I live in a rural area of Arkansas with no major train show within convenient driving distance. I read with envy about major train shows around the country that others can attend with ease. I am interested in making a road trip that would let me visit some of the major shows but I don't want to make any trip blind and be dissapointed because the show was not as great as I expected. I am looking for input on where some of the major shows are located. Also, I model N scale so having a major N scale component would be a plus.
I have heard numerous reference to Timonium....is it as good as people think? How about the N scale convention each year (Chicago for 2019)? I have been to some of the commercial shows (Great Train, etc) and I was not as impressed as I expected. Seen one and you have seen them all plus not so great pricing.
Disreguarding distances, where should I try to travel?
Paul D
N scale Washita and Santa Fe RailroadSouthern Oklahoma circa late 70's
Paul,
Timoniun has great shows(been there once). I am surprised you are looking so far away. Trainfest in the Milwaukee area is this weekend, and I have been going there for a number of years. Lots of stuff to buy and lots to see.
Are you sure there is nothing closer to you? A quick search shows at least 3 large shows in Texas and 2-3 shows in the St Louis area. St Louis and Kansas City are hotbeds for model railroading...
Jim
Modeling BNSF and Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
Jim,
I am aware of some of those shows but I have never attended any of them. I am leary of the show hype. The largest show I have attended is in OKC (I used to live ini that area) and it was very nice. First weekend in Dec each year and I think I will drive over this year. About a 5 hour drive for me on way. I know St Louis and KC are hot beds and I am willing to drive to either if the drive was worth it. Looking for some feedback on how good some of these shows are before I plan any trip.
I wouldn't drive 2 days to go to Timonium. I was there a couple Sundays ago. I felt bad for the venders and the clubs that set up modular layouts. At most of the layouts, I was the only person looking.
There seemed to be less vendors than usual and way less customers than you would see normally in the first fall show. None of the big companies, Athearn, Atlas, Bachmann, Rapido, or the DCC companies come to this show. I would enjoy a show that was more of a trade show than a yard sale.
Some of the smaller companies do come, Yankee Dabbler, CMR, Nick & Nora, Funaro and Camelengo. There is always someone selling Tichy, and NJ International. Don't know if they are from those companies or not. Lots of books and t-shirts and memorabilia
There are seminars: LED's, resin kit construction, DCC. There are bargains. There is also a lot of stuff that I don't believe they will ever sell...train set type trains and old buildings of poor quality
I'm a HO scale guy, but there are N scale vendors and layouts. Modeltrainstuff is only 10 minutes away.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Timonium used to be better but it's still pretty good and big. Some days are better than others. I went to Sunday's Timonium show because something got scheduled on Saturday and I couldn't make it; Sunday was slow.
I've noticed company reps almost never come to Timonium; I saw a guy from ExactRail there maybe once and most of the other big companies seem to go other places.
Probably the best show I've been to anywhere was Springfield MA/Amhearst. I did see big company reps there and lots of good vendors, but it's been probably 10 years since I went and 10 years ago Timonium used to be better too, so not sure if Springfield has wained as well.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
The Amherst Model RR Society show in West Sprigfield, MA is one of the biggest show in the US. At least 4 buildings at the Eastern States Expo. Typical paid attendace is around 20,000 over 2 days, all the major manufacturers are there as well as many layouts. If you live in the East and can travel to a show this is the one to go to
http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/index.php
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
From where you are at, I would definitely travel to the annual train show in Atlanta, GA.
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They only have one a year, so it is something good.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
The Timonium show is not worth an over night trip. The show suffered greatly in the recession ten years ago and never recovered. The Fall and Winter shows are better than Spring and Summer. I drive about 3 hrs each way to get there, but that's about the maximum I would recommend. Even though it has Scale in the name, it also has toy trains, Lionel, MTH, American Flyer, etc.
Paul
I have been to the Springfield, MA, show and it's the best.
The Greenberg shows in the Northeast are a pleasant way to spend a few hours, but they're nothing special.
I went to an NMRA convention in Hartford, CN, and that was well worth it.
