From the Dome Car: Train 11 Track 2 (November, 2001)

 

The 9/11 attacks in September, 2001 put things into perspective for a lot of people—including Morgan. How can we focus on a mere hobby like model railroading when a tragedy like that happens and affects so many lives? That’s the question he sought to answer in this Dome Car. He suggested that it is exactly at a time like that when hobbies are most needed—to help us find time away from the suffering and tragedy that threatens to overwhelm us and harm our mental health. 

Life for many people has changed as a result of the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Things that once seemed important now seem trivial or inconsequential. Family, health, friendships—these are emerging as the most highly-prized things that people can have and hold on to. 

But what about model railroading? Things like hobbies might seem trivial now. How can we even think about spending time and money on a hobby when so many people have been affected by this tragedy? 

On the other hand, hobbies are exactly the thing that can help us cope with tragedies like this. People involved in the helping professions doctors, nurses, social workers, clergy, etc. know how vital it is to get away from the stresses of work. They know you can't bear other people's burdens 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can't be sad or angry all the time. If you do, your family, health and friendships will suffer. 

In other words, hobbies like model railroading are a way to cope with the everyday stresses of life, and with tragedies like the September terrorist attacks. It can provide much-needed mental and emotional escape so that we can better address the issues that challenge us. It can relieve stress as we build a kit or detail a scene. And it can bring us closer to our families as parents and children engage in model railroading together, and to our friends, through clubs or other kinds of model railroad-related groups. And that all adds up to healthier living. 

There may be some readers who were particularly touched by September's tragic events. To them we extend condolences and express the hope that they and their loved ones can somehow pick up the pieces of their lives and continue to live with hope for the future—despite their tragic loss. 

Moving to a different subject, I'd like to announce our participation with Kalmbach publishing (publishers of Model Railroader and Trains magazines) in a program to encourage more people to become involved in model railroading. The new program is called the World's Greatest Hobby campaign and it's designed to attract the public's awareness to model trains and how to get started in the hobby. 

The program will make available an introductory video for beginners showing how to get started building that first layout, along with copies of the World's Greatest Hobby booklet. Clubs, retail outlets and individuals are encouraged to promote the hobby to beginners by setting up programs to assist new model railroaders through classes that could be set up at schools, churches, clubs or in hobby shops. 

If you or your group are interested in helping us get this program off the ground, please call Kalmbach, the major promoter of the campaign, toll free at (877) 426-5082 or visit the special web site set up for the program at: www.greatesthobby.com

It's through programs like this that we will continue to bring new modellers into the hobby that we all love. Finally, we would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a prosperous new year. We'll see you in 2002!





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