**Eric's Trains Facebook Post

Yep, agree, social media interaction is the way to communicate with younger people.

Like it or not.  Times have changed...

Glad to see Eric have such a following!  It promotes our hobby in a positive light!

I think it is hard to make an argument against Eric's logic here.

I too agree with Eric (thats why I posted it). On other threads people complain why kids aren't getting into the hobby and this best sums it up.

I wouldn't call myself younger blood (mid 30s), but clubs and meets are not my thing, and if it weren't for the interwebs and things like Eric's videos and this forum, I wouldn't be as much in this as I am now.  And from watching my own sons, and the children of my siblings, I know Eric is right.  There is no way my siblings would ever take their kids to meets or clubs.  If they can't find info from Facebook, Pinterest, or Google search they will pass on it.  They know I'm a big train nut, but they'll ask me on one of those mediums over calling me on the phone.

I didn't know that MTH had such a award, but I'm totally fine with adding my voice to help Eric get it.

On other threads people complain why kids aren't getting into the hobby and this best sums it up.

This is because they only go to clubs and meets.

I just looked at MTH winner of the Blue Comet Award and they estimated that nearly 70,000 people went and saw the Somerset County (NJ) 4-H Trainmasters, Somerset County, NJ. Eric's videos nearly 3,000,000 views total. 

Even though I am happy our club received the award last year, Eric is right about the internet.

The club has been struggling to upgrade and reinvent their website for years.

I'm not young by a long shot (old and retired), but it was one of Eric's videos that swayed me back into the hobby after many years. There were a couple of other things also, but one of his videos got me into the 'being really serious about it mode' and led to my re-starting with the purchase of some trains. 

He does great videos, and he has a bunch. I would recommend you all take some time and visit his youtube channel. You could easily spend a day or two there.

Have to agree.  Eric does this hobby a phenomenal service with his videos and online presence.  I also think he comes across as extremely humble.

He also posts the most through and informative reviews on the web, picking up were the magazines fail miserably.  I would personally love to meet the guy and visit his layout someday.  He puts a lot of his time, money, and effort into these videos and should be applauded for that.

Some when the time comes, Eric can count on my vote.

Thanks for the repost. I'm flattered. I hope it doesn't upset anyone on the forum.

By the way, when I talk about the online experience I'm not just talking about myself. There's an army of people out there who put out lots of great videos on youtube that help get kids started in the hobby. The great thing about the online experience is that people can get an interest in the hobby without having to go to the effort of going somewhere or getting their parents to take them somewhere. It's a quick and easy way to get kids of all ages excited....and once they're hooked then they'll be more inclined to go to shows and join clubs and so forth.

Thanks again,

Eric Siegel

Wow thanks Eric, I never knew you would see this. I thought you were right. I am one of those kids. I'm only 13.I was always involved but you made me take it up a notch and thats what I'm working on now on my layout. 

Thanks Eric,

                RJ Incandela

P.S. I love your videos

I have seen some of his work. In a word  GREAT..

Eric has my vote, if I have one?

Bret

I have to agree as well that Eric is doing a superb job promoting the hobby.  His videos are outstanding.  We don't get to go to many shows but his videos certainly increase our interest in both new products and learning more about developing our own layout.  Well done,

Daryl

I really admire Eric for the professional style of his youtube train video reviews.  Yes he's rite regarding the net as it pertains to young people who want to get into trains.  But It seems like a campaign to me to gather votes.  It's my opinion that the manufactures have the resources and the money to promote there products to kids. I'm sure everyone may have opinion on how there going about it or not going about it!!

The manufactures know who Eric is, he's becoming a force not to be reckoned with. I think he should be nominated based on his own merit and not campaign for it through social media.   In other words "Eric we know who you are and what you have contribute to the train hobby and we appreciate you"

I don't think it's just young people. I'm 44 and were it not for videos such as Eric's and some of the online resources out there (like this site) I definitely wouldn't be in the hobby. I do think this industry greatly underestimates the power of technology on MANY levels. I get that an unusually large number of people in this hobby are...more experienced ("old" is a state of mind!) but too often O gauge seems to swing too much towards appeasing the base/appealing to nostalgia and too little towards growing the base and encouraging people to get into the hobby.

I didn't know about the Blue Comet award prior to seeing Eric's Facebook post (another technology failure on the part of a train company). It's amazing that the award would go to a club with only a regional focus and not to someone who has evangelized the hobby on a global level. A lot of people do YouTube videos but Eric's really are in a class of their own. They're better produced than many of the videos put out by the train companies and his how to videos are incredibly detailed and easy to follow, even for those of us who are new to the hobby. He has a gift for instruction. He also comes across as extremely humble.  If anyone deserves an award for being the face of O gauge it would be him. 

