Large Scale Central

Letter From NMRA President Charlie Getz

General Discussion
#61

One factor that might have influenced some folks to avoid our hobby and take up a more ‘enjoyable in their view’ hobby is the frequent moaning and groaning on most model railroad fora. These posts certianly do not convey a great hobby that is supposed to be an enjoyable.

Anyone wanting to take up an enjoyable pastime could well be put of by all the comments about things that do not work properly out of the box, is prone to breakage, need lots of work before running and the host of other tribulations that are regularly aired on fora.

Thank heavens I did not read fora before I built my railroad: I would likely have not even started it!

Yes, there are issues, mainly where locomotives are concerned, but truthfully of eight locomotives I have bought only one needed a loose wire resoldering. No big deal really. I was ablt to do it, but a good model shop would probably have done it if necessary.

I wonder if we have all become far too sensitive and expect everything in life to be 100% perfect?

Lots of us here have had most of our life - we need to just get on and enjoy what is left.

#62

Alan Lott said:

One factor that might have influenced some folks to avoid our hobby and take up a more ‘enjoyable in their view’ hobby is the frequent moaning and groaning on most model railroad fora. These posts certianly do not convey a great hobby that is supposed to be an enjoyable.

Anyone wanting to take up an enjoyable pastime could well be put of by all the comments about things that do not work properly out of the box, is prone to breakage, need lots of work before running and the host of other tribulations that are regularly aired on fora.

Thank heavens I did not read fora before I built my railroad: I would likely have not even started it!

Yes, there are issues, mainly where locomotives are concerned, but truthfully of eight locomotives I have bought only one needed a loose wire resoldering. No big deal really. I was ablt to do it, but a good model shop would probably have done it if necessary.

I wonder if we have all become far too sensitive and expect everything in life to be 100% perfect?

Lots of us here have had most of our life - we need to just get on and enjoy what is left.

Alan,

I believe that facts are facts, and the newcomer is better served knowing these facts BEFORE jumping in. They would be really discouraged if it is found out AFTER they purchased their trains that these problems exist.

#63

This thread makes an interesting read.
Maybe the people that are really affected are the people that are making\selling products or memberships etc.

A lot of interesting quotes from the thread, sorry if I missed some…
Vic - I see alot and I mean ALOT of kids who love trains at the shows I display at
Bob - not just “Hey, look at my neat trains”
Steve - put the throttle in the kids hands. I’ve done that
Kevin - Our behavior towards newcomers is quite often the biggest influence
Tom - We’re setting up the modules for an event in Claremore tonight
Doug - "…No. I see that generation’s eyes light up with Thomas and Brio and Lego
Hans - For a taste of Supertrain action
Dick - We have a modular layout which we take to shows
Bart - I think about age 3 is a good time to start.,…
Hans - if I would have time to worry about the decline of this or any other hobby, perhaps I would worry. Nope, life is too short, no time for that!
Matt - If you want to “play” with trains go ahead and do it.

Actually if I had the time, I would have mined the rest of the site for a bunch more quotes and examples.
From the pizza layout to the complete train show to the backyard garden -
I see you folks out doing what you enjoy and sharing it with others.
As my wife keeps reminding me “its just a hobby”.

So maybe unless it is your business or livelyhood,
the cup half full or half in reality may be a non-issue.

For what its worth
since 2004, my wife and I have done 1 or 2 public displays a year.
have seen lots of kids (big and little)
have worked with both train & non-train people for set up. once even a group of school kids…
had writeups in club newsletters, local papers and a short clip on the local tv channel.
like has been mentioned, at showtime the trains just need to run - Too many interesting
people to meet. as to the future, too many ideas - too little time.

#64

I’m going to side with Alan on this one.

Consider the comic “For Better Or Worse” that someone (I can’t go back and look now) posted under the topic “A Little Train Humor”. If a newcomer to the hobby read that, it would be like my cat hearing “blah, blah, blah”. That person is only going to pick up on words they recognize like broken, solder, not, poorly, again, disappointed, out of-, poor communication, quality, or fix, etc. Pretty discouraging, no?

About the topic of club members talking to each other instead of attendees - I have “worked the table” for many different groups giving out some sort of information. A very common problem is the group members end up talking to each other in front of the table, blocking the way so people can’t see what you’re about. Same with the clubs, you end up talking to each other instead of looking outward. I was always the person sitting at the table saying “If you need to talk, step away from the front so we can talk to the people.” This usually this broke it up.

If there is public attendance at an event, we are there for the public, not each other. A very common problem, but one we need to be aware of.

