Hi Folks,
Another post talks about unattended kids at train shows. I have a different question. Why do we build train displays for kids? This is the background.
I am member of the G&O garden railroad in the San Francisco Bay Area. We built a kids display where children can come and run trains. It works well and is very popular at our shows.
The club thought that the kids area would attract families to join the club. This hasn't happened. We have had the kids display running for over 4 years. Not a single person with kids has joined the club because of kids display.
One of our members said that trains are really an adult hobby and that building a display for the benefit of families / kids is a waste of resources. Our adult displays attract new members, the kids display does not.
The kids area takes more resources at shows when it comes to watching trains and fixing problems than our other three adult displays combined. We spend a lot of effort maintaining and running this display. I am beginning to wonder if it is worth it.
I fully recognize that some layouts are built to bring joy and entertainment to people. Layouts built in hospital lobbies fit this definition. Our G&O kids layout also serves this purpose. Perhaps that is all it will ever be.
I am wondering if any modular group or club has been able to attract new members by constructing and operating a kids display. Does a mother of father ever join a club so his or her child can run trains on the kids display?
Joe