 |
| To respond to this month's Editorial, send comments to: Editorial@modelrailroadnews.com |
The Magic of Model Railroad Clubs |
|
| Two of our columns this month touch on model railroad clubs. TAMR columnist Peter Maurath’s treatise on college model railroad clubs is a must-read. In “Larger View,” you will get to discover some underlying innovations in a club layout. If you don’t mind, allow me to connect the dots. While clubs may not be for everyone, most model railroaders will benefit from joining a model railroad club, especially one for their chosen scale. Peter touches on one of the biggest obstacles to private model railroad layout ownership: real estate. We’ve had an ongoing debate about the cost of rolling stock and other model railroad supplies, but I suspect that one of the greatest obstacles to owning one’s own pike may have as much to do with space as anything else. When model railroaders move, often the layout is the first thing to come down and the last to be set back up again. I know a lot of model railroaders who don’t have a real layout of their own, but they belong to a club. Most of us have a run loop at home or a strip of test track, but clubs are a very good way to enjoy the whole model railroad experience without having to buy and build it all yourself. In fact, the composite talents and resources of a good club will create a layout far beyond anything we could individually imagine. The pooling of tools and talent, resources, and skills makes clubs into dynamic opportunities. Peter doesn’t address one issue: what if the college you attend doesn’t have a model railroad club and you don’t feel empowered to start a group on campus? Hint: go to the local hobby shop or check around and see if the there is a club in the community. Attend a meeting and scope it out. Several things might be possible. First, you could join their group, even if it’s off campus. Second, they might be a resource in helping you to create a college group. But what about the guy who has a small apartment with a wife, two little kids, and not much money? Most of us have been there at one time or the other. I’ve been disconnected from model railroading at times, but the allure of trains always pulled me back. I’d stay with the kids one night each week while my wife took a pottery class or something like that. Then I’d get a night to go chase trains or visit a club. From this I learned that you should try to maintain a connection to the hobby, even if you don’t have a lot of time or money. Most importantly, understand that while you need the club, the opposite may also be true. Clubs need members. They need your dues, though that’s usually a nominal expense. They need your hands, your eyes, and your brain. Even if you don’t have a bunch of cars, locos, or experience to contribute, you can bring a willingness to work, to participate, and cooperate for the larger good. Be prepared to listen, learn, and then share by pitching in. The bottom line is this: if you have an interest in model railroading but don’t belong to a club, perhaps you should look into one. If you do belong to a club, consider the idea of starting an outreach to college students and others who don’t belong. There is a great gulf between the buyer of a first trainset and an experienced model railroader; clubs can be the trestle over that gap. |
|
John Sipple, Editor |
|
| To respond to this month's Editorial, send comments to: Editorial@modelrailroadnews.com | |
 |