When I was still living on Long Island, there was train show every weekend during the winter months. My dad and I helped run our club's monthly show. We noticed best were the ones in the dead of winter. By the time April rolled around, the weather was finally warming up people been couped inside all winter probably wanted to be outside than in a musty building at a train show.
something else about Long Island is with the frequency of train shows, there was more price competition and dealers would negotiate. There was alaso a wide variety of merchendise.
When I moved to South Carolina, I noticed train shows only happen a few times per year, usually scattered all over the state. What I've seen at the shows down here is large amount of "railroadinia," a good amount of HO, some N and usually the old beat-up postwar Lionel. And more often than not the sellers of said beat-up postwar Lionel won't budge on their prices and just tote it from show to show. They don't graps the concept it's worth what somebody pay for it a not what the guide says it's worth.
The last show I went to was in Easley, SC this past February it was largely a dud. Add on top of that having to get my then 11-month-old son ready to go and get home before nap time and you can understand why I may not be so inclined to go next year. But then again my son loved the layouts that were set up and got Thomas toys.
Modeling the Pennsylvania Railroad in N Scale.
www.prr-nscale.blogspot.com
Hey, if they cut their prices, they would have nothing to sell.
There are a couple of clowns locally who buy a table, show up with a box of overpriced junk, and then prowl the other dealers looking for stuff to expand their cache of train stuff.
I attended the last Greenberg show in Edison, and was sorely disappointed. They aggressively promoted that it was two shows in one (toy and train), but neither of the offerings was so spectacular. Lots of junk train stuff, not much of it nice. Not that much toy stuff, the 3D printer was the most interesting. What happened to the tool guy (he had the best buys in the show)? Even the manufacturer displays didn't look like much for me. At this point, my son goes along only for the pickle vendor (sigh). Not sure if it's worth the drive anymore.
Anyone out there who goes to the East Coast Train Parts shows? Wondering if it's worth the trip.
This car stops at ALL railroad crossings!
I use to help a friend some years ago at a local train show. It is amazing the amount of buying and selling between sellers before the show opens.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
In response to the comment on the Monroeville Greenberg Show......I have attended many of the shows over the past four decades and I also agree , it is a shadow of what it once was. I clearly remember the very first show in the original Monroeville Convention Center.....I walked in that door and saw Lionel boxes stacked floor to ceiling. Thought I died and went to heaven! Product and pricing knowledge is essential. I have witnessed price gouging at the Christmas show taking advantage of the seasonal layout builder. Attendance has declined and the average age of the attendees has risen. In my opinion vendors and merchandise are pretty much the same from show to show. In the past vendors varied along with their offerings and that seems to have gone by the wayside. Now retired, I plan on attending every show just to talk with old friends. To those new to the hobby....educate yourself to product pricing before making that purchase. So called "bargains" are becoming scarce.
All depends on your point of view.
I was in New Jersey in March the same weekend as the Greenberg show and went to the same because "Hey, it's something to do!" I can't say I was disappointed, as a matter of fact I came away with some good stuff I couldn't find anywhere else, in addition to some stuff I didn't KNOW I needed, so did some of my other fellow O gaugers I correspond with.
As far as exhibitors being there or not being there keep in mind that's a business decision. If an exhibitor drives X or even XXX number of miles and does a good business at a show then chances are he'll be back. If he doesn't, well, he may give it one more try but if he flops again chances are he'll decide it's not worth the effort and won't return.
The old saying's true, "If you find what you were looking for, it's a good show, if you don't, it's a bad show."
Anyway, it seems the price of admission is a helluva lot cheaper than going to the movies or a ball game!
NNJRailfan Anyone out there who goes to the East Coast Train Parts shows? Wondering if it's worth the trip.
If you're into the parts, then I would go to one of John's shows that he does (East Coast Train Parts) as he has a bigger selection of parts at his show and not at the Greenberg shows.
Neal
I did not get to Galesburg (IL) Railroad Days this year - first time in years and years that I have not attended. I know they changed the venue for the model train show from Carl Sandburg College to a local high school. Anybody go and can report how it went? That is another once-wonderful show which became "very good" then "good" and has become just "ok."
Dave Nelson
I went to the Galesburg show, I did not go for a couple years till this one. It seamed to me that it was smaller than it used to be, and not as many people. The wife also said that to. Only got 4-5 cars at it could not find any more that i wanted. The show in Davenport a couple months ago had alot more, and more poeple also at it, even though it was raining.
Modeling on the cheap
Hi-
I noticed you mentioned missing the "Toolman". I assume your are referring to Billy Carr from Texas. Billy has basically retired from the traion show circuit. He was staying at a friends house last winter and took a stray bullet in the shoulder from a drive by shooter. He has since pretty much recovered and retired.
We exchange e-mails on occassion and he said the shows just got to be too much work.
Mark B.