This is 100% true. Here in Ireland there has been a massive demographic shift in the hobby. You see lots of young dads in their early 30s with their wife/kids now at shows. The entire family seems to be involved and not just dad. They are carrying bags of rolling stock they just bought too. I think UA-cam channels - such as your own - has been a fantastic gateway into the hobby for all kinds of people who otherwise didn't really know much about it.
Well done once again for supporting and promoting the younger modellers and women modellers. The hobby needs a good cross section of people to help it keep it alive and help it grow. Dylan is really enjoying his 009-layout build and posted episode 6 yesterday....cheers James 🙂👍
Hi Dawn. A great point made at the start about everybody's skills. There are a few in this hobby , and indeed life in general, who seek to demean others because they can not or will not do as they do. There is room for all , making or just watching, displaying or filming. There can't be one without the other.
"If you can see it, you can be it". Absolutely true. I devour model railway videos and they have shown me ideas that I would never have come up with myself. The look and feel of what will become my layout is due to many of these ideas. My layout is up and running but unfinished because I didn't want to have to pull stuff apart too much every time I discovered a different way of doing things. I talked to some guys at a recent show in Melbourne and they showed me how they had made the landscaping from carving rigid foam board. It's all terribly exciting. My layout is quite small at only 1.7 metres by 1.1 metres and I have fantasised about the idea of taking it to a show once it is up to a good standard as an example of what can be achieved on a budget by a novice. You don't have to have something completely amazing to enjoy the fun of creating a little world where imagination is as important as reality. 😊👍
I've just discovered your channel & subscribed to it, what a breath of fresh air! The hobby should be open to all to share & showcase their skills & encourage younger members it's important for clubs to survive.
This video has made me subscribe to this channel. It's refreshing to hear a different take on the hobby. Though an older man, I guess I'm not a typical male modeller as I came back to the hobby after 40 years having suffered a stroke that has left me disabled and largely housebound. Constructing a model railway was a way of passing the time at home and, importantly, offering me the chance to improve my hand eye co-ordination by making models and the layout itself. That's a key factor in my rehabilitation as the stroke badly messed up my stability and co-ordination. Its given me confidence and pleasure and has really helped in the rehab - all good!
Hi Dawn, thanks for encouraging the young and female, and indeed the blokes. It's so exciting to know that it's not only men of a ahem certain age that enjoy the hobby. I really enjoy your channel and your creativity. There's so much in the hobby; scenery, architecture, electrics (my nemesis), imagination & simply playing with trains for fun. Thanks again. Cheers David
I don't suppose this adds to the diversity but I'm an autistic 45 year old male who has an Irish N gauge layout which we're taking to the York Show next Easter all being well. It would be good to see more women take up this at times therapeutic and rewarding hobby.
Lovely to hear some positive news on the hobby. Our hobby can only get better by widening demographics and embracing D&I. Far too many neigh-sayers on antisocial-media. Keep up the good work.
100% agree! I try to talk to as many people as possible at shows where our club layout is on show. Mostly it is Dads/Grandads with youngsters who are trying to get the youngsters interested. I always offer anyone the chance to run the trains on the branch line using a tablet running Engine Driver. The most reluctant to have a drive are the 'older' ladies, the 'girls' are usually interested. I have tried to get the 'Mums' to bring their children to the club for a visit to see the layouts, even offering an afternoon or early evening time to suit. So far, none have taken up this offer which I find disappointing when it is clear the children are really interested. Maybe fitting this in with all the other things parents have to do is the problem? I feel so many are missing out on gaining practical skills and mixing with like minded people in general when being a member of a model making club of any sort could provide so much enjoyment and knowledge. Keep promoting your cause Dawn!!
