The End Of The Model Railway Hobby??? - Hattons Closing, Warley Cancelled, What Next? 

Hey gang, well this has certainly been a popular video! Obviously I normally try to reply to all the comments but that's proving to be a bit more difficult this time. Please know though that I am reading them all even if I'm not able to respond to each and every single one. Don't forget to be kind and courteous to each other in the meantime and thanks for watching 😃

One thing that bothers me immensely about the British 00 model railway scene is the absolute stagnation when it comes to which kinds of models are being produced. There is almost no modern-image rolling stock available ready-to-run by any of the main(-ish) manufacturers! All of the important EMUs that are and were a daily sight to millions - the Electrostars, the 321s, the 319s, the Aventras, several kinds of Desiros, 365/465 Networkers and the PEP units - are totally absent from the modelling scene. It is basically impossible to create a realistic modern-image UK layout, because there is so little modern rolling stock. I'm sure that if the manufacturers actually built the stuff that people see every day, there would be renewed interest in maybe acquiring some of those models for oneself. I refuse to believe that all the Brits want a 37th variation of a GWR ten-wheeler or some NER 0-6-0 goods engine. Modern image has to be properly represented, starting with the most common types first.

I have lived long enough now to see the hobby through its up's and down's. It never dies it just becomes less mainstream as times change and the economy shifts. I have just returned to the hobby after many decades away and I am bowled over by the amount of choice not to mention DCC, static grass and 3D printing. Yes I agree probably a tad expensive to buy new, but that is what the second hand market is for and that is where I have been purchasing a lot of the rolling stock. I was at a model railway show last week the first for me in decades and I noted the age demographic was noticeably split. The old guard and young bright eyed youngsters were there aplenty. So, the future is exactly where you say it is. No longer will the clubs be a place of refuge for the model railwayer, social media has taken its place. I have done exactly that myself upon my return. Look at any industry now and you will see closures and talk of hard times but that is how things work. Personally I am very hopeful for the future and will enjoy everything it has to offer.

I think your views are spot on. I also wish that manufacturers can make ranges of more simpler and maybe slightly less detailed models that would be more affordable for the younger modellers. From my experience when placing pre orders they are quickly unavailable due to their popularity so that shows that there is still high demand. Thanks to channels like yours this has enabled me to get started in the hobby, keep up the positivity!

Hi as a member of the Warley MRC can I just clear something up. The club is saying it’s not the younger generation that it the problem the fact is younger members like myself (I’m 52) don’t have the space time to run the show it takes over 4000 man hours just to organise the show and this is not including the four full days setting up running and strip down the show. We have over 100 full time members and we just don’t have the spare time with work and family commitments. Also traders are dropping out going to shows as they feel the on line sales satisfy the business. Last year we lost quite a few including Rails of Sheffield, Scalemodelscenery and so on. Hope this information helps. Regards Andy

I really hope the hobby doesn’t die. I’ve just got into trains so I hope it doesn’t die but I don’t think it will.😊😊

I am someone who is in their mid / late 40's, and just getting back into the hobby after many many years away. Your comments and points are spot on about the issues you have covered. I have no desire to join a model railway club but have found inspiration from youtubers such as yourself. I have a baseboard (6'11" x 4'), layout, track, locos and rolling stock sorted (new and second hand), and over the next month or so will have it up and running hopefully. By the summer I plan to landscape and ballast it - this is will be done outside due to lack of space in the house!!!!

I wish I could like this video twice because I couldn’t agree with you more in regard to younger modellers. The reason I returned to the hobby is because of RU-vidrs such as yourself making me realise there are people my age in the hobby! Model railway clubs that complain about the younger generation not taking an interest only have themselves to blame if they are anything like my local club. I tried so hard to join a local model railway club and explained to them I would be more than happy to be a member and join. I am currently up to 4 unread messages as they have now completely blanked me. I am a graphic designer and explained I would free of charge help them improve their advertising, help them make a website and more and after that they stopped communicating with me. It is so disheartening that this is the response of the older generation when the younger generation says they want to help.

When I went to see the Making Tracks layout in Chester cathedral I was pleasantly surprised by the number of families with kids there, and also how the team behind the layout interacted with the youngsters. Definitely encouraging.

Never been a more vibrant and alive hobby. Hornby have more to announce later, other model shops exist, other exhibitions happen which are arguably better to attend as they are less crowded and you have more of a chance to actually enjoy whats on show instead of feeling the need to rush around a huge amount of stuff. Everyone needs to chill and enjoy. Same "its the death of😮" stuff that hits preservation now and then when a loco changes hands or one railway hits some tougher financial times than another. Remember all those stories yet new railways are still being opened, even more stuff purchased for preservation, even more stuff changing hands and being restored, whole new buisnesses have formed around restoring stuff instead of volunteers doing it or in conjunction with volunteers doing it. Railway people are very easily led down a path of pessimism to the land of the doomer. Not sure why but it seems an easier sell to us lot than most.

I got back into the hobby from seeing RU-vid videos of people building dioramas. There seems to be loads of creative people making stuff: cosplay, dioramas, warhammer, model making etc. Really inspirational stuff with loads of cross pollination in terms of techniques and materials. Add to that the fact that laser cutters and 3d printers are accessible now means people can build their own or buy from loads of little businesses popping up making things quite cheaply. All of my interactions with the hobby have come from RU-vid and dedicated Facebook groups. I wouldn't be against joining a club but at the moment I get everything I want online I quite enjoy the hobby on my own as a way to wind down from dealing with people at work...

