These are the very people that keep me away from clubs, and such.
You know that person seems to find me where I go, weather it's a car show, motorcycle show or train show there is always one very opinionated big loud mouth that has way too much to say. Oh and as mentioned he is usually the guy holding court in the LHS too. If you listened an believed what he says you would think wow this guy is God's gift to model railroading, where in most if not all cases if he even does have a layout it borders on pathetic. I was at the Timonium show on year having a conversation with one of the hobby's premier builders next to Howard Zane's table another icon of the hobby and a very humble and extremely nice individual. I actually stood next to a guy who did nothing but trash talk about HZ's modeling, and this wasn't right and they never used that color on that train. If anyone knows Howard Zane even by reputation he is a stickler for accuracy and detail but still has fun doing it and treats everyone with equal respect.
For guys like the trash talkers my mom used to have a saying "people talk because they have a mouth"
some just need to shut up.
The reason why I only attend the Allentown PA train shows once every few years are the people with the leaky depends.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
Guilford Guy CTValleyRRAbout 4 years ago, I took my then 4 year old to a train show. One of the operators was a boy of perhaps 12-13 years old, with really long hair, but no facial hair yet. My son's comment: "Hey, Dad, look what that girl is doing!". Yikes! Next booth.... quickly! And, um, what show was this?
CTValleyRRAbout 4 years ago, I took my then 4 year old to a train show. One of the operators was a boy of perhaps 12-13 years old, with really long hair, but no facial hair yet. My son's comment: "Hey, Dad, look what that girl is doing!". Yikes! Next booth.... quickly!
And, um, what show was this?
Hopefully, not one you were attending!
Seriously, I'm not sure -- I attend quite a few regulary in both Willimantic and Cheshire, CT, and one every January at the Eastern States Expo Center in Agawam MA (although I'm sure it wasn't that one),.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
I was 12 years old 4 years ago at Springfield... Hm.
Alex
From the far, far reaches of the wild, wild west I am: rtpoteet
Hi!
I used to hit every train show that came to my SE Texas area, but over the last few years I've passed over the major shows. My biggest problem was they were way too crowded, and the situation was made significantly worse by the plethora of large strollers - some the size of small SUVs (or so it seemed). Anyway, dodging them and their sometimes rude owners just took a lot of the fun out of the show, and I quit going.
Obviously the shows may introduce to hobby to some folks, and that is a good thing.
Mobilman44
ENJOY !
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
I've been going to big regional train shows for a lot of years now. I notice that Saturdays can get very crowded and it takes real concentration, discipline and determination to accomplish any business in the face of all that population pressure. I don't see much rudeness, just different folks trying to cope with a solid wall of humanity. On Sundays the shows are much quieter and you can stroll around and take your time. That's when I get most of my purchases done and folks are more affable. My one real peeve is people who bring small children and infants to a really crowded show. The noise level is high, the place usually smells bad, it's hot and sweaty and after a while the little ones just loose it and start crying and screaming uncontrollably. I don't blame them. It's nasty and scary and they want out of there. The thing is they should never have been there in the first place, especially riding in a bulky and awkward stroller. Parents need to use more common sense about what age groups can and cannot benefit from a show that features mostly scale trains and equipment.
Jim,
You tactfully said what I wanted to say!
ENJOY,
I was at a trainshow a little while ago near Hamilton ON where I came across a large collection of 40' boxcars that were the very ones that I needed for grainboxes for my granger shortline. Came across a fellow who was wearing bright neon yellow spandex pants and a polka dotted orange and purple ladies top--- this on a 400lb+ frame----and crowned with a tinfoil hat and carrying a little pink handbag---. This fellow was going around making little "choo choo" sounds. Had basically no hygiene to speak of----I kept looking around for his mum----
Sometimes I wonder if these people do not have someone to really look after their needs----
Any argument carried far enough will end up in Semantics--Hartz's law of rhetoric Emerald. Leemer and Southern The route of the Sceptre Express Barry
I just started my blog site...more stuff to come...
http://modeltrainswithmusic.blogspot.ca/
Call me overly logical, but there are times when even passenger cars travel empty and if a train of empties is running at night, who would be on it to turn on the lights?
