mdvle

Then how does he explain that the same problem - that the "modern economy" jobs are all in the big cities and small towns are dying - is happening in almost every western/advanced nation? Whether Beeching was good/bad is irrelevant to the problem the modern world is facing.

The hobby has always had a bulge of older members for the simple reason that once the family is raised the time and often money becomes available to become more serious in the hobby. Face it, having kids is expensive (both time and money) and it is the hobby that gets sacrificed in the those family years. Strange, as my 18 year old niece has started collecting vinyl records, is in to photography include using actual film (and it was taught in school!), and I am sure a bunch of other non-phone things that I am simply unaware of. Yes, phones are important, but many of the younger people do actually do other stuff but it just isn't generally observed by us older people. And YouTube and Facebook also introduce those same youngsters to this and other hobbies. Yet talk to most manufacturers and then don't see this same trend of a dying hobby so many (old) people like to claim. And a hint, old people have been claiming the hobby has been dying for the last 50+ years, but what they are really saying is that the hobby is changing and thus is different to what they want/expect.

Athearn, featuring: UP Big Boy UP 1111 "Powered by Our People" LV & CP GP38-2 sneak peak at EP sample of the new SF Wide Vision Caboose (8:56 point of video)

The Flirt, at least when it comes to the EU version, can be considered well-proven. Now obviously the mainland Europe version won't fit in the UK so a certain amount of redesign is required. It is possible that while most of the components, etc. transfer over there will be some changes that have the possibility of introducing issues that need to be worked through. Hence why I called it a derivative of a proven platform. The most obvious issue was the clearance issues that the UK version of the Flirt had which delayed its introduction to service (though in fairness to Stadler they may not have been at fault, I don't think it has been made public as to whom was to blame for that issue). DY444 was I believe talking about the Bombardier Aventras, which is a new platform and hence will likely have more issues entering service than say a follow-up order of a proven product.

Except the Class 745/755 are not a proven platform, but rather are a unique derivative of a proven platform. The changes necessary to make the trains smaller could make a big difference, particularly in the first months of service as the unique changes lead to new things to work out. Looking at Wikipedia, a contributing factor might simply be weight on the powered wheels. The 755 doesn't benefit from the extra weight from engines and fuel helping with adhesion the way the previous 153/156/170 would have. But it is also just as likely that the same problems happen in other countries and we just never hear about it.

This article at Railway Gazette provides a little more detail that answers some of the issues that have been discussed here: https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/isle-of-wight-lines-future-secured-with-26m-investment/54576.article In particular for those who don't wish to read it mentioned are: - 3 electric substations to be upgraded - track renewals during winter 2020/2021 - Class 484 to be leased, same company that is leasing the 230's to West Midland (not mentioned, but as owner they in turn would presumably decide on the cab strength issue if it is optional, and may want it done on the grounds that it provides future options).

Don't know about the quality, but ESU have downloadable sound files for the C415 on their website. V4 http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/4?type=diesel&order=date&country=us V5 http://projects.esu.eu/projectoverviews/18?page=3&count=10&order=date&type=diesel&country=us&cat=18

Nope, their stuff is dual - offered in either 2 rail or 3-rail. Because of that the 2 rail stuff is inherently compromised by the needs of the 3-rail. For example the GP7 has a minimum radius of 18", which is just crazy for trying to making an accurate model in O.

Nice to know someone at least explored it. I can't help but wonder if Heljan was given the same advice when they first entered rtr O? I can imagine if there currently was no rtr UK O scale and Heljan queried if there was interest in an O scale loco to retail at £700 they might be given similar advice, though i could be wrong. But I agree it would be a gamble - creating a market always is and there isn't much of a kit market to support an early entry. As for the 3-rail issue, that is why I (if I suddenly had the money) tend more towards thinking S would be a better choice to attempt it. Still reasonably hefty so the advantages of a larger scale, but that bit smaller so you can fit a bit more in, and the big advantage that 3-rail S is effectively dead unlike O scale. Now if I could only win the lottery...

But there is a difference between companies making more models than the market can absorb, and there being no market for those models. More realistic production numbers, while still in sufficient quantities to be profitable, can solve the problem you describe (if there is a market). I am more optimistic, but I also think that the hobby has changed from the past. New people to the hobby (and there are new people entering it) aren't coming in from the historical methods of Christmas Train Set or from watching real trains. They are arriving via social media, whether it be YouTube or Facebook or any other options, and thus they are not arriving with the same built in biases to liking what they experienced as a teenager. Some of them are looking for ways to extend their modern, digital lifestyle into a more physical hobby. Others will be looking for a more analog hobby much like some music people are returning to vinyl records over cloud based music. Others will be coming into the hobby as it is a way to use their new interest / hobby of 3D printing in a constructive way, or their laser cutter. Given this, there is no reason to expect that people entering the hobby today will model what they see around them.

