Train Shows

[Anonymous]

Last weekend I was supposed to meet a friend from N Carolina at a train show in chicagoland. It was a 2 rail 0-guage meet and that's what he collects. I thought it would be a good time for the wife and I to go to the flower show after. We got to the train show - it was $15 apiece to get in. Ya might call me cheap, but I don't even collect 2 rail stuff. I called him on his cell and he met us in the lobby. He offered to let me wear his badge in but I declined since I don't collect that stuff anyway. So the question is: Don't ya just hate going to train shows to buy stuff and have to pay a fortune to get in? What do you guys think is reasonable for admission? Is it just me that hates these shows where kids get in free so they beg there parents and there's 10,000 kids playing with everything and I can't see what I want to buy? I must be getting old and cranky. John[:D][:D][:D]

[underworld]

Most shows that I have been to in the last several years in NW Ohio and SE Michigan are usually $5-$6 if they have an "earlybird admission" it is usually about $3 more. Some shows that I have been to are free.

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[laz 57]

WOW even the TCA meet in York is only $8 and you have 7 buildings to see trains but $15 thats nuts.
laz57

[IRONROOSTER]

$15 is higher than anything I've seen. The Great Model Scale Train Show and Greenberg's are only $7.
Enjoy
Paul

[csxt30]

Gee, maybe that was the cost for a home & Flower show, a big one! Never heard of paying that much for a train show, though! Thanks, John

[spankybird]

I attend many of the shows around NE Ohio and they are $4 to $5 each with family discounts.

$15.00 would make it so I would not attend.

[Roger Bielen]

The last Greenberg show I went to was $7 and I don't think it was worth it. After being disappointed with the last 3 or 4 I've been to I'm just avoiding train shows for now.

[Anonymous]

Depending where the show is held, parking can raise the entrance fee considerably. I paid $7 to attend the Greenburg show here in Cincinnati a few weeks ago and $5 for parking. $12 bucks to look at one "N" trak layout, a Lego train display and the previlage to buy from a vendor who has paid "X" amount of dollars for his table space! I was able to buy a few hard to find items I was looking for, so the exprience was enjoyable although costly. A local toy store held a free show this past January. There were many great modular layouts to see, forums, etc. and I didn't spend a dime! I guess the bigger show are having a lot of competition from the internet these days and their overhead is great. I'm just wondering how long they'll continue.

[Anonymous]

I like going to shows, but usually pay about $7.00. I don't buy trains, but usually see stuff for my layout that are usually retailed as "non-train"(great circus/carnival items), or "home made"(blinking-light police cars). Would I pay $15.? Sure...life's too short. Joe

[Buckeye Riveter]

It's Spring so it must be the Springfield Train Show.

I have mentioned the Springfield, Ohio Train Show in other posts, but it is a diamond in the rough. Free parking which is great and then only a $5.00 admission. Once in the door there are approximately 300 tables and at least four layouts. About two years ago I was looking for a blue silo for my farm scene and a vendor at Springfield had one at a very reasonable, almost cheap, price. It has become my favorite show in Central Ohio because of the selection and value.

When a show is in Columbus, it is $4 to park and $7 for admission. Cincinnati can sometimes be a rip off especially when the downtown is hosting a sporting event at the same time as the train show.

[Anonymous]

Trainnut, you're not getting old and cranky, you are correct about the high price of adult admissions at some train shows.

Most of the local smaller train shows are in the affordable $5 admission price.

Greenberg shows have a $7 admission. Which I don't find too expensive considering the great scope and amount of vendors participating.

I did find the recent WGH show's $9 adult admission fee as being excessive. Especially when these shows are supposed to be more of an educational show touting the benefits of Model Railroading.

I'd never attend another WGH show for the simple reason that it's not a true train show where vendors and table-holders offer their wares for sale. Instead, it's a showcase of manufacturers and suppliers. Where nothing is for sale. Sure there maybe some modular layouts and train races etc at the WGH show but I can see the same stuff at a Greenberg show.

BillFromWayne
www.modeltrainjournal.com

[Anonymous]

Greenberg shows seems to be declining in quality and quantity, especially in O gauge. The Edison shows are getting worse all the time time. GATS is even worse, mostly smaller scales, dolls, beany babies etc.

[underworld]

Where was this expen$ive show? I go to Chicago frequently and I'd like to know, so I don't make plans for it while I'm there.

Easter Easter Easter Easter Easter!!!!!

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]

[Dave Farquhar]

The last GATS I attended (near St. Louis) was actually pretty good, but I define good as "having lots of the kind of stuff I like." Someone who's more interested in scale-proportioned stuff wouldn't have liked that show. There was a pretty good selection of tinplate, which is my primary interest. I think admission was $5 or $6. I can live with that.

There's a show next weekend, put on by Boeing, that I'm looking forward to. Admission is about four bucks.

I agree that $15 is way too much. I can handle paying $6 but that's pretty much my limit. I save on sales tax and on shipping, and the selection is better than going to a hobby shop, so it doesn't bother me to spend $6, but for $15 admission, you have to buy a lot of stuff to come out ahead and without any guarantee of what you're going to find, that's risky.

[tschmidt]

Buckeye,

When is the Springfield show and where exactly is Springfield? I'm wondering how long of a drive it would be from here in Southwestern NY.

Tom

[csxt30]

Hi tschmidt! I used to go to that hobby shop in Jamestown NY, mostly for RC plane stuff, & they had train stuff too. In addition to Buckeyes' show, we have a train show coming up in Cleveland next Sat. Open TCA show. When you get to the Ohio line, its about another 100 miles. Just thought I would tell you in case you wanted to make a long trip. Gas is over 2dollars a gal. too. We could all get hooked up,as some of the other forum members are going too. Yea, you would only have to drive to Ohio line. Thanks, John

[TurboOne]

I just we had any shows other than GATS once per year.