Don't worry. The year could have started worse if they had passed a law banning the use of the word "Prototypical".

Spot on about the younger modellers if you check out social media the hobby is alive and kicking but people interact in different ways these days and clubs have to find a way to stay current or they will fall by the wayside. Not sure what the answer is but I do feel the future of shows may be more business run than club run.

I do think their is a strong case to be made about how getting started in the hobby has been less and less of a priority. Super realistic and detailed locos are wonderful to see, but most people starting out usually don't buy £135 models. I think it would do wonders for bringing even more people to the hobby if £30-£40 locos with enough detail to fit that price range were held to as high of a priority as newer and more expensive locomotives. Locos similar to Hornbys E2, Jinty, 14xx & J72, but at a reduced price that refeclts a budget model, but at the same time has enough detail to get people excited to buy more.

You're absolutely right in the sense that we have been spoilt since the early 2000s with this hobby. Look at the Hornby Spam Cans and the rebuilt merchants, still great after all these years. My Grandfather's generation had the brilliant K's kits which they made themselves and something which looked like a pannier tank did. Now we have nearly every locomotive with every rivet and every bracket. I used to voluntarily run on an exhibition layout at Alexandra Palace and the monumental costs to put on these great big shows are enormous, electricity, heating, fuel, storage space and trade stands are a lot of money. Personally I feel that local model shows in our leisure centres and parish halls will make a come back, but that can only be achieved if we're less full throttle on the prototype, but encouraged to get new, both young and older people into the hobby, because some, not all of us do our hobby for the social side. In my slightly larger scale, there's nothing more satisfying than running a loco you know inside and out, striking up conversation with an on looker and then a few months down the line they're asking if they can bring their new loco to your layout. Although a different approach to your video, I think involvement and encouragement on social media, and in person will really save this hobby.

Hi That Model Railway Guy, This is the first time I’ve ever commented on a model railway RU-vid channel, but watch a number of them! I got back into the model a few years ago, now I have a little more disposable income, but I haven’t bought from a retailer since ModelZone closed. I’ve never been to a show and only watch RU-vid channels, as I just don’t have the time. All my family are the same, RU-vid is the club of the future! Thanks for all your videos!

I hope that hattons dont completely dissapear because i own on of their 66s and its great! I think that the hobby will do fine and most people stay home with their models these days. I have recently started building baseboards for my first proper model railway!

You have done a wonderful job in this video addressing the recent news and covered them to perfection, especially the case of the younger modelers. You are 100% correct about our clubs now being on Instagram. The hobby has taken leaps and bounds in the last 10 years and I know more younger people than older who actually enjoy the hobby! I model in O gauge, as do a fair few others in my neck of the woods and that can only mean that there are even more who model in OO around by me, even if they keep it to themselves. The only negative I see for myself in the hobby is the price gap slowly closing between OO and O gauges which may be forcing some people out of buying the new stuff or alternatively, moving to O gauge! This hobby has seen many ups and downs, now is currently a down for clubs but the online community of railway modellers is stronger than ever. Your views for the hobby in this video could not be anymore alike to my own. great video!

There was a nice article on BBC News in the morning, that was asking the same question. It is a shame they did not deep dive into the benefits of this hobby, just the expense!

I'm off on a slight tangent here, but, I am now 69 and remember paying regular visits to Hattons (when it was a proper model shop) with my best friend John, on a Saturday to look at the layouts, and dreaming that one day I would create a super layout of my own. I also remember the time I had saved enough money to buy one of the 2nd hand toy cars that they sold. It was a "Matchbox" Vauxhall Victor (F), which had been painted a light grey colour, silver headlights and a dash of red paint for the rear lights. We moved away from Liverpool in 1966, so I must have been 8 or 9 when I started going to Hattons. We could walk to Hattons on Smithdown Road from our street. We also spent many an hour sneaking around Edge Hill Engine Shed, especially of a Saturday afternoon, hiding from the "Men" between the lines of engines, hoping not to be caught and subsequently escorted out through the long tunnel the railway men would use to access the sheds.

Just let me say Hattons are closing because the owner wanted to take their equity out of the business! If they had the stomach for putting their business model right! Warley has suffered from the NEC effect! Expensive to get in, expensive to park and an older organising committee. Move to a different venue and things would be better! GETS was very popular! Why? No parking fees and cost of entry is fair.

I was born into this hobby and left it in my late teens. Not because i wanted to but because I simply did not have time and had so many other interests, work and families. But it always remained a found thought to return to the hobby. I always kept in touch with the model trains through my father and brother and people who i met and kept in touch with. Having lived abroad for some years and now returned to the UK i work at a large engineering company and i was astonished to find a few people who had layouts or were interested in model railways or railways in general. None who had joined a club but were simply happy to build and collect locos . Hattons has perhaps circum like you say to the present financial situation in the UK. Maybe it over extend due in part to being marooned by our departure from the EU . The COVID virus impacted manufacturing globally causing shortages and global inflation. Wages high energy bills business taxes have had impacts on many businesses in the retail sector. My assessment is the hobby is still healthy and technically moved along so much since my early days . The second hand market will catch up as more of the new era locos will become more affordable. Old models will be modernized and people will be able to print there own. And we can can still save our money and purchase off the shelf. I have noticed a gap in the market from plastic kit manufacturers like Tamiya , Airfix , Meng and others who could make a move towards the model railway kits . WE ARE AlIVE .

