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Roadside America Has Closed

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Posted by thesiding on Saturday, January 30, 2021 9:12 PM

And in it's final hours the layout still shines              was there today

 

 

They even saved the fish   

 

Also a book about the display is coming

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, January 24, 2021 2:30 PM

thesiding
The bulk of stiff operating was mostly newer but  who lnows The TM vid showed some classic Prewar on the layout

I've got that video.  If I remember correctly, and it's been a while since I've watched it, they preferred the post-war Lionels since they were easy to work on and maintain.  I don't remember any pre-war but the same would apply.

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Posted by thesiding on Sunday, January 24, 2021 1:03 PM

Later this year         possibly March The bulk of stuff operating was mostly newer but  who lnows The TM vid showed some classic Prewar on the layout so maybe             As I stated if the 11th hour is any indication......................................an estimate I came up with is at least 350 thousand I do not think any buildings went under 300.00

 

I myself tried for The Kaufmann's dept store stopped at 1100.00

Tongue TiedTongue TiedTongue Tied

 

even the push button to operate stuff went for 150 up A Standalone Freezer 70 bucks       and a Kaola changing sation            six bucks

 

Also a couple of Dirt bikes                     do not remember what they sold for BUT they did

Also one final thing for now   Apperently at some point there was a petting zoo on the property

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, January 24, 2021 11:11 AM

thesiding

It ended                         And if THIS ONE is any indication the trains are NOT gonna be cheap

 

You know, that depends.  If I remember correctly the trains are pretty much standard Lionel post-war products, and post-wars aren't going for what they did several years ago.  Aside from the "Roadside America" cachet there's nothing special about them.  We'll have to wait and see. 

Anyone know if and when the trains are going on the block?

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Posted by dlagrua on Sunday, January 24, 2021 9:58 AM

thesiding

It ended      And if THIS ONE is any indication the trains are NOT gonna be cheap

The good news is that Mr Geiringers legacy lives on but now in the homes of private collectors. It was just not in the cards to keep the display intact. I just wonder what the auction brought the family. I would guess 10K or more.

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Posted by thesiding on Saturday, January 23, 2021 10:05 PM

It ended                         And if THIS ONE is any indication the trains are NOT gonna be cheap

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Posted by thesiding on Saturday, January 23, 2021 4:21 PM

Supposedly later on this year       YOU CAN bid on real dirt bikes Freezer and Real Furniture as well                      Like I said before I AM WATCHING

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Thursday, January 21, 2021 9:49 AM

I just took a look at the online catalog/ auction, bidding closes 1/23.

"Roadside America" obviously had a LOT of fans, most of the artefacts are going for respectable money.

No trains listed though.  I suppose they're going separately?

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 5:10 PM

Thanks!

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Posted by Billwiz on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 10:48 AM

Flintlock76

Any idea who's handling the auction, that is, what auction house?

 

 

https://gotoauction.com/sales/view/252892.html

 

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 10:30 AM

Any idea who's handling the auction, that is, what auction house?

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Posted by thesiding on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 9:44 AM

Looks like it for a month or so

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Posted by thesiding on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 9:42 AM
auction is later this month I'LL BE WATCHING
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Monday, December 14, 2020 9:06 AM

Yes, I hope Mr. Plessor has the financial wherewithal to make it happen, or is connected to an organization that does.  Best of luck to him!

Aside from the property, which I'm assuming the Geiringer family owns, I wonder just how much money an auction of the assets is going to bring, that is the individual models.  I wouldn't mind owning a small piece of RA myself, maybe one of the locomotives.  I'd give it a very good home!

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Posted by dlagrua on Sunday, December 13, 2020 9:53 PM

Randy Plessor may be a good meaning fellow but who is going to supply the funds necessary to purchase the Roadside America layout? The present owners are probably looking to gain thousands of dollars from its sale. No small museum is going to pay that. It will go to auction..

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Posted by Banks on Friday, December 4, 2020 6:37 PM

Banks, Proud member of the OTTS  TCA 12-67310

  

   

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Posted by Banks on Friday, December 4, 2020 3:14 PM

Will it be an online auction?

Banks, Proud member of the OTTS  TCA 12-67310

  

   

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Posted by dlagrua on Friday, December 4, 2020 12:50 PM

UPDATE: I just read that the Roadside America Layout, rolling stock, structures and scenery will all be going up for auction in Mid December. Some of the scenes on that layout took Laurence Gieringer months to create.It was his lifes work.  It is a very sad time in model railroading history but as the saying goes nothing is forever.

