Garden Train Shows?

[Anonymous]

Are there any good train shows comming up with a lot of garden trains?

Are they worth going to?

Any good buys there?

Rusty

[vsmith]

The East Coast Large Scale Train Show, or ECLSTS is coming up very soon, I'll let the Easterners say where and when, on June 10,11,12 we on the west coast get the Big Train Show or the BTS, at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, Ca. these are the biggest shows for large scale.

[Anonymous]

RUSTY
THEIR WILL BE ONE IN YORK PENNA. APRIL 1-2-3 THIS IS A BIG TRAIN SHOW 'THEY HAVE A SITE I THINK ITS www.eclsts.com .its also in GARDENRAILWAYS MAGAZINE , you didn't say what state youare in.??? BEN

[vsmith]

The show Benny is taking about above is the ECLSTS I mentioned. Check out the link on Benny's reply.

The west coast show can be found here.

www.bigtrainshow.com

[Anonymous]

vsmith
thanks i missed the name. ben

[Rene Schweitzer]

There also is a national convention, this year in the Chicago area, July 26-31: www.21ngrc.com

Where are you located? Other parts of the country have regional meets and open houses throughout the year. There's one coming up in February (19-21) in Scranton, the Bay area in California has them, one of the Missouri clubs has one too.

[Anonymous]

I am in Virginina. I am going to have to check out the ECLSTS and the QM shows, I went to one convention that was enough, they cost too much, and did not seem to have that many vendors. I have been doing this for several years but never hooked up with a club. Just kind of doing it on my own. Which is the biggest of the two shows? The QM or the ECLSTS?

Rusty

[Tom The Brat]

Hmm... One I can attend!

[vsmith]

Never been to the east coast show but the BTS is pretty good sized, as big or bigger than as any GATS I've been to. Check out the websites for the vendor list, that should give you a way to compare sizes although in reality I suspect they are very comparable in size. Sounds like the ECLSTS is much closer for you but if your up for a trip sunny Ca, do both, the BTS isnt until June, lots of time to save up for that Amtrack fare. Our resident large scale indoor club, Del Oro, always has a HUGE modular layout set up inside the ship and always with some really cool models running, MLS has a live steam track set up outside along with a bunch of other groups and their layouts. Overall a fun time...[^]

[Anonymous]

Still trying to nail down what i'm planning on attending! They( my women) can't make up there minds!

[Anonymous]

Carpenter, VSmith,

Thanks, I went and looked at the web site for both shows, and then looked at the Queen Mary site and the York Expo center site. The ECLSTS looks like it's about 20 some thousand sq feet larger than the QM show. Plus 10 layouts vs one, but I think I am going to do both. I have family in CA I have not seen for a while, my be a good excuse to fly out and do both shows. I did notice that the ECLSTS does not have as many vendors as was listed for the QM show last year, is the hall filled or partly empty? The floor plan shows that it's full but is this hype? How about the QM show? I notice its on three floors are their elivators to all floors? Can I buy Aristo Craft from Aristo Craft and the same for LGB and Heartland?

Rusty

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Rusty,
Where in N Virginia??? Have relatives in Manassas, and step daughter just moved out of Ashburn. Ever get over to Delaware shore in summer?

[Anonymous]

Bob,

I moved down here from Rockingham, County a couple of years ago. I am now a few miles north of Amisville. I have been to Dover, and go through Del on the turn pike that is about it for Del.

I can take a straight shot up US15 to PA and then East on US30 to York, about 3 hours drive. So The ECLSTS will be a must this year. I am retired from the Army so I can fly space A on military aircraft I may have to grab a flight to the coast to visit relatives and do the BTS too!

Rusty

[Rene Schweitzer]

Rusty,
To answer your question about buying from the manufacturers directly--unfortunately, you can't. The manufacturers will have their newest or upcoming items on display and/or operating, but nothing for sale. The good news, though, is that dealers and hobby shops are usually at the show too. Often they will have sales and "show specials" on products.

[Anonymous]

Rene,

Thanks, I went to a TCA meet in York, PA a couple of years ago and USA trains was there selling direct to the public, in fact I saw them cut their prices to beat out a USA trains dealer further down in the hall. I asumed that was the normal thing at the large scale shows. I have been in Large Scale for close to 10 years but just never had the time or space to do much with it.

Rusty,

[Rene Schweitzer]

Rusty,
That's interesting about the York meet. I haven't been there but, from what I understand, it's a "whole other country" of a train show.

[vsmith]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Russell T Wrails

Carpenter, VSmith,

Thanks, I went and looked at the web site for both shows, and then looked at the Queen Mary site and the York Expo center site. The ECLSTS looks like it's about 20 some thousand sq feet larger than the QM show. Plus 10 layouts vs one, but I think I am going to do both. I have family in CA I have not seen for a while, my be a good excuse to fly out and do both shows. I did notice that the ECLSTS does not have as many vendors as was listed for the QM show last year, is the hall filled or partly empty? The floor plan shows that it's full but is this hype? How about the QM show? I notice its on three floors are their elivators to all floors? Can I buy Aristo Craft from Aristo Craft and the same for LGB and Heartland?

Rusty

Rusty
Space wise the ECLSTS may be larger but the BTS always has a ton of vendors, all large scale, and they are really packed in there. Yes its three levels but there is an elevator, the ADA made sure of that. The Del Oro layout is the only one inside but its HUGE. there are also other smaller set ups outside in the parking lot including a live steam track. I would expect the major vendors booths to be almost identicle east or west coast, its the smaller, more local vendors I would be more curious to see. We always get the major hobby shops setting up booths and usually some form of price war develops. Haggling often works with guys sell I dont know if Bridgeworks ever goes to the ECLSTS. They always have really neat stuff, bridges, detail stuff. I need to pick up another House of Balsa Station for my Innie layout. Hopefully they hill have some new stuff this year.

