Average age of TCA members

Chris, I don’t know the answer to your question but suspect that it is very high, around 75 years of age.

i’m 73 years old, and when I took my wife to the TCA Convention this past year, which was the first time in a long time, we were very surprised to see how many wonderful TCA members walked with a cane or were in wheel chairs because of old age.
I also think that model railroading is a wonderful activity for the elderly, like myself.

Arnold

A search for "TCA member average age" led to a post from 2023 on O-gaugeforum (not OGR) regarding TCA ending advertising with OGR and CTT.  The poster paraphrased Alan Arnold saying that TCA's average age is 75.  I don't know if TCA has this information - not sure if they have members' birth dates - but I've never seen it listed.

According to NMRA's website, as of the start of 2023 the average age of members was 69. 

Obviously, there's an upper limit that the average age can reach.  I'm guessing that York skews a bit older than average for a couple of reasons - it's primarily a gathering for hard-core hobbyists, who are probably older, and most of the meet takes place on weekdays, so it's harder for younger people to attend.

Based on personal observation, I would guess that the average age for train hobbyists is around 70.

If it doesn’t have to be TCA specific, you could post a poll here on the forum. You might also reach out to one of the YouTube guys like RBP trains, or Eric’s trains as they get all kinds of data on their viewership from YouTube.

Chris……when I joined TCA in late winter 1983, I was 29 and clearly one of the youngest members. Now, 41+ years later, at age 71, I jokingly say that I’m still one of the younger members….…

I would bet that I’m in the younger half…..but, obviously don’t really know.

Peter

Have you reached out to the TCA to ask directly?  If they don't have the info directly on hand, they may be able to point you to the right person to ask.

At 56, I positively feel like a kid when I'm at York... then again, if I live to be a 100 and can still make it to York, I will still feel like a kid there...

Andy

@cbojanower posted:

Has TCA recently published any information about the average age of its members? I am taking some college classes and an doing a presentation about model trains. Need to get some demographics about the hobby, I know at 60, when I go to York I feel like I bring the average age down, but I need more than a feeling to run with.

Thanks for any info

That was like 10 years ago, you don't bring the average down anymore!

I hate to say this, but it does not spell success for the hobby. Harley Davidson is on the same track…..high cost and issues will do it every time. I also blame all the manufacturers at Christmas time where are the TV commercials? The biggest selling season and MIA………..shame.

@ThatGuy posted:

I hate to say this, but it does not spell success for the hobby. Harley Davidson is on the same track…..high cost and issues will do it every time. I also blame all the manufacturers at Christmas time where are the TV commercials? The biggest selling season and MIA………..shame.

I'm tired of all the bad news.  In light of your comments, and the apparently obvious decline of our hobby, why don't we immediately turn off the lights, close the door, and say goodbye?

While many of us may be considering doing so I can't.

Future hobbyists in our space won't fill it the same way we do, and it's already happening.  Instead they'll be coming here from other interests and introductions, such as:

• History -- Stumbling across and the following restoration and showcase efforts, like UP 4014.  Nice-sized crowds; easy to tap
• Entertainment -- Many, many tie-ins, old and new, like Thomas, Harry Potter, the Polar Express.  Huge potential audiences; grabbing just a small percentage of them is all that's necessary
• Travel -- Amtrak carried record numbers of passengers last year; it has led folks to join us for over 50 years and there'll be even more with its new expansion
• Related Hobbies -- Brio (wooden trains on wooden tracks), Lego; these are traditional paths followed by little ones and they continue to be successful -- as they always have
• Model and Toy Train Displays -- Don't discount this; with little to do during the cold winter months these shows continue to draw in families in reasonable big numbers

Individually these might not make much difference but together they're just enough.

And don't tell me that nowadays there are distractions that we didn't have back in the day when we came in.  Why did our hobby not fold under pressure from Hot Wheels, GI Joe, Model Rockets in the 60's?  Or R/C vehicles, aircraft and watercraft later on?

Lastly, you obviously don't remember the 70's and early 80's.  That's when I came in.  Inflation was much, much, much worse then than it is now.  Rising prices are not a new problem, and not necessarily a hobby killer.

Somehow, over its 125 year history, our glorious hobby has survived so many things.

It will continue to do so.

Let's welcome the new folks and make them feel at home -- and please don't turn off the lights prematurely.

Mike

@Mellow Hudson Mike posted:

I'm tired of all the bad news.  In light of your comments, and the apparently obvious decline of our hobby, why don't we immediately turn off the lights, close the door, and say goodbye?

While many of us may be considering doing so I can't.

Future hobbyists in our space won't fill it the same way we do, and it's already happening.  Instead they'll be coming here from other interests and introductions, such as:

• History -- Stumbling across and the following restoration and showcase efforts, like UP 4014.  Nice-sized crowds; easy to tap
• Entertainment -- Many, many tie-ins, old and new, like Thomas, Harry Potter, the Polar Express.  Huge potential audiences; grabbing just a small percentage of them is all that's necessary
• Travel -- Amtrak carried record numbers of passengers last year; it has led folks to join us for over 50 years and there'll be even more with its new expansion
• Related Hobbies -- Brio (wooden trains on wooden tracks), Lego; these are traditional paths followed by little ones and they continue to be successful -- as they always have
• Model and Toy Train Displays -- Don't discount this; with little to do during the cold winter months these shows continue to draw in families in reasonable big numbers

Individually these might not make much difference but together they're just enough.

And don't tell me that nowadays there are distractions that we didn't have back in the day when we came in.  Why did our hobby not fold under pressure from Hot Wheels, GI Joe, Model Rockets in the 60's?  Or R/C vehicles, aircraft and watercraft later on?

Lastly, you obviously don't remember the 70's and early 80's.  That's when I came in.  Inflation was much, much, much worse then than it is now.  Rising prices are not a new problem, and not necessarily a hobby killer.