Hi ya Dawn. I have been pondering on how to address this. I'm nearly 62, been modelling since I can remember. Got involved in a local club in my early 20's which was more of a youth club, now they are more of a modelling thing. I got into O gauge, scratch building locos for guys, self funding my builds. Got a bit of a name for myself ... day job so turn quite a lot away etc. I learnt carpentry, electronics, sheet metal work, model engineering, artistry, inventing stuff? All from my hobby because I had to. Now I am quite senior in my organisation and it mostly comes from the "I can make that and better" attitude from my core hobby. Sorry for the essay. I helped a mate build a small brewery layout which we showed at an major O gauge show. I think it got featured in some mag. A small boy with his Mum showed lot of interest, we got a box for him to stand on, he learnt real quick and we left him there to operate while we went to the bar. Yeah, O gauge is expensive, they were all hand built. He did a fine job and had a big crowd gathered. But in many groups, I'm still the young lad? And then have to listen to the moaning about lack of model shops? You know the type? You absolutely must have met them? They start most conversations with "In actual fact I think you will find", followed by point of imperfection no one notices or cares about of some sort or telling kids don't touch. This has to end. I love what you are doing. I voted for you. So the ponder bit.... not just for women getting involved because they should, there are so many aspects to pick from. You are symbolic of everyone getting involved, getting off their phones, not being put off, getting out and pestering Dad for a train set. My youngest has a lot of challenges, he loves trains, a lot of his piers also do. So he's 29, but 4 forever really with poor motor skills (a bit ham fisted). We play trains? We play with my O gauge (£1000's), we play with my brass On30 collection. Ok, if he drops some of the N gauge on the floor, well, it was me who asked him to play? The hobby started quite elite (when the poorer kids had to work). Then the likes of Triang / /Meccano and Hornby made it fordable to people like me (when I was young) but it's drifting upwards again in my opinion. but the 2nd user market is well alive. Anyway, take care Dawn, excellent channel.
Right on, Dawn. You might want to check out RGJ Trains. Rob and Grace are a young couple building their own model railway in northern Wales. Two years ago they knew almost nothing about the hobby, but have since gain knowledge through trial and error in their build. We have been following their U Tube channel, RGJ Trains. Bill and Janet from California
Yesterday I went to a local model railway exhibition near me and one of the layouts on display was run by a man who had his teenage daughter helping him. There were also some younger guys around my age group all part of a model railway club exhibiting both their club layouts and their own personal ones. Personally one thing I'd love to see a family of 4 or 5 running a layout at an exhibition together.
I think the hobby is seen as a older man's hobby but I do also believe there are more woman interested in it than we think gender should not be a barrier to any hobby. Want to get more younger people involved than manufacturers need to bring more budget friendly models ( I know Hornby got Railroad range) yes we have second hand but prices are nearly as much as new also.many models are getting on a bit now. Not everyone has a model railway club near by or can afford to join one UA-cam offers an alternative by following a channel that becomes a club of sorts.
Hi Ms Q. I was at Bressingham on Sunday, and was struck by the number of couples that attended. I would probably say there were more male/female couples than single/small groups of men in attendance. There were plenty of children too. I didn't notice too many women modellers, but the ladies of Great Eastern Model shop were there, plus a few others on various trade stands. Regarding skills, your piece reminded me of my early post university years working in a hi-tech electronics factory. Most of the workers were women, as they were far more skillful at the dexterous art of assembling circuitry and wiring looms than men: skills essential in our hobby. Change is happening, but as you say, there's a lot more to do. It will be interesting to see the gender mix at GETS next month. There's no doubt that your emergence as a significant presence in the hobby is helping the diversity/inclusion cause. PS: Did I hear you say last week that you are handy with a soldering iron? I for one would appreciate a tutorial in that particular skill.
Doesn't matter on age. race, gender, sexuality, everyone is welcome into the hobby but this year I have seen younger people operating layouts at model shows and it enjoyable to see that they having a great time
It seems the scales/gauges are consolidating to N, HO and O Gauge in the States, with the others contracting, and some rapidly. It's hard to measure involvement of younger modelers since the US is so spread out, but due to cost, it really requires a steady income.
Dawn, one demographic to look into is the British military members. There are likely some higher rank personnel who have a home that has space for a layout. There may be junior rank personnel in the Royal Army & Royal Air Force who are allowed to have a small layout in the barracks that is mounted on caster wheels and slides under their bed. And military bases may have a club. Also, you could find out if the British Boy Scouts have a Railroading Merit Badge to pursue and if they display layouts at Scout Fairs.
We have noticed that our customers are becoming younger. Middle aged people of both sexes are entering the hobby as finally they have the time now the kids have left, and the money because the mortgage has been paid. Most hare saying they had a train set as a kid and are nor reliving their youth. Most are going for models of diesels as that's what they remember when they were young. We need more like you Dawn to encourage even more people into this great hobby.
