What is the best time and place to visit US to attend quality model railroading exhibitions?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
my girlfriend and I intend to visit the US in the next couple of years. We are interested in fitting in some visits to model railroading exhibitions but as we do not visit the US frequently we would like some advice on where and when the best exhibitions are. I expect that the US is similar to the UK in that there are numerous small exhibitions organised by local clubs. These would be interesting to attend if they were in the area we were in, however, we would like to plan our dates and locations around the major exhibitions.

Hope you can help.
Thanks
Andy, 009 modeller Norfolk UK

[Anonymous]

Just check the Resources section, Scheduled Events in this site. This will give tou some idea as to when and where the largest exhibitions are held. The dates may not be consistent from year to year however.

[Anonymous]

There is the Eastern States expo usually in late Jan,held at Springfield Mass.lots of layouts , dealers , manufacturers, then there is the national convention held in July, I'm not sure where it is in'06.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Milwaukee holds Train Fest every November very consistantly. The National Train Show to which Bxcarmike was referring, follows the NMRA's national convention. Dates and locations are different from year to year, check www.nmra.org for the 2006 info. 2006 will be in Philadelphia early July.

Generally speaking trains are more of a winter activity and that is when the greatest number of events occur. Trains seem to be most popular in the eastern states, where the population is most concentrated.

[CNJ831]

There are really only three "world-class" train shows in the States. Amherst/Springfield held in Massachusetts late Jan./early Feb. each year. The Great Scale Train Show (I used to find that the Spring version was the best) held in Timonium, Maryland several times per year. And the National Train Show, held in conjunction with the NMRA national convention, location and date variable.

CNJ831

[dehusman]

I would suggest joining the Operations Special Interest Group to find out about operating meets. Normally the meets last an entire weekend and you can operate on 4-5 layouts.

Other than that a NMRA National convention presents the greatest oportunity to see layouts.

Dave H.

[dehusman]

Also, remember that most exhibitions at shows are modular layouts. The type of exhibitions where people bring their layout to a show are very rare in the US because other than modular setups, 95% of layouts are permanently located in the owner's home and are not mobile. In the US, you go on layout tours where you have to travel to the person's home to see the layout.

Dave H.

[BR60103]

Andy: the NMRA convention is in Philadeplphia, July 2-9, 2006. Check the NMRA web site for the following years and for regional conventions.
We'll have some interesting shows and tours in Canada next April, and a few big ones in October.
There are also Narrow gauge conventions. You probably see more at a convention, but you may need to drive. Remember that the US is a big country and public transit is not encouraged.

[Anonymous]

Andy,

The NMRA convention may work out well for you. Philadelphia is a great city to visit with lots of historical sites and museums. It is located on the Northeast Corridor making it an easy train ride to New York, Boston or Washington. There are also a number of steam excursion railroads within a relatively short distance like Strausburg, New Hope and Ivy, and Black River and Western.

The only problem with coming to the U.S. in the summer is that it gets hot. In Philadelphia it is not uncommon for 95 degrees with lots of humidity during July.

[dehusman]

Just to tie things in, the convention will be held in the convention center, which is the former Reading Terminal, a train shed station that was in use up until the 1980's and the early Reading (actually the Philadelphia and Reading) was financed in alarge part by British investors, so your attendence would be more than appropriate.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

Strasburg was mentioned above for a steam excursion. It is also home to a great railroad museum ........ Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. Well worth the hour or so drive from Philadelphia.

Jim

[CPPedler]

Hi Andy,
I visit the Springfield Show each year with a colleague of mine and I think it's really great exhibition ,plenty of good quality layouts and hundreds of trade stands. If youv'e been to the Warley show at the NEC Birmingham then you have some idea what its like except that it is more than twice as big. Its on the last weekend in January 2006 so its pretty cold in Massachusetts then but the flights are much cheaper to Boston from Heathrow even by B.A. standards. You should go and take the young lady you would both have a great time ,guaranteed CPPedler

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CPPedler

Hi Andy,
I visit the Springfield Show each year with a colleague of mine and I think it's really great exhibition ,plenty of good quality layouts and hundreds of trade stands. If youv'e been to the Warley show at the NEC Birmingham then you have some idea what its like except that it is more than twice as big. Its on the last weekend in January 2006 so its pretty cold in Massachusetts then but the flights are much cheaper to Boston from Heathrow even by B.A. standards. You should go and take the young lady you would both have a great time ,guaranteed CPPedler

Thanks. I'm off to Warley in a couple of days and looking forward to it. The Springfield Show sound worth a visit but won't be able to make it this January but I'll keep my eyes open for 2007

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

Just to tie things in, the convention will be held in the convention center, which is the former Reading Terminal, a train shed station that was in use up until the 1980's and the early Reading (actually the Philadelphia and Reading) was financed in alarge part by British investors, so your attendence would be more than appropriate.

Dave H.

