I have been invited to be a vendor at both of these train shows. I see that in natures infinite wisdom both of these shows have been scheduled for the same weekend.
Looking for opinions from those who have attended both in the past as to which show might be the better. Note that if you can make a comparision to the Amherst West Springfield yearly train show that would make it easier for me to judge.
Thanks
Dick
I can't speak for Toronto. Last show I attended there was in 1979.
A few years ago I would have rated Berea five stars. I've attended every year but one in the last twenty years or so. In 2018 there were still pretty good crowds and plenty of vendors. Don Tichy and Scale Trains among them.
2019 was as sparse as I've ever seen it. Fewer vendors and the crowds were pretty thin by 1 PM (Saturday) I didn't attend Sunday.
Keeping an eye on the shoppers I saw very few carrying any packages around.
Just my unofficial observations. Maybe someone can comment on Toronto.
Good Luck, Ed
I have attended 6 of the Bera shows and notice a small deline over those years. I think both e-Bay and on line shopping has taken its toll on train shows.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I can't speak for either of those shows, but I'm closer to the one in Toronto, or as it's known here, Trawna.
They show three dates in February, but they're all for a model railroad club open house, on three consecutive Sundays.
I couldn't find much on a train show, although there's an RPM meet on March 21, in Toronto, and a model railroad flea market, in Mississauga, on March 29.
Of course, when I realised that there was a second page for the listings, I saw the one to which you referred, on October 3rd and 4th.It's in Brampton, which is northwest of Toronto (and part of the city).
Wayne
This year, my trip to the Berea train show was my 36th year in a row. It is quite a good show and is one of the best train shows in Ohio (with the Lakeland Community College show in March being close in size and quality). I now live in Michigan and it is better than any show in Michigan.
With that being said, I went to Springfield for the first time a couple of years ago, and that is truly the Superbowl of train shows. Berea is not nearly as big, but neither is any other show (and I've been to a LOT of shows). The quality and quantity of the Springfield show is off the charts.
Berea is a very good regional show with a lot of vendors and modellers, but it is not nearly on the scale of a Springfield show. Hopefully I'll see you there next fall. That'll be 37 years in a row!!
The Toronto Train Show is a bit quiet IMO. I have been several times and the venue has never been crowded on the Saturdays, and rather sparse on the Sundays.
You might get more action at the Barrie Train Show with which I have been involved. Last year there were almost 3000 people through the door. I don't know how that compares to the shows south of the border, but most of the vendors seemed to be pretty pleased. The show is actually happening this coming weekend (Feb 15 & 16). The problem of course is that it is in Barrie, Ontario in mid February so the weather could potentially be less than cooperative. However, the last few years have been good.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!