No the real problem are limited economy due to costs.
Interesting ones exist but not money.

It is odd and interesting how to introduce new people to the model railway hobby. My layout is definitely in the lower category – no real scenics but quite an interesting track plan and a variety of random kit permanently placed on the layout. Because it is in the “dining room” downstairs, visitors quite often get to see it whether they want to or not. The reaction is split almost 50/50 between those who pity my poor wife for having to put up with her eccentric husband and those who had no particular prior interest but quickly become enchanted. A while back my daughter brought home the latest “prospect” a young banker whose annual bonus equated to “a lot of money”. He just sat on the stool in the dining room for over an hour grinning and mumbling his new found desire to own a model railway. I thought I would be commissioned to acquire and build his dream – however a couple of weeks later my daughter announced he was now “toast” – end of. The grandkids love to come and look at “Gandads railway” and I notice they appear to have greater interest and concentration on this rather than the many and varied things they are brought for Xmas and birthdays However I do not think my son will buy them a start set and I always dread that my stuff will end up in a big box either in the loft or at a car boot sale after I have gone

In Germany, MRR is still more popular than in English-speaking countries, so I don't think it will disappear. It will be a niche hobby for some upper middle class people, their kids or grandchildren. I have two sons now. Maybe I can get at least one of them to take up this hobby.

Edited at: by user 23 February 2020 09:01:18(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

...and yet, of my collection of around 180 locos, many of them bought by mail, none have ever failed to work properly from day one! Even if the next one I receive doesn't work I will still have had a high percentage of locos that worked perfectly.

It's all very well to say you would never buy by mail, but what would you do if there were no hobby shops at all within driving distance? If we all decide that we won't buy anything by mail the hobby would end tomorrow!

Unfortunately in today's world more and more trading is on line and we have to accept that that's how it is.

Buy all my Marklin locos and coaches and CS3 etc by mail and never had a problem. If I did I have no doubt that the dealer would fix it and send I understand a pre paid label to return the item. Years ago I had a signal that did not work and the dealer sent a new one and told me to keep the one that did not work.
In the UK we do nor have any Marklin dealers who hold reasonable stock at a fair price so mail order for me is the only way.

Or we move to the suburbs of Toronto, 5 kms near Mike's store

Life and rents are more expensive , my wife quits her job, ,,, is not entitled to unemployment because she will have resigned,

I will be forced to sell all my Marklin equipment...to pay bills until my wife finds a job...all this bullshit to avoid the job of Post Canada

In this case, doctors will have to lock me up for insanity !!!

Thewolf

Baggio


And if Mike closes his store, what are you gonna do?

You'll buy North American two-rail (many 2-rails stores at Toronto) and sell your three-rail equipment.

And what will you do if one of your three-rail locomotives breaks down and Mike is gone? You drive with your car to Marklin's in British Columbia or you go to the States?

Will that be a fact?

Thewolf

When will we see our first environmentally friendly loco or carriages ? and what will happen with all the add on plastic parts., or suitable for children from age X, the first thing children do is pick up an item and see if there is anything they can remove and than they'll put it straight into their mouth., so the recommendation for children from an age upwards of 3 is out the window., may be the colour of your transformer has to have the colour green and not blue., when will it be a discriminated offense to produce locos for one country but excluding certain other countries, at what rate will the older generation drop off the model train radar or when will see a dramatic drop in purchases ? or is the older generation buying more locos just in case there is no tomorrow ? How many people die of a heart attack when they find out their investment isn't as high as they thought.

John