It's a Generational Thing

Some of it is generational, but most of it is because of the change in how things are built.

I have been frustrated for years with things that can't be repaired or the time and effort to repair costs more than replacement. I can't get used to dispose and replace. Now, that's generational.

The cool thing about trains is that they can be repaired and restored.  

Well, I'm an old-timer, too, but it is definitely not the older toy-train stuff that keeps me interested.  I have some pre-war and post-war stuff including a few old transformers and some nice locos, etc., it is all in good operating condition.  But it stays on the shelf or in boxes.  I love and run the newer Legacy locos and power supplies like the ZW-L and Z4000, etc.

I do have some old-timer quirks, though.  I run my locos only conventionally, and like you, I stick with a cell phone, not a smart phone.  

Well, I'm on the older side, early baby boomer, but strongly prefer new shiny toys rather than fixing the old stuff.  Have zero interest in old cars that are death traps, get poor mileage and are unreliable, for example.  I think it's more personality and taste than generational.  I grant you that young people are more used to the disposable society and rapid change, so that's a factor.  I don't want to be trying to surf the web with an original 128K Mac, that's for sure .  Some folks are more nostalgic than others, or more mechanically oriented to enjoy fixing and maintaining stuff.  I'm not one of them, for better or worse.

I don't think you are right when it comes to trains. Sure, some young people only run the new engines, but some older people only do that as well. It all comes down to what the person likes. Sure, with many things we like to keep up with modern technology, but we don't have a lot of experience with the other stuff. I have now been taking pictures longer with digital than with film, and have had a cell phone for 1/3 of my life. It's the world we are growing up in. It doesn't mean that we don't appreciate (or even like) the older technology, it just comes down to if we have experience with it.

As for old trains, that depends on what we have experience with as well. If we had an old train in the house, or ran only traditional trains, then we are more likely to appreciate the older trains that run the same way. If we began with TMCC or DCS, we may be more drawn to that. Again, what we have experience with.

Then again, I could be wrong, but that's my opinion.

As for the appeal, I know many people around my age (I'm 24) that are interested in trains, but cannot afford to spend the kind of money that it takes to be in this hobby at this time. Late teens and into the 20's is an expensive time. Cars, college, girls, moving out all eat through money fast. And then, I read recently that employment rate for this age group is 54%. That's very low, and then we have the people who are only working for minimum wage, or in college to help cut the cost of it. It makes a hobby out of the question.

Now if you excuse me, I'm going to step off my soap box and go fix my Lionel 253

It certainly is a personal choice.  I do qualify, and fall into the "boomer" group.  I have only a couple of post war pieces of equipment, and everything else was purchased as brand new or slightly used, but it is all modern equipment.  The sounds, sights, and operation of this equipment, to me is much better than it used to be in the old days (50's and 60's).  

As with cars, that just run better, smoother, are more reliable, and are far more efficient that what I grew up with.  Remember having to tune up a car every 3000 or so miles.  When was the  last time you actually had you spark plugs changed, or tried to change them yourself?  The new trains, accessories, and power supplies made today, do more than their earlier counterparts.  

I'm 72, and I prefer the old Lionel trains. However, I sure don't miss old TVs and cars. Around 1950, a TV could cost $500. (about $5,000. in today's money). The TV repair man was called in often to replace tubes and the picture tube. For many years a color TV had to be adjusted for color quality each time the channel was changed (to correct green skin colors). It was common for fairly new cars to overheat, rust, and have flat tires often. On the other hand, a refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, and power mower could last 20 years.

From the comments thus far, I suppose there isn't much nostalgia for the older stuff, including cars and trains.  Everyone seems to enjoy the benefits and advantages of new technology in cars and toy trains.  So why don't some you simply get rid of the old stuff you have instead of fixing it?  My brother-in-law loves old cars and belongs to clubs that restore them for competition; yet he does drive new ones because of their transportation reliability and functionality.  But he spends more money fixing up the older cars that he rarely puts on the road which belies the purpose for which we drive cars in the first place.

I'm now 68 and as far as my trains go I only run command with tmcc and legacy engines. I don't own any post or prewar trains anymore. 

I would own a old car if I could afford it but today's vehicles are just amazing. About the only thing you have to do is change the oil. 

Although i I own a smart phone now that will be downgraded to a regular cell next time, I see no reason to have a smart phone anymore.

I'll take my,"old stuff"any day. My era of interest is 1906-1935 tinplate Lionel. My newest,"play toy" is a 1946  221/221W Passenger set. 

Fixing old cars up.  That's called doing what he likes to do.

I prefer the car I own today vs. my first car (used 1965 comet with zero options, didn't even have a rad-ee-o,) but I also enjoy my old trains, as well as my new ones.

Rusty

I believe that Pre-war, Post-War, or Modern is strictly an individual choice, and is not dictated by the generational issues. I am certainly a senior citizen but much prefer the modern equipment with all of the bells and whistles.

