When John Tews ran Trainfest here in Milwaukee each November, he was careful to have the advertising say "Not A Swap Meet." There was a reason for that. (And there are plenty of swap meets around Milwaukee -- they have their place, but they feed off the hobby, and do not grow the hobby). The purpose of Trainfest (a 2 day show) is primarily to introduce the hobby to newcomers, as befits its posture as an activity of the local NMRA division, but also to attract the experienced modeler.
The main focus is and was on operating layouts, although there were vendors (dealers), displays, historical societies, and major (and not so major) manufacturers. There were also continuous as well as scheduled clinics by experienced modelers. Current leadership of Ken Jaglinski has mostly kept to those themes, although there is now some used stuff, not much. And Ken has a new emphasis on railroad historical societies and clinics, including some pretty intense clinics.
Attracting both the general public and experienced modelers, with good dealers and manufacturers, both of which tend to shy away from the swap meet atmosphere, as well as operating layouts and displays and clinics, has proven a successful mix for many years now. Most years attendance is 20,000 or better.
I really do regard the usual swap meet as one kind of train show, and a show with dealers, manufacturers, displays, operating layouts, clinics, historical societies, publishers and book dealers, clothing and gift items, and so on, as a whole 'nother kind of show. I enjoy both kinds but go to fewer and fewer swap meets.
As far as distance goes, I regard Trainfest as right around the corner from my house, at about 15 to 20 miles. I happily have driven to shows in Davenport Iowa (220 miles) and Galesburg IL (240 miles) although for Galesburg I do stay overnight to take in Railroad Days (skipped it this year and have yet to hear anything about the new venue). The Green Bay show at 120 miles I also regard as very close -- do the show, hit some hobby shops, do some railfanning, eat at the Titletown Brewery in the old CNW depot, and head home. I usually take a bus that my NMRA division sponsors to the Madison show (85 miles) because that is in winter and there have been blizzards. But I am surprised that guys regard 30 miles as too far to go to a train show. I do agree it might be too far to go to a swap meet unless you know it to be a very good one.
Dave Nelson
never mind.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Howard, you are probably right, but...
We went to your October show for a number of years. Not cheap for us when you consider it involved 2 nights at a motel, meals, etc. But I really enjoyed it & we looked at it like a little weekend get away. The last show we went to, after you retired, was so disappointing, it no longer warrants the expense.
Another show locally changed the venue, resulting in serious parking problems. Drove all the way across town a couple of times only to return home because there simply wasn't any place to park.
And finally , over the last couple of years, the prices asked for by vendors who have nothing but junk is sort of silly. Other vendors are asking for manufacturer's suggested retail prices. Why would anyone want to pay that when on line discounts of 20 - 25% are available.
I know it's my loss, but I haven't been to a train show in 2 or 3 years now.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
There are several types of train shows the real good,the good and the junk man cometh types. These shows will slowly fade into the sunset.Next show check the ages of the dealers. Then modelers doesn't what to drive to a train show,pay for parking,pay to get in and find little things of interest to them.Of course some rush in/out in twenty mintues and then complain about how bad the show was on their favorite forum while others takes 2-3 hours seeking out the deals.
The biggest hurdle facing train shows is price versus the on line shops. I go to the shows looking for good quality use cars and locomotives not the new overprice models I can buy off line cheaper.
New modelers entering the hobby is already aware of the price difference since he's no stranger to on line shopping. He knows there are quality reviews on you tube.
I like model trains and I like SEEing model trains, not just images of a model train on a computer screen. I greatly enjoy visiting a large train show where I can look at the variety and quality of different products in different scales, even if it is not a scale that I model (I'm greatly impressed with the improvement in appearance of N scale diesels in recent years, for example).
When I lived in Virginia I would usually get to the big Timonium show at least twice a year, but it is a long haul from South Carolina. I do visit the smaller local shows, including a run up to Asheville this past spring, but they don't have the variety. As mentioned in an earlier post, finding some of the old kits, out-of-print books, and items one never knew existed is a good portion of the joy of the visit.
