Hmm, great question. This really depends on people's point of views, so there is going to be an innumerable amount of very valid opinions. Some folks will be may consider with the train market the way it is that it was over a long time ago, other may say it is on the rise.
I will side on where the individual walks. What I mean is where your own railroad is. The point being that if you are enjoying yourself immensely in what you have and what you are doing, why not let that be your Golden Age. Be in tinplate, conventional postwar, scale, what have you.
I probably like most can be fascinated with the old and the new. And by that I mean old tinplates, postwar, and the like. That doesn't necessarily mean that I collect them(I always seem to be eyeballing tinplate NYC Commodore Vanderbilt engines and cars), but I can appreciate them all the same.
I remember when I was younger, back in the 70's & 80's, my uncle's postwar engines were the cat's meow. I still think back on that time today and everything that ran past my nose, tickles me pink. Last time we talked trains he was getting his ZW fixed, mice ate the cord.
The Golden Age is where you plant your feet. Smile.
