Hornby announcement 8th May

[jjb1970]

Briefly, I think virtually all comparisons are pointless and misleading. While Oxford and Hornby might have duplicated the same prototype, unless the chassis design is identical and the electrical parts sourced from the same supplier, you can't expect them to have the same costs. We know, from the Oxford thread, that they have had two 'Radial' chassis in production with different flywheel and motor arrangements - presumably aimed at controlling their own costs. Each company will also have very different overheads - reps, admin staff  and senior management all have to be paid for, never mind the very different costs of operating from South Wales and South-East England. (CJL)

 

But comparisons are just that, comparing things. If two companies bring out models of the same subject at the same time then it is entirely valid to compare those products. Those two companies chose different design approaches, applied different compromises, pitched them at a different price point etc so obviously the products are not identical but it doesn't alter the fact that as two models of the same prototype they are directly comparable. How a company undertakes product development, manufacture, its cost base and lots more are for it to decide and manage, it is all part of what differentiates success from being an also ran but it doesn't alter the validity of making comparisons. A Ford Focus isn't a VW Golf or a Honda Civic, the design differences, differences in corporate philosophy, cost base etc between these three cars will be far greater than those between Oxford and Hornby but it doesn't alter the fact that they will quite rightly be compared against eachother (along with many other models) as directly competing in the same segment.

[Keep the Faith]

Because as far as the UK press, comedians and society at large is concerned, the word Hornby = model trains. Such brand associations are rather long lived even if people don't actually buy them Hovis = Bread, PG tips = Tea, Fairy = washing up liquid, Lego = Building toy.

 

Except all of these brands are still successful and highly visible in every supermarket or in the case of LEGO, in every toy shop, supermarket, cinema, online streaming service, entertainment shop, video game shop, book shop...

 

Hornby, on the contrary, is a brand without a mainstream presence for most of the year.

 

 

 

Put it this way, I bet that if you picked a random selection of adults in the UK, more than 50% would know that Hornby = 'Toy Trains'. That level of brand awareness simply doesn't exist for Bachmann, Dapol, etc

 

Possibly, but that number will be dropping every year as more kids grow up without encountering the Hornby brand.  Brand recognition may be high with the over 40s but how many 20-somethings know it?  

 

 

 

 

Later on when they are an adult, they will therefore be receptive to the idea of taking up the Hobby should the right buttons be pressed by Hornby Bachmann or anyone else.

 

 

And that is the challenge for Hornby.  How are they going to reach those potentially receptive customers who don't know the brand or hobby in quite the same way as previous generations?

 

The hobby is becoming more specialist and the current Hornby set up is distinctly sub-optimal - management heavy, publicly listed, internal competition for tooling capital expenditure and marketing spend, large staff overhead.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Keep the Faith

[Dunsignalling]

The composite coach is also a work of fiction as the body was made to fit the same length underframe as the Brake 3rd (Real Composite was 60ft long, Real Brake 3rd 57ft long).

 

As you say though, they will look good behind a suitably decorated Duchess

Both are fictitious, introduced in The Year of the Coach (1979?) as part of a semi-generic range supposedly covering each of the big four.

 

The underframe is common to all types but the position of the battery boxes follows Great Western practice.

 

Bogies on all but the LNER "Gresleys" are BR1. and the bodywork on the GWR models (the best of the bunch IMHO) is just revised to green to provide an alleged SR "Maunsell", though the overall effect is probably closer to an "Ironclad". The "LNER stock" was essentially imaginary with Gresley styling cues, apart from the bogies, which did look the part.

 

The whole selection showed willing but compared poorly with Tri-ang's BR Mk.1s from a decade earlier and the then-new Airfix LMS types (still made by Dapol) which were about as good as r-t-r Staniers got until both Bachmann and Hornby had a proper go at them this century.

 

The concept was effectively "Railroad" before the idea was thought of, so it's rather appropriate that they have nowadays become a mainstay of that range.

 

John

Edited May 9, 2018 by Dunsignalling

[The Johnster]

I think there is a tremendous amount of goodwill towards Hornby amongst modellers (and collectors). I don't know any modeller that wants Hornby to die and every modeller I know wants them to succeed. Would the hobby survive without Hornby? Of course it would, their exit would create opportunities for other companies and it's not like there is a shortage of OO model suppliers just now. However I genuinely believe the hobby would be poorer without Hornby and it'd be a huge loss.

