Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Amherst Show Coming Soon

4264 views
39 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 8:20 PM

Paul3

Exactly.  There were around 2500 dealer ID's sold, and I'm one of them.

BTW, I did pass the 2-foot gauge steam engine on I-90 going west on Friday.  They were pulling into a rest area at the time.

 

That was a coaling station.

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Posted by Brammy on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 6:29 PM
How noticeable is that 5k difference between the days. I generally enjoy Sunday because I can leisurely walk around. Does it feel like there are 5k extra people, or are folks dispersed around?
  • Member since
    May 2002
  • From: Massachusetts
  • 2,899 posts
Posted by Paul3 on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 4:40 PM

Exactly.  There were around 2500 dealer ID's sold, and I'm one of them.

BTW, I did pass the 2-foot gauge steam engine on I-90 going west on Friday.  They were pulling into a rest area at the time.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 9:08 AM

Ticketed attendance was up about 1,000 from last year.  You always need to add a couple thousand more for vendors, exhibitors, and show volunteers.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 9:01 AM

Bubby
dmoore74

Sunday attendance was 6,973.  Total two day ticketed attendance was 18,054.

  

I'm curious how that compares with prior year(s)? I was not able to go this year, but I love that show and hope it continues to be successful.

Well, not great compared to the 2016 show:

Show total. Total population = 23,687 from the MRH forum. Little below average according to a member of the society who posted in that forum. Sunday was actually down.


If the 2016 figure quoted in that long ago thread was correct (and measuring comparable metrics), the show attendance seems to be dropping faster than Union Pacific traffic figures...
OK, I did a bit more searching, and it is not as bleak as it seems - from another forum for 2018 figures: "the paid attendance was 17,200 not including approximately 400 dealers, exhibitors, and layout participants." so it went up some, which is good. Google is being grumpy in retrieving Model Railroader past threads about Amherst, shame there's no Search Community function...

  • Member since
    February 2019
  • 21 posts
Posted by Bubby on Monday, January 27, 2020 10:13 PM

dmoore74

Sunday attendance was 6,973.  Total two day ticketed attendance was 18,054.

 

I'm curious how that compares with prior year(s)? I was not able to go this year, but I love that show and hope it continues to be successful.



A

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Monday, January 27, 2020 6:01 PM

Sunday attendance was 6,973.  Total two day ticketed attendance was 18,054.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, January 27, 2020 11:46 AM

I was expecting maybe more HO rolling stock announcement, but over all not bad.  It just depends on what you need.  I pretty much dodged the bullet.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    March 2002
  • From: Milwaukee WI (Fox Point)
  • 11,439 posts
Posted by dknelson on Monday, January 27, 2020 10:56 AM

The list of new product announcements for the show on the MR website is impressive, including some transit stuff and lines of structures from outfits I never heard of.  

Dave Nelson

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Morristown, NJ
  • 812 posts
Posted by nealknows on Monday, January 27, 2020 7:28 AM

What was the final attendance? I was packing up my area, and don't remember hearing the final number.

Neal

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Saturday, January 25, 2020 8:11 PM

Saturday attendance 11,081.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, January 25, 2020 12:37 PM

riogrande5761
Announcements I have heard so far:

.

So far nothing I can use.

.

Sad

.

Oh well.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Saturday, January 25, 2020 12:29 PM

Announcements I have heard so far:

Tangent:  their first caboose - a series of B&O/Chessie era bay window ICC cabooses - gorgeous and fans of those and related will be very happy.

ExactRail: another steel coil car.

ScaleTrains: 5 unit early "Back Pack" double stack articulated well car TT and K-line.

Athearn: new SD80MAC Genesis

...

 

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Saturday, January 25, 2020 9:44 AM

Watching the live stream.  Does anyone else feel like a peeping tom?

It's not very crowded.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    April 2018
  • From: Northern NY (Think Upstate but even more)
  • 1,306 posts
Posted by Harrison on Friday, January 24, 2020 9:06 PM

BigDaddy

While it seems insane that they had a Maine 2' steam loco delivered just for the show, don't waste anytime on the Youtube delivery video. 

For the entire 13 minutes absolutely nothing happens to the loco sitting on a flatbed.

 

I skimmed it, but it was still a waste of time. It would be cool to see that going down the highway though...

BTW, for those wanting the link to the live stream, here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ-X5E3xaNk

Harrison

Homeschooler living In upstate NY a.k.a Northern NY.

Modeling the D&H in 1978.

Route of the famous "Montreal Limited"

My YouTube

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Friday, January 24, 2020 8:36 PM

While it seems insane that they had a Maine 2' steam loco delivered just for the show, don't waste anytime on the Youtube delivery video. 

