Model Railroad show in Toronto

[ereimer]

... is coming up this weekend , who is going ?

[trolleyboy]

Hey from what I understand not to many people.Vendors or shoppers.The new location and it's sordid past has scared off alot of people.I was doing the Niagara Falls show 2 weekends ago and most of the vendors I talked to said that they are taking a pass on it.I heard the same reaction from alot of the buying public as well. They need to find a much better location than where this one is being set up.Most folks and vendors I've talked to are looking forward to the Humber collage show on the 11th of april. Your best bet is waiting for that one if you want a good selection of product and people. Rob

[CP5415]

Rob, thanks for thet heads up!

I'll pass on this one then.

Gordon

[BR60103]

I'm going out of curiosity. Our club is not going -- I think first time since the show was in the icehouse at Harbourfront.

[ereimer]

interesting info Rob , i was wondering what was going on with the move from the International Centre to some school in the middle of Etobicoke . i suspected it was going to mean a greatly downsized show . haven't heard anything about the Humber College show , do you have a link ?

[BR60103]

The show is not in the middle of Etobicoke; it's at Jane& Finch!
The flea market is at Humber College on April 3rd, 10 to 3. (Hwy 27, just south of Finch) sponsored by Lakeshore Model Railroaders' Association. No web info.

[ereimer]

thanks for the info . not sure the TTC goes to 27 and finch . seems like an odd location for the Lakeshore MRA to hold a show since it's nowhere near the lakeshore :)

[BR60103]

Ereimer: I think there is a Finch bus, maybe a Wilson bus that go there. Look for Humber College destinations. May be a hitch on weekends.
They moved up there when the Queensway Lions Club sold there hall to Ikea.

[trolleyboy]

Hey thanks for fixeing my date Booboo David. I would have hated to miss the old Lakeshore show. True it's a bit farther to drive but it's usually a quality show. We're hoping to get the museum into it next year. Nice thing about the humber show is it's a 2 timer once in the fall and then the spring show. Similar to the MOB's TH&B market in Ancaster. Hope to see some of you there. Hopefully they move away from Jane & Finch next year the toronto show used to be very good but I'm hearing that the rntal prices for either the Congress Centre or the International Centre hve gotten quite high. Which was the main reason for the move. Rob

[rambo1]

I went to the train show today not many vendors there. There is the model railroad flea market on april 3 2005 at humber collage just off no27. rambo1....

[Anonymous]

Location, location, location.... EVERYBODY that I have spoken with as soon as they here where the show is being held make comments, UNJUSTIFIED, and unfortunate. I myself will be attending and hope to have an enjoyable time. The change of location will hurt the show, forget about the infamous neighbourhood street intersections, the fact that it now in a school will do a lot of damage to the perceived sized and quality. Always remember, when in doubt, go and check it out, I am.
[:D] As for the April 3rd flea market, can't go. I will be at the O Scale show being held by the Hamilton Society of Model Railroaders. 131 John St. S. Hamilton Ontario 11am - 4pm. [?] contact [e-mail] for more details. [:)]

[CP5415]

I was at my local LHS yesterday.
He wasn't going to the show & he said that the local Model RR club was asked to go but due to the location of the show, gracefully declined the invite.

I guess location is everything.

Gordon

[ereimer]

I don't know if it was the location or not , but i'm being generous when i say the show was at most 25% of what it has been in previous years . took me all of 25 minutes to walk around , see the same vendors that i've seen at every show for the last 10 years and leave . i think there were 2 display layouts , at least they looked like they were having fun

it is extremely disappointing that the largest city in canada can't put together a big enough model train show to attract some of the manufacturers or maybe the Model Railroader folks doing a project layout or something

[BR60103]

I didn't get in. We drove up and around the parking lot, but it was full. There was parking on the football field, but we looked at the curb leading to it and decided not to try it. I'm told that there was another way in around the side of the school.
Talked to 2 friends tonight who were there -- one worked at it -- neither felt that I missed anything.

[cnw4001]

I have been reading this thread with interest from the US. I usually get to Toronto at least once a year but unfortunately not on a "show weekend." Have had the pleasure of visiting most of the Toronto clubs and found them very interesting. I also make it a practice to stop at most of the Toronto hobby shops when in town.

Now to my experience.

It has been a long time since I was at a Toronto RR show, so long ago in fact, that it was held in either the Queen Elizabeth Building or the Better Living Bullding on the EX grounds. That should really date it. A group of us flew into the Island Airport and walked to the show which I recall being really great. I have been to a couple of the general hobby shows at the I-X Centre out near Pearson and found them good as well but that too has been a long time ago.

My point is I share your disappointment at an apparent decline in quality of the train show(s) in Toronto but want to add the same holds true "down south." Even the big shows like Timonium, Maryland have had to add toys and toy trains to keep their size.

It may be the widespread purchasing on line or whatever but going to a train show is
becoming less and less enjoyable and more and more an exercise in viewing limited variety of items.

Just thought I'd jump in with a thought.

[CP5415]

I think a big problem with Shows now is the high cost venders have to pay to get a table to sell there wares. This only adds to the cost of items the buyer is looking for.
Another problem would be the stupid cost of having to get into a show as a member of the public.
Another thing I've noticed in the past are the gorgeous portable layouts that are not being used.
Instead of showing off a possible operations schedule, trains just go around & around!
BORING!
The clubs are there to attract possible new members but they are not doing anything to attract them.
Until these 2 things are recified, I have no intention of going to a train show any time soon.

Just my two cents!

Gordon

[ereimer]

the march show is sponsored by the Toronto and York Division of the CRHA , and has been held at the International Centre for many years . Dave i think you're thinking of the Toronto Chrismas Train show , which is in october/november , also at the International Centre

I just checked their website and commercial exhibitors and vendors were charged $90.00 (canadian) if they booked before Dec. 30 , or $110.00 if they booked before Mar. 1 . this is for an 8' x 8' space . i didn't see anything about non-commercial displays (layouts etc.) but i'd guess they were free or inexpensive . i don't think the price kept too many vendors away , that's pretty reasonable since it includes a table , 2 chairs and electricity .

i guess it was the location . hope it's better next year

[BR60103]

It's standard in this area to charge vendors; the thinking is that you should have paid the costs of the show before the public comes in the door.
Club exhibits don't pay. Some shows even pass some of the profits back to the exhibitors. (There was one new show that started asking the layouts to pay -- that didn't last long!)
This show is the descendant of the one at the CNE -- same sponsoring group, but the organization has changed mightily. They just kept going out of inertia.

[tatans]

Say, Isn't Toronto the name of the Lone Ranger's sidekick?

[CP5415]

You're thinking of TONTO! [:D]

Gordon