Some very good points were made in this post especially by Allan. Yes the demographic of those that buy the trains is changing but there is another thing that factors in. Its called collection saturation and let me explain. As a 40 year collector hobbyist my tastes have evolved into being strictly a layout operator. As such 6 - 8 complete Eastern road sets with 60 -80 so pieces of rolling stock fills the requirement and then some. At a point now where just the occasional odd piece is purchased. While everything in the train market is still affordable , I stopped buying years back as the layout has what it needs to make a great presentation while shelves are still full. As a result the nearby Eastern train Shows have now become a recreational activity. In summation the saturation point has probably been reached by many of us and this too will have an influence on the hobby.
No one knows if a small group of hobbyists would band together to continue York if TCA did not exist.
They already did...before the TCA existed.
IMHO it is doubtful that a small group of hobbyists could band together to promote a show like York due to the financial resources required. Insurance costs alone would probably forbid it.
Plus every table holder would be required to have a PA tax number. I know that is not important to folks whose primary interest lies in the Orange hall. But its a big deal to folks who attend for the member halls.
Yet Lionel said 2017 was their best year ever, which was good news. I know it's complicated, and the hobby has certain stresses going on, but "Lionel's best year ever" and "shrinking hobby" don't go together.
But what does "best year ever" really mean?
Most pieces sold?
Highest profit?
Was it the trains that made Lionel's best year ever, or maybe it was their die cast Nascar line?
My trains are beyond the saturation point as I have way too many, many more than I can run on my railroad. It's time to thin out my freight rolling stock, but I will continue to hoard my locomotives, passenger cars and trolley cars.
As for buying new, that is not likely to happen by me. New trains are not affordable any more, and if it wasn't for train shows, the OGR Forum and eBay I would not have an O-gauge railroad. Most all of my trains have been previously owned.
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Model train saturation is overrated. There's always room for ten more!!
C W Burfle posted:Yet Lionel said 2017 was their best year ever, which was good news. I know it's complicated, and the hobby has certain stresses going on, but "Lionel's best year ever" and "shrinking hobby" don't go together.
But what does "best year ever" really mean?
Most pieces sold?
Highest profit?
Was it the trains that made Lionel's best year ever, or maybe it was their die cast Nascar line?
Sure didn't sound like it from listening to the Lionel reps Friday morning at the Legacy group meeting. But as you say, what does it really mean? Reduced costs the most? Reduced tall people overhead the most? Who knows?
Gerry