My wife just reminded me of her only visit to the Timonium train show with me in Maryland. It wasn't really an obnoxious patron but more of a comical one.
Off to the side in one of the building where they display the live steam loco's, and the some of the larger club layouts up front where all the live steam stuff was displayed they had a manikin dressed as a conductor, a skinny old caricature with more wrinkles then carter has pills and who was supposed to be as old as time it self. Well this frail old gentlemen who had to be in his late 80's or even 90's dressed in his own train show garb, asked the dummy what time it was as it was holding a pocket watch in it's one hand. Of course there was no answer so he asks again!, no people are watching this spectacle and still nothing comes out of the dummy's mouth so he asked one more time raising his voice, what the Blank! dammed time is it you blank! when he did not get his answer a slew of curse words came out of his mouth that would have made a Teamster blush and he just moseyed on his way. Myself and a couple of guys next to me were crying we were laughing so hard.
When I was in a model railroad club back in high school/early college, there were two types of people who would come through during our open house that always drove me crazy with keeping an eye on them. The first was the people who weren't content to just look at the layout. They had to keep reaching over and putting their fingers on the track or scenery, sometimes even the trains themselves. The other people I saw that would drive me nuts are the ones who would come in with food and sit their food, usually drinks on the layout so that they could eat and watch the trains.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
chatanuga When I was in a model railroad club back in high school/early college, there were two types of people who would come through during our open house that always drove me crazy with keeping an eye on them. The first was the people who weren't content to just look at the layout. They had to keep reaching over and putting their fingers on the track or scenery, sometimes even the trains themselves. The other people I saw that would drive me nuts are the ones who would come in with food and sit their food, usually drinks on the layout so that they could eat and watch the trains. Kevin
Kevin,They still have the touchy feelies-usually adults or smaller kids counting cars..Haven't seen the food thing..
Thankfully we have a old dining table we use for repairs and and eating lunch during public shows.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
JimValle I've been going to big regional train shows for a lot of years now. I notice that Saturdays can get very crowded and it takes real concentration, discipline and determination to accomplish any business in the face of all that population pressure. I don't see much rudeness, just different folks trying to cope with a solid wall of humanity. On Sundays the shows are much quieter and you can stroll around and take your time. That's when I get most of my purchases done and folks are more affable. My one real peeve is people who bring small children and infants to a really crowded show. The noise level is high, the place usually smells bad, it's hot and sweaty and after a while the little ones just loose it and start crying and screaming uncontrollably. I don't blame them. It's nasty and scary and they want out of there. The thing is they should never have been there in the first place, especially riding in a bulky and awkward stroller. Parents need to use more common sense about what age groups can and cannot benefit from a show that features mostly scale trains and equipment.
I don't know about infants, but I've been taking my boys to train shows since the youngest was 3 years old. Yes, parents can be inconsiderate, but if the child wants to go and actually enjoys it, you should take him.
The trick is to understand that the child doesn't have your endurance for bargain hunting or special item hunting among booth after booth. When I take the kids, I'm ready to leave the show as soon as the kids lose it. And that's the way you have to do kids and train shows. I usually take the kids on Saturday and take a quick look around. If it looks like there's a lot of stuff I might want to inspect more closely, I go back on Sunday without the kids.
There have been train shows -- especially ones with extensive Lego layouts, where I'VE been ready to leave and can't tear the kids away.