Of course, none of these was more than a couple of hours drive, so no big deal.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Given that many train show are not worth the effort, perhaps look to buy stuff on yahoo groups? I am a member of the HO swap group and have had fantastic sucess. There are pllenty of people looking to buy/sell different cars. You have to know fair market value things, but there are plenty selling cheaper than the train shows.
I would have to agree with those above that the Amherst Model RR Society show in West Sprigfield, MA is probably the best show on the East Coast. I've been to a bunch of different shows but the Springfield show is probably the best I've been to.
My only recent experience is with Timonium, which is about an hour and a half away for me. I've gone occasionally, but with the attitude that I'm going as much for entertainment as for purchasing.
If you're looking for very specific items (like some particular railroad's GPnn Phase x, you might or might not find it. And if you do find it, it might not be any cheaper than if you got it mail order.
On the other hand, if you're willing to opportunistically pick up random bargains, it can be a worthwhile day trip (e.g., last time I picked up a nice condition HO Bachmann Spectrum 2-8-0 with sound for $50). And if you're looking to quickly fill out a gap in your layout, and not a perfectionist, it can be helpful (e.g., last time I picked up a bunch of cheap used structures; not the greatest quality, sometimes not well assembled, but it fills an open space in the layout so that it looks more interesting to a visiting 5 year old).
However, you can do all of this online too, by eek-bay or other sites. Examples: I've bought cheap used structures that way, and also got a like new Bachmann Spectrum K4 with sound for a reasonable $65 (including shipping).
In general, I wouldn't travel more than about 90 minutes to go to a show, unless I had other reasons for the trip (e.g., an additional reason to go to Baltimore). Otherwise, I think the time, mileage, and lunch money is better spent on the layout itself, or other useful purposes. Also: as with auction websites, don't assume everything you will see at a show is a bargain; some dealers charge as much or more than does your local shop or one of the online train stores--and without the option to return the next week if there is a problem. (Hint: some shows or dealers have a test track. Some don't. I always take along a couple of pieces of snap track, and a 9 volt battery whose terminals can be placed onto the track. It's not a perfect test, but at least if gives me an idea as to whether a loco will move or an illuminated item works as advertised.)
I do enjoy the modular layout setups. As I said above, I go for entertainment as much as for shopping.
Timonium - looks like I can strike it off my list. It was on my list because I had heard so much about it in the past.
Atlanta - 10 hour drive for me but I could handle that if the show was really good and had some good clinics. I looked up the 2018 show and they has 260 vendors which tells me that it is a strong show but no clinics as far as I can tell.
Oklahoma City - A good show the first weekend in Dec each year. Lots of vendors and layouts. I have attended this one many time in the past but it is now a 6 hour drive for me. No clinics.
DFW area - Will have a show Jan 20/21 in Plano TX. Big show with clinics. Not been to this one before but I really want to attend some of the clinics so I will probably try to make this one and see if the 5 hour drive pays off.
Overall, I agree with everyones comments. In general, I seldom find a really good bargan so that is not my main reason for attending. I enjoy seeing the layouts and stuff they do that I might try out myself. Also like looking at vendors stock and seeing if they offer something that I did not know existed. I will probably stick to the small local shows I find within easy driveing distances. That is where I often find some bargans.
Looks like you just missed the one in Springfield MO. That one always was good. The OKC train show was mentioned and that was the largest one in the area. There used to be smaller shows in Stillwater, Enid and Tulsa when I lived in Oklahoma but that has been a while back. I feel your pain- we have a few in the area I live in (south central VA) but I got spoiled when I lived in the midwest (Indiana and Chicago) for shows. Looking for N-scale at shows does become a little bit harder. It seems like it varies show to show a lot.
While not close to the OP, Mainline Hobbies in Blue Ridge Summit, PA organizes a once a year open house or houses at 15 maybe 20 private layouts. You would have to plan on spending an entire day, if not two to see all the layouts, because the cover a wide area.
My point is that, because these are fixed layouts, the quality is on a par with what you see posted by the best modelers in this forum. Modular layouts are built, in part, to be easily transportable and unbreakable.
