Milepost 266.2 BRAKIE: Guys,Here's this years information: Carnival '11 Model Train Show NMRA Div 4Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds164 Eastland Rd., Berea, Ohio 44017Sat 10 am - 4 pm, Sun 11 am - 4 pm Adm $7.00 As I mention there is 4 buildings containing vendors and there was several layouts to look over. I'm yet to be disappointed. Aaaaaand the date for this would be...?
BRAKIE: Guys,Here's this years information: Carnival '11 Model Train Show NMRA Div 4Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds164 Eastland Rd., Berea, Ohio 44017Sat 10 am - 4 pm, Sun 11 am - 4 pm Adm $7.00 As I mention there is 4 buildings containing vendors and there was several layouts to look over. I'm yet to be disappointed.
Guys,Here's this years information:
Carnival '11 Model Train Show NMRA Div 4Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds164 Eastland Rd., Berea, Ohio 44017Sat 10 am - 4 pm, Sun 11 am - 4 pm Adm $7.00
As I mention there is 4 buildings containing vendors and there was several layouts to look over.
I'm yet to be disappointed.
Aaaaaand the date for this would be...?
I just notice there wasn't a date..
So,here she be.
Oct 1-2, 2011
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
BRAKIE Guys,Here's this years information: Carnival '11 Model Train Show NMRA Div 4Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds164 Eastland Rd., Berea, Ohio 44017Sat 10 am - 4 pm, Sun 11 am - 4 pm Adm $7.00 As I mention there is 4 buildings containing vendors and there was several layouts to look over. I'm yet to be disappointed.
We in Washington state have two annual shows at two separate fairgrounds. Both of these shows have FREE parking. There is a third larger show, also at a fairground in Puyallup (near Tacoma) I don't know if there is a parking fee there.
In my opinion, the free parking makes a HUGE difference in the number of people willing to attend the lst time and also (for me) thereafter.
I do agree though, that the entrance fee of $7 provides as much or more fun than a movie at the same price or more in the big cities.
Over the last 2 years there has been a large change in pricing of goods. Most are very close to or the same as list prices for new(er) equipment. That has been very disappointing. The best bargains seem to come in the form of pre-assembled/painted structures, for me.
Seeing those basement inventors/dealers (mostly scenicing suppliers) is always interesting and one can find things that one doesn't see elsewhere.
The free parking thing helps to convince spouses to "start the day" at a train show and then go on to another show or activity that appeals more to them later in the day. I've often seen this. Train show in the a.m., gardening show (etc.) in the p.m. Everyone is happy and the budget survives the weekend better.
Raised on the Erie Lackawanna Mainline- Supt. of the Black River Transfer & Terminal R.R.
Larry.
There are quite a few Saturday and Sundays in a year. Is there a date for the show? This way I can plan my vacation this year.
Thanks.
Pete
P.S. Googled it and got October 1 and 2. http://www.cleveshows.com/ I forget about google sometimes. It must be the age thing kicking in.
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Hello I agree with Larry The Berea show is one of the best shows in Ohio. It's right off the freeway lots of space to park it's all grass but it's free. It has some of everything I see one guy every year with 1 table of parts and 1 table with brass loco's and it's never the same.I got a brass Kaw Valley NYC s-1 for $75 I got a unopened FSM old time fright station kit for $60. I have seen a couple guys with the same stuff but the rest is always different.
I hit two shows a year Berea in the fall and Kirkland in the spring Kirkland is a lot smaller it's in a school gym and few other rooms but still a good show. Have a nice day Frank
Here's some of the deals I seen..I seen Athearn/Bev-Bell cars 3/$10.00,BB locomotives as low as $22.50..Atlas TrainMan for as low as $55.00 and the older P2K locomotive varied in price from $40.00-65.00,use BB cars w/KD couplers $4.00,the deals was there and most vendors was willing to deal.
I'm still kicking my butt for passing by a older(90 era) Walthers FM10-44 for $40.00.
My biggest deal was 3 new BB locomotives for $60.00 plus 4 packs of KD 148 couplers for $10.00 and I also bought a use Athearn ACF 50' boxcar for $4.00 w/KDs.
If you attend one show a year I highly recommend this show.