Hi Dawn. Have been modelling since the 1970s. A member of the 3mm society and building a model of Acton Wells for home and a small one of the wagon works and depot at Worksop in the 1980s. Have a propensity for building and scenery but then get board and move on leaving others to play with the models. my shortfall is wiring pointwork and now trying dcc on TT120. Caroline
Again a `Cracking video`, I wish you well in your endeavours. But I know through experience the difficulties and resistance put up as well as back biting by some to resist change. Okay change happens every day, but to try and alter attitudes and opinions is like rolling a ball uphill every day, only to wake up next day and it's returned to its original location. As I too felt like Sisyphus when `You know where` I used to volunteer, as it was infested with bigots, bullies, stuck in the mud individuals along with the self-aggrandising who are especially difficult to convert if there is a clique controlling the group. Attitudes must change otherwise it might/will last for a while, that is until the novelty wears off. I wish you well.
I don't see a comment here that do not disagree with your comments in the video, now going back sum 50 years ago like I have said in one of your videos girl's of my age at the time was involved, today it's wife's with the husband, at shows. Now I do agree that we need young girl's and woman doing shows of there own layouts or even as a female groupe.
Maybe consider sponsoring railroad clubs at secondary schools, with a seasoned / recognized modeler who is trusted and great with older adolescents and teens still in school. Years ago, I was elected as a student president of a hobby club in secondary school, but the adult sponsor of the club - not a school employee - had to move due to a job change, and we couldn't find another sponsor, so the entire club collapsed.
This is a very good point - and I've got some more to say about model railway clubs reaching out more to the community. It's such a shame that the club collapsed.
@@modelrailwayquest Thinking about it more; the school club idea, a logical sponsor could be a hobby shop that sells model trains, although that would be limited to just a very few locals. However, even an online model train store could offer a big student discount to everyone in the club purchasing their first locomotive, and a few wagons, and a normal student discount for all model train related purchases thereafter. Also, for schools living close to train stations, or other regularly used train routes, maybe the school would permit the train club to either 1) build a permanent train layout for the school, which can be continually added to / improved / maintained by new students entering the clubs with each passing year, or 2) building a modular layout that can be easily moved to a location, so that train clubs at other schools can come together once or twice per year to display their handiwork, like you do with your wonderful modular dioramas.
That old gibberish of "it's a dying hobby, it's all internet nowadays, so no more investment" angers me, because it's never been true. The hobby itself has evolved and thrived so much because of the Internet. I'd even go as far as pointing out, that the growth in the larger scales is more because of the internet than the other explanation, that goes something like "it's cuz them old men can't handle the smaller stuff before they die..." I'd explain the growing popularity of larger scales as such: By using the internet also people that don't have the necessary space to run these at home can take part in that particular niche, as they can find others that do using forums etc. The even more infuriating truth is, that the "it's dying anyway" logic is a self fulfilling prophecy. For example in German N scale track there has not been any innovation since 1972 (code 80, plastic frogs, garish detail...)! Most German N scalers have been crying out for newly developed track since the 80s. Until last year, to no avail. Now finally Minitrix released new code 60 track, replacing their 1964 issue... Hopefully they'll get it right kinda similar to Peco eventually.
This is 100% true. Here in Ireland there has been a massive demographic shift in the hobby. You see lots of young dads in their early 30s with their wife/kids now at shows. The entire family seems to be involved and not just dad. They are carrying bags of rolling stock they just bought too. I think UA-cam channels - such as your own - has been a fantastic gateway into the hobby for all kinds of people who otherwise didn't really know much about it.
Well done once again for supporting and promoting the younger modellers and women modellers. The hobby needs a good cross section of people to help it keep it alive and help it grow. Dylan is really enjoying his 009-layout build and posted episode 6 yesterday....cheers James 🙂👍
Hi Dawn.
A great point made at the start about everybody's skills. There are a few in this hobby , and indeed life in general, who seek to demean others because they can not or will not do as they do. There is room for all , making or just watching, displaying or filming. There can't be one without the other.
