Interesting Yahoo article today:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070303/us_nm/life_trains_dc;_ylt=AqIweqMZEHraY7mB46tUNmRH2ocA
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070303/us_nm/life_trains_dc;_ylt=AqIweqMZEHraY7mB46tUNmRH2ocA
New model railroaders?
- Thread starter cidchase
- Start date
cool. hopefully more customers = lower prices. But they only talked about large scale trains. What about us N Scalers 
Sam,
You can only hope that even if only large scale is used, that the exposure to model trains will bring new pepole into the world of model tranis, no mater what scale it may be.
You can only hope that even if only large scale is used, that the exposure to model trains will bring new pepole into the world of model tranis, no mater what scale it may be.
yeah true. I am not too worried, I mean, N Scale IS the second most popular. But Im guessing those young kids that get those big Polar Express and Harry Potter sets will grow up and buy either N or HO scale sets.
Well. I see by your profile that you are of the younger generation of model railroaders.
What got you into model trains? ;l
What got you into model trains? ;l
It must have been programmed into my Genetic Code or something...Maybe Thomas...maybe living just down the street from a busy Santa Fe mainline in Orange, Ca when I was little...OR all of that. Niether of my parents had but a small interest in Model Railroading, my dad had some trains as a kid, but prefered slot cars.
Miles,
Well my question and statement about younger model railroaders was directed to Sam, but I can see that some ( you) of the younger generation are into model trains. Cool!:thumb: I think the hobby needs the new blood. The only thing I don't understand, all you younsters seam to run those stinking diesels.
Sign of the times I guess.
Well my question and statement about younger model railroaders was directed to Sam, but I can see that some ( you) of the younger generation are into model trains. Cool!:thumb: I think the hobby needs the new blood. The only thing I don't understand, all you younsters seam to run those stinking diesels.
Sign of the times I guess.woodone said:Miles,
Well my question and statement about younger model railroaders was directed to Sam, but I can see that some ( you) of the younger generation are into model trains. Cool!:thumb: I think the hobby needs the new blood. The only thing I don't understand, all you younsters seam to run those stinking diesels.
u know, I got into model railroading the exact opposite a lot of yall got into it. I never had a train set around the christmas tree. my dad never had a layout. Nothing like that. I guess now that Im older, I am kind of going back and living that part of my childhood that I did not have. When I was little, we lived in El Paso, and we lived about a mile from UP tracks. Those tracks are literally connected from one mountain to the other by two really long bridges. Everytime I would hear the train horn, I would run outside and watch the train go through the bridges and on to Mountain Cristo Rey. As I got a little older, we moved to Ruidoso, New Mexico, but we would drive down to El Paso every couple weeks to visit family. From Alamogordo to El Paso, its the most boring and straight 65 miles of highway I have ever been through. But the UP tracks are parallel to the highway, so my mom would be like "Ok guys, lets count how many trains this one has."
Its cool nowadays that I have learned the types and names of locomotives used. My dad doesnt like to drive with me because everytime we drive by a train, I say things like "Hey look, that is an SD70M, followed by a Dash9-44W and two SD40-2s" and my dad would be like "what the heck are you talking about?
"As far as why the newer generations arent using as much steam locomotives? Well, we just dont see them anymore on the roads. Most are really loud and dont pull as many trains. And if you want a really cool, big steam locomotive, you gotta spend 300 dollars (Athearn Challenger hehe).
I think it's important to at least plant the seeds and see what comes out of it. Let's face it. How many of us started out with true model grade equipment? I certainly didn't. And while I had a train set as a kid, I didn't get into what we call model railroading until I was in my mid twenties. I was sick with the chicken pox (yes, in my twenties) and my Wife brought me home an Athearn blue-box B&O passenger car kit to build to keep me busy. It took me all of 20 minutes, and I was hooked. Now, I build craftsman buildings and run expensive locomotives.
I think one of the problems we're going to see is that it's just too expensive for kids to go from the "trainset" to model railroading because there's very little in between. Athearn, MDC, and even Walther's kits were inexpensive, and certainly a cut above trainset quality. Now, everything is ready-to-run and costs 3 or 4 times as much. Sure, the Athearn GP-50 RTR looks and performs better than the old blue box specials. But the cost is out of reach for most kids.
However, having said that, I will never, ever again put together another Intermountain Cylindrical Hopper kit.
I think one of the problems we're going to see is that it's just too expensive for kids to go from the "trainset" to model railroading because there's very little in between. Athearn, MDC, and even Walther's kits were inexpensive, and certainly a cut above trainset quality. Now, everything is ready-to-run and costs 3 or 4 times as much. Sure, the Athearn GP-50 RTR looks and performs better than the old blue box specials. But the cost is out of reach for most kids.
However, having said that, I will never, ever again put together another Intermountain Cylindrical Hopper kit.
Sam I own one train over the $300 mark. Most every other train is around the $150 level however don’t forget about the many under $100 steamers out there. It is very easy to pick up a very good Lionel or even one of those Marx steamers well under the $100 mark. They even come with cool features like smoke and a whistle.
Ok I checked my inventory and forgot I bought a MTH diesel for around $250. The Lionel Mikado Steamer was the expensive one.
To be frank I don’t think I ever saw an operating steam locomotive in my life and well I am a lot older than most people but they just didn’t run them in my part of the state in the late 1960’s.