The US would be an interesting possibility, but I suspect too risky for Hornby at the moment given the lack of stable political leadership. When / if the US electorate sorts that out might be a time for a re-evaluation. (as an aside, and Hornby isn't in the financial place to do it, but what the US really needs is someone with the financial resources to come in and attempt to do to either O or maybe better S scale what Heljan did for UK O - provide a line of scale, detailed models for the more serious modeller who would like to work in something bigger than HO but doesn't want the compromises that the 3-rail stuff have).

The biggest threat to O could be China, cost increases could cause it bigger problems than the smaller scales even though the market is currently more price flexible. But in general I agree that I think O will be around for quite a while, it simply has advantages that neither N or OO can offer. What will be interesting to see is if O steam can get beyond the GWR focus. Highly unlikely. Today's teens/young adults are different than we were when we were young. They are very comfortable with technology, and a model that merely goes around in circles isn't likely to hold their attention for long. Now give them a train that they can control with their tablet or smartphone, with actual "activities" to control like lights and sound, so it is more like a game, and you will stand a better chance at attracting them to the hobby. This is why in the US Bachmann has gone with Bluetooth controlled trains aimed at the "younger" modellers. They are likely to be far more long lasting than many assume. The inherent problem to the current railway is there is little to model. The DMU/EMU transition, while it has offered the modern railway tremendous efficiencies, means little to no operational possibilities in model form. So some of the next generation attracted to railways as a hobby will continue to be attracted to times past when there are actual operations to be done when a train arrives at a terminus, or the enduring enchantment of steam with not only the operational options but the visual attraction of external moving parts. So yes, many will be attracted to the current scene, but the past will continue to remain (a perhaps diminished) part of the hobby particular given the continued downsizing of layout size as those same young adults face housing challenges unlike anything previous generations faced. We see this in the discussion about minory layouts, whether a modern minory with EMUs going back and forth will provide enough interest to continue using it. But go back 30 years, and have a diesel or electric to run around, and now you get more interest. Or the person even more space constrained, with maybe a 2' x 6' shelf area, in which a lot can be done in early era's but again with today's railway you simple get a multiple unit of some sort going back and forth... Now for those who can have an entire room, and thus can have a continuous run and are happy with running trains in circles with stops at a through station the modern scene can be satisfying with the variety of liveries. But that won't be all, or even a majority, of younger modellers.

Mid-Atlantic RPM 2019 was recently held. Some photos posted (sadly annoying presentation slide show effect) https://www.marpm.org/copy-of-gallery-2018 Perhaps of interest, some of the people holding clinics allowed the slides from their clinics to be posted: https://www.marpm.org/clinics

Google gives me 12'4" (3770) x 8' (2440) with 23.6" boards (600)

The problem was that retailers weren't stocking up during the fire sales because Hornby was doing those fire sales direct to the consumer - thus upsetting the traditional store based sales channel. Hornby have stopped this under the new management, but as I said it will still take another 1 or 2 years for this to fully work its way through. Shops inherently need some stuff on the shelves for the customer who walks in (whether to a physical store or an online store) to handle and possibly buy immediately, and part of the challenge of being a retailer heading into the 2020s is making the correct decision as to what to risk the capital on to put on the shelf. At some point Hornby will also join the 2020s and adjust their production quantities so that are stuck with stock sitting in a warehouse, thus ending the "I will just order it when a customer wants it" option. Agree, there are still areas where Hornby are either stuck in the past or have recently returned to the past to their detriment, and they will need to change these behaviours to survive even if it means some tough decisions. Similarly, there are only so many £'s available in a year and they are going to have to do better to claim a share of that pot of money or the newer entrants to the market will take that money instead. They need to acknowledge the market has changed and slowly releasing liveries over 10 years no longer is acceptable, and that the hobby budget will simply go elsewhere instead of waiting. The biggest danger at the moment I suspect is what Hattons may be doing - have they planned (but not yet announced) anything to make up for the loss of Bachmann as a supplier. Well, the GWR Manor is still MIA... But a look at the annual wish list shows there are still a lot of options available, though all may not be suitable choices for Hornby with their associated overhead costs to produce. And even some of the items not on the wish list, items from the early years of the current phase of RTR, could do with an updating as they may not meet current standards. O is certainly interesting, but is still a (very) small market and thus may not provide the sales possibilities that a company the size of Hornby requires in order to make a profitable product (much like N seems to be shifting more towards being a market served by smaller companies with lower overheads).

