|
|
Post by ptc on Jan 4, 2020 23:29:53 GMT
One of my favorite authors, Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol) wrote: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Perhaps this famous quote applies to our hobby for 2020. How do you feel about it.?
My take, I see more good than bad. 3rd Rail is chugging along producing some very nice models. MTH, although not much or anything in new tooling, continues to provide some really nice O-Gauge equipment as well. Example, last year they introduced the Rocky Mountaineer train set with beautiful diesel engines as well as matching passenger cars, one of the standout sets for the year. MTH continues with stainless steel effects for some of their engines and passenger cars that is the best in the industry.
On the other side for me, Lionel continued to have significant QC issues. Certainly has broken the confidence I once had in their products and as a result, they are off me purchase list until things dramatically improve. Atlas, I don't see much anymore from them. Lagging deliveries and what appears to me to be a much smaller footprint in the O-Gauge market.
Balance it all out, and there is still some great products to buy. Cottage industry guys, like Harry Hieke, give us accessories that have become as good as it gets. So. all in all, I am happy where the hobby is at, I just have made adjustments to my previuos buying habits.
|
|
|
|
Post by josef on Jan 4, 2020 23:52:01 GMT
Personally, I believe the O scale is alive and kicking. Not just seeing how our Forum has grown, or other that also follow Model Railroading. But just looking and seeing at shows, auction sites how much is being bought in O scale products daily.
I am disappointed in what is being put out, or lack of original new products unless its BTO projects. But if all 3 were to close their doors today, I have enough to run and enjoy "O" scale running for a long time.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 0:20:13 GMT
If Lionel’s powers to be keep pushing build them as cheaply as possible, nothing will change. While mechanically and electrically they seem to have improved. As the N&W Js point out and the grey Lionel picked for the smoke box of the Hudson’s. There is much room for improvement
|
|
|
|
Post by harborbelt70 on Jan 5, 2020 0:53:30 GMT
Broadly I am optimistic because, among other things, this forum reflects the interest in 3rail O scale and sense of community between hobbyists that have long characterized this part of model railroading. We also tend not to take ourselves too seriously.
More generally, I have reflected on a few things in thinking about the future.
Insights on the financial state of the 3rail hobby from the US importers' point of view, which is what I think governs what we are offered, are very few and far between. A few months back, I was interested to see a comment by the owner of a major train retailer that he hoped for another Lionel Vision Line engine soon (as in this year) because it sure helped his bottom line to have those to sell. What I got from that is that if you put an innovative, quality product out there, enough of us are still around to buy it in quantity.
On the other hand, at the last annual Toy Train Museum manufacturers' speeches, Mike Wolf notably commented that the industry needed less customers who already have 50 engines. Even without doing a stocktake I know that I am not near that number but I am at saturation point and the only new things I am tempted to buy are very special products.
Quality-wise I don't think that the 3rail hobby is where it was 7 or 8 years ago but I am picky about the products I select. Nothing would please me more than to see the major importers, and in particular Lionel, hit a few home runs this year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Joe Saggese on Jan 5, 2020 1:41:01 GMT
Im about 5 years activity in the O scale train hobby. I have no problem with finding the engine or cars I want. The only con I see is in the model building department. How I wish we had many buildings that the HO scales have. But that's me, I want more models  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 2:02:13 GMT
I feel Menards has quite a bit to do with increased interest in the hobby. Parents and grand parents buying for children. Adults buying for themselves. Menards adds new items all year round. I think they need to advertise more and keep train items on display year round. The question is - will these new people they're bringing in stick with the hobby and build up or just fade away?
As for Lionel. I don't see them doing much to get people into the hobby or keep them.
MTH and the rest seem to only build for those already in.
|
|
|
|
Post by JKP on Jan 5, 2020 2:22:43 GMT
I think the hobby is doing fine. Although Lionel has had issues , (it took them 3 times to send me a Legacy controller that worked) and they have color issues I'm still planning on purchasing more engines from them in the future (I buy mostly diesels). I'm sure I will be spending quite a bit when I do a new layout also.
|
|
|
|
Post by josef on Jan 5, 2020 13:27:14 GMT
The only con I see is in the model building department. How I wish we had many buildings that the HO scales have. But that's me, I want more models I remember when "N" scale was in its infancy, but there were so many manufacturers that took a chance on not only producing engines and freight and passenger cars, but also making them more realistic. Cottage industries that added scenic items from buildings to accessories and helped "N" scale grow and become a serious competitor to "HO". But "O" scale seems to lag in new original items, more rehash over and over. Seems one engine, or rolling stock represents all railroads with just a minor paint change and re-lettering. That is what I see lacking in our scale and yet, I believe there is still a growing, interested market in "O" scale. I miss K Line and Weaver, they took chances and had great products. Now, with Atlas showing little interest anymore, only MTH and Lionel left, it will be interesting to see how they will help grow interest in "O" scale in the future.
|
|
|
|
Post by harborbelt70 on Jan 5, 2020 13:59:00 GMT
3rd Rail/Golden Gate Depot is the other main established 3 rail O scale importer on the scene and they are important for (1) the fine quality of their engines and cars, (2) keeping ERR going when Lionel decided for some ill-judged reason to close it down and (3) superb customer support. Some of the accounts Scott Mann has given over the years of trying to ensure decent QC in far eastern factories are hair-raising. The constant "recycling" or rehash of products annoys me as well but there have been some winners. Right now I am looking at a Legacy Daylight cab forward from about 2013, which is currently pulling an SP 7070 Legacy crane and boom car set. Both these products are based on tooling of either the late 90s or early 2000s but they were executed well when repeated.
