Model-Railroad.tv is up and running. We departed on this train ride sometime about the 4th of July over a couple of beers and some fireworks, and for some reason I got on board. I surely would've laughed if it had been suggested we could produce enough programs to launch this site by September. I now know what a challenge it is to get Model Railroaders to come inside during a beautiful Minnesota summer. A summer which apparently has no end here in late September. We're still running our air conditioners knowing it will change to the furnace overnight. We found a few and combined with some solo ventures we found enough interesting materials to get started.
It turns out to be a great way to start. We are starting with some very basic to mid level difficulty projects. The exciting part is that the Team, The trains and myself will grow and the projects and the presenters will become more detailed. We have some great layouts and people lined up for programs to be produced real soon. This week we'll be filming a rail-fan trip along the upper Mississippi. We hope to capture some wonderful real train shots and attempt to show their relationship to Model Railroading. You can watch for this program to be added in early October.
I'm no writer and I am not a celebrity, I'm just a train guy. One of the reasons, I imagine, that I was quick to jump on board was that I came from a retail background in trains/modeling. Back in the 1990's I was the manager of The Great Train Store at the Mall of America. From there I went on to work for United Model out of Chicago, Il. Here I roamed the upper Midwest selling model trains and full line hobby supplies to customers in Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa and Wisconsin. The promoting and selling of trains and the hobby itself has been with me for some time. One thing learned here for success in this business you need to support the customer with knowledge, questions and the help they need to grow and enjoy the hobby to the level they desire. This is a time I refer to as "The Good Old Days". A common story in this day and age, eventually came the end of the days of the traveling salesman. So whether it be a Train Show, In a store, or on TV, here I am enjoying this hobby the way I do. Remember to support your local Hobby shops for here is here we can go to see and touch the products and most of them are equipped to allow you to test and try out the goods.
Ron Galloway
Producer, MRRTV