 

The frustration we are seeing on this thread is caused by just that, frustration. Hornby have shot themselves in the foot by turning what could have been a really positive mid year series of new announcements into a bit of a flop by completely mismanaging expectations and building this up into something it isn't. This comes on top of the sad decline of the Engine Shed from being a (model train) market leading communication tool to being very meh. And the woeful episode of Warley last year where they commenced a big build up of excitement to their presence being a damp squib. Their communications have gone from being a lesson to others in how to do it to being very poor. A year ago there was a real sense of positive momentum in product development, delivery and communications at the company, that has all but evaporated. The reason people are frustrated isn't because they're anti-Hornby, it is because they saw so many positives in what they were doing only to see it go into reverse almost overnight.

 

Much of this can be laid at the door of changes in their communication strategy. This is nothing personal and I don't think anybody is vindictive towards anybody at Hornby (for that you'd have found more evidence two or three years ago at the then senior management team) but the world changes. What once worked for communicating with customers isn't what the market wants today. One of the things the last team got very right was communication and giving a voice to their development team to communicate with customers. If that changes after changing the top team and bringing in a new comms person then it is not entirely unreasonable to feel that it is that new team that have dropped the ball.

 

I want Hornby to succeed, but I just don't have confidence in some of what I see at the moment.

 

I think most of us, certainly those of my age, have an emotional attachment to the name and the company.  I am old enough to disassociate the two; Hornby is a name inherited by Triang who bought the rights to it when Hornby Dublo went under.  I grew up with Triang, my first set being a Black Princess, and have seen them weather many storms, even eventually coming back from a very poor position quality wise at around the turn of the 21st century.  

 

But the recovery may have been too little too late; H clung to toy train philosophies for too long and could not adapt to computer gaming; Scalextric has almost sunk them, and they are still pushing out appalling toys and compromises such as fictional 4 wheel coaches, the 0-4-0s and 2721 toolings which are not really able to cut the mustard in 2018, and incorrect wheelbases for mineral wagons.  They are like the little girl and she had a little curl; no leeway between very very good and horrid.  

 

The sort of thinking I mean is illustrated by the current A30 (as I regard it) auto trailer.  It is priced reasonably considering it is a 40 year old Airfix tooling, and I have work for them on my layout, but why oh why not replace the Airfix bogies with something that has brake blocks in line with the wheels.  This is a particularly faffy thing to correct and the failure to upgrade the trailer to modern standards irritates me.  Do they think that the low price justifies this?  Possibly; the 14xx has hopefully been reworked to justify a £20 price hike.  

 

There seems to be a cultural reluctance to finally once and for all ditch the train set mentality; it is a dead duck.  It is not consistent with a firm that has just broken the £200 barrier for a single locomotive which is probably reasonably priced as it looks very good.  Sorry to bring up the competition, but to my view one of the reasons for Bachmann's success is consistency.  They have their issues, especially delivery lead times, but nobody doubts that the 94xx, for instance, when it eventually shows up, will be a quality piece of kit consistent with all Baccy's stuff.  Were H doing it, we'd be looking at the projected price and trying to work out if it's a Lima body on the current 0-6-0 generic chassis, and debating whether it'd be worth bothering with if the connecting rods were right;  It's just that Baccy are a safe pair of hands, and we still remark on how good some Hornby models are as if we didn't really expect them to be.

 

This has a bearing on the financial situation which is hobbling the firm, but I have to say that, much as I wish them well and would be sad to lose them, I have already bought all the models I am ever likely to buy from them unless they retool the 2721, and their going under would make no difference to my future shopping lists.  My wallet doesn't care any more.

 

The only thing that might perk it's interest would be GWR non gangwayed compartment stock that was not a B set, but for reasons already discussed that ain't gonna happen in my lifetime.

Edited May 9, 2018 by The Johnster

[adb968008]

It's strange and very annoying that Hornby still haven't released a Virgin Trains 1st class MK2 coach (with lights) to match the Virgin standard and brake MK2 coaches that came out a couple of years ago now. Instead they are bringing out more Virgin mk3s even with the cheaper and better Oxford ones hitting the shelves soon.

I now have an incomplete rake of the new Virgin mk2s with lights. I can't complete the rake due to the lack of 1st class coach. Surely this must be putting off potential buyers, who like me want a complete and matching rake of coaches.