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Jan 5, 2020 14:18:07 GMT
I concur with the thread consensus. The model train hobby seems to be doing well. From the smiles I saw when I ran the PE set at the library to my nephew having a ton of fun with his new set, the magic of model toy trains seems to be alive and well.
And, as others pointed out, Menards and others have breathed new life into the hobby. For people at the beginner and novice levels of the hobby, I actually think Lionel is doing well. Their Lionchief lines are affordable and fun. I also have some engines and cars from Bachmann-Williams and they have been rock solid, enjoyable and affordable.
Additionally, the peripheral industries seems to be doing well and add to the hobby. Every year I get a kick out of the new Lemax buildings and all of the good additive items you can find at the art stores.
We are also seeing trains show up more in advertising and movies.
I’m having a blast.
Yeah, we are generally in a good place!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 14:45:40 GMT
Cheryl and I started this adventure in July 2016. Our purchases were made locally back then. Lionel locos from Lionel and rolling stock from Lionel and MTH. Passenger cars are all from MTH. Once we had cleaned our local dealer out of the items we wanted we turned to American retailers. We have developed a great rapport with a few of them. They have all told us that sales were on the downside due to an aging population, item cost, hobby competition for dollars, quality control and a general lack of interest from younger generations. Every hobby seems to ebb and flow for many reasons. We have formed friendships with these retailers and have received healthy discounts due to the fact that they very much appreciate our business and they know our CDN dollar is killing us. An example would be a Lionel engine priced at $549.99 US becomes approximately $996.55 CDN when purchased up here. O scale sales in Canada have slowed to a standstill. Entry level sets, older lower priced items and HO is what is keeping the hobby afloat here. People who have been in this hobby for a long time have accumulated a lot of product over the years and seem to purchase some newer versions of what has worn out or buy something completely new. A couple of examples would be MTH's Christmas Train and their Rocky Mountaineer Train. Lionel's quality control has been a major issue for everybody, myself included. No consistency and too many offerings. How many trains in a calendar year do the expect us to purchase. Polar Express items sell out rapidly. 3RD rail seems to be doing well as they try to build what people will want. Atlas really needs to get their act together. A shame about them as they have offered some vey nice detailed products over the years. As Brian stated the "cottage industry" is doing well. I believe I can attest to this after speaking to a fair amount of them while attending York last October. Some of our members are adding to or building new layouts . This helps the hobby out as well. All in all I have to say the general health of the O Scale/Gauge part of this hobby appears to be holding it's own. Their will and does need to be change in the future. What that will be is anyone's guess. I personally hope that someone at Lionel will come along and make changes for the better and that Mike Wolf doesn't close MTH as he seems to want to just get on with his life. As Walter stated above, "But if all 3 were to close their doors today, I have enough to run and enjoy "O" scale running for a long time". We are almost to a point where we will have purchased all of the trains we have set out to get. When this occurs we will only purchase something vey special. We will still financially support this hobby as there will be a layout built with all the items needed to complete it. Train forums like ours are vital to this hobby. Any person who visits The OGF can see the overall good cheer and respect that our members generate every day. This is a huge impact for this hobby. Hopefully new people will become part of this hobby and enjoy it as much as we do.
Something I forgot to mention is all of the hard work the members of Model Railroaders do at their club layouts, train shows, community Christmas layouts and open houses that are held throughout the year to encourage and promote this wonderful hobby.
Thanks To All!!
Gary.
|
|
|
|
Post by Adam on Jan 5, 2020 15:17:57 GMT
Gary, you make a few very good points. Indeed the younger generation is pulled more toward technology and other popular interests. And that is where they are spending their dollars. I hope our efforts to keep the hobby alive enough for that generation to mature and find interest in it. I’m doing my best to bring it to the children in my life. My daughters like it but not enough to truly participate unfortunately.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 15:18:10 GMT
Holy CDN markup Gary! Maybe I should buy a few engines here and deliver them northward?!?! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 5, 2020 15:33:14 GMT
It's brutal R.J. 30% on the dollar is a good reaming.
Gary.
|
|
|
|
Post by josef on Jan 5, 2020 15:56:44 GMT
Very good post and discussions. I agree with Harborbelt on 3rd Rail/Golden Gate items. They are exceptional items offered. Also amazed that a small operation can get things done right and works endlessly to get a product that meets expectations compared to Lionel and MTH and it makes one wonder how he is able to do this when big corporate fail. The only downsize I see is the sound systems installed.
What is lacking in "O" is standardization. MTH has their control system as does Lionel. Yes, you can run Lionels command systems with MTH, but not vice-versa. Also talking to a HO Model Railroader that if he has a board failure, he can order and replace it easily with plug ins and easily available and standardized.
The only thing that has bothered me over these years is the large toy like couplers, especially when they stick out of a scale Santa Fe engine. I would have thought after all these decades, a smaller realistic working coupler would have been introduced and one could slowly convert other rolling stock. I know, Kadee couplers, but I rather have the automatic couplers only more realistic in size which would go a long way in improving appearances. As to sound, I believe "O" scale leads the way compared to what I hear or heard in other scales.
And to add is "O" scale alive, a definite yes. After all these years, whenever a Big Boy is introduced, they sell out and not many seen in auctions compared to other engines. One would think by now everyone has to have at least 3 or 4. Then there's the Lionel and MTH "Generals", they been made for decades, yet still produced and sell consistently, even on auctions and still command decent prices old and used.
I sometimes wonder if K Line was still around, I bet they would give everyone a run for their money and produce unprecedented new products yearly. I miss K Line, they were ahead of their times, their Hudson's still equal Lionels best offerings as did their Berkshire.
|
|
