West Springfield Show

[Paul3]

John wrote:
"I was bitterly disapointed this year...Much the same as previous years."

Huh? How can you be "bitterly disappointed" if the show is "the same as previous years"? Unless you are "bitterly disappointed" every year (and yet you still keep going???).

"No bargains,..."

No bargains? How long were you there? There were plenty of deals and bargains to be had (Stewart U25B's for $65, for example), but you had to look for them. After all, it is the biggest show in the country...

"...many rude dealers...But even many usually affable people did not want to converse."

Well, duh. Do you think maybe the national tradgedy of that Saturday morning might have had something to do with it??? Remember? The Space Shuttle Columbia? When I heard the news from a fellow club member (who had showed up late) in the middle of the morning, I was shocked. All he said was that it blew up. All of us thought immediatley of terrorism (especially with the Israeli aboard). We didn't know what was going on. It really put a damper on my day, I'll tell you that. Sunday was better after we watched the news in the hotel room, where we found out is was "merely" a horrible accident rather than a deliberate act of distruction. But still, I really didn't feel like being as outgoing as I usually am at Springfield...

"...pay to park as well as to gain entrance..."

The paying to park is the fault of the Big E, and not the ARS (Amherst Railway Society). The Big E is the one who decided to charge $3 for parking as of 1/1/02 (for the last show, in other words). And it's not like the Amherst guys can just pick up and go elsewhere. Where would they go? The $7 entrance fee is to pay the huge costs of running such a show, with all the police, fire dept., table rentals, etc. All proceeds, IIRC, from the ARS show go towards New England rail museums, clubs, historical organizations, preservation efforts, etc. I don't think the ARS makes any profit on this show at all.

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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[Paul3]

santafefan wrote:
"i attended the show on sunday. but there are no bargains there."

What show were you at? ;-)

I say that because you missed the guy who was selling all his P2K engines at 40% off.

Or the guy who had the new Stewart U25B's for $65.

Or the dealer who was selling all Athearn undec. engines and cars at 50% off.

Another guy was selling the P1K RS-18's for $105.

Somebody else was selling P2K E8A's for $40.

I saw another selling a OMI M-420 (in really good shape, painted for CN) for $200 (willing to let it go for $175).

And so on...

In short, there were a lot of deals and bargains to be had. You just had to look for them, which is difficult because of the size of the show. It's another good reason why I go both days...

Paul A. Cutler III
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Weather Or No Go New Haven
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[Anonymous]

I was bitterly disapointed this year. No bargains, many rude dealers, pay to park as well as to gain entrance. Much the same as previous years. I had hoped to find a modeler or 2 willing to help develop my latest RR and operate it too. But even many usually affable people did not want to converse.
John

[Anonymous]

hi,
i have to agree and dissagree to the others. yes the it did have some rediculous prices for a show but lucky for me i got some BARGINS! im biulding my new layout and amlaying track, so at the show i found a person selling atlas code 83 flex and i bought 60 ft fo $42. and i found switches and stuff. my friend that came along bought almost the whole collection of Coca Cola ho cars by athern.. some for retail, but rest at or below $12.00, some cheap as $6. all in all, it depended what you were looking fo. And the layouts were great as usual
Matt

[Anonymous]

I attended the show on Saturday. I agree with the other posting, very few bargins, great selection. Dealer prices are up alot from prior shows. Can't beat the assortment of layouts to view!

[Anonymous]

i attended the show on sunday. but there are no bargains there. generally the show was ok, plenty of dealers etc. but i have to say at a show that size the prices were high. the only bargain i saw was k d couplers a five pack for 10.00. all the engines were straight retail. i will wait to buy at my regular hobby shop.

[dmoore74]

Would like to hear any comments from anyone who attended the Amherst Railway Society show in West Springfield, MA, this past weekend (Feb.1&2). How did you like the show in general? Any special finds or bargains? Anything you couldn't find?