Hi-
I noticed you mentioned missing the "Toolman". I assume your are referring to Billy Carr from Texas. Billy has basically retired from the traion show circuit. He was staying at a friends house last winter and took a stray bullet in the shoulder from a drive by shooter. He has since pretty much recovered and retired.
We exchange e-mails on occassion and he said the shows just got to be too much work.
Mark B.
I went to the Galesburg show, I did not go for a couple years till this one. It seamed to me that it was smaller than it used to be, and not as many people. The wife also said that to. Only got 4-5 cars at it could not find any more that i wanted. The show in Davenport a couple months ago had alot more, and more poeple also at it, even though it was raining.
Modeling on the cheap
I did not get to Galesburg (IL) Railroad Days this year - first time in years and years that I have not attended. I know they changed the venue for the model train show from Carl Sandburg College to a local high school. Anybody go and can report how it went? That is another once-wonderful show which became "very good" then "good" and has become just "ok."
Dave Nelson
NNJRailfan Anyone out there who goes to the East Coast Train Parts shows? Wondering if it's worth the trip.
Anyone out there who goes to the East Coast Train Parts shows? Wondering if it's worth the trip.
If you're into the parts, then I would go to one of John's shows that he does (East Coast Train Parts) as he has a bigger selection of parts at his show and not at the Greenberg shows.
Neal
All depends on your point of view.
I was in New Jersey in March the same weekend as the Greenberg show and went to the same because "Hey, it's something to do!" I can't say I was disappointed, as a matter of fact I came away with some good stuff I couldn't find anywhere else, in addition to some stuff I didn't KNOW I needed, so did some of my other fellow O gaugers I correspond with.
As far as exhibitors being there or not being there keep in mind that's a business decision. If an exhibitor drives X or even XXX number of miles and does a good business at a show then chances are he'll be back. If he doesn't, well, he may give it one more try but if he flops again chances are he'll decide it's not worth the effort and won't return.
The old saying's true, "If you find what you were looking for, it's a good show, if you don't, it's a bad show."
Anyway, it seems the price of admission is a helluva lot cheaper than going to the movies or a ball game!
In response to the comment on the Monroeville Greenberg Show......I have attended many of the shows over the past four decades and I also agree , it is a shadow of what it once was. I clearly remember the very first show in the original Monroeville Convention Center.....I walked in that door and saw Lionel boxes stacked floor to ceiling. Thought I died and went to heaven! Product and pricing knowledge is essential. I have witnessed price gouging at the Christmas show taking advantage of the seasonal layout builder. Attendance has declined and the average age of the attendees has risen. In my opinion vendors and merchandise are pretty much the same from show to show. In the past vendors varied along with their offerings and that seems to have gone by the wayside. Now retired, I plan on attending every show just to talk with old friends. To those new to the hobby....educate yourself to product pricing before making that purchase. So called "bargains" are becoming scarce.
I use to help a friend some years ago at a local train show. It is amazing the amount of buying and selling between sellers before the show opens.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
I attended the last Greenberg show in Edison, and was sorely disappointed. They aggressively promoted that it was two shows in one (toy and train), but neither of the offerings was so spectacular. Lots of junk train stuff, not much of it nice. Not that much toy stuff, the 3D printer was the most interesting. What happened to the tool guy (he had the best buys in the show)? Even the manufacturer displays didn't look like much for me. At this point, my son goes along only for the pickle vendor (sigh). Not sure if it's worth the drive anymore.
This car stops at ALL railroad crossings!
Hey, if they cut their prices, they would have nothing to sell.
There are a couple of clowns locally who buy a table, show up with a box of overpriced junk, and then prowl the other dealers looking for stuff to expand their cache of train stuff.
When I was still living on Long Island, there was train show every weekend during the winter months. My dad and I helped run our club's monthly show. We noticed best were the ones in the dead of winter. By the time April rolled around, the weather was finally warming up people been couped inside all winter probably wanted to be outside than in a musty building at a train show.
something else about Long Island is with the frequency of train shows, there was more price competition and dealers would negotiate. There was alaso a wide variety of merchendise.
