ENP1976 posted:Went to the Big Hobby store two towns over today. You know the kind, large, tons of R/C cars, Airsoft guns, slot cars, model kits, and yes trains. So I walk to the HO section and Im looking for some self tapping screws to attach trucks to an old MDC boxcar kit. First they tell me to look for the screws in the "airplane" section. Then I ask for a train specific salesperson and of course that person is a female (not anything wrong with that per se) but I asked her if she owns any trains at home... Big surprise-- she said NO!!
Ok so I ask about the screws, and she tells me to go to Home Depot. Last I checked, Home Depot is not a "hobby shop"... Before I leave, I check out the O gauge section, and they have lots of old n.o.s. MPC/ Lionel freight cars from the 70's and 80's. Can you say sticker shock!! $70.00 for a tank car.. I mean who is buying this stuff at those prices. Any wonder why the young people are not into trains these days?
i agree its only the folks with deep pockets that can afford this stuff and its all BTO now even i get told no on the used stuff i've wanted a layout since i was 10 and i'm almost 23 and the internet SHOULD NOT HAVE THE POWER IT HAS
yeah i get told no all the time and when the catalogs come out i get all excited and then i see high 3 and 4 figure prices and it makes me sad. and some of these prices are on Starter sets and i get discouraged and fearful that i may never enjoy trains like i want to
plus what about owners of these places that the place puts food on the table these dudes matter too and i prefer brick and morter because i have people like me who love trains to talk to
and its so sad the way my generation is going with out trains and god and good people to turn to they turn to drugs instead
just this week my friend died from drugs and she was about my age we used to go to school together and i used to tell her stories about trains and mostly female railroader characters glory hunters pulling the pig tail while high balling down the high iron.
its just sad i just wish i had a delorean and a flux compacitor and could go back and change things for the better.