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Posted by cheapclassics on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 10:34 PM

Good evening all,

Always meant to go there.  Never did.  Will have to get back to Strasburg sometime.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

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Posted by zugmann on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 6:06 PM

Flintlock76
Care for a look at Northlandz?  As Sheldon said, it's an HO-themed railroad and might be of a bit more interest to the "Model Railroading" crew, but it's fascinating just the same.

Northladdz and Roadside America seemed to have a bit of a internet tinkling contest with each other.  To what end?  Who knows...

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Banks on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 5:51 PM

Sad to see it close. Visited a few times. Was there as a child, took my kids And most recently about 8 years ago a business trip took me near so I stopped. It was very nice in the beginning but last visit it was looking like It needed lots of attention and a thorough cleaning . Still an impressive display knowing it history. I do think location was bad. If it were closer to Strasburg it would've had more business.

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Posted by thesiding on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 11:38 AM
IF ONLY I COULD HAVE BEEN ONE OF THOSE DAMM LONE WINNERS OF MEGA MILLIONS if only
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Posted by Flintlock76 on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 11:12 AM

Care for a look at Northlandz?  As Sheldon said, it's an HO-themed railroad and might be of a bit more interest to the "Model Railroading" crew, but it's fascinating just the same.

https://weirdnj.com/stories/personalized-properties/northlandz/

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 11:01 AM

Billwiz

 

 
ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Strasburg PA, where the Strasburg Rail Railroad is, has a long list of train and model train attractions, including the ChooChoo Barn. A display similar to Roadside America although not as large or elaberate, but very nice none the less.

 

Sheldon, other than the size difference, Choo Choo Barn does a lot more updates to the display.  RA, wanting to keep it as Mr. Geringer originally created it, did not do enough basic updates.  

It is still a shame.  Perhaps the TCA could get at least some of the display for historic value.

 

 

Agreed, ChooChoo Barn is fresh, well maintained and up to date. Always a good time.

Sheldon

    

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Posted by York1 on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 11:00 AM

Flintlock76
Maybe the current members of the Geiringer family don't want anything to do with it anymore, maybe the world's just moved past attractions like that.

 

While I don't have any inside information, it sounds like the children of the original owner are now older and unable to continue the attraction.

One of them posted in Facebook:

"Nearly 3 years ago we decided to place the display for sale, hoping to find a buyer who would continue business operations. Despite meeting with multiple interested parties over the last 2 years, each with their own unique vision, none committed to moving forward with the village," the post said.

York1 John       

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Posted by Billwiz on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 10:37 AM

ATLANTIC CENTRAL
Strasburg PA, where the Strasburg Rail Railroad is, has a long list of train and model train attractions, including the ChooChoo Barn. A display similar to Roadside America although not as large or elaberate, but very nice none the less.

Sheldon, other than the size difference, Choo Choo Barn does a lot more updates to the display.  RA, wanting to keep it as Mr. Geringer originally created it, did not do enough basic updates.  

It is still a shame.  Perhaps the TCA could get at least some of the display for historic value.

 

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Posted by Art Young on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 9:41 AM

After a lot of "Gotta get there one day" since I was eight years old, I took my daughter about ten or so years ago. Nearly a three hour drive, but so worth it! 

 If they can't find a buyer, I hope that at least they'll have an auction, rather than just haul it all away as junk. 

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Posted by ATLANTIC CENTRAL on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 9:39 PM

Yes, this is very sad news. I have been there multiple times as a child and as an adult with my own children and grandchildren.

I think one of the challanges these days for them was the fact that there is nothing else nearby of similar interest.

Strasburg PA, where the Strasburg Rail Railroad is, has a long list of train and model train attractions, including the ChooChoo Barn. A display similar to Roadside America although not as large or elaberate, but very nice none the less.

It is a shame no one was able to take it over. It would be interesting to know the asking price and recent revenues.

On a similar note, I recently saw where Northlandz, an HO display in Flemington, NJ, is apparently under new ownership and has been refurbished and reopened. The wife and I stopped there on a road trip we took about a decade ago, large but unimpressive in my view.

I live close to Strasburg, we go there several times a year on average.

Sheldon 

    

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Posted by Flintlock76 on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 8:59 PM

I don't know, "R-A" was quite the attraction for a good fifty or more years.  Maybe the current members of the Geiringer family don't want anything to do with it anymore, maybe the world's just moved past attractions like that.*  

But anyway you look at it it's a sad ending of an era.

*  Considering the was people flock around large train show display layouts and all the "OOOHS and AHHHS" they generate maybe I've got that part wrong?

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