Is there a reason for this missing coach? Perhaps they are developing the micro buffet MK2 instead and not told anyone. More than likely Hornby just haven't bothered with it. Hornby really need some joined up thinking. It would greatly improve their financial situation if they actually listened to their customers and produced the items they actually want.

Just take the lighting kit out of one of Hattons £19 bargain Hornby mk2’s with lights.

That’s what I did.

 

I did the same with the mk1 BSO and FO to light up my Hornby rake cheaply, then disposed of the now lightless coaches.

Dropping lights I think was a bad move... it certainly ended my purchases of mk1’s just like that, I got 1fo and 1bso in maroon / blue and stopped there, when I was bought into replacing my 70+ Bachmann mk1’s, and already had 15 Hornby ones with lights. It might even go in reverse, since my Hornby ones have no buffet and mixing rakes of Hornby & Bachmann doesn’t look right.

Edited May 9, 2018 by adb968008

[Islesy]

I don't think that that can be thought of as a trusted source, can it ?

 

.

Oh, that hurts...

 

I think the reference to 2019 comes from official teasers, in my article, in Issue 114 of the Collector Magazine. As for my Twitter feed, that’s my own view on the world and does not remotely reflect Hornby’s official position...

Edited May 9, 2018 by Islesy

[blueeighties]

It is perhaps short sighted and naive - but I ask you did Tescos initially think the likes of Aldi or Lidel would seriously dent their profits or prompt a significant shift in the nations shopping habits?

 

The larger an organisation is - or the grater the number of stakeholders / shareholders in the case of PLCs, the harder it is to change the behaviour. In shipping terms Hornby is like an old bulk cargo ship - it takes ages to slow down / speed up / change course compared to small yachts or even large cross channel ferrys (which are like sportscars in large ship terms)

 

A decade or so ago if you had said the likes of Kernow, Hattons and Rails were going to produce stuff that seriously challenged traditional manufacturers I best most folk on here would have said you were having a laugh.

 

Hornby's structure as a PLC listed on the London stock exchange makes it harder to respond to new challenges (as opposed to Bachmann - them being a small part of a much bigger non UK business). Its unfortunate that the rise of the retailer procured models coincided with a fight for control of the Hornby group by key shareholders and the collapse of Hornbys traditional Chinese production network - which severely affected its ability to have new products to sell.

 

Going forward the question of how to tackle the rise of the retailer procured models is one Hornby will have to deal with. That they should have seen it coming is true - but given the recent proposal for a tie up between Asda and Sanisburys to tackle the rise of Aldi and Lidel, such lack of foresight is not unique to the model world.

Is 'Lidel' a new model shop?

[Mike at C&M]

Could the reason for bringing out Virgin Mk3s not be that they are about to bring out a Virgin Class 87?   A bit of joined up thinking , giving credit where credits due. Not sure if these are HST mk3s or loco hauled, 

They are loco hauled. Coach numbers are shown as 11074 and 12087

[Steamport Southport]

 

Its the same market that will but the Coronation Scot set of three Staniers, the old 1977 versions. As I understand it they never carried red/gold livery in service, but it will look nice behind a nice red streamliner.

 

There was a red and gold LMS set. It was the one that accompanied Duchess Of Hamilton (as Coronation) to America.

 

 

 

Jason

[Mike Storey]

The comparison between the retailer commissioners and Hornby (and Bachmann) is interesting. Bachmann (as in Kader) are a manufacturer. Hornby have just bought into a company that owns a manufacturer.

 

There is a strategy here, and Hornby's new found capital investment pot may well decide the winner. That pot must be many times larger than anything the retailers can commit. It will be about how well they can exploit that in the next few years, but certainly not this one.

 

The other issue is distribution chains. The retailers have extremely narrow ones, but may choose to expand them - there are some signs of a toe in the water. But Hornby and the others have vastly wider chains (albeit nothing like we remember in our yoof). So maximising profit at lower prices within a very tight exposure, where demographics suggest a very difficult future, as opposed to a much wider exposure, where margins may be tighter and the market more complex, but with major wiggle room for far larger volume and shelf life, and space to drop the ball now and again - which will win out in the end?

 

It is ironic that the industry most dependent on virtual connectivity, smart phones, can support an enormous range of bricks'n'mortar, high street retailers, for it to thrive.

[Legend]

Both are fictitious, introduced in The Year of the Coach (1979?) as part of a semi-generic range supposedly covering each of the big four.

