What would you do?

[ezdays]

Just was looking though some of the “new releases” and ads in MRR and the Walther’s flyer. It brought me to thinking, could I afford to get into the hobby if I had to start over from scratch?  I ask you all to think about it, what would you do if you had to start over again, would you and at what level?

20 years ago, I bought some brand new closeout DC diesel engines for less than $20 each, flex track was going for around $1.50, cars could be had for a few dollars each and a decent kit was less than $10. I went all-out one day and spent $80 on an Atlas diesel. Today, N scale DC is now starting at well over $100, and  double that with DCC and sound.  I see HO engines in the $400 range. When I started my new layout two years ago, I could buy a sheet of 1/2” plywood for around $20. Today we’re talking $65, with flex track running $3.50 each in bulk. Even our hobby magazine has more than doubled in price in 20 years, and has half the pages.

So what would I do today, could I start over and stay in the hobby? And how about you? Please, take the poll (check as many as you feel is appropriate), and  feel free to comment. I don’t always know what I’m talking about, maybe things are keeping up with the inflation rate, but I really doubt it.