Firstly, gosh your layout looks good and I really like your positive thoughts. I have only been in this hobby since COVID and I am discovering new things all the time with so much more modelling to do. I know from all the things I have read and seen that the hobby has gone through many ups and downs. Hornby being bought by the massive Tri-ang and then Tri-ang-Hornby going broke and being resurrected as Hornby and that nearly going broke as well. Not to mention all the other brands that have come and gone. Through all of this the hobby has survived because it is obviously such a good hobby. I agree with you, the Hattons and Warley things are just an unfortunate blip. I am sure something similar will happen here in Australia sooner or later, it's just the way things go. When you are as old as me, you see the patterns being repeated. 👍😊

I just want to point out British modelers are in a lot better sted than US modelers as price continue to skyrocket due to the expectance of DCC and sound, the older generations gatekeep and actively try to uninvolve the younger generations, and as our general economic conditions worsen. I've been banned from several online model train communites for pointing out the prices of model trains are quickly becoming unobtainable and things like Build to Order aren't helping. Luckly that mindset hasn't invaded the UK and people like you and Sam's Trains are keeping the manufacture's honest.

Spot on! Clubs are invariably run by the "old guard" and will they will not accept new ideas. I'm sorry to say the old adage "We've always done it that way!" is as true today as it's always been. Long live the independent modeler - shows will be run on a modular basis in the future as well.

I have had trains since the mid 1960's in the US. I started out with O-27 Marx and Lionel, then received an HO set so that it could be expanded more economically. Family members all knew what scale I modelled. Birthdays and Christmas always brought something interesting from family members in Germany and closer to home. As a teen I was hired by the owner of a local hobby store, went to the distribution warehouses and shows with the stores and customers wish lists. It was a great hobby. I lost most of what I had thanks to a vindictive soon to be ex while going through a divorce. After remarrying and purchasing another home I had plans of building another layout. A sister in law and her child needed a place to live. The train room was remodeled. Things were put on hold - A severe work injury further complicated finances for a layout and equipment acquisition. In the last 20 years the costs have become ridiculous. I peruse shops from time to time. I truly miss the kit availability. I loved the assembly process. With electronics the grandkids seem to have other interests. Many whom I knew in the hobby have found other interests due to cost and availability issues. I fear that the manufacturers have raised the bar too high for many. Just my opinion.

At the Hoddesdon Model and Railway Club we have around six junior members. All of them are interested in trains, cars and planes, and we have a stand for junior members to display their talents and skills on major exhibition days.

There is a model Railroad show in Massachusetts, run by the Amherst Model Railway Club every year, it's the biggest show atleast in North America. It occupies 350,000 Square feet of floor space in 4 buildings of the Eastern States Exposition Grounds in Springfield, MA. It's only growing. I work in a Hobby shop, model railroad products are one of our two biggest departments, and kids are a major part of our business. If anything will kill the Hobby, it's manufacturers over pricing their models. I don't know about your clubs, my boss keeps inviting me to join his club. It's an hour from me, and $180.00 a year. I could buy something for my Railroad or spend $180.00 a year to run on their Railroad provisionally until I get full membership.

Excellent video. Graham Foulston said something similar. Your points come across really well and it's great to hear. I am glad I've channels like yours as it's a great way to learn and interact. Tim

Part of the problem is the price point that has been created by the demands for super-detailed RTR items. If we go back 20 or so years the models were much more basic and there were articles in the likes of Railway Modeller magazine on how to detail them. Perhaps the manufacturers need to consider a few items in the range that go back to that principle. By all means, have them DCC ready, have the higher quality motors, i'm not suggesting we need to go back to the days of the X04 brush motor, but there needs to be an entry level component that is attainable to keep the hobby alive.

I work for a major online US model retailer and while we've been seeing a slow decline in customers, we've been shifting gears to get new eyes on the hobby. We've taken a great push onto social media and post short videos of new models running on layouts. The hobby isn't dying, we just need to keep moving with the times!

3d printing has opened up a whole new world of future projects. Just look at what Sam has achieved at Sam's trains with his experiments in 3d printing locomotives and rolling-stock!

I have been involved in model railways since I was six and I am now 68. I have bought from Hatton's and have no complaints but they are just one player and other outlets will pick up some of the custom. My biggest worry for the hobby is the prices and unnecessary duplication when there are products which could be improved or models which have not yet been modelled e.g. Standard 3mt tender and GN J6. If I am paying over £200 for a OO locomotive model then I expect it to work well, look right and bits dropping off before it runs is not acceptable. I will be honest I usually buy second hand but the prices have now crept up but I am not slow in making an offer and usually get a positive response. My favourite exhibition was the Southwold show but that closed a few years ago due the age of the members but I saw some cracking exhibition layouts in its time. I am still modelling.

I think this video is spot on. The big issue is that just like the way a country talks it's way in to a recession (because people stop spending money), if people keep talking about the hobby dying it will because of people putting into peoples minds.

