[eru]

Thanks for the analysis.

The webcam idea may make it viral. Perhaps you can even implement controlling the trains via the net, so that you get a kind of train simulation. Though you would have to be in touch with customers to see if this is an idea that sells.

[DanielBMarkham]

We're thinking along the same lines.

Would I want to surf home from work and play with my train set? Both as a switchboard operator and as a virtual engineer/passenger? Would I want my friends to share in this experience with me? Running other trains, or coming along for the ride? Making movies of the experiences?

Heck yes. I'd even want a link into FaceBook where people could tell what's going on in my model world in case they wanted to join in.

Model trains are virtual worlds. The more you can make it like a complete MMORPG with social hooks the more viral it becomes (in my opinion)

[eru]

My kid might even put an obstacle on the real model railroad and you'd have to brake the train via the web to avoid a crash.