Somehow, over its 125 year history, our glorious hobby has survived so many things.

It will continue to do so.

Let's welcome the new folks and make them feel at home -- and please don't turn off the lights prematurely.

Mike

Why do you always take this tone, facts are what they are do I wish it was different…..I do. But in the end the hobby is shrinking. It does not make me feel good when these threads are started and I was just commenting on what had been said. Along the same lines.

but in the end when I go to train shows I too have noticed that the group is much older with a few “kids” I do remember when I was one of those kids.

This hobby has gotten very expensive for the average family, yes I know it’s inflation and years ago trains could be expensive. I remember going to Madison Hardware and buying aluminum Lionel passenger cars for 50 bucks each……big money in the 70s. The difference is you could still get into the hobby for an affordable price and build from there and starter sets were much nicer.  

bit in the end lets enjoy what we have and not worry about what could have been…

Merry Christmas

I am 94 and I will be at York again this April if I am not dead.

Hi Chris, its super that you are taking college classes and presenting on toy trains!  I am not sure that the TCA would be a good reflection of our hobby.  I would say that the OGR Forum would be a better proxy for age diversity in the train hobby.     

I think the aging population is a benefit to the hobby. Based on US Census data, about 22.5% of the male population in the US are over 60 years old.  Right behind that group, are those between 40 and 60, they comprise nearly 25% of the male population. To me, that is a long runway for guys who may be in need of a hobby.   There are so many ways to enjoy the hobby with multiple price points, starter sets are reasonably priced, there are also tons of vintage Lionel and MPC equipment that are available at reasonable costs, this may be especially interesting for those that are inclined to tinkering/repairing older equipment.

I have a vinyl record collection, when I go to Hi-Voltage Records in Tacoma, I am by far the oldest person in the shop, it is a young crowd, probably assisted by its location that is near coffee shops, and the University of Puget Sound. Repairing a vintage turntable is not too significantly different than repairing a Lionel engine.       

The big challenge that I see for younger adults is housing is expensive and it's hard to find space for a layout.  What I did for my son was to build a small layout on wheels that could fit under a bed.

My data:

https://data.census.gov/table/...n%20by%20age%20group

Also, @eddie g, I always enjoy your posts!  Best, Dave

@ThatGuy posted:

Why do you always take this tone, facts are what they are do I wish it was different…..I do. But in the end the hobby is shrinking. It does not make me feel good when these threads are started and I was just commenting on what had been said. Along the same lines.

1.) Is there room here for an alternative view?  Your 'facts' and those that you insist were stated earlier on in this thread by others are clearly different than mine.  Who's "right" if both of our conclusions have some merit?

@ThatGuy posted:

bit in the end lets enjoy what we have and not worry about what could have been…

2.) This is exactly my point.

I'm trying to assure the world that the sky isn't really falling as bad as it seems, because it's not, and largely because doing so will likely chase the very people away that we need to keep the hobby alive.

And, Merry Christmas to you as well!

Mike

I don't know what the average age is but I see more younger folks here in the last few years than I've seen in a long time.

@Putnam Division posted:

Chris……when I joined TCA in late winter 1983, I was 29 and clearly one of the youngest members. Now, 41+ years later, at age 71, I jokingly say that I’m still one of the younger members….…

I would bet that I’m in the younger half…..but, obviously don’t really know.

Peter

Peter, when I had the privilege of meeting you in person, you had an aura of youthful energy, which I regard as a very desirable quality especially in our 7th decade.

I believe we have that in common because I am now 73 and still feel like a teenager. Arnold

I think model railroad can appeal to all ages because it’s such a fascinating, stimulating and multi-faceted hobby, and especially good for the elderly. For instance, unlike sports like tennis and golf, the elderly usually cannot do them as well as when they were young, but can do model railroading as well, if not better, than when they were young.

For that reason, the young have a wider range of activities to choose from that they can do well compared to the elderly. That can account to some degree for fewer young folks in the hobby compared to the elderly.

@Putnam Division posted:

Chris……when I joined TCA in late winter 1983, I was 29 and clearly one of the youngest members. Now, 41+ years later, at age 71, I jokingly say that I’m still one of the younger members….…

I would bet that I’m in the younger half…..but, obviously don’t really know.

Peter

Peter, that is similar to my story. I joined the TCA in 2001 when I was 36 and I definitely felt like one of the younger guys. Now, 23 years later I am 59 and I still feel like I am one of the younger guys but not that much younger.

@eddie g posted:

I am 94 and I will be at York again this April if I am not dead.

God bless you Eddie! That is really awesome!

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I believe we have that in common because I am now 73 and still feel like a teenager. Arnold

I feel the same way Arnold. At least my mind does. My body has other ideas!

@Hudson J1e posted:

Peter, that is similar to my story. I joined the TCA in 2001 when I was 36 and I definitely felt like one of the younger guys. Now, 23 years later I am 59 and I still feel like I am one of the younger guys but not that much younger.

Peter

I’ve been hearing at train shows and train forums that the model train hobby is dying for the last thirty years. I guess there is no hurrying its demise. Lionel puts out a huge catalog twice a year. MTH is inching back in the game. Atlas O now incorporates DCS in their locomotives. 3Rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot keeps making high end trains faster than ever before. I guess they haven’t received the death certificate yet.

A Quick Look at YouTube shows lots of younger people operating layouts. In addition there is tons of product available from all eras of model train production in all scales. When there is scant levels of product to buy, that’s when we should worry. If there is a demise of the hobby it won’t happen in our lifetime.

Run our trains, enjoy sharing them with everyone you can, buy from the catalogs, stores and the internet and just have fun. Age isn’t an issue, there will always be a pipeline behind us.