I miss Beatties 😢 great shops! Great video and many share this outlook. it's only doom mongers that jump on the bandwagon, I also didn't appreciate some of the views on rmweb that people should stop complaining about the price of the hobby. It's ridiculous. Point rodding. Bits of mass produced plastic costing over £10...Hornby station £30+... Simple 4 wheel wagons £30+...railroad locos £80+...why? when they can't cost anywhere near that to make! The hobby will be fine but it's crying out for a manufacturer to retake the entry level market with sensible pricing or a change in approach. Why for example can't we buy new bodies for locos, sell the chassis and body separately, all the add-ons and details separately. I'm not a member of a club either. I understand why people would do, it's a bit like when folks used to just go sit in a local pub to meet and chat to others... that's rare now, most are called Tesco. Personally I started in the hobby once I had a kid that was interested, then stumbled on your videos and mouldy raspberry and thought I could have a go.i didn't appreciate how expensive it was tbh. Have to support your view, it being all online is brilliant, we get to work on our own layouts, and see others work all without disturbing home life. However, one thing that you didn't raise that is worth a mention and debate is the stigma and view of others towards railway modelling as a subject matter, I've certainly experienced it with even friends and family. Why and where does this stem from? Btw, Warley are simply saying that THEIR club is aging and they can't attract new modellers to run the event, which is fair enough, I'd not want to run something that big...would you!? 😂

You point out that news stories often focus on the bad news. You built your small narrow gauge layout and I've got a small shelf layout above my desk where I can run a few Welsh narrow gauge trains. Who would have thought even 5 years ago that a major manufacturer would supply a whole range of 009 models so that anyone can build a convincing narrow gauge layout ( or that their efforts would be supplemented by companies like Peco/Kato with their own ready to run models). I feel that Bachmann's efforts have gone a little under the radar with all the noise about Hornby's investment in TT120 but I do feel it shows confidence in the hobby and is something to be celebrated even if 009 is not for you.

There's a chance big companies might start crashing down due to how expensive and high the barrier for entry is for MODELS not toys, and even as a long time hobbies buying a loco can be tough stuff. But so many top quality smaller companies have come to the spotlight recently, I'll be sure to be buying from them in future

So here's my views: (get ready) First off, news articles can go do one under a bridge as far as I'm concerned. They often wind a story up to the max, where no one involved took it to in the first place. Second: I think this has absolutely nothing to do with the range of trains, competing quality, Hornby giving up Thomas, ect. I think this is culture, pure and simple. Get this right, everything else will follow. Third: If the hobby dies, so be it. Like, seriously, look how good it's been! Especially in the past 10 years! We're not going to run out of trains in our collection, and we will figure out new ways to make stuff. Sure it would be sad if one day, there were no companies left making railway stuff, but let's be honest, what could we do now to help, that couldn't be done 15 years ago when it really mattered? It's no good sewing the seeds when the rain has just passed. The time for the hobby to change has passed. Something else needs to happen. Forth: Many years ago (16-ish years) I was part of a model railway club, and one of the problems even I saw back then, was that they weren't growing with the world. I was into filming and RU-vid back then too, and was saying how good it would be for us and others, young and old, if we could share our club online with what we do here. In the few years I was there, not once did they ever want me to do this, and then I realized they don't even advertise the club, whilst complaining that no one is joining. In the few years I was there, 3, maybe 4 people joined. WTF?! How does anyone expect to keep something alive if the heritage of the hobby aren't even trying themselves? What kind of message does that send? I left soon after. In summary: You called this a blip on the hobby. I think you are wrong. To me, this is more like (or needs to be more like) a handing over of the torch. The hobby need to be handed over to the next generation to keep things going, in the new world that's coming our way. From my experience, the younger gens seam more willing to change with the times. The older gens are not. Now, to be monumentally fair to the older gens, there are still a lot of memories around from their time, where they were just happy that they, or their parents, didn't get blown up. Whereas us younger lot, have to deal with the price of some of these model trains. So let's just bare that in mind. The hobby will change. It will be a learning curve. It will be uncertain. But it can be done. Like you say, I also don't claim to have the answers, but I'm more than willing to sit down with others to help figure this out. The local model club is no longer that big shed just outside town. It's in your room, your loft, your mates house. You just need an internet connection. The way I see it, there is only one model railway club now, we just need to figure out a name for it. I'm thinking something like..... One World Model Railway Club. ;-) Anyway, just my thoughts on this. :-)

'End of the hobby' is an over the top reaction. Ultimately people are demanding more and more of model makers - in terms of motors, details sound etc - but then baulk at the price. Manufacturers aren't getting rich with these prices, hornby haven't made money since Moses were a lad

There is a distinction to be made between "younger" and "young". To a group of people of retirement age or close to, younger could mean people in their 30s or 40s. And if that is the case, then I agree that there are lots of excellent modellers showcasing their skills. But I do believe that there are fewer young people starting out. It used to be aspirational to want a train set, and a percentage of those people then got ever more seriously in to railway modelling. That aspirational element now has shifted to wanting the latest games console, and those youngsters that do start out are often doing so because of family connections. But over the years, so those family connections reduce and so does the number of people coming in to the hobby. So I think some of the fears are real, I just don't think they are as close as the latest round of scaremongering would have us believe. A key focus for manufacturers needs to be engaging the young again...maybe through pricing strategies, maybe by tie-ins with console games, linking with younger Social Media or TV personalities. No offence to Jules Holland, Eddie Izzard or Pete Waterman but they aren't likely to inspire many school kids.

Iam 22 and i think the hobby is a bit expensive but not dying its changing with new generation think thats the times we are in Great video keep it up

Thanks for cheering up. That calms some of us a lot!

