Well, if you read things that say the hobby is declining, and you choose to believe those things..then you will believe the hobby is declining.
But there is also a lot of evidence the hobby is not declining, and in many segments, its actually growing.
If you read those things, and you choose to believe them, then you will believe the hobby is not declining.
I just got back from 6-hours of running G-gauge trains at a local garden center, (photos from last year)
http://scotlawrence.smugmug.com/Other/G ... en-Factory
The display was absolutely mobbed all day, as it always is..
Also, one of the major annual train shows in these parts, put on by the (college age) members of the Rochester Institute of Technology Model Railroad Club,
has been growing every year, ever since they started the show about 10 years ago..
So I simply am not seeing any of these alleged declines..my experience shows the opposite.
a quick google search brought up an interesting link, supporting the "the hobby is doing fine" viewpoint..
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6302
So..there is evidence for both points of view, (decline and "not decline")..I dont think one can be said be absolutely true, or absolutely false..
it depends on what part of the hobby you look at..things always evolve, yes its true *some things* are declining in the hobby,
hobby shop decline is undeniable..but..the internet.
magazine subscriptions are declining..but..the internet.
So do those things point to a decline in the hobby overall? not necessarily..
they simply point to natural evolution..
Scot