[Anonymous]

Hey Rusty:

I'm in South Wales which is right next door to Amissville.
Got 550' out back and about a 1/3 of it landscaped.

Rich

[Marty Cozad]

Russell
Not that i want to say anything bad. But How would you feel as a dealer for a company, seeing the company undercut you at the show? Remeber, USA company is Sold by Charles Ro company in their adds.
Most other companies don't under cut their own dealers.

[Anonymous]

Marty,

You have to be real careful how you approch him anyway, he gets a little nasty at the TCA meets. I don't know if its the 20,000 people that come in there for the show or what. I once asked if I could see something, I won't make that mistake again.

The rest of the manufactures there are quite happy for you to pick up and look at the products they bring.

I do feel for the dealers, they have a hard time anyway.

Rusty

[bman36]

Russell,
The shows are always worth attending. I went with a friend to the MWLSTS last Spring. Quite a few different layouts were set up. All the big manufacturers were on hand with reps and lots to see. A LOT of great bargains too. Had to contain myself there. They also had many clinics to attend. Got to meet some people I have only talked to online in the past. Wi***hey were having it this year but they opted not to. I guess attendance was not as expected. My advice is to get to what you can. The more people who go, the better the events will be. Glad to have you on the forum. Enjoy! Later eh...Brian.

[wd8jik]

I have attended the ECLSTS for the last 7 years and have seen it grow in size each year.
My only problem is I have to decide what is # 1 on my buying list, as I haven't won the lottery yet and I have to stretch what money I have.

No matter which show you attend be sure to check you purchase to be sure you bought what you wanted.
I made a purchase, two boxes of one item, and put it away and found when I returned home one of boxes had the wrong item. The boxes look the same but one was for a different item, I just didn't read the labels. The dealer made it right and mailed me the item and paid the postage both ways.

Last year I had to navigate the show in my wheel chair and the ten-foot wide aisles they maintain made it a lot easier for others in the same circumstance to get around. This year I plan to be walking the show.

I’m planning on being there again this year, set up doing my hints on using different material for building on your layout. Stop by and say hello.

Take care,
Yogi
Bellaire, Ohio

[Marty Cozad]

Rusty
My only thought for USAT company ( if they are reading this) is to have a different table maned by Mr Ro and the selling tables maned by his helpers. So he can share new products and spend time doing PR work. I know its the same company, come in with his normal prices rather than making sure they are less than his dealers.

[Anonymous]

Bman, The garden railroad convention is in Chicago this year in july. I thought I would attend with family in tow but i believe I might just go to the ECLSTS in york due to being out voted on the summer vacation thing( easily done by 5 women) that and the Garden show is around my anniversery so I 'm sure she won't want to look at trains[;)]

[Anonymous]

Rusty,

As long as I have known you and you still have not been to a Large Scale Show? Come on, it's time to dust off the model A and head up the road.
[:(][:(][:(][:(]

The ECLSTS is floor space wise the largest Large Scale Show in the world, we have a few less vendors, but that is changing, however the booths at the ECLSTS are 10x10 vs the 8X10 at the BTS. We have some vendors that take as many as 12-16 booths. Which in effect is a small store. But come see for yourself at over 68,000 sq feet and wtih 9-10 operating layouts its a big show. [8D][8D][8D]

And don't forget the BTS either, Sue and I did that for the first time last year which was about eight or nine months or more after your last visit here. It is one neat show, you wont forget either experinece. [:D][:D][:D]

Ron

[Anonymous]

Ron,

I know, I know, it just not been the same around here, June passed away about the time the show moved to York from NJ, and life has just not been the same since.

I am just now getting interested in trains again like I used to be. I am getting ready to move to the Winchester area in about three months so I'll be up closer maybe I'll get over and join that club you told me about a couple of years ago, I saw your article on the PVC layout it looks cool, but how does it flush?

Rusty

[Anonymous]

Recently I read over on MLS that there was a winter meet in Kent.Last month a load of garden railway people met up for a show about 30 minutes away from me.And I didn't know.[:(]
Where do these people come from,and why can't I find them?
Troy

[Anonymous]

Troy,

Your first step has been taken, join and watch the forums many have areas for clubs and meets. The next step is to see out the folks who live in your area or even outside of your area, because they may have done the same thing and know someone in your area. You could also post a notice on the different forums that you looking for folks to join a local club then you may even hear from a club in your area and be asked to join. If all else fails start a club, I have helped start two of which both are thriving and will go on long after I am gone. Another thing you can do if you have a local hobby shope is put up a sign tell folks your looking to join or start a club. You don't have to do anything real formal for the first year or two just get together and have fun the rest will happen.

Ron

[powlee]

QUOTE: Originally posted by troybetts

Recently I read over on MLS that there was a winter meet in Kent.Last month a load of garden railway people met up for a show about 30 minutes away from me.And I didn't know.[:(]
Where do these people come from,and why can't I find them?
Troy

Troy
I am probably teaching you to suck eggs but have you considered joining the G Scale Society. The quarterly journal lists garden meets throughout the year.
I am still new to the society. This probably ties up with another thread running at the moment. I have been to a couple of garden meets but am having difficulty breaking the ice. When your the new boy some of the established members tend to stay aloof. Their downfall is most of them don`t have a garden layout. I do! I have been approached to hold one this year. Be interesting to see how many turn up.
It might not have enough clearance for a tram but you would be quite welcome to take a trip around the M25 on the day.
All the best
Ian P

[Anonymous]

Sounds good Ian.I'll bring a single deck one.I really must look into it more carefully.