There is an annual Holiday Train Show here to raise money to move the only remaining station from the Raritan River Rail Road. I am the only one there with Large Scale. So I have to balance time with running the layout, answering historical questions, and making sure the parents can get pictures of their excited children looking at the trains. I will put an oval on the ground, and the kids love it. They will sit right on the floor and watch. I put the colorful Toonerville Trolley up on the table with an auto reverser. The parents who have children they are carrying can hold them up to see. I love watching the eyes on the little ones! No one has asked “How do I start doing this?” but I hope I have planted some seeds with the info I gave.

I will get more questions at the table representing the Raritan River Rail Road Historical Society. I put up the bright red NW-2s and it attracts people with both historical questions, and the most common question “What size is that?”. I usually respond with “G Gauge, or Garden Railroad”.

Well, this turned out to be quite a long rant. I will summarize with “If the public is there, we are there for them”. 'nuff said

#65

Good points Lou. I fully support the idea of trying to talk to “other” people instead of the same guys you see at the meetings every month.

I really try to think back to what got me into Model Railroading. I even asked my mom what triggered them to buy me a TYCO trainset for Christmas when I was 5 years old. To be honest she said I was always interested in trains, from when I was a toddler till now. So that wasnt much help…but I guess you could say I was born with it.

I like the discussion here and I can only say, enjoy our hobby but always be mindful of those around you and sometimes, give them the throttle and see what happens.

#66

A good discussion indeed Jake. Many viewpoints: all valid.

There is really only one sure way to get folks interested and that is 'tell ‘em all about it’. They say if you throw enough mud at a wall some will always stick.

The initial post was about a letter from the NMRA. Has anyone joined it as a result of this debate?

#67

As I write this the Denver Garden Railway Society membership is at 190 with a big range of ages and interests. Our public outreach consists of two groups.

We have an exhibits group that assembles a large multi-loop railway at GTE and TCA shows plus the Home and Garden show and whatever else we can find. A huge variety of large scale trains are run so the public gets a good feel for what is available. There are many members who prowl the edges of the exhibit talking with the public and offering advise to those with questions. There is a looping video of our last convention tour railroads to give them a taste the types of railways that can be built.

The other public display is our large garden railway on the grounds of the Colorado Railroad Museum that is open year round. Again the variety of trains is apparent plus the ability to show people that large scale trains run very well outdoors and that the garden aspect is very enjoyable. We also have an elevated live steam track that gets good usage. Visitors ask lots questions and can get good information about the trains and garden from our members.

Now about the costs of the trains. The DGRS has two swap meets per year, one in February and the other in June. These are well attended by our members and there are always some very good bargains to be found. Plus we receive several donations of large scale equipment each year that are given to the museum that we include in the swap meets. Many of our members started their railways with equipment purchased at these events for bargain prices.

While the DGRS membership is still tilted toward the gray hair types we do have a growing number of of those under 40, and a good number way under 40. Our numbers have held steady for several decades with no decline yet. So far so good!

Alan Olson

DGRS/CRRM Garden Railway Chairman

#68

I do a small steamup with two live steam friends, at our local fair. Its a two day event. Its just the three of us running trains. We can run two trains at a time, the third person answers questions. With just the three of us its hard to block peoples views and very easy to give people info. We have a blast because the fair attracts all types of people, train and non train people. Because of this you stand a better chance of getting the flam started for that dad who had trains as a kid but then life got in the way. Last year we got a 12 year old into live steam and he bought one. (he’s the one a bunch of you guys donated track and cars too) Large scale might slow down but it will never die.

#69

A few random comments reagrding all of the thoughtful posts above:

A garden railway requires LAND. Owning a piece of property is not necesary, but no one wants to invest in the development of a layout with live trees that could be ripped out from under you if your landlord decided he needed the place for his daughter to move in now that she’s gone through a divorce. And, generally speaking, it is older folks who own land.

The club i joined, Redwood Empire Garden Railway Society in Northern California, is friendly and fun. They do quite a bit of outreach to the public as well. Nice folks and they have made me welcome. I was even invited to host an open house, although almost no one there knows me or my layout. I signed up to do it, too. I think this club is doing well, despite its low-key informality. In fact, my layout would be nowhere near as nice as it is without the help of members of that club, especially Don Herzog.

And, here’s the sweet part – my layout is open to the public, 365 days per year. Yes, that will mean more repairs, more replacements, more expense, and more work – but it also means more people get to see the trains and the layout when they visit my shop – and that gets them into the enjoyment of it as well. I intend to build a sheltered place to house take-away the business cards and postcards of any builder, supplier, or club that wants to see the word get out.

I guess, at age 66 (turning 67 in about a week) i am one of those “grey heads” everyone is so worried about, but truth to tell, i dye my hair and i am not retired (i run my own business) and i am enjoying the heck out of my chance to have a layout of my own, because even though i am not a modeler or an electrician, i can hire those folks. I just want to see the trains go round!