We are all products of an era, I guess. Many model railroaders, especially operators, are also "tinkerers."  So some like the old stuff and enjoy maintaining old equipment and keeping it running. At age 65, I'm also a baby-boomer, but prefer the modern stuff.  I too, run only conventional, but like the modern trains for their more precise operation and scale detailing. However, I do have and maintain my original postwar Lionel set, which runs as well today as it did back in 1955.

Seems like the world of model railroading is a "live and let live" world...we all have railroading in common and just have to appreciate what each other enjoys about it whether it is pre-war tinplate, postwar or DCC/ TMCC modern. I am a late baby-boomer and enjoy postwar the most since I like to find things that don't work and repair them to make them work again (I like old cars but drive new ones); but I also own and run newer trains and a few pre-war pieces and love to see the amazing things people do with trains from all eras. Variety is the spice of life and this world offers variety that keeps it interesting and fascinating. I marvel at the work all of you do with your respective areas of interest and like to learn from the ideas each of you brings to this hobby, even though I may not share your specific interest. I appreciate you sharing your creations and preferences and enjoy applying some of them to my own creations. Keep up the great work! Thanks!

To me, I feel the best of both worlds. I love running the new command stuff with older power sometimes, of course it's breaker protected with modern electronics. On the other hand I like running the old stuff with modern electronics.

I love being able to have old accessories "command control" for the lumber shed, milk cars, ice station and love the way the older passenger cars look running behind a command steamer at a realistic crawl speed.

I think this is the best of both! A nice mix of "old school" and "new school"

I'm 50 and never had any O-gauge as a kid. I work in an IT department, but as far as hobbies go, I want no part of modern electronics. I am fascinated by a vintage train and the transformer that runs it. The "mechanicalness" of how things used to work with relays and such draws me to the old electric trains.

As for cars, we have an '01 Plymouth Neon, an '03 Dodge Caravan, and an '07 Chevy Impala. All three have had new plugs and wires installed, two of them this year. The design of new cars is such the average guy can't change the plugs anymore!

I like simple.

New stuff is junk, but I have some anyway.  I can't count the number of board failures we have had in household appliances.. what a mess.

I dig my 1962 Console Stereo, my vintage Lionel, my old 911, and on and on. 

My wife, on the other hand, is a new stuff only person.  Many times I think she fails to understand the amount of money I save us by choosing to work on and fix things my-own-self... oh well

This is interesting, to me at any rate.  The opinions here suggest that baby boomers are an eclectic mix of people who like old AND new stuff which is what I expected.  But with the exception of Handyandy, I wonder how many younger people would tolerate the maintenance of the old engines to keep them running like many of you do.  I am sure you wouldn't simply get rid of older stuff because it is old or is need of repair without at least tinkering with it.  That is the generational issue here.  If my children had an old engine that I gave them and it needed maintenance, considering the type of society we have today, they might opt to get rid of it and simply buy a modern computerized version instead.  But we old timers like to tinker more, don't you think?

I am a boomer at age 51, and although I once threw out 2 Lionel transformers from the 1960s, that had horrible rotted power cords, I wish I had saved them, as they were the ones my dad and I used, when I was a kid.

Of course, my late mother would have said "what are you keeping that old stuff for'?

Then again, she was responsible for banishing several boxes of baseball cards, comic books, and plastic models I built of cars, tanks, planes, ships, Godzilla, etc to the garage...for "storage....for safe keeping....out of the way".

Yeah right, we all know the garage is the departure point for all things ending up in the garbage when your back is turned or shipped off to the "Island of Homeless Toys".

I run Post War, PS2, 3, TMCC and Legacy.

just buy and run what you enjoy!

I'm a certified "baby boomer" and I'm with you on this one.  I love my pre and post war trains and I really believe that learning how to repair and maintenance them kept my interest in the hobby.  I spend a lot of time running them and they please me as much today as they 60 years ago.  I also like the modern engines as well.  There is no question they look better, sound better and can do a lot more than the older motive power.  I think all of the command control systems have been great for this hobby and provide greater control as well as ease of operation for our trains.  On the other hand, like many others I have had several out of box failures and no doubt that has an impact on my current day purchases.  The price tag on the really big scale stuff hurts as well.  All of that being said,  I am still absolutely thrilled to be able to enjoy the best of both worlds. 

Now, I run TMCC Conv., with a PoweHouse/PowerMaster on each loop.  Now what does that make me?

The older of us might survive a major disaster because we know how things work, and could keep someting going with bailing wire and duct tape until help actual came!

That's where I think we need to collect wind-up clockwork trains. You can still play with trains even if the grid comes down, an EMP kills all electronics, or a storm knocks out your power.  LOL

I'll be 45 in November and am not adverse to new technology (although my wife has threatened to cut the land line, which I have put my foot down, as we've needed it several times when the power has gone out and/or cell towers have iced over and you can't reach anyone by cell). I just don't use it many do. I have zero use for social media of any kind, and most of my internet use is either looking for stuff that is hobby related for info or things to purchase.

That said, I do like older technology as seen with some of my toys:

Ok a electric storm off the sun, like the one which happened the 1800's.

P51:

Named after the WWII airplane.