For the entire 13 minutes absolutely nothing happens to the loco sitting on a flatbed.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Friday, January 24, 2020 11:30 AM

Brammy

Also, the parking lot has areas that turn to mud after a heavy rain, so wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty.

Or ... if it happens to be like it was on 3 of my visits to Springfield, be prepared to freeze your **** off.  On one trip I was driving a new Toyota east on 90 to the show and there was a freezing rain.  I cleared my windshield before leaving but my defroster could not keep up with the freezing ice buildup and it got so I couldn't see out at all and had to pull over and manually clear the windshield several times.  The car couldn't de-ice it faster than it formed on the windshield.  That was insane, but I endured and made it there.

I'm way to far away to make it worth the trip after moving to Virgina and my wife is long suffering enough getting dragged voluntarily to the Timonium show 3 times a year plus one or two Greenbergs.

I am looking forward to what will be announced at this show - as many model train companies hold announcments to Springfield show day.

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Posted by Brammy on Friday, January 24, 2020 11:21 AM

Also, the parking lot has areas that turn to mud after a heavy rain, so wear shoes you don't mind getting dirty.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Friday, January 24, 2020 8:52 AM

W. Springfield Saturday weather outlook is somewhat improved, temperatures predicted to be warmer, rain starts in the afternoon. Sunday is supposed to be just cloudy with decent tempaturess.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Thursday, January 23, 2020 7:17 PM

Tables are set up.  Layouts are being assembled and tested.  Friday will see the dealers arrive as well as Monson #3.  #3's whistle will sound to open the show on Saturday.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 3,139 posts
Posted by chutton01 on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 10:49 AM

Medium range weather report from the NWS for West Springfield states rain/snow likely both Saturday and Sunday, temperatures above freezing howevrr...

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Monday, January 20, 2020 7:17 AM

If you're unable to attend in person, check the Virtual Railfan web site.  They are planning on doing live feeds on both days of the show.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Friday, January 17, 2020 7:48 PM

One week to go.  The larger layouts will begin setting up on Thursday.  Vendor tables will be put in place and most dealers will arrive on Friday  Monson #3 should arrive late Friday afternoon.  The track will be put in place and she'll be under steam Saturday morning to sound the opening whistle at 9:00AM.  Check the show web site for the vendor list and the floor plan so you can get the maximum benefit from your visit.

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 216 posts
Posted by KemacPrr on Tuesday, January 14, 2020 7:15 PM

Here's hoping that Mother Nature is nice to us that weekend. Looking forward to another fun weekend at the show. ---- Ken 

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Monday, January 13, 2020 8:50 AM

Updated show information is now available in the Upcoming Events in the Resources section of the forum.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: MA
  • 562 posts
Posted by dmoore74 on Friday, January 10, 2020 9:17 AM

We're now down to serious countdown time, two weeks until showtime.  If you check the show website you can find the list of vendors as well as the floor plan for all 4 buildings.  You shouldn't have any problem locating Monson #3 operating outside the Better Living Center.

  • Member since
    March 2011
  • From: Westford MA
  • 560 posts
Posted by Tophias on Friday, January 3, 2020 7:09 PM

Living in the NW suburbs of Boston, it’s only an easy 1 1/2 hours away.  Been attending for probably 15 years, almost every year.  Last year “stumbled” over Berrett Hill Trains, i.e. Touch Toggles.  Spent 30 minutes with Kevin and decided to do a “make over” of my 10 track yard panel so as to have turnout indication.  It‘s my present major project ( got a late start last year and I tend to take spring and summer off from our hobby for golf, Corvette, and other summer activities).  Hopefully should get it finished before Springfield.  Regardless, my point is, if you can afford the time, you just might find a vendor/product that you might not have considered anything about.  If it is something/someone associated with our hobby, you’ll find it there.  It’s one of the very few things I look forward to every year, hobby related or not.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 32 posts
Posted by buoyboy on Friday, January 3, 2020 10:32 AM

We'll be there both days. It takes me two days to see it all. I usually do the Better Living, Stroh and Young buildings on Saturday and leave the Mallary building for Sunday. I've got a shopping list made up, but the best thing about that show is finding stuff there that you didn't know existed.

  • Member since
    July 2016
  • 102 posts
Posted by Brammy on Friday, January 3, 2020 8:55 AM
I am going on Sunday. I prefer the less crowded option. My shopping goals are simple; - A smooth-side Lackawanna passenger car - a gondola or two - Maybe an intermodal car. I expect the first one to be hard to find. Older Rivarossi cars can be tough to find at shows.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!