POST IS IN PROGRESS

Hi everyone who might be reading this, it’s very early in the process, I have just barely stood up this site and I’m not sure how soon I’ll get around to building it out, I’d say by end of 2024 there should be more info here.

I’ll have links posted to information how you can get involved in the First Annual Truck and Train Virtual Show on the ground floor. I figure it will take about $15-20K to run this properly, and I wouldn’t mind making a couple-few grand out of it for my efforts. Anything else I would plow back into the second year’s show.

So if I can get 500 people to sign up for $20, that’s a good start. We’ll see what’s possible as I do more research.

We Need a New Type of Train Show

Adding Trucks and Virtual to the Mix

I’m making the case here for an online truck and train virtual / online show, one that focuses on where the future of modeling is: truck and train simulators and their world editors. With respect to train sims, we hear about “VR Scale.” VR Scale isn’t just for virtual reality. It’s a term that applies to the various train simulator games such as Trainz, Train Sim World, Train Simulator Classic and others that are traditionally played as 2d virtual railroads. I also include the actual virtual reality entrants like Derail Valley and soon Train Sim World VR.

Then we have the standout truck simulator, American Truck Simulator (ATS) and its sister, Euro Truck Simulator 2. For every train sim fan there’s probably ten truck sim fans, based on Twitch stats I’ve looked at. These trucking sims are really like advanced train sims in a certain way of thinking. You watch scenery roll by in both games. While you can pay partial attention to a train sim at times, a truck sim requires your full attention. Beyond that difference, I found I have an affinity for both types of simulators.

Civic Engagement is on the Decline

Model Train Clubs Have a Hard Time Attracting Young Members

What I’ve noticed, as a graying person myself (50s), is that all of the model train clubs (and 1:1 steam/railfan clubs) I’ve been involved with have been populated by “seasoned citizens.” Also, there seems to be a lot of retired military in these clubs.

This is fine for them, but I’ve also noticed that most of these train clubs are not keeping up with the times in terms of attracting new membership. Most train clubs are also woefully years behind in their use of technology. These clubs tend to be made up by serious modelers, and what these people want to do is build layouts and show them off at train shows. That’s it.

Attracting the Next Generation

They don’t want to spend time where the next generation of model railroaders is at, and that’s not on Facebook these days. Instagram is the thing these days, and it’s becoming passe. Then there’s building a website, SEO, and various social media platforms to keep track of. Most of these model train specialists just don’t care to spend their time looking at their screen.

And (sorry military folks, just IMO) with the military influence, that background typically doesn’t go along with entrepreneurship skills. I’m not gonna get into details. I’ve seen several organizations where effecting change is like steering a large ship — it takes a long time to turn around. Change takes time (a lot of time) if it ever happens. It usually doesn’t, with respect to improving web presence and ultimately attracting the younger members who will keep the club going.

Note that some clubs do a great job on the Internet. It’s a reflection of the members, and some clubs are standouts. There is the Pacific Coast Region (PCR) Convention coming up in March, 2025. There’s a virtual option for $40. Since they are based in Silicon Valley, they probably have no shortage of talented web devs in their ranks.

Still Stuck in the Real World, Let’s Get Virtual

But the PCR Convention is still about modeling in the real world. In the age of ubiquitous computers and every kid having an iPad by age 5, the world of physical model railroading sadly does not appear to have a bright future. A young person is much more likely to get into a train or truck sim than to join a model railroad club.

Sadly, the train show market is dwindling. I have anecdotal reports from a couple of shows last year (one model train specific, one a wider crafts show) that attendance and spend were down significantly over past years. I haven’t done the research to see if there’s any public data out there, generally speaking, I don’t hear the NMRA trumpeting their growth.

The “Great” Train Show

In December, 2024, I attended the “Great Train Show” show in Salt Lake City. It was great if you had a car, but from the local tram (Trax) stop it was a 15 minute walk through the freezing, foggy cold. We had to walk around a lot of fencing to get to the front door, because the direct routes were locked up. Then, the event itself was disappointing.

It was being held in one small building and one medium-szed building. Compared to the other (several) local annual train shows that the NMRA region puts on, this “Great Train Show” was a sign of the times, IMO. There was no Lego display like all the other shows have, it was dominated by one single club, basically.

You have to give them credit for showing up, the local train clubs that were there. And the vendors, things looked slow for them.

I had previously only heard of the Great Train Show series of shows, I had never attended one. I imagine in some locations these are thriving well attended highly popular shows. But what I saw in SLC, in my view, was disappointing.

Physical model railroading is dwindling, online “VR Scale” modeling is growing by leaps and bounds.