Many people believe that the model train hobby is dying. This opinion is based on how much space model trains take up, the high cost of buying a set, and the time required to maintain one. However, some things may be causing this belief to be false. There has been an increase in sales for products related to trains such as books and DVDs which could mean more interest in them. The number of memberships for organizations like the Train Collectors Association has increased by 16% over five years, supporting this idea, so it seems the hobby might not be dying after all.