CTValleyRR JimValle I've been going to big regional train shows for a lot of years now. I notice that Saturdays can get very crowded and it takes real concentration, discipline and determination to accomplish any business in the face of all that population pressure. I don't see much rudeness, just different folks trying to cope with a solid wall of humanity. On Sundays the shows are much quieter and you can stroll around and take your time. That's when I get most of my purchases done and folks are more affable. My one real peeve is people who bring small children and infants to a really crowded show. The noise level is high, the place usually smells bad, it's hot and sweaty and after a while the little ones just loose it and start crying and screaming uncontrollably. I don't blame them. It's nasty and scary and they want out of there. The thing is they should never have been there in the first place, especially riding in a bulky and awkward stroller. Parents need to use more common sense about what age groups can and cannot benefit from a show that features mostly scale trains and equipment. I don't know about infants, but I've been taking my boys to train shows since the youngest was 3 years old. Yes, parents can be inconsiderate, but if the child wants to go and actually enjoys it, you should take him. The trick is to understand that the child doesn't have your endurance for bargain hunting or special item hunting among booth after booth. When I take the kids, I'm ready to leave the show as soon as the kids lose it. And that's the way you have to do kids and train shows. I usually take the kids on Saturday and take a quick look around. If it looks like there's a lot of stuff I might want to inspect more closely, I go back on Sunday without the kids. There have been train shows -- especially ones with extensive Lego layouts, where I'VE been ready to leave and can't tear the kids away.
Liam didn't care about the stuff for sale, all he wanted to do is check out ALL the layouts.
Set the 2 step ladder up, up to the top rung & he was good to go, even better if he saw steam.
Like I said in an earlier post, as soon as Dave offered to let Liam run his GO Train, he stood still for a very long time (for Liam) very carefully holding onto the remote playing with the throttle. I kinda felt sorry for the passengers on board.
I may regret wanting to take him to Steam Town in a year or two. I'll never be able to come back to Canada at that point.
Took him to a show a few years ago, man he wailed as I carried him out before he wanted to go!
Gordon
Brought to you by the letters C.P.R. as well as D&H!
K1a - all the way
Generally, the only train show I go to is the local one here at nearby Roseville in November, which takes up most of the Placer County exhibit halls. TONS of people, TONS of exhibits, and if you hit it on the first day (which I generally do), it can be a real circus.
But for the most part, I have a good time.
Worst example: About three years ago I found myself at a certain large booth advertising scenery and weathering material that I use quite a bit--I will not name the Mfgr, but they're well known and well thought of in the hobby. A very nice woman that I'd met several times before, behind the counter was holding forth in a conversation with several very interested modelers, and I was perusing their new rock-castings and weathering powder. Next to me a fellow even older than I am (I didn't think it possible) was grousing to a friend of his about what a mere 'woman' could possibly know about the hobby.
"She must have been hired just for the show," he muttered.
I smiled at him. "She co-owns the company. What she doesn't know hasn't been invented."
He just blinked at me. I picked up the rock-castings I needed and stood in line for my purchase. He kept muttering. I actually wanted to DECK the Old Fart.
Funniest one:
This year, I got stuck (thankfully) at a very crowded booth where a woman was selling off her late husband's custom-painted, beautifully running brass steam locomotive collection at VERY bargain prices. As I lifted a Westside box out of the bin to look at the locomotive inside, I heard from the other end of the table, "Hey, I was looking at that, leave it alone!" I turned to see who the Crashing Boor was, recognized a buddy of mine. Big grin on his face. "It has the wrong tender," he laughed.
I opened the box, looked in. An absolutely gorgeous custom-painted locomotive. Just what I needed. Hey, I MEAN it! I laughed back. "It's Southern Pacific. They ALWAYS have the wrong tender!" (for you non SP steam fans, Southern Pacific was notorious for switching tenders on their steamers almost every time they went in for shopping).
As I paid the woman for my SP F-5 2-10-2 with the strange tender and my buddy paid her for his SP Ex-B&M Berkshire--with the even STRANGER tender-- he grinned at me. "What are we going to do with these?"
"Run 'em," I shrugged.
The woman just smiled. Frankly, I hope she sold them all.