Hornby released their trading statement last week with their web sales up 30 percent and they were very pleased with their Black Friday sale. So considering Hattons business model for sixty years was taking Hornby stock at trade prices or surplus stock at a large discount, that business model is officially dead. Hornby, Bachmann, Rapido, Accurascale etc. can now do everything Hattons did so why offer Hattons models at trade prices, with quantity discounts and stock on payment terms just so Hattons can undercut them? Daft. There will be plenty of models to buy online, just the future is buy direct from the brand website.

I think part of the decline (not end) is self inflicted how do you get people into a hobby in the middle of a cost of living crisis, competing with video games, with train sets that cost what they do nowadays, which cost a few pounds per set to preduce as all the moulds are cast. They could make it £100 for the Hornby Flying Scotsman pack, £50 - £75 for the 0-4-0 train pack and still make a lot of profit. Yet they won't greed has overtaken them and som of the other manufacturers.

The times are changing, simple as that. Like another commenter I'm a late 40-sonething just coming into the hobby. Life pressures mean its doubtful i could dedicate any meaningful time to a club even if I wanted to - I have no time for the rivet counter brigade that a few clubs I've encountered in the past seem to consist entirely of. If i can get all the inspiration/ learning / supplies I need online, then why not? (After all, how I found this channel was by punching 'how to build a model railway' into RU-vid's search box) Where i think the biggest issue is, particularly in the current environment, is cost. I cant imagine the average casual or beginner modeller wants to start off with finely detailed rolling stock costing hundreds of pounds. The fact that you can buy a chassis on ebay, whack a 3D printed body on it and spend less than Hornby, charge for some coach / wagon sets should be the big cause for concern for retailers struggling to get feet through the door.

Err model railways don't go anywhere, any time soon. They just go round and around....

I am an older enthusiast, more interested in toy end. So DCC and ultra detailed models are not my thing. So I tend to collect the toys of my youth. Basically from fifty years ago. So the price point for me is more influenced by others with similar tastes chasing the stuff on eBay. However I do think Hornby should have segmented their market with a return to the railroad range, maybe branded Triang. As for retailers. There have been loads that were family ran that decided to exit when retirement beckoned. Anyway I think there is such a range in tastes, that the hobby will further evolve into more niches.

You are right TMRG, especially on the younger modellers. Not many grey hairs on you yet! The hobby is in a great shape and your mentions of Planet Industrials is an exemplar of the positive change taking place. A strong summary 👍👏and let’s remember there is nothing so certain as change.

I may not have been in the hobby since I was a kid but getting back into it on N scale instead of HO in the US there hasn't been a slowdown of train sales I've seen. I can say for N scale there's a whole lot more folks coming to the scale due to the size where you can have more trains and track along with the price being more affordable for how much you get. Every scale has a fan and I'm happy to see the hobby becoming so big I see a good amount of new videos on TikTok actually. The technology has also been a big factor in making trains amazing, seeing something like the Broadway Limited Big Boy making smoke with lights and sounds in a tiny package is something amazing even to those not in the hobby. I don't think the hobby is anywhere near dying, it's transforming into a new era.

To be completely honest, the exact opposite is happening. The hobby is growing bigger and bigger. I know one day I would like to have some little model railway or a big one, and I'm young. Some might say a bit too young to use things like a box cutter knife, but I don't care. You live and learn. Learning earlier on in life is always better.

That's a great video. You hit the nail on the head. The hobby is changing. The clubs are getting older and the younger generation are going in a different direction. It's a strong hobby and will remain so. Well done.

The statement: "The hobby is dying" is a view that has been around as long as the hobby has been mainstream - I have read back-issues of magazines that were published before I was born (1986) and even back then there were concerns. I think we should keep up with innovations in the hobby and I think we need models aimed at beginners (such as the Railroad range of Hornby or Hobby range if Piko). Perhaps we could have average models in general and the manufacturers could offer super-detailing kits to upgrade the rolling stock/locos to museum quality. Sometimes I think they can't win, people want more detail but don't want to pay the price for that. I think that 3D printing and things like DCC-EX add a great aspect to the hobby and this is something that manufacturers must take into account. Games Workshop (who do the Warhammer models) recently rereleased their fantasy brand under a new name this year and they are still using ancient figures. People are saying they will rather use 3D printed proxy models from 3rd parties. To go to your Warley comment, we had a huge thing we called "The Model Railway Convention" every two years here in South Africa where we had a large exhibition and hobby craft workshops (like making trees) in a different provinces, we also visited the local (for the province) layouts. Since even before the pandemic, the convention fizzled out and there were less attendees. I think that current world events are also making things more challenging. I agree with you in the whole - lets keep chugging on and the best way to get new people involved is to get your kids/family interested and understand that they may not enjoy or like what you do, give them the freedom to do as they wish.

I am sorry to say that I have never bought anythink from Hatton in the last sixty years of a model railways hobby, I allways try to get any items from a shop or ebay. I was also a member of the Warley model club for the last 20 years, but now I am 76 the time has come to give up helping at the exhibition, the problem is that every person in the club has the same problem.

Right at so many levels, I would agree railway modelling is actually growing, just not in the traditional sense. On line media, affordable 3D printing, laser cutting, Templot 3D trackwork, along with numerous software and hardware developments, not to mention, as you pointed out, the increasing number of new manufacturers. When modellers, clubs, and media talk about the “end of hobby” they are referencing their experiences, and their values, not actual current trends; where it is now very much an adult undertaking, but one that looks to social media and to a lessor extent on line forums for motivation and engagement, watching, listening and learning from others prior to committing to expenditure. Hatton’s closure is, for us overseas modellers, is a real blow, they had excellent customer service, huge range and a fantastic international postage system to Australia. I agree with your reasoning on Hatton’s and Hornby, but both have their reasons for the decisions made. No one can understate the huge investment Hornby has delivered in recent years, HM7000 technology and Turbomotive tooling being game changers I for one am excited for the future of railway modelling.

