I think we all agree the products available for the hobby now are way better than 20+ years ago.

BUT - how is the hobby itself doing? What does it need to inject new life into it? I think of the developments in the 1980s with staging, serious proto-freelancing (V&O) instead of tongue-in-cheek-fanciful (think Gorre & Daphetid for you old-timers) and linear walk-around design. In that era there was a sense of new wonder at doing the hobby using the latest insights.

What does the hobby need now to really get people excited about it again? Would you agree the hobby is drifting today, without a real sense of direction being provided like there was 20 years ago?

Personally, I am most excited by Operations, and I get the feeling that Ops is becoming more and more popular in our hobby. Anyone else agree (or disagree with that?)

Anyway, I hope the future of model railroading includes more and more realistic Operations, though I'm not exactly what that will look like.

With respect to the internet and model railroading, I've been on another forum talking about the possibility of online operations, where a bunch of people are doing real-time ops on their computers, but all on the same layout. Something like that would appeal to people (like me) who don't have much time to spend on their "real" layout. Maybe it would appeal to the younger, online generation in general? Perhaps this could also excite people to get into the "real" world of our hobby?

Thanks,

Al

Okay Joe ! When are you going to post your senior picture ? Just curious> 

JoeF reply: So as to not derail this thread any further, here's a link to my senior picture.

Revelations for me was buying my first blue box and assembling it and finding it would pull a decent length train on the layout .Having run tyco an Hornby type equipment prior to this.Flywheels to give inertia so that it run on.The Atlas -roco RSD 4-5 being a example of this even if you left the throttle off and the direction switch set it would move with just the ac feed to make the motor to over come stalls. Down side of that was if I put more than two lashed together it would blow the controller.It was nothing for one of these Athearns  to pull three quarters of an amp to get goin, an down here in Oz ther wasn't a great selection of controllers unless you built it your self.today they use less than half of that but sound is chewin into it and the weight on the loco's.It will improve though.         

in the future I can see loco's that run out of fuel coal water etc and have to be recovered or you have to go to a tower or service centre in time to stop this from happening.maybe consist this with an operatioal loco as the only means of gettin it back with out using the five finger crane.cars with motion sensors in them for wheel sqeals coupler crash. etc.BLI already doin sound on their stock cars brought this to mind-Les

PS I suppose the above comments bring a whole new meaning to humpyard

DCC is the best think to happen to model railroading in the last 20 years. I built the CTC-16 back in the 1980s from articals in Model Railroader. Back then I was amazed that more modelers werent interested in the new technology.That was an analog system. Now we have DCC and it is widely used. I think the next big thing to come down the pike will be transponding. Giving us the ability to know and track  where every locomotive and rolling stock is on the layout. Also I'm hoping that DCC uncouplers in rolling stock will happen soon. Bob Backway at www.tttrains.com has published a DCC uncoupler on his website. DCC uncouplers might be the next big thing before transponding! Just my thoughts on the subject.

Great discussion on what has helped out the hobby - but let's look forward now.

What does the hobby need in the way of guidance from hobby publishers in the next 20 years?

The idea is this - we can keep doing random collections of articles each month - but I think our responsibility to the hobby must go beyond that. What would you tell MRH to do as a publisher to be more valuable to the hobby than just a monthly mish-mash of articles?

I think that you have something with that slogan as to what you are asking for in this thread.  I think the thing that is still missing form MRR'ing is the stigma of toy trains or they are only for under the christmas tree. I'm not sure on how to get that out there but  most of the non RR'ing folks still conjure up a 1970's Tyco train set from "Higbees Department Store" (<- A Christmas triva question is in there).  Getting mainstream buy in that this is serious model building and has nothing to do with styrofoam green and white mountians on the ping pong table is one way I feel the hobby can actract new blood.  

For expanding the hobby to those already in the hobby you could do introduction articles on the two SIG's Layout Design and Operations to those that are not familar with them.  I mean just look how many times folks ask when volume 6 on Operations is coming out.....Anyway, just a thought to what you are asking for.

Steve

Joe,

How about an in-depth feature on JMRI:  How open-source software with lots of volunteers works, what can be done now, and what possibilities there are.

From following the JMRI yahoo group discussions, I see that one of the current emphases is on automation in dispatching and running, including running scheduled trains from staging, while manual operation also takes place.  It appears that possibilities are limited only by what is in the minds of railroad modelers.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.   I BELIEVE DCC IS WHAT WE WHO HAVE BEEN INTO MODEL RAILROAD SINCE THE 40'S HAVE STRIVED FOR. WOW! NO BLOCKS. I ALSO BELIEVE THE " READY TO RUN" HAS TAKEN MUCH OUT OF THE HOBBY. NOT THAT I MINE THE FINE PLASTIC LOCO'S, BUT I STILL LIKE WOOD FOR STRUCTURES AND ROLLING STOCK. GOOD PLASTIC MODELS HAVE GREAT DETAIL THAT I CAN'T MATCH, BUT ONCE BROUGHT IT IS DONE, JUST RUN IT. I STILL LIKE THE "CHO-CHO".

                                                                             BAYOUMAN

I've been in the hobby more or less continiously since 1974. I embrace DCC, sound, new scenry materials and the gamut of items from smooth running engines to metal wheel sets. The thing that strikes me however is how in the world can most folks get into the hobby with anything other than a circle of track?

Code 100 track is pushing $30 for 15 feet (with tax and/or shipping) and code 83 must be made from an alloy of some base metal and gold. I'm glad I bought 3 cases for $1.68 10 years ago.

If new people, particularly young people, are to be attracted to the hobby in any meaningful numbers there has to be a way to control costs....maybe manufacturer direct to the public?