"If you can see it, you can be it". Absolutely true. I devour model railway videos and they have shown me ideas that I would never have come up with myself. The look and feel of what will become my layout is due to many of these ideas. My layout is up and running but unfinished because I didn't want to have to pull stuff apart too much every time I discovered a different way of doing things. I talked to some guys at a recent show in Melbourne and they showed me how they had made the landscaping from carving rigid foam board. It's all terribly exciting. My layout is quite small at only 1.7 metres by 1.1 metres and I have fantasised about the idea of taking it to a show once it is up to a good standard as an example of what can be achieved on a budget by a novice. You don't have to have something completely amazing to enjoy the fun of creating a little world where imagination is as important as reality. 😊👍
I've just discovered your channel & subscribed to it, what a breath of fresh air! The hobby should be open to all to share & showcase their skills & encourage younger members it's important for clubs to survive.
Thank you Alan - welcome aboard.
This video has made me subscribe to this channel. It's refreshing to hear a different take on the hobby. Though an older man, I guess I'm not a typical male modeller as I came back to the hobby after 40 years having suffered a stroke that has left me disabled and largely housebound. Constructing a model railway was a way of passing the time at home and, importantly, offering me the chance to improve my hand eye co-ordination by making models and the layout itself. That's a key factor in my rehabilitation as the stroke badly messed up my stability and co-ordination. Its given me confidence and pleasure and has really helped in the rehab - all good!
Dawn you are completly right getting people (younger) into the hobby, please keep up the great reporting Best Regards Andrew from Down under
Thank you Andrew!
Hi Dawn, thanks for encouraging the young and female, and indeed the blokes. It's so exciting to know that it's not only men of a ahem certain age that enjoy the hobby. I really enjoy your channel and your creativity. There's so much in the hobby; scenery, architecture, electrics (my nemesis), imagination & simply playing with trains for fun. Thanks again. Cheers David
Thanks so much David. Glad you enjoy the videos.
Great news about the young people and increase in women getting involved. Yes, more promotion will help. Well done, and thank you.
What a great video Dawn! 100% agree!
I don't suppose this adds to the diversity but I'm an autistic 45 year old male who has an Irish N gauge layout which we're taking to the York Show next Easter all being well. It would be good to see more women take up this at times therapeutic and rewarding hobby.
Thank you - lovely to meet you! I'd like to go to York next year so I hope to see you there!
@@modelrailwayquest ok. I hope I can get this layout running again soon.
Lovely to hear some positive news on the hobby.
Our hobby can only get better by widening demographics and embracing D&I.
Far too many neigh-sayers on antisocial-media.
Keep up the good work.
Thank you!
100% agree! I try to talk to as many people as possible at shows where our club layout is on show. Mostly it is Dads/Grandads with youngsters who are trying to get the youngsters interested. I always offer anyone the chance to run the trains on the branch line using a tablet running Engine Driver. The most reluctant to have a drive are the 'older' ladies, the 'girls' are usually interested. I have tried to get the 'Mums' to bring their children to the club for a visit to see the layouts, even offering an afternoon or early evening time to suit. So far, none have taken up this offer which I find disappointing when it is clear the children are really interested. Maybe fitting this in with all the other things parents have to do is the problem? I feel so many are missing out on gaining practical skills and mixing with like minded people in general when being a member of a model making club of any sort could provide so much enjoyment and knowledge. Keep promoting your cause Dawn!!
Wise words Dawn.
Hi ya Dawn. I have been pondering on how to address this. I'm nearly 62, been modelling since I can remember. Got involved in a local club in my early 20's which was more of a youth club, now they are more of a modelling thing. I got into O gauge, scratch building locos for guys, self funding my builds. Got a bit of a name for myself ... day job so turn quite a lot away etc. I learnt carpentry, electronics, sheet metal work, model engineering, artistry, inventing stuff? All from my hobby because I had to. Now I am quite senior in my organisation and it mostly comes from the "I can make that and better" attitude from my core hobby. Sorry for the essay. I helped a mate build a small brewery layout which we showed at an major O gauge show. I think it got featured in some mag. A small boy with his Mum showed lot of interest, we got a box for him to stand on, he learnt real quick and we left him there to operate while we went to the bar. Yeah, O gauge is expensive, they were all hand built. He did a fine job and had a big crowd gathered. But in many groups, I'm still the young lad? And then have to listen to the moaning about lack of model shops? You know the type? You absolutely must have met them? They start most conversations with "In actual fact I think you will find", followed by point of imperfection no one notices or cares about of some sort or telling kids don't touch. This has to end.
