Model Train Journal

Happy Friday & Happy Easter or Passover to everyone


CSX SD40-2 8367 (ex C&O 7508) ducks under the classic pedestrian bridge in Waxhaw, NC as it leads G968 on the Monroe Sub


In your face look w/ a 20MM lens of UP ES44AC 7481 as it leads 201 westbound through Shawsville, VA


NS F9A 4270 leads the OCS down the R Line in Fort Mill, SC as it makes the annual trip to the Master golf tournament in Augusta, GA


NS SD60E 6979 (ex NS SD60 6642) is on the point of 15T as it passes the former Reading passenger station in Lebanon, PA on the Harrisburg Line


NS SD40E 6311 shoves on the rear of 21A as they pass MG tower on the Pittsburgh Line



As I mentioned last week, we had decided to go w/ HO in the new layout space due to the small size. Was able to get track & boards up in the last 2 weeks & was able to get trains running this week. Kids love it & I have to say, I'm impressed. Not the HO I remember from many years ago. Used some of the kids posterboard to simulate where the roads will be going for now. Plan on ballasting the track & getting everything looking pretty nice eventually.

Love that first shot. The arch of the bridge is echoed in the swale around the road bed.

HO layout is looking nice. I just find that HO trains don't sound much like trains, more like a sewing machine Even PW without all of the fancy sound systems can sound like a train.

chuck wrote:Love that first shot. The arch of the bridge is echoed in the swale around the road bed.

HO layout is looking nice. I just find that HO trains don't sound much like trains, more like a sewing machine Even PW without all of the fancy sound systems can sound like a train.

As far as the sound systems go, the engines I've gotten w/ sound in HO (which is all of them so far lol) sound MUCH better than the O gauge models w/ sound. They actually sound like the real thing, which I've been around a bunch. That CSX pic is a fave of mine. Been wanting that for a while now.

Christopher.
I look forward every week to your weekend photos.

You have become quit the professional photographer......

When I left HO back in the mid eighties the only sound systems were external but they were quite impressive. It was the "soundless" units that were disappointing. The only time the trains made noise was when something was wrong.

My PW F-3 and 2025 could fill the basement with the noise of the motors and the clickity clack of metal wheels on O-27 metal track.

Nice to switch it up once in a while. That third shot of the layout yields a pretty prototypical-looking curve. How are the kids doing with the smaller stuff, i.e. getting things on the track, etc.?

Is HO still the most popular scale in the hobby?

Healey

Is HO still the most popular scale in the hobby?

Yes, BUT the number of practitioners overall is declining and their average age is way up. Estimates peg US participation at some level (arm chair to scratch builder) to around 300,000. Average age is mid 60's. I THINK the breakdown in terms of % by scale for the US is something like 75%-80% for HO, about 10-12% N and then everything else is in what's left, O, G, and S being the main interests in whatever is left.

I don't see how you saved space with this layout.

robert. wrote:I don't see how you saved space with this layout.

The HO layout is close to the same size as the O gauge one , just not as wide on either side. You can fit more in this space w/ the HO. The other big issue was the noise. This room sits between 2 kids bedrooms & across from our bedroom, so the O gauge noise was a big issue. My wife is VERY happy that when I run trains now, she hears hardly a peep

healey36 wrote:Nice to switch it up once in a while. That third shot of the layout yields a pretty prototypical-looking curve. How are the kids doing with the smaller stuff, i.e. getting things on the track, etc.?

Is HO still the most popular scale in the hobby?

Healey

So far they really like it. The older ones are getting the hang of the DCC remote. Lorenzo seems the most interested & is excited bc it's stuff he sees when he goes out to the tracks with me. That's a big key - Lionel & MTH have done some of this, but they need to do more - entry level sets based on NS, CSX, Amtrak, etc - holds kids interest as opposed to a steam engine or a 1st generation diesel. I still have a 6-7 large crates of Lionel stuff. I'd love to get a 4x8 display layout up in teh garage at some point down the road.

chuck wrote:

Is HO still the most popular scale in the hobby?

Yes, BUT the number of practitioners overall is declining and their average age is way up. Estimates peg US participation at some level (arm chair to scratch builder) to around 300,000. Average age is mid 60's. I THINK the breakdown in terms of % by scale for the US is something like 75%-80% for HO, about 10-12% N and then everything else is in what's left, O, G, and S being the main interests in whatever is left.

Wow, didn't suspect average age was that high (median age is probably the same, maybe slightly lower). Aside from a general lack of interest, this must be a function of time availability and disposable income as well...sure doesn't bode well for the future.

That being said, all the young guys that I know who are into to trains & have model trains have HO. I always ask them, why not O?

Answers are - not realistic enough/too expensive/takes up too much space.

Can't argue with any of the points. HO seems like the strongest of the scales. Wish O could do more to make inroads, but it's tough.

That's not unexpected. The demographics have shifted in terms of income, time, and space. There are a lot of HO clubs for people that don't have a lot of space. There are very few O or S gauge clubs for those that are space challenged.

If I were in my late twenties at this point in time I'd probably put my leisure money into a drone and a go pro (until an angry neighbor or an angry raptor knocked it down)

chuck wrote:That's not unexpected. The demographics have shifted in terms of income, time, and space. There are a lot of HO clubs for people that don't have a lot of space. There are very few O or S gauge clubs for those that are space challenged.

If I were in my late twenties at this point in time I'd probably put my leisure money into a drone and a go pro (until an angry neighbor or an angry raptor knocked it down)

I've been toying w/ getting a drone to add another aspect to my rail photography. Having a hard time spending a few grand on something that could just crash lol.

HONDO74 wrote:Christopher.
I look forward every week to your weekend photos.

You have become quit the professional photographer......

lol thanks. I actually did sell a few copies of that CSX bridge pic in the last week. It looks really nice as a print.