For those willing to drive to south central PA, it would be a weekend well spent. The store, itself, is very well stocked.
Over the years I've heard some folks gripe about paying to get into shows to spend their money. But the way I view it, if you're going because you like trains, enjoy looking at layouts and seeing everything imaginable, then it's money well spent. Other folks spend small fortunes going on vacations or sporting events. It's all what you enjoy.
As others have said, the Amherst Railway Society show in Springfield, MA, is probably the largest in the country. http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/
Trainfest is a very good show, just not as large. But nicer facilities.
You might also want to look into some of the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour shows. The size varies depending on loaction, but they can be quite enjoyable. They're like a smaller Trainfest or Springfield show. http://www.wghshow.com/
The thing is, there is no one thing that meant by the phrase "Train show." Trainfest in Milwaukee for example is largely operating layouts, kids activities, historical societies, and manufacturers, with vendors but of new stuff. It is not a swap meet and there is little or nothing in the way of used stuff for sale. It has always been run that way. Some manufacturers sell, others do not. Kalmbach has a large presence but so does White River most years, and Carstens came in the past.
Other shows are essentially huge swap meets with a smattering of operating layouts and perhaps a dealer or two selling new stuff (or used stuff). The Galesburg IL show during Railroad Days is of that sort. the one time I attended the show in Peoria it struck me as purely a swap meet.
Locally the shows at Madison WI and Green Bay WI blend the operating layouts/swap-used/dealers of new but for the most part there are no manufacturers; Kambach might or might not be there.
The only N scale convention I have been to was in Milwaukee. It has the usual clinics and modular layouts but they had a robust sales room with a mix of manufacturers (including some smaller "basement" operations that rarely are seen at more general interest shows), and lots of used and collectible N. There are also layout tours and other tours that would be of interest to a modeler in any scale. I would not hesitate to recommend an N scale convention but it is not just a train show by any means and I cannot really say how satisifed I would have been by just the show (since I merely dabble in N and am NOT a collector the way these guys are. I actually open packages.).
I love train shows. I live in Milwaukee but go to Galesburg (240 miles), Davenport Iowa (220 miles) from time to time, and Madison and Green Bay are fairly nearby. There are usually other reasons to go to Galesburg and Davenport, such as railfanning, so it is not like I drive all that way and get a motel room just for a swap meet. I will drive 100 miles just for a train show/swap meet however
Dave Nelson
ctyclsscsOver the years I've heard some folks gripe about paying to get into shows to spend their money.
There are online coupons to get a buck off for Timonium. Coupon or not, it's a 6 pack of craft beer or less.
I'm embarrassed to say this, but at the Timonium show, at 10 am, there was one guy at the desk, facing 90 degrees away from the front door pounding away on a laptop. He ignored me, saying "Excuse me" several times. A vendor walked up, looked at me right in the eye, they had a short conversation, with the vendor never telling him him had a paying customer. The vendor left, the guy continued to ignore me.
I did not pay.
When I left 3 hours later, there were 4 people working the desk. He was still on the computer.
PED In general, I seldom find a really good bargan so that is not my main reason for attending.
I've definitely fournd some good bargains at Timonium every year.
Over the years I've heard some folks gripe about paying to get into shows to spend their money.
Easy answer, tell if they aren't happy, don't go. I like it for a trip out with my wife, browsing the tables for bargains - often I do find, and watching trains run on the large modular layouts.
riogrande5761I've definitely fournd some good bargains at Timonium every year.
I have found some good bargains there as well, a couple that were real suprises. But being in S scale, I don't always find something in that scale to buy. But I always enjoy going. A big part for me is going with my middle son who got into Lionels about 3 years ago. Just spending the day together talking trains and enjoying the show is great.
I like train shows for the things I'm NOT looking for. It might be detail parts, or a nice vehicle or two, or some figures. One Greenberg vendor has a stock of 2-56 hardware in convenient sizes you won't find in a hardware store. Because of his constantly updated Accurail inventory, I now print off a list of all my rolling stock and bring it to shows so I don't end up with duplicate road numbers.
Operating layouts are a constant inspiration and source of ideas. I always bring a camera.