Thank you for your replies.
I remember, when I visited the US about 1973 when I was in the Navy and we met up with some guys in the British Railway Modellers of North America Society. We went on one of those layout tours round peoples homes. It was very good fun and it worked well because most of the layouts were in basement rooms. Not all the layouts were British prototypes and I got the bug for the american approach with hard shell scenery on L girder construction frames.
I think Springfield 2007 and the NRMA convention will be important considerations.
Andy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by caellis

Just check the Resources section, Scheduled Events in this site. This will give tou some idea as to when and where the largest exhibitions are held. The dates may not be consistent from year to year however.

Thanks for replying.
Our visit will have to be 2007 but we are looking forward to it.
Andy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ConrailJim

Strasburg was mentioned above for a steam excursion. It is also home to a great railroad museum ........ Pennsylvania Railroad Museum. Well worth the hour or so drive from Philadelphia.

Jim

Thanks. We wont be able to visit now till 2007
Andy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

Milwaukee holds Train Fest every November very consistantly. The National Train Show to which Bxcarmike was referring, follows the NMRA's national convention. Dates and locations are different from year to year, check www.nmra.org for the 2006 info. 2006 will be in Philadelphia early July.

Generally speaking trains are more of a winter activity and that is when the greatest number of events occur. Trains seem to be most popular in the eastern states, where the population is most concentrated.

Thank you. It looks like either Springfield or NMRA in 2007
Andy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RevMattCNJ

Andy,

The NMRA convention may work out well for you. Philadelphia is a great city to visit with lots of historical sites and museums. It is located on the Northeast Corridor making it an easy train ride to New York, Boston or Washington. There are also a number of steam excursion railroads within a relatively short distance like Strausburg, New Hope and Ivy, and Black River and Western.

The only problem with coming to the U.S. in the summer is that it gets hot. In Philadelphia it is not uncommon for 95 degrees with lots of humidity during July.

Thank you. Probably be Springfield or NMRA in 2007
Andy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by BXCARMIKE

There is the Eastern States expo usually in late Jan,held at Springfield Mass.lots of layouts , dealers , manufacturers, then there is the national convention held in July, I'm not sure where it is in'06.

Thank you. Looks like Springfield or NMRA 2007
Andy

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CNJ831

There are really only three "world-class" train shows in the States. Amherst/Springfield held in Massachusetts late Jan./early Feb. each year. The Great Scale Train Show (I used to find that the Spring version was the best) held in Timonium, Maryland several times per year. And the National Train Show, held in conjunction with the NMRA national convention, location and date variable.

CNJ831

Thank you. It looks like Springfield or the NMRA in 2007
Andy

[DigitalGriffin]

I've only attended "The Great Scale Train Show" in Timmonium twice. I can tell you the thing is "HUGE" One half of the building is dedicated to layouts (about a dozen or so clubs) And another is nothing but vendors.

Then there's the BSME www.modelengineers.com in Baltimore about 15 minutes south. Also in Baltimore is the B&O museum www.borail.org .

About 30 minutes west of Baltimore to ellicott city is one of the oldest station houses in America http://www.ecbo.org/ They often have holiday layouts.

Go about 1 hour North to Lancaster/Strasburg and you have "The Model Train Museum" and the "Pennsy Rail Road Museum" (each with good layouts) You can ride a steamer if you wi***here.

Go about 2 1/2 hours east and you can ride the 2-8-0 New Hope and Ivyland Steamer in New Hope Pa. (It's a really nice town to visit) They even offer cab rides in the summer.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by RevMattCNJ

Andy,

The NMRA convention may work out well for you. Philadelphia is a great city to visit with lots of historical sites and museums. It is located on the Northeast Corridor making it an easy train ride to New York, Boston or Washington. There are also a number of steam excursion railroads within a relatively short distance like Strausburg, New Hope and Ivy, and Black River and Western.

The only problem with coming to the U.S. in the summer is that it gets hot. In Philadelphia it is not uncommon for 95 degrees with lots of humidity during July.

This year I attended my first NMRA Great American Train Show, it was amazing. It was overwhelming to try to see everything in one day. This year was also the first chance I had to visit Philadelphia as a tourist. It is a great city, easily walked and it has world class museums and historical (for this country) sites every time you turn around. I would strongly suggest trying to catch the show the weekend after the NMRA Convention even if you can't catch it next year.

In 07 the convention is in Detroit, also hot and humid in the summer. About the only good thing I can think of about Detroit is that Windsor is just across the bridge.

Seriously though if you get a chance to stop over in Halifax, take a day to see the city. It is as clean and friendly as I wish Cincinnati was and has the best sea food I have ever had.

Whenever you get to come over I am sure you will have a good time. We are not all as bad as our press would have you believe.

[bgrossman]

If you get to Chicago, be sure to see the super HO layout at the Museum of Science and Industry. It is a model of the BNSF from downtown Chicago to Seattle. The Sears Tower is 14 feet high! Don't forget the Art Institute, and, if it's summer, a Cubs game.

Bernie

[Medina1128]

I don't know if it was covered in an earlier response to your question, but you can find ALL sorts of shows/meets/conventions by going to:
http://www.trains.com/maghomepage/maghomepage.asp?idMagazine=3
This is the homepage for Model Railroader magazine.