Really good points here! The Warley announcement did feel to me like a bit a bit of a cop-out to avoid admitting that traditional clubs are not as common among us younger adults (though admittedly not unheard of); social media videos, groups, and pictures are rapidly growing and showcase that talent is still very much a feature of this hobby. Things change (for both good or ill), but this hobby has always proved adaptive. Truthfully I’d wager the collective anxiety is because we’re going through an inflection point. How things will look on the other side, who knows. I’ll still enjoy modelling.

I recently joined my local model railway club and I think if it was like other model railway clubs I wouldn't have even considered it. The club I joined always has atleast one layout in construction for younger modellers to have a go at (They are currently building two, a OO Gauge 60s BR layout and an EM Gauge model of the Jarrow T&W Metro station) and have 2 layouts for members to run their models on (1 DC and 1 DCC). They do have a membership fee but its not that much anyways and its half price for under 16s

I think you are spot on about clubs. The younger generation really have no need of clubs. Social media is taking over. The one thing that social media cannot do, however, is put on exhibitions to spark people's interest. Clubs need to have an online presence and join together for exhibitions.

To be fair newspapers want shock and awe - "It's the end of the world" sells better than "Something is evolving" A quiet year for announcements would be nice. We all need to catch up - We have items on back-order items stretching back 7 years...

Hi there, I'm from France - I would like to share your optimism but unfortunately, if I indeed don't think the hobby is dead, it's without any doubt in critical condition. I am a train and model kit hobbyist, and while I lived in Paris, from the more than 30 shops I knew thirty years ago I only know less than half a dozen in actual times. In Rouen where I live since ten years, I saw a reduction from three shops to... Zero. People and shops moved on to the net? Well, The enormous annual Salon de la Maquette in Paris that began 40 years ago, definitely closed its doors a dozen years ago. TrainsMania that was a big model railway convention that was held in Lille for several years, is no more since last year. I went a few weeks ago to a modest but awesome model railway convention I knew for at least a decade, held in the suburbs of Paris, and it was only the shadow of what it was a couple years ago. Trains and model kits that still thrived on supermarket shelves at the beginnings of Year 2000, are now reduced to a ridiculously small corner, when they are not just completely absent, while other toys sections are still florishing.

You’re so right the hobby is as strong as ever I’m 62 and returning to the hobby after 45 ( I guess cars and girls were a bit more interesting lol).but now I’m back and I’m using you tube to document what I’m doing plus I also like making videos so I can combine my two hobbies together l don’t think it’s the end of the hobby it’s just RU-vidrs using the scare tactic to get views.. Graham from Grandads little railway

100% agree regarding the younger generation of hobbyists and clubs. Model Railway clubs feel very old school still with AGMs, commitee members, finances and the like. Something I noticed with other hobby clubs like Warhammer is there's none of this, just pay on the day/monthly and turn up on the night to play, alot less admin. Fees pay for hall hire and any extra on scenery for games. Social media allows for this community aspect in a much more flexible format.

The trains running in the background is like my version of them tiktok videos of someone cutting soup or playing subway surfers in the corner to keep my attention.

Well said, they hobby's not dying but does need to change tact. Also if another manufacturer does take on Hattons' toolings I do hope to see the Genesis coaches in Southern olive green again as I missed out on the Hattons run.

As you say, another phenomenon that never previously existed is RU-vid railway modelling. Surely this is a positive development? It helped me back into the hobby.

A very factual and optimistic outlook on the state of the hobby 👌. I hope the hobby stays strong in the UK as I'm just starting out in my early 30s. There are plenty of people under 40 wanting to return to the hobby or start out - the cost of housing and buying a place with enough space for a railway is quite a challenge!

Excellent review of the hobby. I see it growing and evolving, and I am very happy with, for example, Dapol getting into O gauge. What great products they have in O which was simply unaffordable a decade ago. I am disappointed that Hattons has gone. As an international customer from Florida, the shipping, prices and speed of delivery from DHL was outstanding.

I have said before, "Is it us that is asking for more and more detail or is it the manufacturers competing against each other thus pushing and pushing the prices up and up, before long we will see the £1000 OO scale Locomotive. It is thanks to the retailers leading up to Christmas offering Locomotives at a 50% discount, that I was able to buy two Locomotives. The first time in ten years. Martin. (Thailand)

Spot on analysis here. Well done for not jumping on the bandwagon. Totally agree that we’ve never had it so good. Laser cuts, 3d printing, RU-vid, forums. So much now possible that wasn’t before.

Spot on commentary …. …. 👍 A blip, a retailer , not a manufacturer … 1 show cancelled, 1 new one ,, More choice than I can ever remember … I don’t see a crisis, I see a flourishing hobby …

This news of the hobby dying has been blown out of proportion by the media. There is still interest in the hobby but the younger generation of modellers tend to be on present on social media and RU-vid more than they are at a physical club. When you go to shows there is now a decent mixed age of paying public now from families with young children all the way up to older people. One thing clubs need to try and do is make joining a club more welcoming to youngsters as judging from some comments some clubs aren't welcoming to younger people. Same applies with preserved railways as they to require younger volunteers to join to help run them for the future but if you have similar attitudes at preserved railways people won't volunteer. The model cost thing can also put youngsters off as videos on RU-vid do tend to swing towards new expensive models. They can sometimes assume that you need to buy the latest models rather than the older models. I watch Budget Model Railways on YT and he does highlight how to build layouts on a budget by utilising affordable build methods and using older models which once the layout has scenery added, don't look out of place.

