From the Dome Car: Train 10 Track 3 (December, 2000)

 

One thing that was certain about Morgan: He was an evangelist for the hobby of model railroading. He was constantly encouraging modellers to talk about the hobby and take kids to train shows. Of course, he had a commercial reason for being so enthusiastic: If there were no new modellers, the future of CRM was dim. But it also came from a genuine place in his heart. He loved the hobby and he loved to promote it. 

Most model railroaders tell me that there's nothing like going to the local train show. It's a safe bet that we've all been to at least one over the past year. I'm no exception; I like going to them too. I've attended four this yea—three as an exhibitor and one as a visitor. Which one did I enjoy the most? Well, the one where I didn't have to work, of course! 

As a visitor to the Mid-Canada Hobby and Toy Show, held in Winnipeg each October, I was free to enjoy each aspect of the exhibits and displays. But the most fun is watching the parents and their children as they passed each display and commented on their features. Naturally, the modular railway clubs and their trains are an obvious hit, and most people spend a considerable amount of time watching the trains pass their respective 'spot.' 

This is where our hobby takes on its true meaning and value. Here is where the hobby of railway modelling, with its connection to reality, gets its start in people's minds—especially in our young folk. Yes, to see the trains running at the local train show is usually the highlight of a child's day. And sometimes the parents, too! 

If there's one thing we all need to do, it's to continue promoting our hobby to the younger generation. I'm not convinced that children get 'hooked' on trains as much as they used to especially since the traditional 'train around the Christmas tree' has been replaced by 'the computer in the spare room.’ 

(Ironically, September, 2000 was the 100th anniversary of the first Lionel electric train set, something the people long associated with Christmas and Santa Claus.) 

And so it is today that most are introduced to the hobby via the local train show. 

One of our mottos at this magazine is 'take a kid to a train show.’ You may have noticed that statement as one of our 'fillers' in the magazine. Yes, we need to expose our younger generation to the possibilities that some day, they too can be railway modellers and run that dream train on either their own layout or at the local modular club. 

So, if you get a chance, take a kid to a train show—you'll both enjoy it. You can help in attracting young people to our wonderful hobby. 

As was outlined in the previous issue, prototype special interest groups are of terrific benefit to modellers and historians alike. The other day I received notification about another Canadian railway special interest group starting up: The Ontario Northland Railway Historical and Technical Society. It has been formed by a group of ONR enthusiasts who are devoted to the exchange of information among modellers, railfans and historians regarding all aspects of the Ontario Northland Railway and its predecessor, the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway. Membership includes a one-year subscription to their quarterly publication, 'The Northlander.’ Special interest groups play a positive role in our hobby and they deserve our support. 

FLASH: This just in from H&D Hobby Distributing out of Calgary, Alberta. They'd like to have a contest, so here it is. The first 100 modellers to get their name and address to them and correctly answer the question "What's the correct name of the new HO scale trucks made by H&D and available at your local hobby shop?" will receive a free pair of the said item in the mail. Their ad for this item is in this issue! So, there you have it; get your entries in and collect a free pair of trucks! 

And so, another calendar year has traditionally gone by. And with it, more issues of Canadian Railway Modeller magazine. We'll soon be celebrating the end of our 10th full year of publishing this magazine—something, of course, that we're very proud of. I suspect we'll be talking more about that in later issues. 

Until then, all of us at the magazine want to wish you and yours a very happy holiday season, and we'll catch you with the next issue in 2001! Please have a safe and happy holidays.



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