I love what you are doing. I voted for you. So the ponder bit.... not just for women getting involved because they should, there are so many aspects to pick from. You are symbolic of everyone getting involved, getting off their phones, not being put off, getting out and pestering Dad for a train set. My youngest has a lot of challenges, he loves trains, a lot of his piers also do. So he's 29, but 4 forever really with poor motor skills (a bit ham fisted). We play trains? We play with my O gauge (£1000's), we play with my brass On30 collection. Ok, if he drops some of the N gauge on the floor, well, it was me who asked him to play?
The hobby started quite elite (when the poorer kids had to work). Then the likes of Triang / /Meccano and Hornby made it fordable to people like me (when I was young) but it's drifting upwards again in my opinion. but the 2nd user market is well alive.
Anyway, take care Dawn, excellent channel.
Another great video Dawn, it was nice to see you at spa and finally meeting grumpy 😊
Right on, Dawn. You might want to check out RGJ Trains. Rob and Grace are a young couple building their own model railway in northern Wales. Two years ago they knew almost nothing about the hobby, but have since gain knowledge through trial and error in their build. We have been following their U Tube channel, RGJ Trains. Bill and Janet from California
Yes, I know RGJ Trains - Grace is a member of my Women's FB group. :-)
@@modelrailwayquest That's great to hear. Bill and Janet from California
@@janetlewis7145thank you guys for your support of us and shout out, love to you both. R and G x
@@janetlewis7145oops sorry commenting on the wrong one as it was signed in from tonight’s live.
awesome news. love your channel
Aw - thanks so much!
That Kentia palm puts mine to shame. Has mine 20+ years and it looks half as good
Yesterday I went to a local model railway exhibition near me and one of the layouts on display was run by a man who had his teenage daughter helping him. There were also some younger guys around my age group all part of a model railway club exhibiting both their club layouts and their own personal ones. Personally one thing I'd love to see a family of 4 or 5 running a layout at an exhibition together.
That would be great!
I think the hobby is seen as a older man's hobby but I do also believe there are more woman interested in it than we think gender should not be a barrier to any hobby. Want to get more younger people involved than manufacturers need to bring more budget friendly models ( I know Hornby got Railroad range) yes we have second hand but prices are nearly as much as new also.many models are getting on a bit now. Not everyone has a model railway club near by or can afford to join one UA-cam offers an alternative by following a channel that becomes a club of sorts.
Long live model rail and Japanese N scale. Awesome stuff.
Hi Ms Q. I was at Bressingham on Sunday, and was struck by the number of couples that attended. I would probably say there were more male/female couples than single/small groups of men in attendance. There were plenty of children too. I didn't notice too many women modellers, but the ladies of Great Eastern Model shop were there, plus a few others on various trade stands.
Regarding skills, your piece reminded me of my early post university years working in a hi-tech electronics factory. Most of the workers were women, as they were far more skillful at the dexterous art of assembling circuitry and wiring looms than men: skills essential in our hobby.
Change is happening, but as you say, there's a lot more to do. It will be interesting to see the gender mix at GETS next month.
There's no doubt that your emergence as a significant presence in the hobby is helping the diversity/inclusion cause.
PS: Did I hear you say last week that you are handy with a soldering iron? I for one would appreciate a tutorial in that particular skill.
Thanks for the nice video on an important subject. 😊😅 🐕 🐈
Doesn't matter on age. race, gender, sexuality, everyone is welcome into the hobby but this year I have seen younger people operating layouts at model shows and it enjoyable to see that they having a great time
Absolutely agree @Simonstrainsmodelrailway
It seems the scales/gauges are consolidating to N, HO and O Gauge in the States, with the others contracting, and some rapidly. It's hard to measure involvement of younger modelers since the US is so spread out, but due to cost, it really requires a steady income.
Dawn, one demographic to look into is the British military members. There are likely some higher rank personnel who have a home that has space for a layout. There may be junior rank personnel in the Royal Army & Royal Air Force who are allowed to have a small layout in the barracks that is mounted on caster wheels and slides under their bed. And military bases may have a club. Also, you could find out if the British Boy Scouts have a Railroading Merit Badge to pursue and if they display layouts at Scout Fairs.
Great ideas! Thank you!
I think the hobby can be (and often is) more than people just playing with trains. It can be an art form.