As an OS customer, 90% of my purchases were from Hattons, due to their TRUNK option and the incredible postage deal they had with DHL. Buying from the other major competing outlets is not feasible due to the postage costs. Ebay falls into the same category because of their hideously expensive in house international postage. Hopefully Rails, Kernow, Footplate etc will learn from Hattons expertise and become a successful international retailer. Best wishes to all the staff at Hattons - Well Done , to the end.

As a young modeller myself, I totally agree with all the points you made about them. Brilliant and very informative video, certainly gave me a new perspective on a fair few things. 👍

Hornby did some important development in electronic equipment for model railroading, e.g. the bluetooth range of decoders and central or control units. Even if they might have taken advantage from the experience of an OEM developer it always limits the development of new models a bit. In Germany so far even no standard setting manufacturer like Lenz, ESU or Uhlenbrock came over with the idea to communicate with trains "simply" over Bluetooth or another wireless standard like e.g. Zigbee, neither did Digitrax. But the real railway prototypes it, just communicating by GSM-R instead of Bluetooth, Zigbee or WiFi if higher levels of ETCS are implemented.

I have not engaged in model railway construction for around twenty years, though I still have an interest and may well start up again, I still have most of my rolling stock and plenty of unbuilt kits etc. I was very sorry to hear about Hattons, as I used to order from them regularly and found them to be very nice people to deal with. I think there will always be an interest in model railways, as is the case with all creative hobbies. And of of course their are some who just like playing with model railways because it helps them unwind and relax, and why not?

thank you, I have been in a deep spiral of depression there were many things going wrong and ending in my life and when I got the message of Hatton's it pushed me over the edge making me think the hobby maybe done for, but you have given me inspiration and hope so again thankyou.

Speaking as a model train enthusiast living outside the UK. We would not have noticed the "death of model railroading" if it were not for specifically British RU-vid channels all referring to the closing of Hattons. Years ago a whole bunch of the continental European brands went bust and were bought up, the hobby marches on.

Completely agree mate. The hobby is thriving and there are plenty of shows coming up in 2024, we're booked into 12 already :)

A very level-headed take on the whole situation

I couldn't agree more with what you say. Just look at your subscriber level! And there are others out there with much larger subscriber levels. RM Web is another example. Hornby are in a period of consolidation. Some of their recent models took 4 or 5 years to come to market and came in for criticism for not being up to date. So they need to step back a bit and get their production schedules back on track (pun not intended!). It's a shame to see Hattons go but that's the way of things. The retail business can be cutthroat. We lost a lot of retailers over the years but others have come along and hopefully they will continue. I'm of an age to remember Kings Cross Models that went in the late '80s. I will miss Hattons, though, for their orignal ideas, such as the locker. Warley will be missed as well, but I can undertand the reasons why. Many of the organisers are now into their '70s and '80s and need to step back from it. The club itself is doing well but we are all limited for time these days and i can see why there was a lack of volunteers to carry on the exhibition. A lot of local clubs have also stopped their exhibitions, mainly due to the increasing cost of putting them on.

Excellent; just the positive message we need. I've heard doomsayers predicting the death of the hobby for as long as I can remember, certainly since I got started with model railways in childhood in the 1980s. This seems a particular quirk of railway modelling - I can't think of any other hobbies whose participants have continually bemoaned its demise for decades. Frankly it's a little bizarre when you think about it. Like you, I had been away from the hobby for a while until recently, and like you it was excitement at seeing what (mostly) younger content creators were doing that drew me back in. I really have to agree that there are plenty of younger people interested, but it's no surprise that many older model railway club members aren't aware of them as the thriving communities aren't meeting in their local church hall. I also think it's grossly unfair to label younger generations as lazy or apathetic simply because older people don't see them volunteering in the same way as them - I see a lot of younger people selflessly giving up their time to help others in all sorts of ways, and they have far greater reach to be able to make a difference to the lives of others in less fortunate situations. Of course I'm talking in wider terms than just model railways. PS nice to see Pi's Victory out on the layout again - I do love those models.

I wouldn’t say the hobby is over, not yet at least. We may have lost a few things, but there are still many shops, still many manufacturers, and still many conventions. I went to one last weekend and there were a lot of people, showing the hobby still has a lot of interest.

model on yea just on another point I recently brought a Hornby po (BR) class 08 as I wanted a small shunter just wondering what is the best dcc decoder for it cheers for any advice

Something I wonder is how does the online space, such as RU-vid, and putting videos of the model layouts and models themselves online, affect things? Having online stores is its own seperate issue, and I do wonder how much red tape a model manufacturer has to go through with licensing say, an Electrostar or Pacer from scratch, vs simply extending an existing licensing deal if that's how it does in fact work, I'm coming at this from a whole other angle but assume there are licensing deals in place for Hornby et al to be given the, well, green light to do so. I do wonder if that plays into it?

Great comments. I do think that RU-vid is a big bonus for the hobby. You are correct in saying that there has been a lot of improvements over the last few years ie look at all the sound options! Keep up the good work.