Larry,
I would also like to lnow when and where the Berea show is? I made it to the Springfield Mass show a few years ago and if it wasn't a 20 hour drive I would go every year. I can justify the Berea show if it is big enough.
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!
I'm also not far from Berea. If you could either post or message me the details for the show as well, that would be awesome. Thanks.
When is the show in Berea? I grew up in Olmsted Falls and there were very few shows 30 years ago. I assume its at the fair grounds. I used to build and enter scale model cars in the fair when I was a wee lad. Won a few ribbons with them. My Mom still lives near there and I can time my vacation to go to the show.
PM me with info if you can.
BRAKIE farrellaa: Where do you guys live that you have 1-2 shows per month? I live in Knoxville and there hasn't been a show in almost 2 years. The last one was so bad I left after an hour and bought nothing. Most stuff is junk or overpriced and there were only 2-3 layouts,one was Lionel O gauge. They used to have 5-8 layouts, some quite large and impressive and I could spend hours there. NO MORE. I am thinking the interest here is not that high and the vendors/show management aren't making enought money to justify it. I only know of a couple of shows in the Atlanta area which is at least a 3 hour drive for me. Not worth it. Just my observations. -Bob Bob,If you lived in Ohio you could attend a show every weekend from September to April but,that could require 3 or more hours travel time.
farrellaa: Where do you guys live that you have 1-2 shows per month? I live in Knoxville and there hasn't been a show in almost 2 years. The last one was so bad I left after an hour and bought nothing. Most stuff is junk or overpriced and there were only 2-3 layouts,one was Lionel O gauge. They used to have 5-8 layouts, some quite large and impressive and I could spend hours there. NO MORE. I am thinking the interest here is not that high and the vendors/show management aren't making enought money to justify it. I only know of a couple of shows in the Atlanta area which is at least a 3 hour drive for me. Not worth it. Just my observations. -Bob
Where do you guys live that you have 1-2 shows per month? I live in Knoxville and there hasn't been a show in almost 2 years. The last one was so bad I left after an hour and bought nothing. Most stuff is junk or overpriced and there were only 2-3 layouts,one was Lionel O gauge. They used to have 5-8 layouts, some quite large and impressive and I could spend hours there. NO MORE. I am thinking the interest here is not that high and the vendors/show management aren't making enought money to justify it. I only know of a couple of shows in the Atlanta area which is at least a 3 hour drive for me. Not worth it. Just my observations.
Bob,If you lived in Ohio you could attend a show every weekend from September to April but,that could require 3 or more hours travel time.
We attend the West SPringfield Mass show in January periodically. Unless weather is really bad, it is a 5 hour drive one way to get there, pay for parking, pay for entry and pay for motel after to leave the next day to come 5 hours to home. We find a all-in-one-day trip a bit much as there is 4 buildings of stuff and vendors to look at. Well worth the trip.
Syracuse is an hour and 15 mins away, so it can easily be done in one day for the show at the fairgrounds.
SO a 3 hour drive one way doesn't really seem so bad, if he were to search Ohio for shows to go to...
-G .
Just my thoughts, ideas, opinions and experiences. Others may vary.
HO and N Scale.
After long and careful thought, they have convinced me. I have come to the conclusion that they are right. The aliens did it.
I made it to the West Springfield Ma Train Show since 8 or 9 years in a row and will go as long as health will permit. To me it is a (4 days 7hours drive one way) vacation trip with friend and quite frankly, price of gas, entry fee, parking cost, food, lodging is not a concern. I don't care about bargains what I want is diversity and brand new offering in quantity. I want to see many well put together layouts and see what is coming from manufacturers.
Jack W.
dti406 I have not attended a train show since the 1980's, why should I pay $7-10 and sometimes parking to get into a show, where I may not find anything to buy. I can find the same item from an internet seller or E-Bay and not have to put up with the crowd, high priced food and now high priced gasoline to get there. Rick
I have not attended a train show since the 1980's, why should I pay $7-10 and sometimes parking to get into a show, where I may not find anything to buy. I can find the same item from an internet seller or E-Bay and not have to put up with the crowd, high priced food and now high priced gasoline to get there.
Rick
Rick,If you can walk through the Berea show and walk out emptied handed you must have not walk through the shows 4 buildings..There is a mecca of deals,hard to find items,parts, and nice layouts..