I 100% agree with you Gary.
Good news!
you are doing a great job,nice one,best wishes......................jpj
We have noticed that our customers are becoming younger. Middle aged people of both sexes are entering the hobby as finally they have the time now the kids have left, and the money because the mortgage has been paid. Most hare saying they had a train set as a kid and are nor reliving their youth. Most are going for models of diesels as that's what they remember when they were young. We need more like you Dawn to encourage even more people into this great hobby.
Thank you Stephen - great to see you've noticed younger customers too.
Hi Dawn. Have been modelling since the 1970s. A member of the 3mm society and building a model of Acton Wells for home and a small one of the wagon works and depot at Worksop in the 1980s. Have a propensity for building and scenery but then get board and move on leaving others to play with the models. my shortfall is wiring pointwork and now trying dcc on TT120. Caroline
Hi Caroline - lovely to meet you. I'd love to see photos of your layouts. How are you getting on with TT120? I've seen some great TT layouts recently.
Hi Dawn can send if i have your email please. caroline
Again a `Cracking video`, I wish you well in your endeavours. But I know through experience the difficulties and resistance put up as well as back biting by some to resist change.
Okay change happens every day, but to try and alter attitudes and opinions is like rolling a ball uphill every day, only to wake up next day and it's returned to its original location.
As I too felt like Sisyphus when `You know where` I used to volunteer, as it was infested with bigots, bullies, stuck in the mud individuals along with the self-aggrandising who are especially difficult to convert if there is a clique controlling the group.
Attitudes must change otherwise it might/will last for a while, that is until the novelty wears off.
I wish you well.
Very true point, this is true about the demographic in my local club.
Thanks Tom.
I don't see a comment here that do not disagree with your comments in the video, now going back sum 50 years ago like I have said in one of your videos girl's of my age at the time was involved, today it's wife's with the husband, at shows. Now I do agree that we need young girl's and woman doing shows of there own layouts or even as a female groupe.
Cool 🏠
Maybe consider sponsoring railroad clubs at secondary schools, with a seasoned / recognized modeler who is trusted and great with older adolescents and teens still in school.
Years ago, I was elected as a student president of a hobby club in secondary school, but the adult sponsor of the club - not a school employee - had to move due to a job change, and we couldn't find another sponsor, so the entire club collapsed.
This is a very good point - and I've got some more to say about model railway clubs reaching out more to the community. It's such a shame that the club collapsed.
@@modelrailwayquest Thinking about it more; the school club idea, a logical sponsor could be a hobby shop that sells model trains, although that would be limited to just a very few locals.
However, even an online model train store could offer a big student discount to everyone in the club purchasing their first locomotive, and a few wagons, and a normal student discount for all model train related purchases thereafter.
Also, for schools living close to train stations, or other regularly used train routes, maybe the school would permit the train club to either 1) build a permanent train layout for the school, which can be continually added to / improved / maintained by new students entering the clubs with each passing year, or 2) building a modular layout that can be easily moved to a location, so that train clubs at other schools can come together once or twice per year to display their handiwork, like you do with your wonderful modular dioramas.
0:57 normally women take on the hobby from there Husbands, that all is in the Model Railway Hobby
it has to change / evolve otherwise it would be stagnate
It’s starting to become a rich man’s hobby.
Please
Vist
The
North
Shows😢😢😢😢
Sho
We will be... forms being filled out right now :-)
That old gibberish of "it's a dying hobby, it's all internet nowadays, so no more investment" angers me, because it's never been true. The hobby itself has evolved and thrived so much because of the Internet. I'd even go as far as pointing out, that the growth in the larger scales is more because of the internet than the other explanation, that goes something like "it's cuz them old men can't handle the smaller stuff before they die..." I'd explain the growing popularity of larger scales as such: By using the internet also people that don't have the necessary space to run these at home can take part in that particular niche, as they can find others that do using forums etc.
The even more infuriating truth is, that the "it's dying anyway" logic is a self fulfilling prophecy. For example in German N scale track there has not been any innovation since 1972 (code 80, plastic frogs, garish detail...)! Most German N scalers have been crying out for newly developed track since the 80s. Until last year, to no avail. Now finally Minitrix released new code 60 track, replacing their 1964 issue... Hopefully they'll get it right kinda similar to Peco eventually.
Very good point!