I bought a lot of stuff from Hattons . They repeatedly sent me rubbish . Yes some of it was 2nd hand , but nothing was ever checked or serviced and reguarly arrived with major missing parts or broken . Their aftersales was terrible , they didnt care at all in the last 2 years so i stopped buying from them and cancelled all my pre orders due to it .

I have to agree, the hobby is in an overall good place. I will miss Hattons though. I live in the USA and have a massive collection of British locos and stock, most of which were purchased either new or used from Hattons. Their international service was unparalleled.

The hobby will survive and grow, if the current hobbyists want it to. If you are expecting everyone else to do the heavy lifting it may die but don't moan if it does! If you want the model railway to be the vibrant community you imagine, what are you doing to make it so? Real world example in rugby. My local club had a vibrant junior section, run by volunteers who were happy to muck in, sort out match dinners, run the shop, do protective governance, run finances and more importantly give up their time, weekdays and weekends to coach. I got qualified as a coach, cooked matchday food, run stalls, done maintenance, made signs, done corporate fundraising etc. because it was my club and I wanted it to be successful. Now is that the old guard have moved on (Warley), their children have gone to university or senior rugby. We now have too many adults seeing the club on a Sunday as a pound per hour creche. We can support parents to coach and run teams and that was how I got involved post playing. It was how my dad got involved, he never played. But post Covid that seems to have changed. My lads are now at university, so why am I providing that service to others? Am I part of the problem even though they are not my children? Or do people today just want no work solutions? If you don't want your passion to die, what are you doing about it? If you leave it to others, don't moan about the outcome. And yes, anyone can make a difference.

Some excellent points made (no pun intended). I have recently started into the huge world of modelling, this comes directly from people like yourself and also Chadwick who I also follow. You guys are the inspiration that younger generation will be interested in through your informative videos and non stop enthusiasm. Keep it going please. Cheers TMRG. 👍

It's too expensive in a recession. Every penny I save for trains inevitably goes on bills

The hobby isn't dead. Its just hard to get started. Its also getting too expensive, new models are out of my price range and most of my collection was bought as spares or repairs 20 years ago and the prices have gone up. Even the price of wood is stalling my progression. The issue I've had is space, not lack of it but what it was needed for. Life just gets in the way.

I think you are right on both accounts, One of the reasons I haven't joined a club is I work most nights (local club meets on Wednesdays only) also what they model is of little interest (time period) to me, also there is the time limit if you are working! There are plenty of younger modelers out there most on RU-vid 😃, retailers come and go Hattons is just one of them, but I do hope someone takes on and produce some off their products. Warley was not a cheap day out, with ticket, parking, cost of food in the hall means that £60 is spent before you purchase a loco, wagon. As for larger shows I now attend the Stafford Show (club run) a far cheaper show and sorry to say far better than the Warley Show.

Doncaster show was an insight last weekend. No Bachmann, Hornby, Heljan, Cavalex, Revolution, Accurascale or Dapol. The only manufacturer of locos was KR Models. No Rails OS, Hattons (obviously), or Ellis Clark. Just table after table of middleweight box shifters and bin-fodder peddlers with a few small layouts wedged between. I felt sorry for the small traders and manufacturers, who to be honest, carried the show. This used to be a premier show. The hobby HAS changed in the last twelve months, without doubt.

Based on the quality of many of Hornby products I don't think we have been spoiled. Hopefully with a limited range Hornby can significantly improve the quality of a more limited output.

Check out the 16mm society. Yes it's a larger scale but it's thriving with a huge show every year. It doesn't get the publicity that the smaller scales get.

One of the bad thing about the hobby is how much the price goes up, not only because new and more precise and delicate models, often offered as a limited run. In many cases, the production has moved in to countries with cheaper production costs and many cases sloppycontrol on the finish. With modern technolgy, like DCC things have become more complicated andsteep price tags. This makes people think twice before ordering stuff.. Hattons was the company that set the standard on many things, customer service being one, prompt deliveries, despite after Brexit some problems withthe customs here in EU. Their website was always updated, showing theitems that was truely stocked, not just stuff that was offered some years ago and a they lack staff to understand or update their web site, it remains as it was back in 2013 or so. The rise on the price tags are alarming, I have seen some "new" models with new retailer prices increased with 30 or som per cent, with the only update is a new paint scheme and road number.

This is a great video and a lovely reminder of what the future holds, I’m not ‘young’ but I guess by Warley standards I might be and recently got back into things and between yourself and Chadwick you’ve got me modelling again, so keep up the good work

It’s quite sad, but I don’t believe this hobby will die, it’s been running since the 40s and is still here, I completely agree with you with how Hornby spoiled us, thanks for the video!

Even the point about younger modellers not joining clubs is one I disagree with, for example Bournville club is made about halfway of 15-30 year olds

Hatton's owned M.B. Klein Trains of Baltimore, Maryland USA is closing as well. While not the largest US retailer, they are/were one of the bigger online, and brick & mortar retailers. Hopefully someone will step up and continue the great selections in our hobby. Too bad for the emoloyees.

Hattons closure came as no real surprise to me. Relocate your shop from a busy street in Liverpool to a part of your warehouse on an industrial estate that's awkward to say the least to get to by public transport was not the brightest of ideas in my opinion. There's more to the closure I think as M.B Klein, known as Train Stuff in the USA has announced closure after 111 years of trading. They were bought by Hattons in September 2023. Why buy a company and close it 4 months later?