Model Forum / General / Railroads / November 2009

I was quite active and involved in model RR'ing a few years back. I
assembled a fairly large collection of HO scale cars and engines.
Needs changed, finances required some re-directing, and I sold off
about 50% of the items, and basically lost touch with the hobby for
the past several years - almost entirely.

Finally, I am able to return to the hobby. No purchases yet, but plans
are under way. Forgotten, sometimes lost, model train websites have
been relocated and re-bookmarked. To this point, I am trying to
determine how things have changed.

Kato use to have a number of diesels to choose from on their website.
At the moment, they look very thin on offerings. Yes? No?

BLI had several ATSF steam engines and several sweet diesels
[switchers, etc.] on their website years back. I cannot seem to find
much available; their website seems thin, and the Cab Forward plus a
couple of other steam engines seems to be the bulk of their offerings.
Yes? No?

I then find out that Proto 2000 is absorbed by Walthers, yet most of
the P2K items on the Walthers site are sold out. What's with the Proto
2000 line-up and its future?

The Atlas website use to have tons of rolling stock in HO scale. We
owned a lot. I can't find many of the tankers, etc. Have they reduced
their inventory?

It's early since my return. My perusing might be falling short and my
observations may be wrong, but it *seems* like the hobby is either in
declince or manufacturers have really cut back on their offerings.
Yet, DCC appears strong. The recent train show attendance has been
strong.

Am I way off? Is the model RR industry/hobby strong? Or, should I
panic?

Kadee and Intermountain seem to be moving along as usual.

Thoughts???