Kalmbach editors at Trainsfest this weekend

[Bergie]

If you're going to Trainfest in Milwaukee this weekend here’s a tentative schedule of when the editors of Model Railroader, Classic Toy Trains, Garden Railways, and yours truly will be in the Kalmbach Publishing Co. booth:

>> Saturday 9:00am – 11:00am <<
-- *** Christianson, Managing Editor Model Railroader
-- Bob Keller, Associate Editor Classic Toy Trains
-- David Popp, Associate Editor Model Railroader
-- Andy Sperandeo, Executive Editor Model Railroader
-- Terry Thompson, Editor Model Railroader

>> Saturday 11:00am – 1:30pm <<
-- Roger Carp, Senior Editor Classic Toy Trains
-- Cody Grivno, Assistant Editor Model Railroader
-- David Popp, Associate Editor Model Railroader
-- Kelly Shaw, Editorial Assistant Classic Toy Trains

>> Saturday 1:30pm – 3:30pm <<
-- Erik Bergstrom, Content and Business Manager, Trains.com [8D]

>> Saturday 3:30pm – 5:30pm <<
-- Jim Riccioli, Associate Editor Classic Toy Trains
-- Rene Schweitzer, Assistant Editor Garden Railways
-- Carl Swanson, Senior Editor Model Railroader

>> Sunday 9:30am – 11:00am <<
-- Jim Hediger, Senior Editor Model Railroader

More details can be found in this week's ModelRailroader.com e-mail newsletter (that's going out Friday morning).

We hope to see you there!
Erik

[dknelson]

As always it was good to meet Kalmbach folks at Trainfest including our genial host Erik and see the Turtle Creek layout in action. If I find the time I will compose a little summary of the interesting products that were on display. Somewhat to my amazement I did not spend all my money -- largely because I was able to resist the really wonderful deals such as the brass Soo Line caboose for $125. That is a lot of money but it is $100 less than the brass C&NW caboose I bought a year ago. In fact it seems that brass prices might be moderating a bit but that is just my impression. IT is still all too pricey for me. I did note the absence of two manufacturers -- Lionel was not there this year and Trainstyles was not there with their prefab Helix kit, as they were last year. Some of the manufacturers offer Trainfest specials with paint schemes that are otherwise not available, so I have a Green Bay & Western box car fro Accurail that has the "packers" football on the side, and MDC had a Milwaukee Road trainfest car as well.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

There was also a train show at Springfield, MO this weekend. It was held in a room that was aprox 12X30 feet and cost $3 to get in. Once inside it was jam packed with tables with iles about 18 inches wide. The room was way over it's occupancy I would say as it was packed so tight that someone had to leave so you could move foward one space. Once inside I have never seen so much overpriced 1960's used HO equipment and rusty tin plate. One item that I did look at was an Athearn's blue box boxcar that could be had for the low price of $7.99. What a bargain for a $5 kit. Next to me a woman and 12-13 year old son purchased a Tyco 2-6-0 loco with smoke for the low price of $75. The dealer was telling her how Tyco was no longer in business and the loco was a sought after collectors item worth $100 on ebay, but he was happy to sell it cheaper to them because he likes to help people starting out and give them a break. I might of said something, but it was so crowded I was afraid I might not be able to escape if the dealer would decide to kick my ***. After i was finally able to escape the Soylent Green set I went to my LHS and punished myself buy looking at all the items I could of purchased with my $3 that I gave to the traveling band. So maybe you all had a good time in Wisconsin, so all's I have to say is both the Cheifs and Rams won Sunday... I wi***he Eagles all the luck tonite...FRED

[dknelson]

Well you got your wish vis a vis the Eagles, flee! Thanks, fred
Two things about Trainfest in Milwaukee that the guy in charge, John Tews, absolutely insists on. First it is NOT a swap meet. The people who sell are genuine established organizations and dealers, and he takes care to make sure the show is balanced between operating layouts, dealers, displays, and manufacturers. There is some (very little) used stuff for sale but it is by regular dealers who primarily sell new. Many tables give away old magazines for free as a way of generating interest in the hobby. And the dealers all compete on prices -- this is the cheapest place to get a Walthers catalog. Second, the physical layout of the room is spacious and comfortable with wide aisles (still gets crowded especially when parents bring ladders for the kids to stand on!) and good lighting. The food is not great but you are stuck dealing with the Wisconsin State Fair's choice of vendors, and you can get your hand stamped to go to Mickey D's if you like.
I have been to the kind of swap meet you mention flee and I agree -- all the World's Greatest Hobby promotion in the world is not enough to overcome the adverse effects of the ripoff artists who prey on beginners and kids and their parents. It is a great pity.
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I'm just jealous because ALL our train shows are this way. FRED

[Bergie]

Flee, you should try to come north for Trainfest next year. You could certainly make a weekend out of it. To help you and others plan a weekend I hope to have Milwaukee-area railfan hot spots added to my current Trains.com stories about Milwaukee Hobby Shops and Milwaukee Railroad Restaurants.

