I really value what Rod and 'raisingfourdaughters' say about the need to revamp our thinking a bit regarding the simple understanding that those who love trains are brothers and sisters-of-sorts. We don't have to like each other's politics or opinions on some things, but isn't democracy (still not a dirty word in my book) all about allowing and encouraging others to find a way of enjoying each other's company, trains, and finding some camaraderie from an online forum like this one? Thank you, OGR for making this forum possible.
I also really liked the truth in NGMC's comments above.
TRBB, I get the idea of what you were conveying and a thought on your earlier comment about Canadian LHS's. Out here on Vancouver's west coast, pickings are a bit slim, but there's one quality hobby shop (Central Hobbies) that carries a wide range of stuff with lots for O gaugers, and they're still there, but hanging.
Canada hasn't had a strong Lionel/MTH O scale community outside of small shops here and there, but there's no lack of enthusiasm for trains. Train shows are once yearly and attract peeps from B.C., Alberta and Washington state in fairly large numbers. Lots of scale stuff, postwar (shout out to the Canadian Toy Train Association) and hobbyists from all over this big province of BC.
Train clubs set up large modular layouts featuring postwar, Large Scale, H.O, S scale N, Z, etc. The shows are really worth it - last year's had long lineups to get in despite some daunting rain. Good food and drinks, several distributors of model railroad supplies for fixing trains, building layouts, trackage, painting supplies and clinics, etc. Really well done and definitely something for nearly any modeler's taste.
Outside of that and occasional long-haul visits to Central Hobbies, I've had to rely on online trains shipped to a postal station just over the US border to keep my buying costs down...
Let me wish everyone and anyone reading this a Merry Christmas and a much better 2021 with Covid in the rear view mirrow, but over the holiday I plan to hold myself back until it's a lot safer.