Eric makes some good points.  I do think some of the manufacturers are exploiting the web in a variety of ways that can reach the novice and kids, but obviously more can be done.  I'm happy to vote and or participate in pushing Eric's candidacy, despite being of advanced years .

Tonight is the first I ever heard of Eric or what he is doing on YouTube and Facebook.  I am very impressed, and agree this is a great way to promote the hobby, and help old modelers like me learn new tricks.  At 57, I'm a telecommunications engineer, but I need help on newer technologies.  I've been in model railroading, HO and O Gauge, since I was about 12, but there are so many modeling techniques, materials, and tools I have never even seen before much less tried.  I am certainly going to keep an eye on what Eric is doing.  Great job, Eric!!

Thanks guys.

A couple extra points I'd like to make...

For me it's really not about getting votes or an award or anything for me at all. It's about getting the train manufacturers to work with guys like me in promoting and growing the hobby.

Yeah, Lionel and MTH and others do produce online videos...but they are almost always done in a very dry business-like fashion. This is understandable as the people making those videos are not doing it for fun...it's their job so they try to be as dry and professional as possible. Those videos get the job done in a technical sense, but they don't do much to get newbies excited. That's where guys like me come into the picture.

Let's take the upcoming Lionel Vision Line Big Boy as an example. Sure, lots of people are excited about it because Lionel has been promoting it as best they can. But imagine how many more orders they would get if they sent me a pre-production model to review before they actually ship it. Instead of a dry professional description of the Big Boy, they'd get a very enthusiastic exciting video that would make a lot more people out there say "hey, it may be $2,500.00 but it looks like it's worth every penny! I want one now!!!".

If the manufacturers would grab onto this idea and start working with me and/or other online personalities it would really help to grow the hobby even more. Some manufacturers have already caught onto this. I have great relationships with both Weaver and Atlas. They have both sent me lots of stuff to review because they know the value of the online presence. If they send an engine to a magazine, the review gets printed in one issue, it's only available to people who subscribe or buy the magazine, and then it's gone (don't misunderstand me, I LOVE the magazines). If they send the same engine to me, I put the review video up on YouTube and, for all intents and purposes, it's there FOREVER and available to anyone with internet access. That's smart marketing and they don't even have to pay me for it.

So it'd be great to see the manufactures really embrace guys like me and work with us to help grow the hobby more effectively.

I also want to re-emphasize that I'm not really criticizing anyone, I'm just trying to get some people on top to change their thinking. I'd especially like to emphasize that I am in no way putting down train clubs and train shows. They are vital to the hobby, but IMO they are not the first step in growing the hobby. I'd like to use my own layout as an example...

Every year I hold an open house in November. The number of visitors has gone up every year (this year will be my 5th year on the tour...I think). Last year we got about 230 visitors or so...many of them children. Children LOVE to come and see the layout and it certainly helps them get interested in the hobby. Most of the children who come, however, would NEVER be there if it weren't for the YouTube videos. Last year alone I had a kid who flew here (I'm in GA) all the way from California just to attend the open house...and he did it because of the YouTube videos. Without the online exposure, I'd wager that the attendance at the open house would be a fraction of what it is. The Youtube videos serve as the initial spark that gets kids of all ages excited and the videos motivate people to go out to train shows, open houses and to join train clubs. 

Anyway. Thanks for the posts. Again, very flattering.

-Eric Siegel

I wish I would be able to fly down fron NY to see your layout. Now Eric, get back to the Layout Update #10. LOL

I've bought trains after watching your reviews-items I didn't have much interest in until afterward.

I wasn't going to order a Vision Line Big Boy until I heard it on Lionel's youtube preview.  In minutes I needed it.

It works...And sells lots of trains.  

A guy like you could help them in a big way promote this hobby and their products.

I wholeheartedly agree with Eric's post and the logic behind it.   He is a great ambassador for the hobby.  I am 67 and started watching his videos a while back. The professionalism and obvious skill made the various projects look easy.  I got the enthusiasm to try some things that I would not have without seeing his videos.  So I can only imagine what a young person could take away from things like his videos given their ability and energy to learn and try new things.  Hosting tours like Eric and others do gives as much exposure to young people as do the clubs and open houses.  But many young folk don't have the ability to get to shows, open houses and tours. The only way to do that is via the internet.  

Ed

I have always loved trains, both real and models.  A few years ago when I first thought about getting into the hobby, I came across Eric's page (ericstrains.com) after some extensive online research.  I was both blown away and mesmerized by all that technology had to offer.  Eric's reviews and tutorials were done in such a professional and educational manner.  He took this, at the time, newbie and taught me so much about this wonderful hobby.  His reviews alone have been responsible for much of my purchases.  I have not made an engine purchase that I have yet to regret.  I look forward to his upcoming videos like I do with the Lionel catalog releases.   Eric is a GREAT AMBASSADOR to the hobby.  My nephew is hooked on Eric's videos, and as a result, hooked on trains.  He has also joined our ranks and can rattle off so much train lingo that it blows my mind.  This in part is all thanks to Eric Siegel. 

