I appreciate the editorial since it really pinpoints the matter of older model railroaders in the hobby.  I have loved mode trains since a little boy (Marx O-27 and American Flyer S to start; later H.O.).  I was "dormant" from my time in the Army until my children were older, when I re-entered the hobby with passion!  I am now 65 and have the time and the funds to enjoy the hobby.  It has come a long way since my early days!  Thanks for the thoughful words.  Love MRH!

John Cornette

Mebane, NC

When I came back to the hobby in the 1980's everybody was talking about how the hobby was dying out since very few people under 40 were involved with trains.  20-30 years later, many are saying the same thing, but most don't realize that as the older modelers die off, new middle aged modelers fill the gap, and the demographics of model railroaders seems to remain pretty constant.  I have heard some suggest that since kids often don't see trains in the real world anymore (depending on where they live), they aren't interested in model trains.  From what I've seen at the train shows, Thomas is the new Lionel, and I think as long as kids get interested in Thomas, they will eventually get into model railroading.

I think this might be the only well thought out, rational, analysis of the hobby demographic that I have come across.  I could not agree more.  Now wait for the "doomsday" model railroaders to see it and raise a fuss. [wink]

Yes I really enjoyed this article! talk about hitting the nail on the head! As you described my Railroad life to a "T" from age 9-18 I was heavy into Model Railroading then I went to war in Viet Nam. After 6 years of that I came out to start back into Model Railroading in the New at that time "N" Scale. at age 24 I dabbled for 3 years but from age 27 to 36 I didn't do any model railroading and then again at age 36 after 6 years of marriage I settled down and started over. This time in HO and HOn3 with the SP and some Narrow Gauge logging and mining short lines that all came to a Duel gauge interchange. I worked on that RR until age 42 and  that was interrupted by a move 3000 miles across the U.S.A. That was 16 years ago where 13 more years went buy That I worked and saved and invested my money until I started back into HOn3 with HO as a secondary and that started the one I'm working on now. Now at age 57 I own my home I make enough money to be able to put 1-4 hundred a month if I need to and have a great time enjoying the hobby. Now being semi-retired at age 57 is great.

If this article is 100% correct I have 10 years + to build until the next big rush of 40 year old men will join the hobby and jump in full blast to increase the number and see this same pole in MRH Issue #138 that's after 12 years of being a monthly Magazine.

Dan

I toyed around with the hobby back when I was eight, but as you mentioned, other things -- notably model cars, real cars, and vintage scooters -- distracted me. For whatever reason, I'm growing nostalgic at the "ripe" age of 23 for the GTW locos I used to wave at as a five-year-old, and I'm delving back in...

I think a lot of my newfound attraction stems with the local aspects I can tie into the hobby. I never really cared much for the ATSF scheme on my childhood Bachmann F7A, but I'm really interested in running GT, DT&I, and Ann Arbor RR equipment. It brings a sense of local anthropology to the hobby, if you will, and I (along with my patient and long-suffering fiancee) enjoy that.

I thoroughly agree - I've been putting together equipment on and off for 40 years but until now I haven't had the space for a layout.

You know, now that I have a bit of grey in my goatee, I often wonder if my kids will pick this up as a hobby.  With the growth of all sorts of other past-times I can understand the concern, but every time I run trains my 11 year old wants to take a turn.  Soon, I'll have neough track down to do a small operating session, and I can't wait to introduce her to the concept.

If we don't want the hobby to go grey, we all have to do some heavy lifitng to bring in the younger set.