When I moved to South Carolina, I noticed train shows only happen a few times per year, usually scattered all over the state. What I've seen at the shows down here is large amount of "railroadinia," a good amount of HO, some N and usually the old beat-up postwar Lionel. And more often than not the sellers of said beat-up postwar Lionel won't budge on their prices and just tote it from show to show. They don't graps the concept it's worth what somebody pay for it a not what the guide says it's worth.
The last show I went to was in Easley, SC this past February it was largely a dud. Add on top of that having to get my then 11-month-old son ready to go and get home before nap time and you can understand why I may not be so inclined to go next year. But then again my son loved the layouts that were set up and got Thomas toys.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
The local shows for me have seen a thinning of the dealer ranks, some from retirement/passing on and others just gave up. But I have seen a few new faces selling off estates of modelers that have passed on. Its these tables that draw me in as this new fangled stuff has no interest to me. I prefer craftsman kits, Athearn blue box kits in certain road names, older brass trains and G scale stuff from Kalamazoo/Hartland Locomotive Works. I also am working on a small HO scale Marklin layout, so when I stumble on that kind of stuff I am happy. Attend the Great Train Expo in Indianapolis and the throng of kids with mom and dad in tow makes it almost impossible to walk. And the kids are excited, so the interest is there, its getting mom and dad to spend the $$ for what sets(good sets for kids) cost these days. A good set from Lionel, LGB ect isn't cheap for what is just a toy to most parents. They don't see the long term benefits from model trains many times. Some of the smaller shows have died off, and some new ones have risen. I do not thing we will see an end to shows in our lifetimes, even with ebay and online shops. There is a need on both sides, online for those that live in the middle of nowhere, where even a brick and morter shop is a long drive. Shows for those that like to get out, see old friends/make new ones and search for that long out of production item they want. And the traditional brick and morter shop, which to survive in todays market place, just about has to have an e-retail side to support the shop. The shops I know that do not have this online presence are slowly dying from have to much dead inventory on the shelf. If that was offered to the masses online, it might become less dead. My wife and I enjoy shows and attend several every year. We also take my 2 live steam G scale engines to run on a portable layout and my custom Kalamazoo Toy Trains "Autism Express" passenger train. Mike and Michele T
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
I have to admit I do not get to many train shows. I like them but it seems like family events conflict with the shows. Grandkids win out over railroading.
The wife and I did 100% of our Christmas shopping on line this year. I use the Facebook groups and Ebay to get the majority of my railroad stuff and probably 95% of my purchasing or MR stuff is online. With the exception of 1 item I have been satisified with online shopping.
riogrande5761GATS is still going?
Maybe they changed the name to Great Train Show or Great Train Expo?
http://www.greattrainexpo.com/
GATS is still going? I used to come to area's where I lived in NY but I thought it had been disbanded or change names; I haven't seen the Great American Train Show (GATS) since about 9 or 10 years ago when I lived in central NY state.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
joe323 Yes by Schlock I was referring to HO train stuff that I think will be surplus to my current layout such as EZ track rolling stock not usually found on the SIW and surplus ballast and scenery supplies.
Yes by Schlock I was referring to HO train stuff that I think will be surplus to my current layout such as EZ track rolling stock not usually found on the SIW and surplus ballast and scenery supplies.
There is always HOSwap, HOExchange email lists, Ebay and other venues too if the show is not working.
I know Greenberg does carry a lot of tinplate Hess trucks toys etc but if you look hard enough you can find serious MR stuff too.
Definitely. I usually can find some serious MR stuff and treasures; I've usually come away from GB shows with some good items or good deals. I picked up 3 86' autobox cars at the last one for $20 for all of them, 2 were Walthers and 1 Athearn. I definitely go as long as it's not a long drive.