The admittance cost is minimal and there's lots of free parking.
My biggest gripe about the show?
No apple pie.
I've gone to shows, paid my entry fee, and walked out with nothing but a smile. I enjoy seeing operating layouts, and looking at what people are doing for scenery and weathering. I think of the entry fee as the "cost of entertainment," and it's a better deal than going to the theater to see most movies. If I see something I want for a reasonable price, I'll buy it, but I realize that it's going to be cheaper to buy many things online.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
farrellaa Where do you guys live that you have 1-2 shows per month? I live in Knoxville and there hasn't been a show in almost 2 years. The last one was so bad I left after an hour and bought nothing. Most stuff is junk or overpriced and there were only 2-3 layouts,one was Lionel O gauge. They used to have 5-8 layouts, some quite large and impressive and I could spend hours there. NO MORE. I am thinking the interest here is not that high and the vendors/show management aren't making enought money to justify it. I only know of a couple of shows in the Atlanta area which is at least a 3 hour drive for me. Not worth it. Just my observations. -Bob
One of the best shows in the State is the Berea show since the show covers 4 buildings.Of course for N Scalers the show to attend is the Ohio N Scale weekend.
I am at the point were I attend 5 of the better shows a year.
farrellaa Where do you guys live that you have 1-2 shows per month? I live in Knoxville and there hasn't been a show in almost 2 years.
Where do you guys live that you have 1-2 shows per month? I live in Knoxville and there hasn't been a show in almost 2 years.
We have quite a few shows here in the Boston area, but they are all concentrated in the pre-Christmas and early-spring timeframes. The big West Springfield show is in January, and I almost always miss many of the shows because they conflict with family ski trips. One of the bigger shows, Greenberg as I recall, tried a summer show one year. I guess they weren't happy with the results, because they never did it again.
I have been to a few smaller shows, generally hosted by one club or another, and I find that they are great fun, too. They may not have the number of vendors or layouts that the bigger shows do, but they are still well worth attending.
What I notice is that as DCC becomes more popular, and the newer generation of really nice and accurate freight cars is established, that at more and more train shows and swap meets you basically see folks selling off the same collection of 'no longer good enough' models -- and if you are lucky, they recognzie the white elephant nature of what they are selling and the prices are OK. Indeed in some ways a beginner willing to go with DC and previously enjoyed rolling stock can get going for relatively little money.
Ironically the same is true for older brass locos and rolling stock. Some of it was frankly not very good and it can be found often at decent prices -- but it pays to know what is junk and what is OK because otherwise some guys get stars in their eyes at the idea of "oh boy -- my first brass engine."
If you are lucky Billy Carr (or someone like him) the Tool Man comes to your train show.
http://web2.airmail.net/toolman/about.htm
That is a good chance to stock up on stuff that the LHS might not carry. If it is not something you otherwise can see before you buy, the fact that the prices may not be bargains is sort of irrelevant.
I particularly enjoy shows where small basement manufacturers have a booth. This is often your only chance to buy their products.
Dave Nelson
I agree that the local train shows offer fewer vendors and a lot of the items are in either poor condition (think junk) or close to MSRP. Sundays are NOT a good day to go to the 2nd day of a train show as a lot of vendors leave early or do not stay for another day. I rarely find scratchbuilding materials such as tools, paint, or powdered chalk. Brass dealers are even more rare. If they come, they do not seem to have a "handle" on what the local roads that would sell might been (so there is little stock) or their prices are very high (like I don't do my homework before I buy brass).
A lot of the vendors I used to see at shows are no longer there. I am certain that the economy has been difficult for modelers and vendors alike. And I understand that there is a cost involved in bring one's items to sell. I hope the trend reverses>
Craig North Carolina
As a member of a modular group and also a club that hosts an annual show I just have to add a few observations on this subject.This mostly applies to hosts of shows.
1. We used to do 9 to 10 annual shows a year. This year we only did 3. There are fewer shows to do.
2. The economies involved in doing multiple day shows have gotten way out of hand. As a modular group we make no money at shows. The last 2 day show cost me over $150 just in food, fuel and over night stay. That left nothing left in the wallet for buying items of interest. Hosting a show can help some of the vendors and modular groups by offering lunch or a donation to the club but rarely do.
