Looks like google predicts the end of model trains

[Tracer]

This all part of my plan. I will have last surviving model trainset on earth therefore i will have the greatest model train set on earth.

[Eliphaz]

excellent plan!
and by 2050, my retirement fund, which is all the junk i never look at in the bottom of my train drawer will be worth millions, MILLIONS on E-BAY !!!

[philipmartin]

MR, which was a far more hands-on modeling magazine aimed at the serious hobbyist, alone had a ...page count of 225-250 each December during the early 90's. This year MR is 100 pages, with very little real modeling content at better than twice the cover price! And aside from MR there were up to half a dozen good alternate magazine choices.
CNJ999

Jan 1934, (Vol. 1.No. 1,) twelve pages, 10¢, (Brother, can you spare a dime for a copy of Model Railroader?) Includes an article on the Pennsy's new electrification (as far west as Paoil, and south as far as Wilmington.) It has a photo of a P-5 and diagrams of O-1 and P-5 box cabs. The O-1 was a 4-4-4, P-5 4-6-4.
By July 1943 the price had more that doubled (to 25¢,) but page count had nearly quadrupled to 43, (with a lovely scale drawing of a Pennsy K4 and tender on pages 318-319. Pages were numbered for the year.) These were Kalmbach's smaller dimension magazines.
Dec. 1980 208 pages, $1.50.
Dec. 1990 254 pages, $2.95.
I have MR on my hard drive, so I pulled them up just now. These magazines are packed with prototype information on North American railroads.

[nearboston]

I predict that Model Railroading as a pastime will be around long after people will be saying "What was that Google thing all about?"

[FLRailFan1]

Anyone ever try google trends? It says nothing good about Model railroads or model trains. Interest spikes in december, but has been slowly draining. I guess we knew that already, but it is kinda deperessing.

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... %22&cmpt=q

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... %22&cmpt=q

I don't think model railroad will die, but it is going to decline in popularity. Kids are still around at shows, however, Toys R Us isn't selling train sets (never saw it lately at it). Hobby stores are closing ( like most small stores) and it is being replaced by big box stores.

We need to keep kids involved. Today's kids are interested in video games...

[scharnhorst]

Anyone ever try google trends? It says nothing good about Model railroads or model trains. Interest spikes in december, but has been slowly draining. I guess we knew that already, but it is kinda deperessing.

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... %22&cmpt=q

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... %22&cmpt=q

I don't think model railroad will die, but it is going to decline in popularity. Kids are still around at shows, however, Toys R Us isn't selling train sets (never saw it lately at it). Hobby stores are closing ( like most small stores) and it is being replaced by big box stores.

We need to keep kids involved. Today's kids are interested in video games...

I do not have any kids yet but I'll say this much I will not allow video games in my home if the kid brings one In the home I'll toss there ass out the door and they can go live out on the streets! I won't allow my kids to be lazy, brainless, and stupid!

[FLRailFan1]

Anyone ever try google trends? It says nothing good about Model railroads or model trains. Interest spikes in december, but has been slowly draining. I guess we knew that already, but it is kinda deperessing.

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... %22&cmpt=q

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... %22&cmpt=q

I don't think model railroad will die, but it is going to decline in popularity. Kids are still around at shows, however, Toys R Us isn't selling train sets (never saw it lately at it). Hobby stores are closing ( like most small stores) and it is being replaced by big box stores.

We need to keep kids involved. Today's kids are interested in video games...

I do not have any kids yet but I'll say this much I will not allow video games in my home if the kid brings one In the home I'll toss there ass out the door and they can go live out on the streets! I won't allow my kids to be lazy, brainless, and stupid![/
quote]
I
Thinking about this last night, I was at the Train Show at the Florida State Fair and kids were enjoying the layouts that was there.... especially the Lego Train layout. Two of the vendors I spoke to will be at the Amherst show.