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Oddly enough I have just come back from a train show here in Davenport. In the Midwest there appears to be some sort of inverse-squared rule in operation. That is I notice that some of the newer shows seem to be doing better, but the long established shows are doing worse. This is only the 5th year for the Davenport show and it was quite crowded despite the monsoon weather we are experiencing today. In contrast when the Greenberg show came to Rock Island (just across the river) this spring it was practically a ghost town the day that I attended. Both in terms of vendors and attendees. The long established Galesburg show, associated with their Railroad Days celebration in June, went through a serious contraction in size about a decade ago. Participation there seems to have stabilized somewhat the past couple of years, but not as high as I remember it in the 80's and 90's. These trends may be a classic case of the old adage "familiarity breeds contempt".
I have figured out what is wrong with my brain! On the left side nothing works right, and on the right side there is nothing left!
riogrande5761Holy guacomole! Ten to twelve shows in a year!!! I don't know if I've ever lived within 10 miles of that many shows. Well, I guess if I count all the Greenberg shows that hit various towns in in that Radius, it might be that many.
Jim,I live around 1 1/2 hour drive to Columbus and there is several good shows there,add Willard,Marion,Bucyrus,Norwalk,Berea, Dalton Springfield and Lima it added up real quick. The only show we lost is the Willard show and for its size it was a good show.
Back then I was in good health and I enjoyed pointing the nose of my Ranger pickup toward a train show.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
narrow gauge nuclearAt lunch, near the concession stand, I did hear a couple of rumbles from nearby MRs saying the attendance was down. Still, a great show as always for me.
I don't get to many shows, because I don't see bothering to fight the traffic in getting to shows in the Chicago area. I tend to not put much stock in people grousing about attendance in any case. As you say Richard, the only attendance that matters is if YOU are there.
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
I was at the Timonium, Great model train show on Saturday last and found it not as packed as usual. The weather outside was terrible and the parking is a good 1/4 mile hike to the doors. Lots of old guys with bum legs who wanted to stay dry probably stayed home. I'm an old guy but need to see touch and feel HOn3 stuff only found here. So, neither sleet nor snow or freezing rain.......
All the normal dealers were there. I hit my two regular HOn3 dealers and bought stuff and spent about $100 with my favorite magazine seller buying back issues of the Narrow Gauge Gazette. (now complete back thru 1977). My little scratch card given free with the ticket got me the $25.00 of "Train bucks" with which I picked up a Digitrax SD-52 dual switch decoder. (nice).
At lunch, near the concession stand, I did hear a couple of rumbles from nearby MRs saying the attendance was down. Still, a great show as always for me.
Richard
If I can't fix it, I can fix it so it can't be fixed
I know Greenberg does carry a lot of tinplate Hess trucks toys etc but if you look hard enough you can find serious MR stuff too
Joe Staten Island West
maxman joe323 Always have wondered if it i worth my tim and cost to sell my schlock at Greenberg. Greenberg bills itself as a "train and toy" show. Looking at the website information, acceptable merchandise is "train, collectible toy, and family oriented hobby merchandise". So if you go to one of these expecting only trains I think you'll be disappointed. I believe that I went to one of these once and they had a lot of doll house things. I'd also expect to find things like Hess trucks and other items that are classified as "collectible toy and family oriented". So you'd be getting a different type of crowd.
joe323 Always have wondered if it i worth my tim and cost to sell my schlock at Greenberg.
Greenberg bills itself as a "train and toy" show. Looking at the website information, acceptable merchandise is "train, collectible toy, and family oriented hobby merchandise". So if you go to one of these expecting only trains I think you'll be disappointed.
I believe that I went to one of these once and they had a lot of doll house things. I'd also expect to find things like Hess trucks and other items that are classified as "collectible toy and family oriented". So you'd be getting a different type of crowd.
Bingo! Winner!