C'mon p51. You can't fool me. Your avatar is really your dad when he flew P-51s and those photos are of him taken during World War II, right? I knew it! 

On the contrary, I am 77 years old and my 1950s train set is a shelf queen in the basement not even on display really.  I like all the new stuff and operate DCS and TMCC.  However, I do that with two postwar ZWs as they are still very good and all the power I need.

.....

Dennis

I'm 69 years young & learning about the modern age every day. I run DCS & TMCC. Have a laptop & a smart phone. (LOL)

I actually have this photo in a 1940s frame at the office, I fool people all the time by telling people this is my Grandfather:

NOW, my uncles were in WW2, my GrandDad was really in WW1 (not bad for someone who turns 45 in November, huh).

Very cool; I love the history. I have a ragged photo of my dad as an MP in the Korean conflict. His main job was to inspect trains traveling between north and south Korea. He's gone now and I wish I knew more. 

P51,

   Man you are making me feel old, I drove one of those exact Jeeps in Viet Nam, have been trying to get my hands on one of the old WW II Jeeps, in good shape for years, to keep at my log cabin in Potter/Tioga, Pa.  Great picture hope you still own the Jeep!

As a mid-Boomer, I would like to quote a fellow named Stumpy Stone on the On30 Yahoo Group, who isn't much older than me.  "...trains should be steam powered and airplanes should have propellers!"  I like to look at the machines that just went out when I was born, but I wouldn't want to fix them.  I like the nostalgia of steam train era, but like the modern controls, sounds, and lights.  I do have a couple of post was train sets which are very sharp, but I like running the modern ones.

My daughters, both in their early 20s, use modern technology, but both are very interested in 'old things'.  One loves old dolls, toys, etcetera.  The other is a vocalist who loves most genres especially classical, and she asked for a turntable for Christmas last year. (Not one to turn trains, but one to turn vinyls-that is records to us old guys) 

My first train ride ever was behind steam (former ET&WNC # 12 at Tweetsie RR in NC) and my first airplane ride was in a 1928 Ford Tri-Motor at the age of 14. That really throws people off when I tell them that!

I do not see it as an 'either or' situation. One can pursue fun with both the modern trains and the vintage trains. One can observe old doing new and young doing old.

The modern digital command trains permit the precise control of what, where, when on a layout. They also enable a higher density of trains on smaller layouts without the use of blocks. And, walk around control of vintage trains is commonplace.

On the other hand, the vintage (or repro) traditional trains have charms of their own and, just possibly, more personality because of their electromechanical nature. As an example, it is still hard to resist the native appeal of Gilbert's 65 year old smoke and choo-choo mechanism.

Vinyl, CDs, HRA, and mp3 coexist. And, vinyl is making a resurgence for understandable reasons with the younger crowd.

Chacun à son goût.

Bob

If it's a matter of model trains, I'm all about the newer produced stuff but normally stuff made to represent older things.

Sorry, but the hobby has done nothing but improve in terms of quality. Yeah, you can effectively argue that people back in the day were more craftsmen than they are now, because they had to be. But the level of quality even among individual layouts has improved quite a bit in the last few years.

I agree with your observation of the quality of layouts improving over the years.  We have new products and methods to work with that are making layouts that are more believable, if you are into replicating reality, more fantastic, if you are into building the whimsical layout, and I think the average person who have pre or post war trains can do more with them.  What's more, if one wants to build something board by board, there are better glues and paints to work with.  I remember fighting with that old yellow Ambroid glue when I was a kid in the '60s, and a few days later parts would fall off that I thought were firmly secured, not to mention fighting to keep all the glue strings off the model surface.

Again, it seems that many on here like the new stuff for a lot of different reasons.  But originally, I said that the post war trains required some degree of repair knowledge for the average person in order to keep them running.  This was probably easier then because those trains were more mechanical than electronic.  Today, with digital operation, circuit boards, etc., these trains make it difficult for us tinkers to try to make adjustments and minor repairs like the trains in the past--it is just simply too complicated.  Part of the process of model railroading is the tinkering factor. But with our world today wherein one can't even change the oil in one's car without a high lift or repair a locomotive's broken circuit board assuming you can secure one easily, I think that the tinkering factor will not be part of our hobby as time goes on.  That is the generational thing because the younger model railroaders will have less opportunity to tinker.  Instead, they'll simply send out the engine for a new board or whatever else it needs.  Or perhaps they may simply junk it.  There are pre-war and post-war parts suppliers that can get you any part to keep that old clunker on the rails.  Will that be true as the digital age causes many of these electronic parts to become obsolete and no longer replaceable?  Just a thought...

Ah yes, GG1.  I think you are right about the lack of ability to repair the electronics will cause less tinkering.  I can still work on the wiring and mechanical parts of the locomotives, but at the high cost of especially steam engines, I think many including myself will be afraid to tackle that themselves.  I have a degree in electronics I earned in 1976 and one in computers, but I sent an MTH PS1 engine out for upgrade after buying the PS2 upgrade kit and Jim Barrett's video because I was afraid of messing it up.  It isn't so bad messing the company's equipment, but when it is my equipment I don't want to take a chance.