3. Hosts of shows must think of the vendors and modular groups. Vendors that come to our show love the fact that we help carry and set up and take down for them. We also have coffee and donuts for vendors and groups in the morning. Our lunch vendor also gives discounts to vendors attending. Nothing pains me more then driving 2 hours to your show and spending $2 for a cup of coffee and $5.00 for a hotdog and coke for lunch.
4. Weather plays an important role in a successful show or a failure. Our show is in the spring. It does a better job attracting attendees in bad weather than good. Last year was a crummy spring and the first good day was the day of our show. Attendance was very poor. If there are a few good weather days in front of the show attendance is better. Snow and rain will not keep people away more than a sunny day will.
5. Mix it up a little. Having the tables in the same place every time tends to get stale. By just flipping a few things around it looks like a different show. Mix up the vendors with modular groups or different items of interest. Don't make the vendors compete with each other. Don't lump all the HO sales in with each other. Mix scales and items offered in the same isles. Make each and every isle interesting to all attendees. Don't let the attendees get the seen one show seen them all attitude.
The number of vendors and attendees seems to have dropped over the last few years. I assume that the economic recession and high gas prices are the reasons.
But another reason might be that folks are reaching saturation. In my case, I have close to 200 freight cars and really don't need any more, even if I do fill my basement someday with layout. So while I'll buy a car or two over the next year if they interest me, I'm not likely to buy 20 or 30 as I have in years past. Same with locomotives - the 12 I have are more than I need for my envisioned operations. Similarly, I have gotten more selective in the other things model railroading as well.
Enjoy
Paul
The reason I brought up the other writer's quote and my recent observations at a local flea market/ swap meet is that many necessarily "frugal" modelers, such as myself, rely on these venues to improve our modeling circumstances, by buying used goods that we can use as projects, by obtaining structure kits that might be more costly online or at retail stores, etc. Given the recent loss of a longtime LHS in my area, these events are more critical now for me. I know there are bargains to be had online, but being there able to touch the merchandise is far more appealing.
I am sure that there is great variance, based on where and when swap meets are held, and in no way am I trying to say that there is a general trend, other than what I see locally.
Still, it's a bit depressing to walk the same aisles I travelled just a few months earlier and see less that I can "invest in" at my modest level. (sigh)!
Cedarwoodron
I've been at a number of train shows lately. The annual shows draw good crowds of vendors and visitors. The monthly shows, on the other hand, draw lots of visitors but fewer vendors. The last monthly show I was at had around a dozen empty tables in the main hall.
A lot of the things on sale were at previous shows. Lionel cars were on sale for $ 10 - $ 20 NIB.
Didn't see too much at list price, though. However, there are some things that you don't see at train shows - try looking for HO track.
The number of local train shows seems to be on the decline. One of the local clubs in Greensboro hold an annual open house/swap meet. Another club in Winston-Salem has an open house once a year. Not much else in the area. I miss the "good old days" when there were 6-10 train shows in a 100-150 mile radius. The Great Model Train Show" and Greenberg's have both abandon the Winston-Salem/Greensboro area. That that they were much to see for HO scale "scale" modelers. Need to get up with the NMRA Regional show (MER). I have never been to the National Model Railroader Association show. I have always been working. Would love to go to Howard Zane's Train Show in Timoniam, MD.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
I have found over the last few years train show attendance waning. The one show I attend most years seems to be turning more to a general hobby show than just trains.
It has R/C car racing, Slot car racing, R/C planes in the horse arena and this year an R/C Battle tank club showed up and put on a battle in the horse arena.
While I think some hard core train modelers might scoff at the mix of other hobbies at what was once a mostly train show. I have found many young faces peering at the dozens of layouts in awe, discovering trains for the first time. Perhaps including other hobbies and turning train shows into hobby shows is one way to keep the required cost down of putting on a good quality train show. The train show component of this show is as big if not bigger than it ever was. However there are now more things to attract more people. This can only be good exposure to our hobby.