Greenberg has a lot of non-train related stuff and toys, which is why I used the word schlock. IOW, stuff I'm not interested in. Furthermore, there is a very large amount of "toy" trains such as Lionel, tin plate and the like, so if you are interested in buying HO trains, pickens are kind-of slim there although I do find things so it's worth going if it isn't a long drive - the exact point I made earlier.
Now if your "schlock" is some kind of trains, and you want to sell it there, you may get fewer customers who are focused on looking for trains because of the much MUCH higher percentage of other stuff like toys, and brick-a-brack or trains of a different kind - like tin plate or Lionel, which dominates the train part of the toy & train show.
joe323Always have wondered if it i worth my tim and cost to sell my schlock at Greenberg.
The last show I went to, the Plano show in Texas, in January had a clinic that I wanted to attend. The problem was, it started at 10AM. The doors didn't open until 10AM. So, I had to decide what I wanted to see more, the good bargains (!) or a clinic. The good bargains won out. Oh well. Didn't really want to see it anyway.
The clinics should have a later start time so everyone that is standing in line waiting to get in has the opportunity to attend.
Chuck - Modeling in HO scale and anything narrow gauge
riogrande5761 Holy guacomole! Ten to twelve shows in a year!!! I don't know if I've ever lived within 10 miles of that many shows. Well, I guess if I count all the Greenberg shows that hit various towns in in that Radius, it might be that many. The Greenberg show has so much "schlock" that to me it's not worth it to go unless it's fairly close, which for me is Chantilly Virginia and "maybe" Fredericksberg. Timinium is roughly every 3 months but it does seem to be getting worse and even the people putting on the show have seriously considered dropping it to 3 shows. The summer show is small and not really worth such a long drive now. Yeah, not worth it for apple pie!
Holy guacomole! Ten to twelve shows in a year!!! I don't know if I've ever lived within 10 miles of that many shows. Well, I guess if I count all the Greenberg shows that hit various towns in in that Radius, it might be that many. The Greenberg show has so much "schlock" that to me it's not worth it to go unless it's fairly close, which for me is Chantilly Virginia and "maybe" Fredericksberg. Timinium is roughly every 3 months but it does seem to be getting worse and even the people putting on the show have seriously considered dropping it to 3 shows. The summer show is small and not really worth such a long drive now. Yeah, not worth it for apple pie!
Always have wondered if it i worth my tim and cost to sell my schlock at Greenberg.
It really depends. I live in Southern California (Los Angeles metro area), with a large population, and judging by the number of hobby shops and model railroad clubs, we're doing pretty good. The larger railroad shows are being held at big convention venues like the Anaheim Convention Center (though not this year), the Orange County Fairgrounds or the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds. Then there are smaller shows and club shows all over the area. Most of them are fairly well-attended.
Now what a typical attendee gets out of them varies. For a parent bringing a kid to see trains, they're always a hit. For the railroadiana collector, they're pretty good and for the modeler, that greatly depends on scale. There's always a lot for HO scalers, and somewhat lesser for O, N, G, S and Z scales, in that order.
I'm an N scaler who prefers modern-era and modern-manufactured trains. I converted from HO nearly a decade ago and expect N scale to be more or less a smaller version of HO. I have no use for the unprototypical, toy-like N scale models manufactured before 1990, so I pass on those. Sometimes at the larger shows there will be a hobby store e-tailer or brick-and-mortar store that brought all.most their stock, and I would have a field day with that, but they're not at every show. If I pay $8 to get into a show and see nothing worth buying, I might redeem my time by dropping by some of the club layouts and saying "hi" to certain friends there, but otherwise the show would be a waste of time for me.
Athough, one of the local clubs puts on a small swap meet and open house twice a year, that's usually 70% N scale, and I usually find something to sell or buy there.
Because we had a couple dealers who would always start packing up about two hours before closing, our club's swap meet manager got smart. We usually sell out tables and have a small wait list. Added a note to his dealer circular: Dealers who leave early will be placed on wait list for following year. Helped a lot.