Erik

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Bergie

Flee, you should try to come north for Trainfest next year. You could certainly make a weekend out of it. To help you and others plan a weekend I hope to have Milwaukee-area railfan hot spots added to my current Trains.com stories about Milwaukee Hobby Shops and Milwaukee Railroad Restaurants.

Erik

Thanks for the invite, but to be brutally honest Milwaukee isn't near the top of my wanta visit list. My bloods to thin for your harsh artic climate. I hear it's sometimes colder there than in Alaska, burr. Naw, I'll just take the money I would spend on transportation and lodging and buy train stuff from my LHS which is where I should be spending it anyway. It also would be kind of like them women we make fun of driving across town to save 10 cents on a can of tuna. No matter how much I could save on bargains I would still come out short. But seriously, the trains shows in this part of the country flat bite! They are like them Electronic Shows and tool sales that come into town, take your money, and dissappear until the warranty ends. FRED

[Anonymous]

As usual the Trainfest was a great show! Although I know the high standard that is kept for this show, I realy wi***here was some used stuff for sale. I talked to a few venders and we all agreed on one thought. Although used stuff is idea for a semi seasoned vet, it can leave a bad taste in a newbies mouth. Reliability issues, higher maintanince, and so on. For this reason I cannot ba***ews or anyone else from stearing away from the "swap meet" to keep it as one the best shows bar none!

[dknelson]

FRED/flee -- I hope and assume there will be a train show next June in Galesburg at Carl Sandberg College. I know a fair number of St Louis folks come up for that one; I think you'd really like it. And the railfanning in galesburg is great even if Railroad Days per se is kinda up in the air. And I promise you -- you will not be cold in Galesburg in late June. Scout's Honor! I well remember railfanning the line to Peoria and the local bank said it was 108. And I think they were being cautious! Bring a cooler with lots of water in the car. And a hat. And a chair. And some bug spray. And lots of cash.

By the way Fred/Flee this weekend in Milwaukee was sunny, pleasant, temps in the 40s but quite comfortable. Now the Madison Wisconsin train show in February -- we are talking iffy weather (but it is a great show too -- we gotta get Erik B there).
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

I had a great time at Trainfest this year has i"ve had for the past 20years.John Tews and team do a great job,and each year there is something new to see. The crew makes sure all vendors are on the upand up.You don't have to buy used when the prices on new are better than most mail order places,there for as in the past I blew over my budget big time( nice to have a very understanding better half)
Its so nice to be able to talk to the big manaulfacters in person.
Athearn is coming out with some nice goodies,(loved their line of Ford trucks)
I was disapointed with Bachmans display very bare bones NO Mallet?
Very little new from Kato.
Walthers wowed me again, with their new Cement plant due out May,2004.4 diffrent builtings.a rotory klin , 41inchs long, 21ins wide. I for one all ready have a space scoped out for this one,price $69.95 sounds high but belevie me its big.
Roolling stock on the other hand is this hobby ready for a $38.95 2 bay cement hopper? ( I'm not.)

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dknelson



By the way Fred/Flee this weekend in Milwaukee was sunny, pleasant, temps in the 40s but quite comfortable. Now the Madison Wisconsin train show in February -- we are talking iffy weather (but it is a great show too -- we gotta get Erik B there).
Dave Nelson

As I say burr. I live near Springfield and our low was higher than your high. It's 9:16 am on Wednesday and is 63. But it's suppose to cool off today as you all can't even keep your air at home and a cold front a coming from the north. Tommorows high 47, please keep your cold air ta home. FRED

[Anonymous]

QUOTE:
...this weekend in Milwaukee was sunny, pleasant, temps in the 40s but quite comfortable.

My AZ blood would freeze up at 40!! [:)] Right now it is raining with the local temp at 74. Yesterday the sun was shinning and it reached 80.