Have to wait a whole year to see another one in town.

Joe, email me, I want to build a whole circus amusment park on my layout. [:o)] [:o)]

Tim

[Anonymous]

Tim, "Circus" email sent. Anyone else interested, go to emusicalgifts.com then go to "MR. Christmas", then "Gold Label" to see the "World's Fair" items. Joe

[Anonymous]

Given the nature of today's train shows--most are just shells of what they were as recently as 10 years ago--I figure $5 is a fair admission charge. Anything more than that and it had better be a "specialty show" like the East Coast Large Scale Train Show, the NMRA's National Train Show, or a similar event. I doubt that I would ever pay $15 to go to any train show (most of which are actually "meets" and not "shows" anyhow).

The train meet is, in my opinion, a dying breed, aside from events like the TCA's York Meet. Today, it's just as easy to buy on-line or via a simple toll-free phone call, and often enough the prices you pay for items are as good or better than you can get at a train meet. I do enjoy true train shows, where the hobby itself and the creativity and craftsmanship involved is displayed for all to see, and not just the "things" of the hobby and piles of dusty boxes.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye, you're absolutely right. The Springfield, Ohio show is a great show and bargain! It must be one of the largest in the mid-west. Thanks for the reminder.

April 3, 2005 - Springfield Model Train Show
Clark County Fairgrounds, Springfield, OH, I-70 Exit 59
11 AM - 4 PM
Admission: Adults $5.00; Children under 12 free

[GPJ68]

$15 is too steep just to walk in the door. For $20, I've gotten a 1/2 table at the Scale and High Rail Show at the Timonium, MD Fairgrounds for one day, to sell some excess in between browsing/buying jaunts.

http://www.gsmts.com/index.htm

Just be prepared for the friendly letter from the MD Dept of Taxation requiring their cut of your sales (if any.....).

Anyone in the Baltimore/Washington (properly pronounced Bawlmer/Wushtin) Area that hasn't gone to this show really ought to check it out - the last two were well worth the drive for me (but then I combine the trip with a weekend visit with family locally to justify the 4-5 hour drive...). The Chantilly, VA Greenberg show is usually pretty decent too. Both charge $7 to get in the door.

Those of you with even "barely tolerable" shows locally should consider yourselves lucky, it costs me $60+ just in gas to get to almost any worthwhile show. The closer Richmond and Va Beach shows have mostly fallen in the "bust" category lately. And they still burn about $20 in gas.

GPJ

[Anonymous]

I used to attend train shows almost every weekend, but am now living in a part of the country where there are no train shows--at least none worth going to within an even close-to-reasonable driving distance. I've found, though, that aside from the fun of actually being around other enthusiasts and actually seeing a product before I buy it, I don't really miss train shows all that much. I can get all the trains I want by just picking up the phone or clicking my keyboard mouse, and generally get them at more attractive prices than can be found at most train shows. My guess is that the heday period of train shows is now past--changed by the Internet, rising gas prices, steep admission fees, and several other factors.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dtpowell

Buckeye, you're absolutely right. The Springfield, Ohio show is a great show and bargain! It must be one of the largest in the mid-west. Thanks for the reminder.

April 3, 2005 - Springfield Model Train Show
Clark County Fairgrounds, Springfield, OH, I-70 Exit 59
11 AM - 4 PM
Admission: Adults $5.00; Children under 12 free

Dave, for my money it beats anything I have attended in Cincinati or Columbus, the big city shows with high parking. There is a show in Dayton that used to be pretty good, but I don't know if it still is of good quality. There is a guy at Springfield that always has a great selection of Williams, something that we don't see too often around Central Ohio.

BTW, are any recomendations concerning shows in Indy?

[tschmidt]

John (csxt30),

Thanks for the info on the show by Cleveland next Saturday. I am not sure if I will make that one yet but if so I will contact you. I have a son who works in Cleveland and another who goes to school in Kent so I am familiar with the drive over that way. I am sorry to hear about your gas prices. They used to be a lot cheaper than ours here in NY. Where is that show in Cleveland?

Tom

[csxt30]

Tom , it's in North Olmstead. If you were coming I-90, you would go South on I-271in Willoughby Hills to 480 West,about 15 miles & get off on Columbia Rd, Rte 252 in N. Olmstead. Go South on Columbia Rd. for 2 miles to The German American cultural center on right hand side, where Train show will be. Spankybird & 1688Torpedo, & my son and I should all be there around 10am. If coming, let us know, we all have cell phones!!![:)][:D] Hope this helps & maybe see you there! Thanks, John

[palallin]

Though I wouldn't defend the admission fee, I would point out that a 2-rail, O-scale meet is going to cater to a VERY exclusive group of people who regularly drop a LOT of $$$ into their trains. It's also a small group. I doubt that the $15 means much to the intended audience, but it would be necessary to cover costs from the small turnout.

[Jumijo]

I'm heading to a Greenberg train show in Wilmington, MA this weekend. I'll be there Saturday. If any of you attend, I'll most likely be wandering around wearing an LA Dodger hat. Stop and say hello!

Jim

[Anonymous]

Does anyone here attend the Greenburg Train show that is held over in Edison New Jersey?

 

 

Joe Cards

[cnw1995]

Rats, I missed the big  Midwest show at DuPage Cty fairgrounds - I thought it was this weekend - it was last - this would've been perfect - the bride will be away on a trip. Admission is $7 - usually I can find a dollar off coupon - kids are free and so is parking. Not a bad deal - cheaper than a movie I guess for a few hours entertrainment and the chance to spend some money.