I live near Sacramento, CA so I usually go to two shows every year that are within 25 miles from home. One is the Train show at the Cal Expo fairgrounds (usually in February), and the other is a train show at the fairgrounds at Roseville (usually in November). I've considered going to a train show at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds in late November (about 2 hours away), but after spending a couple hundred bucks at the last Roseville show, decided it best to pass. I've also got a couple good hobby shops within an hour or so drive from home, so I've got alternatives in case I can't make one of these shows.
Jeff B
While I've personally never had the desire to attend the West Springfield show, many of my club members have been going for several years. We're in Maritime Canada, so the trip is a 7 or 8 hour drive. They usually go on Friday and stay in motels Friday and Saturday nights, sharing rooms and car pooling. Don't think anyone made it this year due to the decline in the Canadian dollar; hard to find bargains when you're paying a 60% premium!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
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Every year I tell myself I'm going to Supertrain in Calgary and was seriously thinking about it again this year. The 1000 KM. drive to Calgary is one I enjoy as it is through the Rockies and the railfanin and CPR ghost hunting is great start to finish. Nothin like a hike in the Rockies when the Grizzlies are just waking up.
However I just got an E-Mail saying the kid has been accepted for a three day Hockey tournament in Calgary just two weeks prior to Supertrain. The tourney will cost close to two grand by the time we pay airfare, truck rentals, hotels, meals and tourney cost.
Coming home only to drive back to Calgary less than two weeks later just won't happen at my age. Oh well there is always next year........... Again.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Have fun with your trains
riogrande5761 IMO, the show is pretty similar to how it was when HZ ran it; I think there were a few vendors who either quit or stopped coming but it's pretty close to what it was and definitely worth it for me. There are often some great bargains from people selling collections and treasures to find. Enjoy watching the layouts run too. I get my fix.
IMO, the show is pretty similar to how it was when HZ ran it; I think there were a few vendors who either quit or stopped coming but it's pretty close to what it was and definitely worth it for me. There are often some great bargains from people selling collections and treasures to find. Enjoy watching the layouts run too. I get my fix.
It's definitely not the show it was before the Great Recession of 2007- . Many vendors (for many reasons) are no longer there. And the void has not been filled. The center and left hall in the Cow Palace used to be all vendors - layouts were all in the right hall.
I still go and it's still the best show I can get get to and back in one day, just not what it used to be.
Enjoy
Paul
The farthest is usually drive is about an hour and a half up to Charlotte. This may change when SCDOT gets cracking on widening I-85 between Spartanburg and Gaffney and its miles of concrete walls, narrow lanes and Lane shifts. That said, when its three lanes, it will be easier.
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I think that if you start looking at the trip logically, like adding up the costs of transportation, parking, etc, to the cost of any items you might buy......then compare that cost to other outlets, you'll discover that there is usually never a very good economic reason to go to a train show.
I go because I like to make a day of it, look at items that I don't normally see, and maybe find that one off item that doesn't appear on the secondary market very often. If I strike out with buying anything, oh well, I had a good time anyway.
If I were going to a show looking to get a great deal on items that are commonly found in LHS's or online outlets, I would be greatly dissappointed.
I live in Indiana and have heard very good things about the annual train show in Dayton, OH. I've never been there, but the 150 mile one way trip from my house would probably be the limit....and if it was a good show.
The NMRA convnetion is in Indy this summer. I will probably get over there for at least part of a day.
- Douglas
i don't have a distance limit as there is absolutely nothing within 100 miles from where I live. If I can drive there in a day and find a reasonable motel rate. then I might go. I am planning on attending the NMRA convention in Indianapolis as I can drive from SE Ohio to there in about six hours. May try to bum off my cousin for a room as he lives in the area and has a two bedroom condo and no wife or kids left at home. I try to make it to local NMRA meetings three to four times a year which are normally 110 miles away.
Jim
IRONROOSTER riogrande5761 IMO, the show is pretty similar to how it was when HZ ran it; I think there were a few vendors who either quit or stopped coming but it's pretty close to what it was and definitely worth it for me. There are often some great bargains from people selling collections and treasures to find. Enjoy watching the layouts run too. I get my fix. It's definitely not the show it was before the Great Recession of 2007- . Many vendors (for many reasons) are no longer there. And the void has not been filled. The center and left hall in the Cow Palace used to be all vendors - layouts were all in the right hall. I still go and it's still the best show I can get get to and back in one day, just not what it used to be. Enjoy Paul
Yes, true. I agree. As noted earlier, I never saw the Timonium show back in it's "glory days". I moved to the DC metro area 2009 because of the recession, and I had family here to help me make the transition. Timonium must have been "something" before the recession because it's still the best thing around this area. It's all relative and you work with what you got - there aren't any good hobby shops in northern Virginia so it's Timonium and a visit to MBK nearby, and the odd Greenberg show, and the internet.
The only other "big" show's I've been to is the yearly NY State fairgrounds show and Springfield. NY State show occupies two large buildings at the fairgrounds (Center of Progress and Horticulture) but it was mostly a huge junk train show with not all that much good product, and not that many good deals - by the time I moved, I was tired of the same ol same ol giant junk train show which really was the same every year. My goodness you could fill a small landfill with all the old toy train junk that lind many isle at every show. At least at Timonium there are often some good bargains, and good finds be between some of the junk train vendors and they are there too for sure.
Of course the other big show which was probably one of the best is the big Amearst/Springfield MA show which I attended 3 different times. Before Springfield and NY State fairgrounds I visited mostly the GATS (Great American Train Show) in various cities where I lived which was pretty big in some places - Houston TX, Louiville KY, Indianapolis IN, Buffalo, Rochester or Syracuse NY.
Don't know what it's like there now but when I was a graduate student at IU in Bloomington, the two shows within striking distance were the GATS show in Louisville KY and Indianapolis. Those were pretty decent back in the day but don't know what they now a days. Indy was about an hour away, and Louisville a bit father IIRC, more like 90 minutes or so.
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Dave,
I'm impressed that you will come all the way to Davenport or Galesburg from Milwaukee. I live in Davenport and about the only thing that would attract me to Milwaukee is if S-Fest were held there some year. That having been said, a 4 to 5 hour journey is about my limit for an overnight, and a 2 to 3 hour driving limit for a one-day event.
I'm curious if you are familiar with the annual show in Lena, IL? Lena is about an hour west of Rockford, IL on US Highway 20 and I consider it to be one of the best shows in our area outside of Chicago.
February 27-28, 2016 - 28TH ANNUAL DEPOT STOVE GANG MODEL RAILROAD SHOW. Le-Win Elementary School Gym, Junior High School Gym, and Senior High School Gym, 401 Fremont Street, Lena. 10 am to 4 pm.
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