Very interesting, something else to add to the list of ideas...

Everything in that report is 6 months old, and only reflects about 1 year(?) of the current management. For me the key points are: 1) the plans are funded until 2023. This means there should be some stability to the creation of new models for the next several years, and that they will have the time and resources to do a proper job on these new models. 2) it's too early to make much of a judgement - for example, the ending of the constant discounting of product to clear out the warehouse will take time to filter through both to retailers and consumers and thus the resulting change in behaviour will likely be seen in next years financial results. As retailers regain trust that Hornby won't turn around and stab them in the back, they will be more confident in purchasing not only stock for pre-orders but to have a reasonable amount of shelf stock. Similarly, at some point the end customers will realize if they want a model they can't wait for Hornby to have a fire sale and will be forced to purchase it at a more reasonable (at least for Hornby's profit margins, and retailers) price.

Make sense, yes. Once one moves around to the concept of being protypically accurate it can be very difficult to accept that either space doesn't allow it, or that it gets in the way of having a layout that is "just for fun". I think you have come up with a design that gets you your trackwork, fits your space, offers some operation possibilities, and while maybe implausible should just be a fun alternative to your more serious layout as you run trains in a "real" manner to service industries.

On the perhaps (wrong) assumption that this isn't meant to be prototypically accurate, rather something "fun" for use when a more serious layout is causing too much stress, I would go with the second plan. It gives you the trackwork to build that you enjoy, as well as being simple to operate to allow a quick session with no stress just to have fun. Save the plausible stuff for the more serious layout.

Kato product preview - September

Athearn October - preorders due Oct 25th, eta September 2020 Bethgon Coalporter - BNSF, Wisconsin Electric Power Company, Commonwealth Edison, CSX, Portland General Electric, Detroit Edison, Pennsylvania Power & LIght, BN, UP http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/07_N_Bethgon_Coalporter_092719.pdf 40' Corrugated Containers - Ocean Network, SM Line, MMCU/BHCU/CNCU, Hyundai Merchant Marine, Mediterranean Shipping Co, Seaboard, Hapag-Lloyd, APL/MOL/CNC Line, Evergreen, Fang, Hatsu Marine, Triton http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/08_N_40ft_Container_092719.pdf

Athearn again, preorders due October 25th, eta September 2020 Genesis - F9 A/B, F7 A/B - Denver & Rio Grande, Milwaukee, SP, NP, BN http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/01_GEN_F-Unit_092719.pdf Genesis - GP7 - Chicago Burlingon & Quincy, CNW, Weyerhaeuser (Yellow / Bicentennial), Denver & Rio Grande, Rock Island, Wabash, NW, Maine Central http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/02_GEN_GP7_092719.pdf Genesis - 50' PC&F 10' Plug Door Boxcar - Western Fruit Express, BN, Evergreen Freight Car Corp, SP, Missouri Kansas Texas, GN, Washington Central http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/03_GEN_50ft_PCF_Box_092719.pdf RTR - Bathtub Gondola w/Load - CP, UP (Black / MOW Green), Procor, David J Joseph, Wisconsin Public Service, Sultran http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/04_RTR_Bathtub_Gondola_092719.pdf RTR - 40' Corrugated Containers - Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, Fang, Mediterranean Shipping, HMM, Hatsu Marine, Triton-UASC http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/05_RTR_40ft_Container_092719.pdf Roundhouse - EMD GP38-2 - NS (Training first responders), CP (Beaver / no beaver), CIT Rail Leasing, Rail America (Huron & Eastern), RJ Corman, Farmrail http://www.athearn.com/newsletter/092719/06_RND_GP38-2_092719.pdf

I also took it as a bit of fun poked at Hornby themselves, for some of the questionable themed items they have made in the past that haven't sold well and ended up needing to be dumped.

Assumes though that the government doesn't try shifting staff around to make up for a shortage of staff to deal with EU imports. Given that say food may be viewed as more important than model trains, the view that containers from Asia can wait may be a popular one for those in charge.

Likely to be of limited interest, but Broadway Limited showed on YouTube a Christmas themed release of their stock car with Christmas sounds, arriving in November along with C&O, MKT, NKP, PRR, SP, UP, WP https://www.broadway-limited.com/k7soundstockcars-winter2019run.aspx