 

The underframe is common to all types but the position of the battery boxes follows Great Western practice.

 

Bogies on all but the LNER "Gresleys" are BR1. and the bodywork on the GWR models (the best of the bunch IMHO) is just revised to green to provide an alleged SR "Maunsell", though the overall effect is probably closer to an "Ironclad". The "LNER stock" was essentially imaginary with Gresley styling cues, apart from the bogies, which did look the part.

 

The whole selection showed willing but compared poorly with Tri-ang's BR Mk.1s from a decade earlier and the then-new Airfix LMS types (still made by Dapol) which were about as good as r-t-r Staniers got until both Bachmann and Hornby had a proper go at them this century.

 

The concept was effectively "Railroad" before the idea was thought of, so it's rather appropriate that they have nowadays become a mainstay of that range.

 

John

To be pedantic 1977. Probably at the time we thought it was a step forward . Up till then LMS Great Western and Southern coaches were all Mk1s in different colours . But agree that’s the time they belong too, although I still run the LNER teaks

[Legend]

There was a red and gold LMS set. It was the one that accompanied Duchess Of Hamilton (as Coronation) to America.

 

 

 

Jason

Thanks Jason , but it never actually ran on British lines

[wombatofludham]

There was a red and gold LMS set. It was the one that accompanied Duchess Of Hamilton (as Coronation) to America.

 

 

 

Jason

...which looked even less like the Hornby generic Stanier P3 looky-sort of likey stock they are using for this release. It was largely made up of articulated vehicles to a different body profile, touted as a prototype for a new Coronation Scot fleet that would have entered service in 1940 were it not for the mad Austrian failed artist intervening.

 

It's a shame that Hornby didn't think ahead when tooling up for the Stanier Period 3 stock and include the vehicle types that went into the Coronation Scot, given the vehicles were lightly modified standard LMS coaches. That could have given them not only some very useful general purpose P3s like the open first and thirds used for dining, but also given them the basis to offer matching Coronation Scot vehicles for their streamlined Duchess.

[The Stationmaster]

The comparison between the retailer commissioners and Hornby (and Bachmann) is interesting. Bachmann (as in Kader) are a manufacturer. Hornby have just bought into a company that owns a manufacturer.

 

There is a strategy here, and Hornby's new found capital investment pot may well decide the winner. That pot must be many times larger than anything the retailers can commit. It will be about how well they can exploit that in the next few years, but certainly not this one.

 

The other issue is distribution chains. The retailers have extremely narrow ones, but may choose to expand them - there are some signs of a toe in the water. But Hornby and the others have vastly wider chains (albeit nothing like we remember in our yoof). So maximising profit at lower prices within a very tight exposure, where demographics suggest a very difficult future, as opposed to a much wider exposure, where margins may be tighter and the market more complex, but with major wiggle room for far larger volume and shelf life, and space to drop the ball now and again - which will win out in the end?

 

It is ironic that the industry most dependent on virtual connectivity, smart phones, can support an enormous range of bricks'n'mortar, high street retailers, for it to thrive.

 

Surprises have come in the past; surprises might come in the future about who sells what and who does not sell whatever.  And nowadays 'distribution; isn't quite the tribulation it once was with numerous companies on the lookout for business in the game of doing it for you.

 

You never can tell what might be just around the corner especially in a market where volumes have dropped sharply compared with the old days at Hornby and the challenges are now very different.   Will we see some interesting changes in 2018 - possibly.  Will we see change in the manufacturing/commissioning landscape - I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised although what happens might come as something of a surprise to many.  I'm prepared to lay down some money 'on the counter'. that I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see some commissioned models being on sale in wider range of outlets than has been the case up to now  (some past Hattons commissioned models have in the past been sold in small numbers through at least one other retail outlet - first chink in the armour?)

[Les1952]

Looking at the announcements the one gap (especially in the light of the Thomas thread) is the lack of another train set with the 0-4-0 tank loco.

 

i.e. a set with an 0-4-0 loco, a couple of wagons,a controller and a point and siding.  The two 0-4-0 sets in the current catalogue don't have the siding which increases the play potential enormously.

 

There was such a set a couple of years ago- and we bought one each for our (then rising 4-year old) great nephews to be put away as Christmas presents.  Both love them.  This year both are getting more pointwork and another 0-4-0 loco to go with them.  The new accessory range may well be raided for them too.