Eric, keep up the amazing work!!  You review, I buy.  I'm sure the manufacturers love to hear that.

I have learned so much from Eric's video's from tunnel building to salt weathering. some I have not tried salt weathering  but the tunnels I have. his video do grow the hobby. just in my house there's now 2 layouts. mine which is a 6x10 and my daughters 4x8 she even watches his video's. just tonight my 12 year old daughter came to me and asked if I could build her a 4x8 table. that would make 3 same daughter tonight helped with plaster cloth. the hobby can grow it just takes people like Eric making it easy to find the info via the social media's and youtube.

I echo everyone who's made a comment so far..... and applaud Eric for his writing, insight, and his FANTASTIC videos!!!!   I've been a fan of Eric's for several years now.  I just LOVE your passion, authenticity, and genuine enthusiasam for trains Eric.  So very infectious!!  This is all because you LOVE trains and totally ENJOY sharing this love with the world.  You are an absolute natural teacher and great ambassador and beacon for our hobby.  I have told many folks, young and young at heart, to check out your site because of this love that you so infectiously convey.

I have always felt the sincerity and humbleness in your videos and within the words you have written here in this thread.  I agree with everything you said.  Your thinking is fresh and right on.  You have my vote for the Blue Comet award for 2015 for sure.

Thanks for your great videos and your true LOVE of trains, especially O gauge trains!

Everyone that has posted so far is right. Eric’s videos are the best. I am surprised that Lionel hasn’t hired him to give them pointers on how to do a great instructional video.

The internet has given our hobby a resurgence from the way we buy trains to the way we read about them.

Keep the videos coming Eric!  

Photos of this event, especially photos with children looking at your layout, would be ideal as part of your submission for the MTHBC Award.  If you look at the awards pages in the MTH catalogs, many of the photos feature children.  I think that this, along with some well-written copy, are the kinds of things MTH is looking for in submissions.

Andy

I've been following for a while & every time he posts a video on You Tube I'm notified. I love those videos. I'm now waiting for the last section of the stainless bridge to be installed & videoed.

Eric; keep up the great work.

A very wise man once said...

“There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”

That being said I do enjoy Eric's videos. I believe that both clubs and the internet provide an equally important roll in getting folks involved in the hobby.  Videos are great but being in the presence of smoke, environment, and live action go a long ways as well.

Eric's videos allow for an almost one on one presence in presenting a layout or new engine that might not be available in a club setting. 

Again IMO both offer a very important service.  I don't see one trumping the other.

That guy is great.  He does the most informative videos.

I'd like to see pictures or a video of the open house. 

Eric's reviews have been very helpful to me . I often look for his review of an engine when thinking about purchasing one. His reviews are honest , pointing out the good, bad, and ugly.

Whether or not he would get the BC award likely matters little as he has earned the respect of many of us.

Press on regardless Eric, you have many fans.

Fred

Eric has contributed a lot to the hobby.

He is to be commended for all that he shares with us.

It is always a joy to view his you tube videos.

I'd like to second what has been said on this topic.  Eric's Trains was the push I needed to get back into this hobby. With the exception of this forum, I go to Eric's web page more than any other train web page.

Keep it up Eric!

In reading all of this, it got me to thinking about something.  With all the talk of how to get people into the hobby etcetera here on this board, it would be cool if OGR would have an annual ambassador of the hobby award.

You could pose the survey to get names up for vote through something like survey monkey and send to all subscribers.  Then put up a vote of the top 5 names here on the forum.

I appreciate what you do Eric, I may be in the minority here by I wasn't even aware that MTH had a "Blue Comet Award" until YOU mentioned it.

I'm not sure how much the award would help versus you having a direct link to your videos on top of the forum or advertised in the magazine.

I would like to think more folks buy or at least read the magazine than go to clubs/shows. Many local shows tend to be the "same guys" selling the "same used stuff" at prices higher than you can get them delivered to your house brand new.

Some of the club memberships i.d.'s posted after folks names are about as relible as a bow tie on a used car salesman when it comes to guaranteeing "good" purchase.

Eric's views on the internet are correct, the part I don't understand is the "cringe" when a club gets the award. I belong to 2 of the clubs that won the award. both clubs have a large youtube and facebook presence, we put adds in newspapers, radio spots and put in endless hours preparing for open houses. our goal is to promote the hobby in everything we do, including social media.  I think MTH did their research when it came to giving out this award. so stop the cringing!