I haven't spent as much time and and money on model railroading in 2011 because I have as much or more model railroading equipment than I will ever need at this point. I have been distracted by other events in my life and haven't been as dedicated to working on my layout as I thought I would be when I retired. That is not to say that I have ignored the hobby...far from it. During most of the summer, my modular model railroad is open to the public as a tourist attraction and during the winter I work on a large permanent layout. Both layouts are projects that have years of work sessions to go, but the modular layout is completed enough that I am not embarrassed to show it as is. As for posting my progress reports on Trainboard, I find that I waste too much time typing and composing these posts just to accidentally delete them. (This is my second time with this one. I almost didn't attempt it again.) I find that posting my updates to my Facebook page is much easier and less frustrating. The pictures there can be seen as full sized with less effort than posting to Trainboard where they are seen as a thumbnail picture. I don't know how many people click on the links in signatures (not too many, I suppose), but that is the best way to see the latest of my modeling activities. Trainboard is good, but Facebook works better for me.
You said it, not me! But I was thinking the same dang thing. I feel like I have more locos than I could ever run, more cars than I could ever pull, more blah blah blah..... and yet I don't even have my true "layout" started yet!! I find myself in the sweet spot of roadnames, running NP lets me collect pretty much everything made in this roadname but not trying to keep up (like with ATSF or SP, UP etc.). When I really think about it, that's something that draws me to this hobby- the VARIETY! Now, here we are dealing with the year that Kader/Bachmann decided to not only cut off production of several smaller brands, but move factories (if I rememebr correctly?) and some of the other bigger brands brands also switched manufacturing companies as well! There was a pretty good stream of new(ish) product from Intermountain and Atlas, and Kato doesn't seem to be slowing down (maybe just focusing a bit more these days). So, everyone has slumps! Pick a sports team or political party- it's always cyclical! Now in 2012 the products I am looking forward to are MORE cars from Centralia, Rapido and maybe Walthers in Loewy green, as well as maybe IM getting around to producing their earlier-scheme NP passenger equipment. I know I am not alone there! But any day now last fall's pre-orders should be in and help me fill up my cases. I don't mind the preorder system, it helps me get my budget in line ahead of time! Funny thing is, I left the hobby for over a decade so I missed so much stuff that now I get to play catch-up with Ebay and the like..... this month's task is NP wood reefers. Next might be building up a big steamer? My point? Seems to me if the manufacturers aren't using your budget to the extent you'd like, there's always another way to spend it
Yeah it amazes me. Even though the first wife was in to trains, I have gotten more done since the divorce.
"Hey Honey, the guys online came up with a solution where I can work on my layout without bothering you any more!" Jamie
My modeling has slowed because I am busy working so much. BNSF is very busy and is hiring. Other class one RR seem to be also.
I think we're losing new entrants and the decline in activity may continue. Economics may just be the mask over the monster's face. I see LHS's closing or losing steam in town while big craft stores are growing. MRR is only a sideline at best for these big stores.
As I posted earlier, we are signing up people here every day who are new or re-entering the hobby. And since the end of summer, this has been an increasing trend.
I think we will see more people trying out some kind of model railroading in these colder days then do something else in the summer time. I personally I'm this way, I like to run trains in the cold winter days and do family things in the summer time. I'm standing before an expansion and I don't know if I will be able to get to it this winter since we just purchased a new home I have to focus on remodeling it before I can get to my train layout.
I might have speculated the same as well. And it might be partially true here. However, in my lengthy time on Staff and seeing Stats all the time, I have never seen it remotely close to the way it absolutely is standing out like this, daily. Myself, I do and always have done more model railroading during summer. Hiding from the heat....
Well, that's good news about the number of new participants on TB. I stand corrected. :tb-biggrin: Actually, seeing how much more on-line activity is going on in even my few years doing MRR, I should have been clued in w/o help Maybe the dearth of younger faces at clubs I visit has tainted my perceptions. Hmmm ... maybe its me! :we2-jimlad:
I'm going to be completely honest with you guys and say that the "dearth of younger faces" has as much to do with the older faces often being in a scowl. That one guy who values his overpriced toy more than being welcoming can and will ruin it for all.
