby for about ten years but from what I’ve learned, it’s always been expensive. Just like anything else that has gone up in cost, if a person is interested in the hobby, there are ways to be a part of the hobby without breaking the bank. Sure, a person might not be able to have their dream layout right away but if they can practice delayed gratification, they’ll be rewarded in the end.
On a different note, I don’t believe that the hobby is dying but it is definitely changing. That goes for the types of modelers too. Many younger model railroaders I speak to are definitely interested in the technology aspect of the hobby but many are still interested in the scratch building and DIY aspects as well.
Just as model railroad sales have transitioned to primarily over the internet, a lot of the modeling community connects over the internet versus in person. I think this is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it allows modelers to connect on a greater scale and share their skills and projects with each other. On the other, it takes away from the ability to socialize in person and develop relationships with modelers and actually work together on projects. If a person can spend time engaging with both local and worldwide audiences through clubs and online platforms, they should certainly do so in my opinion.
I’m still excited for the future of this hobby and I look forward to what it will bring to modelers in the future
Any hobby is only worth what enjoyment a person receives from indulging in that hobby. It is your choice how "involved" you become in your hobby no matter what.
For me I believe a person is more content if he/she has something to do that they enjoy doing to escape the everyday hum-drum of life as time allows. A hobby should serve the person not the opposite. So the amount of money or time you spend should be balanced with other responsibilities in ones life.
Well that is my two cents worth......John
And who says a dollar isn't worth as much as it used to be. I can still get four quarters for a dollar any day.