I have long practiced deferring hobby purchases until some bills are paid and deferring working on the models until my work around the house is done. Similarly, I stash away available extra funds each month or as available and then can go to the train show with both some purchase money and funds for a safe hotel. This has become my "vacation" in October to go up to the Timonium show and get a good crab cake sandwich and a new Orioles hat in the process. I am already looking forward to attending the October show and have hotel reservations made. Thanks, Howard, for working so many years to make that one of the premier shows. Clearly, I won't be able to travel forever, but for this year I plan to be there again in October and I plan to look at all of 'em (and spend some dollars, too).
If you have never been to one of the larger train shows, I recommend it.
Bill
For me, a big reason I go to train shows / RR flea markets, is to find things that I can't find elsewhere, like kits or engines that were produced a few years back and are now out of stock elsewhere. In some cases, there are vendors who I have been buying from for many years at the shows I go to. In effect, they're a "local hobby shop" only they keep their wares in their house and bring them to the show in a van, instead of having a brick-and-mortar hobby shop. A few even have a part of their house set aside like a store, and open it up to customers say one day a week.
For the trains I purchase, I often do shop at shows now.
I find the better dealers can accept a credit card now, or they have a buddy that will do credit card transactions for them (often the case at Timonium now).
I will be at Timonium on Sunday.
Happy hunting to all.
John Mock
I love train shows. I buy many of my scenery products at train shows. Shows often have things that are no longer available new, mostly from the guys who buy and part out layouts from estate sales. I am a big fan of looking at things before I commit to a purchase. I usually pay in cash.
Stepping out of RR subjects, I buy many things by finding them on line and then using the web to find a store that has them in stock.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
I personally would love to go to a train show but in my area they have mostly vanished even though I live in an area of more than 5 million people. There are still two I know of, both are on the fringes of the area I live and are over 30 miles away and hard to get to (off the beaten path) if you don't have a car (common in this area as public transportation is so good normally). There used to be 6 or more local ones. Most have been gone 15 years or more.
Personally, I really love going to train shows. I enjoy seeing layouts and seeing products in person even in scales or eras I'm not going to buy. I also enjoy seeing old stuff from decades ago. Train shows also have way more stuff to buy than any hobby shop near me. They are like a county fair for trains.
Enjoy
Paul
Same at this end of the Big Pond!
The nearest LHS is an hour´s drive away and usually does not stock what I am looking for. I do all my hobby related purchases online, and as I am going for used stuff, the "Bay" is the place to look for me.
We have a train show in our not so neighborhood ( 60 miles away) once a year, but it´ll cost me $ 40 to get there and pay the entrance charges - too much for the layouts shown and the "bargains" which aren´t any.
LION'S favorite train show is held at Rutgers University, and is hosted by the New York Transit Modlelrs Association. All Subway and Transit, a good venue to get ideas, to see workshops, to meet friends and even buy some stuff.
Now it is true that the LION has been there only once, I mean, really, who would go to New Jersey? Maybe in the future I can plan my vacation around that event, but that will be many years down the road.
Oh well, ... ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
Shopping in general has changed. We buy the majority of our nonfood purchases on line, all our christmas shopping is now done on line. It should be no suprise then that I buy a lot of my model railroad stuff on line as well, especially the stuff I am familier with. I buy most of my flex track and switches on line ( YEA AMAZON.COM!!) I like train shows and try to attend them, but I do not use cash, so I am limited to the vendors who take credit cards. If you want to sell stuff it is very easy to set up a paypal account. I know I would buy a LOT more if paypal was an option.
I've decided not to comment on the already existing thread on train shows as note may be lost. Folks, as you must know, hobby merchandise marketing and sales is greatly changing to on-line almost everythings. Many of our once fine train shops have fallen victim to this change...even some with strong on-line presenses and excellent web sites. It is easy to figure out that the costs of a brick and concrete store cannot compete with on-line 24/7 mostly tax free and strongly discounted shopping. ....henceforth the wholesale demise of these many shops.....in addition to older shop owners retiring or just dying off.
I have noticed in my over 30 years of co-running a rather large train show here in the east the importance of newbies being able to see, touch, and acquire first hand knowledge about model trains. As our fine shops are going south, possible new entrants must rely on train shows to learn about and see first hand what this hobby is about. Of course there are friends with model railroads, club and individual open houses, but rarely are sales conducted at open houses or other activities so often found at stores or train shows.
There is so much more to say about this subject, but in summary all I can really suggest is to support shows as often as possible, as when they go the route of the LHS.....what will follow?
HZ