I like train shows. But I'll agree, sometimes you can run into some REAL characters! Both idiot and buddy.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
~G4
19 Years old, modeling the Cowlitz, Chehalis, and Cascade Railroad of Western Washington in 1927 in 6X6 feet.
I have many hobbies besides Model Railroading. One of them is building and riding custom Harleys. Of all the different "swap meets" I go to. The people at the model train ones are the most rude and the people at the bike ones are the most pleasant. You would think it would be the other way around.....LOL. One of my main complaints at model train shows are the growing number of people (old f**ts) who ride around on electric carts/chairs, which take up a lot of space. I'm even starting to see traffic jams of them now at shows. I guess I shouldn't complain because I'm pushing the big 60 and I might be one of them in the not so distant future.
Capt.Harley
Seaboard Air Line Ry- - - - - - "Through the Heart of the South"..... and Mine Too!
Seaboard Air Line Ry, "Through The Heart Of the South"
Logging Railroads: where the best *** geared engine ever made was the Willamette!
7j43kOh darn. I thought this was going to be a "how to" discussion. Well, never mind. Ed
Ed
WWWEEEELLLLL----you could kinda glean some information from the thread----
Allegheny2-6-6-6 My wife just reminded me of her only visit to the Timonium train show with me in Maryland. It wasn't really an obnoxious patron but more of a comical one. Off to the side in one of the building where they display the live steam loco's, and the some of the larger club layouts up front where all the live steam stuff was displayed they had a manikin dressed as a conductor, a skinny old caricature with more wrinkles then carter has pills and who was supposed to be as old as time it self. Well this frail old gentlemen who had to be in his late 80's or even 90's dressed in his own train show garb, asked the dummy what time it was as it was holding a pocket watch in it's one hand. Of course there was no answer so he asks again!, no people are watching this spectacle and still nothing comes out of the dummy's mouth so he asked one more time raising his voice, what the Blank! dammed time is it you blank! when he did not get his answer a slew of curse words came out of his mouth that would have made a Teamster blush and he just moseyed on his way. Myself and a couple of guys next to me were crying we were laughing so hard.
Dave,
Belleville this weekend, which day are you going to be there?
Liam is eager to gain the throttle again, go figure!
Hope the passengers don't have motion sickness
ccarannaAllegheny2-6-6-6 My wife just reminded me of her only visit to the Timonium train show with me in Maryland. It wasn't really an obnoxious patron but more of a comical one. Off to the side in one of the building where they display the live steam loco's, and the some of the larger club layouts up front where all the live steam stuff was displayed they had a manikin dressed as a conductor, a skinny old caricature with more wrinkles then carter has pills and who was supposed to be as old as time it self. Well this frail old gentlemen who had to be in his late 80's or even 90's dressed in his own train show garb, asked the dummy what time it was as it was holding a pocket watch in it's one hand. Of course there was no answer so he asks again!, no people are watching this spectacle and still nothing comes out of the dummy's mouth so he asked one more time raising his voice, what the Blank! dammed time is it you blank! when he did not get his answer a slew of curse words came out of his mouth that would have made a Teamster blush and he just moseyed on his way. Myself and a couple of guys next to me were crying we were laughing so hard. Hilarious. Sounds like the show was worth the trip.
I think I saw that mannequin for sale in a recent Historic Rail catalog. I would have considered getting it for a Halloween decoration if it wasn't 600 bucks.
Hey don't forget the annoying vendors/dealers! You know the ones who act like they are doing you a huge favor by being there at the show, and by golly you should be grateful he/she is there! We should kowtow and show proper gratefulness and buy from him even though he is asking MSRP or hobby center prices for his goods and treats people like they were trying to steal from him when they browse through his trains. While not very common, I do run into one of these idiots at least once a year. It is amazing they don't become extinct, but I guess they must be breeding somewhere out there to replace the one's that drop out of the train show scene.
