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Virginia World's Greatest Hobby Show breaks record

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  • Member since
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  • From: Central VA
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Posted by LawsonFarmsRR on Thursday, March 4, 2010 11:19 AM

Sorry, but I have to be a little negative on this one. I attended this show, and my experence was:

No place to park, partly because there were two other shows in the same complex.

Too many people. I suspect the numer exceded the fire departments maximum nubers.

Too mny strollers. They and famlies of 4-6 socializing at tables and blocking them.

Most dealers were cattering to those without trains - selling shirts, stuffed animals, Etc. Not for those of us who have been into trains for a while and looking to expand our trains and layouts.

Tried to leave at 2:00PM and had a hard time getting out the door because of people still comming in.

Personally, I think the Greenburg shows are much better for me.

Pat

 RFD-TV --- Rural America's most important network!

 

              

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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 10:04 AM
Fat man, As of now, the Denver show is the last one scheduled. I imagine the next group of shows will be announced mid year. Keep checking their web site for updates (www.wghshow.com)

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

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Posted by kstrong on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 12:24 AM

If anyone's going to be at the Denver show this weekend, I'm planning on being there Saturday AM at the Denver GRS display. Stop by and say "hi!" I'll probably have TRR #10 out to stretch her legs. She's getting tired of running 15' back and forth on my shelf railroad.

Later,

K
 

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Posted by ttrigg on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 11:21 PM

Fatman:  Don’t know too much about the northern end of the state, but in SoCal, We’ve got a very nice show in Ontario in June, and a decent show in SandyEggo in December.  The SD show is an ideal shopping ground for junk box valued treasure chest aficionados. I’m sure one of the guys from the northern half will chime in as to possibilities closer to your area.  There is a show in the greater LA area (I think) but don’t know when.  The Ontario show is a 4 day event, Thursday and Friday, hop a bus and visit several outdoor layouts.  Saturday and Sunday are good sales days in the Convention Center, all scales represented.

Tom Trigg

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Posted by Fat Man on Tuesday, February 16, 2010 7:10 PM

 

Hello Rene: I hope this is not too far out of order. But can you tell me when a show will be in the Reno Nv, area. or at lest East of Sacramento Ca. I live about half way in between the two cities up in the mountians \.

Thanks FatMan

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Posted by ttrigg on Monday, February 8, 2010 10:32 PM

gbbari
Hope we hear of other dealers who also added to their bottom line. 

On a totally personal prespective, the better our retailers sales are (both brick store and electronic stores) the better our options for selection.  Support your LHS as he may not be able to get to these shows.

Tom Trigg

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  • From: Sykesville MD
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Posted by gbbari on Monday, February 8, 2010 10:14 PM
Good to read that Jack. One would guess that the sales have to follow the attendance at least somewhat… But in these tough times, I would not be surprised if there were an extra abundance of "window shoppers". Then again in economic downturns the DC area never seems to suffer like the rest of the country - I've witnessed that in '81-'82, '91-'92 and again now. Hope we hear of other dealers who also added to their bottom line. Next up, ECLSTS.
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Posted by Bucksco on Monday, February 8, 2010 7:58 PM

Without naming names, one of our dealers told us that he did over 40K that weekend. That works out to about a dollar a person. Not bad for two eight hour days.

Jack
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Posted by gbbari on Monday, February 8, 2010 5:51 PM
OK, thanks René. If you do hear of any feedback - appreciate dropping a note in this thread. AL
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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Monday, February 8, 2010 9:55 AM
gbbari, I did not hear anything about how the vendors did. Generally, from what I've heard, the vendors have been happy with WGH shows, but I don't know any specifics for this show.

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

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Posted by gbbari on Sunday, February 7, 2010 12:48 PM
Was there any information as to how the vendors made out? Sales? With the recession, one would think that sales would not be on par with attendance, ….except this was in the DC suburbs and DC never has a recession…. Just wondering how many were "just looking"…although that always help start the interest.
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Posted by palallin on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 10:07 AM

Been seeing lots of delight about this show, especially on the Yahoo Standard Gauge and SG Module Association lists.  botht eh SGMA and the Capital Trackers broken records for numbers of mudules, trains run, and so forth.  Looks like trains are popular these days.

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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Thursday, January 28, 2010 2:44 PM
Kevin, Looks like you're in luck. There are two shows in February, one in Denver. Go to their web site and scroll down to the bottom. There are links to info for both Feb. shows. http://www.wghshow.com/

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

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  • From: Centennial, CO
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Posted by kstrong on Thursday, January 28, 2010 11:22 AM

 Normal 0 0 1 95 547 4 1 671 11.1282 0 0 0

It's a coded message. There will be an insert card in the next issue of GR for you to get your decoder ring. Hint: stock up on your Ovaltine. Clown

Glad to hear the show was well attended. Any idea where its next stops will be? 

Later,

K
 

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Posted by ttrigg on Thursday, January 28, 2010 9:06 AM

Looks like it might have been a font or script header imbedded in the original  document

Tom Trigg

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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Thursday, January 28, 2010 8:43 AM
I don't know where that code came from. Wasn't there when I uploaded it!

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

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Posted by dwbeckett on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 2:27 PM

Normal 0 0 1 95 547 4 1 671 11.1282 0 0 0

Ok what is abnormal?

Dave

The head is gray, hands don't work , back is weak, legs give out, eyes are gone, money go's and my wife still love's Me.

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Virginia World's Greatest Hobby Show breaks record
Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 3:10 PM

 Thought some of you might be interested in this tidbit:

 

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More than 41,000 people attended the Jan. 23-24 World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour show in Chantilly, Va., possibly setting a new record.

 

The crowd of 41,036 at the Dulles Expo Center in suburban Washington, D.C. is believed to be the largest number of people ever to attend a model railroad show in North America. It breaks the record set a year ago by the Philadelphia WGH show that drew just over 40,000 people.

 

Show Chairman Randy Bachmann said “the Chantilly show did everything it set out to do - successfully introduce thousands of people to model railroading.” World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour has now sponsored 25 shows, attended by more than 600,000 people 

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

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