My kids were lukewarm to going to the train show in the past. Now they and their friends very much look forward to it every year. I load them into the truck, they all get their Motorola radios so we can meet for lunch and stay in touch. I can shop in piece while they watch an epic tank battle or aerial dogfight in the horse arena. Life is good.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
MisterBeasley Family ski trips kept me from all of the major shows this past winter, but I did get to one of the smaller shows a few weeks back. It was a 1-day event, held in a school gym. There were only a couple of operating layouts, but one was quite large and had a lot to look at. The vendor tables were all full, and they seemed to be doing a brisk business. I spent about $25, and I came away with a new car, a used car and a couple of kits. A year or so ago, I was at a show. I was talking to a vendor who was complaining that people weren't buying the big-ticket items, only the small stuff. I bought a bunch of junk from him - literally - stuff for my scrapyard. I found a treasure at that show, too - a new-in-the-box IHC Mikado for a bargain price. Like shopping at the LHS, we need to keep going to shows, too.
Family ski trips kept me from all of the major shows this past winter, but I did get to one of the smaller shows a few weeks back. It was a 1-day event, held in a school gym. There were only a couple of operating layouts, but one was quite large and had a lot to look at.
The vendor tables were all full, and they seemed to be doing a brisk business. I spent about $25, and I came away with a new car, a used car and a couple of kits.
A year or so ago, I was at a show. I was talking to a vendor who was complaining that people weren't buying the big-ticket items, only the small stuff. I bought a bunch of junk from him - literally - stuff for my scrapyard. I found a treasure at that show, too - a new-in-the-box IHC Mikado for a bargain price.
Like shopping at the LHS, we need to keep going to shows, too.
The big ticket items are hard to sell at local train shows since individuals local sellers do not take CC. I do not carry much cash to these shows so that limits my spending. Some of the business type sellers do take Credit Cards but you still take a chance on a bargain that may have problems and they cannot be normally be returned. This is probably the reason most of us spend $25 to $50 dollars on small items or books. Most of the sellers tables could not run the locomtives they had for sale so you take a chance on those.
CZ
I have always found the shows and flea markets sponsored by non-profits were more fun than the purely commercial events since there was always something for window shoppers like me to do and more people to talk to.
We have to be realistic, it must cost the dealers a great deal of money to acquire inventory, buy display cases, drive to shows, rent table space, and let's face it, their weekend time is extremely valuable. The $10 plastic box car with molded-on ladders and horn-hooks begins to look reasonably priced. (Every time I went to a show, I would see the same $60 beat-up Stephenson Rocket OO locomotive that I really wanted to buy, but at the time money was very tight. I wonder what ever happened to that locomotive?)
A recent show and flea market at the Garden State Exposition Center in Somerset, New Jersey, was really great. The organizers invited several modular clubs and provided tables for non-profits. There was a trackless train-ride for the kids, and a special display of circus models. Whether you were there to spend thousands of dollars or just look around the event was very nice.
Here are some suggestions for show organizers:
1. Invite non-profits like historical societies, museums, and NMRA special interest groups to set up information tables,
2. Provide distractions for young children. Give them a table with old brass track and some beat-up unsellable freight cars, hours of fun while dad spends his money.
3. When you invite a modular club to your event, remind them to TALK to the public, not just huddle among themselves. (See previous post on clubs) Our club seriously considered establishing a position of "official greeter" but stopped having public shows before this policy could be put in place.
4. Hold a Timesaver switching contest, or a trivia game, or a "beat the clock" type game where the contestants have to assemble a running locomotive from the boxes of junk under the vendor tables. Give some of the door prizes for the winners of these events.
Thanks for the chance to vent
Kein
galaxy Many shows have COMBINED with some other hobby {dolls, antiques} etc. to draw more people.
Many shows have COMBINED with some other hobby {dolls, antiques} etc. to draw more people.
Quite some time ago, before I got back into the hobby, I went to a Greenberg show. At the time, it was billed as a "Doll House and Model Railroad Show." It was about 2/3 doll house stuff. Now, the same show is easily 3/4 model railroading. There are some doll house vendors, and the rest is Power Rangers, action figures, Barbie and other toys. It's fine with me. I helps pay the bills, and it keeps the non-train members of the family busy.
At the last Greenberg show I attended, the happiest person I saw was a little girl walking with her Princess Barbie set. She had entered that wonderful place whose boundries are that of imagination.