Modeling the Motor City
Train shows attract people from all walks of life, but sometimes I have the feeling, that the share of oddball characters is higher at train shows than at any other event. The most annoying kind for me are those "experts" of self acclaim, analyzing the layouts on display and commenting on them, not knowing how the builder of it made it or what he/she intended to achieve. If they had sailed with Columbus, they would have told him "Hey, your are heading the wrong way"
Takes me some energy to stay calm...
Oh what the heck, maybe I'll jump into this one. After 28 year of being the co-sponsor of the Timonium, MD show, I feel I could write a book on some of the folks I have met. Basically if the good Lord made it, at least two of every species have come through our doors....and that is not a bad thing. 99.9% of both attendees and vendors are quite wonderful. Other than loving every aspect of model railroading, it could be our shows that have cemented my interests and major likes in this hobby.
We do have an occasional butthead though, but that is rare indeed. I'll share one incredible experience.
About 15 years back when our admission was $5, a rather portly fellow pulls up directly in front of our entrance, leaves his car running with a lady (wife?) and several kids inside. He stands next to the entrance line and inquires about the cost for admission in a very loud voice.
"$5, sir," said our ticket gal.
"$5? Are you @#*^** -- kidding! Train shows are only $2!" I'm not gonna pay a cent more!"
By this time I was summoned to the front to help out. The commotion had stalled the long entrance line, and our hero was becoming more vocal. I asked him to please step aside so others could enter.
"Look sir, inside are over 800 tables, 16 operating layouts, all day train movies and some clinics which are free. Don't you feel that is worth $5? Besides there is no charge for the kiddies and you may all return free on Sunday"
"You must be Zane! I heard that you were a crook. Now I'm sure of it!" $5!!!!!!! No way am I gonna pay that.
In life there comes a time when conversation just don't work.....finally I just invited him to leave and that is just what he did....hopped in his car and drove off...family and all. I did notice way out of state plates which meant he must have spent a least a tank of gas, numerous tolls, and at lest 6 hours of driving time. But he won his point!! He did not pay the $5 admission fee.
The other annoying patrons I've met would not even require all of the fingers on my right hand for a count....a pretty good record for 28 years! I' m proud to be in this hobby.
HZ
At the train shows in Omaha and the surrounding areas its usually about $5 to get in and it covers both days of the show. Have not seen a show for less than that unless it was a 15 table train show at a church.
Though really what i don't like is the el stinko! People who do not bathe and smell horrible. I mean your stuck in a crowd of people shopping at various tables and you cant escape! I almost stole an elderly man's oxygen tank so i didn't pass out. I was thinking of selling some type of railroad deodorant or maybe a spray at a table. I know some people have it tougher than most but if you can afford to attend the train show you can afford to bathe and not stink. I saw a dealer get tears in his eyes because of the ripe odors from the customer in front of him.
GTX765 I saw a dealer get tears in his eyes because of the ripe odors from the customer in front of him.
I saw a dealer get tears in his eyes because of the ripe odors from the customer in front of him.
Yep. Seen a few in front of a dealer---same thing
Interesting thread...
I went just went to the Denver WGH show this past weekend, and well it started off kinda rough.
I was waiting to enter after buying my ticket, it was pretty packed, and this weirdo smelly dude rushes right in front of me, passing through everybody, like he had to take an emergency *** or something! I yelled at him said "excuse me, where you going, what the hell, we are all waiting in line like adults" he looked at me, and just kept going, shoving into more people as he hastily entered the show floor.
Then, later I was at the Athearn booth, and a couple of the reps were making small talk, and I said "excuse me, do you have the new SD70ACe's on display?" He acted like I interrupted his important conversation and yelled "THERE OVER :THERE, THEY ARE NOT EVEN FOR SALE YET!!" I'm like *** dude, good way to impress potential customers for your product.
In any case, other than that, I had a really great time, I had a couple of great conversations with the local club layout members, I asked alot of questions, and they were very friendly and gave me some great advice on my new layout.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989