What to and what not to buy at train showsTo

[Trainman440]

I do buy scenery materials, details, parts, structures, and rolling stock. 

Track, in my opnion, is questionable, (usally too expensive in shows)

Since I love both the modern DCC sound as well as older locos such as MDC roundhouse, or brass locos to fix/restore just for fun, I always buys locos in train shows. 

Oh yea and I always look under the table to find some real "Steals"

dehusman, I would love to buy a Bachmann 4-6-0 for $50! I see them sell for around $75 these days. 

Charles

[groundeffects]

What to buy: 

Rolling stock (I've bought most of my N scale PFE orange reefers at train shows)

Structures:  even if they aren't exactly what you're planning to build, I will occasionally buy one to tinker around with. I just make sure they're nice and cheap.

Books:  I've bought many rare railroading books at train shows.  At one show, I didn't even buy any model trains, but spent close to 200.00 on some rare Espee books I'd been looking for.

Not to buy:

Locomotives-though on one occasion I bought some engines as the vendor was also a hobby shop I visit every month or so, and they recognized me.  They said I could return the models to their shop if there were issues.  None so far-them Espee GP9's run great!

Anything I can get from a local hobby shop at close to the same prices, as I 'd like to support them as much as I can.

Jeff           

[cats think well of me]

I'm hitting up Timonium this weekend. I'm going in with a specific list of items of must-haves: certain freight and passenger car models; a BLI or brass Pennsy K4s, (if the price is fair.) Plus, particular figures and vehicles. I will not be buying scenery materials, structures, signals, track, roadbed, and DCC components, as I do not have a layout in progress. As for tools, I'll see what is there, than decide. Books and magazines Pennsy related may be purchased as well.