 

We gave away a couple of Hornby trainsets as raffle prizes at this year's South Notts Show. The young lady who got the Christmas set (itself a draw prize I didn't want for myself) was over the moon with it- two children of six and five and just the thing...  

 

This end of the Hornby range can begin people on a path that leads towards the big ticket items we members of this forum want,  It also helps expand the size of the hobby in the UK.  Personally I don't want a Connie/Nellie/Polly descendant for my own use.  I can afford the much more realistic Peckett.  Families with small kids want these.  Please can we have more, Hornby - and stuff any negative comments about recycling old kit!

 

Les

[Mike Storey]

Surprises have come in the past; surprises might come in the future about who sells what and who does not sell whatever.  And nowadays 'distribution; isn't quite the tribulation it once was with numerous companies on the lookout for business in the game of doing it for you.

 

You never can tell what might be just around the corner especially in a market where volumes have dropped sharply compared with the old days at Hornby and the challenges are now very different.   Will we see some interesting changes in 2018 - possibly.  Will we see change in the manufacturing/commissioning landscape - I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised although what happens might come as something of a surprise to many.  I'm prepared to lay down some money 'on the counter'. that I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised to see some commissioned models being on sale in wider range of outlets than has been the case up to now  (some past Hattons commissioned models have in the past been sold in small numbers through at least one other retail outlet - first chink in the armour?)

 

Absolutely. But at what price? Once the commissioner/retailer turns to wholesaler, with a very narrow range, will they interest any independent retailer at an increased mark-up, if they can be undercut by the retailer already? Didn't someone just make that cock-up?

[steve1023]

Over 24 hours of chat and speculation since the OTT announcement with people predicting Hornby's doom and the new challenge presented to them by retailers like Hattons, Kernow etc, etc and how will Hornby deal with this in the future, but as yet nobody seems to have mentioned Dovetail games as possibly being the biggest challenge to face not just Hornby, but everybody else in this hobby.

 

Approximately 1 month ago I invited my 6 year old to come to the Crawley model show. His response was "I'm not really interested daddy". OK fair enough and off I went by myself, yet if I fire up train simulator he's next to me like shot. Loves pressing the horn and watching the animated doors open. Would sit there for hours if he could.

 

For a fraction of the space of a 6x4 roundy-roundy and less than the cost of a Bachmann 12ton box van I could wait for one off the frequent sales on Steam or by DTG and take my pick of a huge choice of routes or stock. Not saying it's perfect, but it grabs the interest of my 6 year old much more than Hornby, Bachmann or any of the others do, infact the only hope of any interest in model trains for my 6 year old is his Marklin my world, which is (frankly) brilliant, but even then it still doesn't maintain his interest like train simulator.

 

Again, roughly a month ago I found out that one of my colleagues at work has Train Simulator and loves it, we had never spoken about it so I had no idea that he was interested in trains, but when I mentioned a model railway to him he just turned his nose up, had no interest. So ignore DTG and the humble PC if you wish, but in my opinion they are the biggest threat to this hobby.

 

Regards

[Legend]

I think most of us, certainly those of my age, have an emotional attachment to the name and the company. I am old enough to disassociate the two; Hornby is a name inherited by Triang who bought the rights to it when Hornby Dublo went under. I grew up with Triang, my first set being a Black Princess, and have seen them weather many storms, even eventually coming back from a very poor position quality wise at around the turn of the 21st century.

You are absolutely correct, although maybe I’m slightly younger, I remember Triang - Hornby and later Hornby Railways . The thrill of opening up a red box when I was a wee boy has sadly been replaced by a feeling of trepidation. Will it go , if it goes will it pull a train(14XX) How long will it run before the motor deteriorates (class71 , S15) will it manage my admittedly uneven track without derailing (IET).

 

They really do need to do something about quality.

 

It still retains my goodwill because of my memories as a boy , but they really are stretching it. There really is very little linking the current Hornby with the Hornby of old .Nearly everything is subcontracted out. Ironically apart from the red box and name , it maybe some of the accessories they have just reintroduced that remains the link!

 

So while It feels almost disloyal buying anything other than Hornby , I’m very happy that companies like Hattons are entering the game. It is to be hoped that they force Hornby to up their game .

Edited May 10, 2018 by Legend

[Scottish-Exile]

.. but as yet nobody seems to have mentioned Dovetail games as possibly being the biggest challenge to face not just Hornby, but everybody else in this hobby.