While Dad did get me my first train set I can’t recall him and I spending a lot of time playing with it together. It was just something that went around the Christmas tree for a few weeks. I think he may have spent more time when I was very young but I just don’t recall it. :cry:
Strange as it may seem most people I personally know never had a train when they were young. Yet they now have larger collections and more expensive ones than I do. I boil it down to a few things, good economy with an interest to do something they wanted to do as a kid. The sad part is they say they got into it for their children but because of the investment they don’t let them play with it. Go figure!!!!!!!
I had at least a 40-year gap between my train years. Why did I get back into it was very simple I had the money and after I bought both girls train sets it was then time to get something I always wanted as a kid. It is so cool having the train set I couldn’t own as a kid. :thumb::thumb:
[FONT="]That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.[/FONT]
Ok I checked my inventory and forgot I bought a MTH diesel for around $250. The Lionel Mikado Steamer was the expensive one.
To be frank I don’t think I ever saw an operating steam locomotive in my life and well I am a lot older than most people but they just didn’t run them in my part of the state in the late 1960’s.
While Dad did get me my first train set I can’t recall him and I spending a lot of time playing with it together. It was just something that went around the Christmas tree for a few weeks. I think he may have spent more time when I was very young but I just don’t recall it. :cry:
Strange as it may seem most people I personally know never had a train when they were young. Yet they now have larger collections and more expensive ones than I do. I boil it down to a few things, good economy with an interest to do something they wanted to do as a kid. The sad part is they say they got into it for their children but because of the investment they don’t let them play with it. Go figure!!!!!!!
I had at least a 40-year gap between my train years. Why did I get back into it was very simple I had the money and after I bought both girls train sets it was then time to get something I always wanted as a kid. It is so cool having the train set I couldn’t own as a kid. :thumb::thumb:
[FONT="]That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.[/FONT]
I model steam, heck, I model the late 1940's and early 1950's, because I enjoy steam (SP& ATSF) and Early diesels, mostly because I can appreciate the wonderful induustrial design period that the Transition era typified. Who doesn't love two steamers barking their way upgrade in a canyon? 
Renovo PPR said:Sam I own one train over the $300 mark. Most every other train is around the $150 level however don’t forget about the many under $100 steamers out there. It is very easy to pick up a very good Lionel or even one of those Marx steamers well under the $100 mark. They even come with cool features like smoke and a whistle.
Ok I checked my inventory and forgot I bought a MTH diesel for around $250. The Lionel Mikado Steamer was the expensive one.
To be frank I don’t think I ever saw an operating steam locomotive in my life and well I am a lot older than most people but they just didn’t run them in my part of the state in the late 1960’s.
While Dad did get me my first train set I can’t recall him and I spending a lot of time playing with it together. It was just something that went around the Christmas tree for a few weeks. I think he may have spent more time when I was very young but I just don’t recall it. :cry:
Strange as it may seem most people I personally know never had a train when they were young. Yet they now have larger collections and more expensive ones than I do. I boil it down to a few things, good economy with an interest to do something they wanted to do as a kid. The sad part is they say they got into it for their children but because of the investment they don’t let them play with it. Go figure!!!!!!!
I had at least a 40-year gap between my train years. Why did I get back into it was very simple I had the money and after I bought both girls train sets it was then time to get something I always wanted as a kid. It is so cool having the train set I couldn’t own as a kid. :thumb::thumb:
[FONT="]That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.[/FONT]
thats really cool that u got back into the hobby after so long. I am mostly a collector, for I do not have space to build a layout. and I am new to the San Antonio area and I have not done much research on clubs and such. Actually, I do have about seven steam locomotives. But diesels are a little more available and Kato doesnt make many steamers. Still, it doesnt compare to the 80 + diesels I own. Funny you say you never saw a steam locomotive. I have seen a couple and I have ridden a one when I went on the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge. I recomend that to anyone. Its really cool
Who doesn't love two steamers barking their way upgrade in a canyon?
I sure do!
,i got into it since my father used to own a small lionel set that he had on a 4 by 8,but i had no money and did not get into it until i was at a hobby shop and saw an ho scale santa fe set.if ell in love but its long gone now and im starting a 10 by 10 permanent C&O layout in my basement.and although i love steamers to death,i still love the smell of deisel in the mornin.--joshI'm with Miles, Im almost 40, and have never seen an operational steam engine in my life, but I do own a few; BIg Boy, Challenger, a couple of 4-8-4 mountains, a couple of Mikado's, and will use them on my layout for mainly passenger excursions. The closest I have come to a real one, was one that was on display here in town for a few years, and they let it get into bad shape. It now resides in Macon, GA in a museum, as it was once an ACL steamer. We may have never seen steam run, but do admire the contribution it made for the next generation of railroading.
In the same aspect, I own a couple of Gevos from Tower55 in SP Black widow scheme, which I've grown to admire quite well, (enough to paint 5 dash9's and decall the same way).:thumb:
In the same aspect, I own a couple of Gevos from Tower55 in SP Black widow scheme, which I've grown to admire quite well, (enough to paint 5 dash9's and decall the same way).:thumb:
Thoroughbreed said:
Ive never seen one, but I hear the detail on those Tower 55 products is outstanding. do they live up to the hype?
Yes sir, they do. The drive mechanism is so sensitive to slow speed, the detail work is excellent also.:thumb:SeriousSam said:
As soon as they release an NS Gevo, gonna get a couple:thumb: :thumb:
awesome. I might get one, u know, just for display purposes, since I model N. I hope they do an N Scale version someday, since OVerland cancelled their GEVOs in N.
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I suppose that's the advantage Europeans have: the ability to not be a senior citizen and still remember steam.