 

 

Again, roughly a month ago I found out that one of my colleagues at work has Train Simulator and loves it, we had never spoken about it so I had no idea that he was interested in trains, but when I mentioned a model railway to him he just turned his nose up, had no interest. So ignore DTG and the humble PC if you wish, but in my opinion they are the biggest threat to this hobby.

 

 

I can't see the threat. I mean, can you really see a load of railway modellers sitting in front of their PC screen? Oh, wait ...

[Steamport Southport]

Over 24 hours of chat and speculation since the OTT announcement with people predicting Hornby's doom and the new challenge presented to them by retailers like Hattons, Kernow etc, etc and how will Hornby deal with this in the future, but as yet nobody seems to have mentioned Dovetail games as possibly being the biggest challenge to face not just Hornby, but everybody else in this hobby.

 

Approximately 1 month ago I invited my 6 year old to come to the Crawley model show. His response was "I'm not really interested daddy". OK fair enough and off I went by myself, yet if I fire up train simulator he's next to me like shot. Loves pressing the horn and watching the animated doors open. Would sit there for hours if he could.

 

For a fraction of the space of a 6x4 roundy-roundy and less than the cost of a Bachmann 12ton box van I could wait for one off the frequent sales on Steam or by DTG and take my pick of a huge choice of routes or stock. Not saying it's perfect, but it grabs the interest of my 6 year old much more than Hornby, Bachmann or any of the others do, infact the only hope of any interest in model trains for my 6 year old is his Marklin my world, which is (frankly) brilliant, but even then it still doesn't maintain his interest like train simulator.

 

Again, roughly a month ago I found out that one of my colleagues at work has Train Simulator and loves it, we had never spoken about it so I had no idea that he was interested in trains, but when I mentioned a model railway to him he just turned his nose up, had no interest. So ignore DTG and the humble PC if you wish, but in my opinion they are the biggest threat to this hobby.

 

Regards

 

I remember when they said the same in the late 1970s when TV games came along.

 

And the same in the early 1980s when home computers came along.

 

And the same in the 1990s when consoles came along.

 

And the same in the 2000s when the new generation of consoles came along.

 

 

Biggest selling toy of the last few years? LEGO.

 

 

 

Jason

[wombatofludham]

On the flip side, I do know of people who came to model railways having developed an interest in general railways via the first iteration of Train Simulator, as well as others who might have only had a passing interest in railways but decided on retirement to take up model railways as a hobby, so having had many chats with similar people at model shows during my brief period exhibiting, I don't share the "hobby is doomed" predictions that were being made in the 1970s, again in the 1980s, and so on.

 

I've even met two or three teenage modellers who not only are actively building a layout, but are also doing a steam themed layout. They are out there.

[Legend]

Actually for a long time I operated Trainz simulator with Turbostars and Class 66s on routes I created. Very enjoyable and a fraction of the cost of a full blown model Railway . So there is a threat there. I stopped when an upgrade to Windows 10 stopped the program from working, but I may return to it one day.

['CHARD]

But the point is that re-issuing 1970s Tri-ang trackside stuff has zero development costs. And it is still the sort of stuff that sells into the train set market. There's plenty of it on eBay, for example - and some of the prices there are a bit eye-watering: https://ebay.to/2wqk2Ny 

 

Eye-watering maybe, but it hasn't sold at the asking price 

['CHARD]

 

This is one reason that DBS had to revive the Class 60 which, whilst a different design, built by BREL, shares many of the performance characteristics of the 59.

 

 

 

BREL Loughborough....????  

[Hroth]

On the flip side, I do know of people who came to model railways having developed an interest in general railways via the first iteration of Train Simulator, as well as others who might have only had a passing interest in railways but decided on retirement to take up model railways as a hobby, so having had many chats with similar people at model shows during my brief period exhibiting, I don't share the "hobby is doomed" predictions that were being made in the 1970s, again in the 1980s, and so on.

 

I've even met two or three teenage modellers who not only are actively building a layout, but are also doing a steam themed layout. They are out there.

Looking through some old Railway Modellers, there were cries that "The Hobby is Doomed!" in the late 50s too!

 

 

Eye-watering maybe, but it hasn't sold at the asking price 

 

Eye watering, certainly. But when you can get one from Hattons for £38 including delivery, then a little silly.......