The price of admission is generally less than a movie about outer space aliens or Jennifer Lopez. A few hours at a train show is time and money well spent.
PEDAtlanta - 10 hour drive for me but I could handle that if the show was really good and had some good clinics. I looked up the 2018 show and they has 260 vendors which tells me that it is a strong show but no clinics as far as I can tell.
You are correct, there were no clinics at the event. Parking is also a huge pain, you might need GPS to figure where you left your car. They did have five absolutely beautiful operating layouts. I post a bunch of pictures of them over in "Show Me Something" from time to time.
MisterBeasleyI like train shows for the things I'm NOT looking for. It might be detail parts, or a nice vehicle or two, or some figures.
Me too. When I know what I want, I can just go buy it. Going to train shows, swap meets, and out-of-town hobby shops lets me explore for the unknown items I really need!
To me, patronizing a good or any train show is a minor investment in the future of our hobby. Train shops are rapidally going the same route as the phone both. Some clubs are not that user friendly, and on-line shopping, although king of the hill right now, is not at all condusive for new entrants into model trains.
Other than knowing folks with layouts, club open houses, and museums with pikes, where are folks going to learn about this hobby. Some good shows have all day clinics, consignment tables, operating displays with friendly folks greatly willing to share....and yes there are dealers, both professional and individuals willing to share knowledge in addition to offering items for sale along with advice.
I love these shows for the above and many other reasons...so much so, that I co-founded the Timonium show and co-ran it for 31 years. I still attend even after selling it four years ago....but unfortunately not as often as I'd like to.
The price of admission to these shows are quite a bargain for what can be a day's entertainment and then some.
For the record, Scott Geare who purchased the show has worked his butt off maintaining and improving it and he has guaranteed its legacy which was and is important to me, and Ken Young, the co-founder. Scott is a computer person and sometimes gets quite involved with his laptop at the show, but he is using it for the show. I'm quite sure had he known a customer was waiting to pay for admission, he would have reacted and in a positive manner. What I do not understand is that 10 am is prime time and there are always at least two folks at the admission table....could have been a fluke, but rest asssured he is a good guy and has the show's best interest in mind.
My two bucks.....
HZ
Train shows are a treasure hunt. Don't overlook the small shows either. Often I have found the best deals at small shows. I always go with a list but it seems like I find stuff that isn't on my list that I "needed." One thing I have found however is that not all shows are listing themselves in one place. You have to check multiple places. Some of the ones in our area and TCA meets and these tend not to be listed as much on the scale sites. It seems like occasionally there is a glitch in MR's coming events too. Jim
In my opinion, train shows are not what they used to be and I can treasure hunt to my hearts content online, all that stuff used to be at train shows but most never make it there now. I have a freind that still dose them but he dose it for fun, used to be profit.
Springfield is THE show to go to. Yes, it's in the separate town of West Springfield, MA at the Big E Fairgrounds, but everyone just calls it "Springfield".
From their website: "In 2018, we celebrate our 50th Anniversary Show! We have increased the size to accommodate the number of folks that wanted to participate. Operating layouts are now a record breaking 60+ and we are over the 400,000 square foot mark - 9 acres of trains!"
Here's a list of 2018's vendors, over 400 of them:http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/files/files/exhibitors.1.23.2018.alpha.pdf
And here's 2018's floor plan:http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/files/files/ARS%202018%20Floor%20Plan.v4.1.FINAL(2).pdf
For the last couple years, they've even had an operating 2-foot gauge steam engine in the parking lot. There is public transportation to the show.
If you're only going to go to one show a year, this is it. Trainfest is nice, but Springfield is literally twice the size. If there's a bigger train show in North America, I don't know about it. I don't know if there's a bigger train show in the world.
Facinating to see what shows are like in other places. I go for the swaps/bargains and things are good in Illinois. Here in Chicago we have the monthly Great Midwest Train Show in Wheaton which never disappoints but I've also had very positive experiences at the much smaller Will County and Blackhawk shows. Even taking into account entry fees, all delivered great bargains at far better than ebay prices.
I hope you find a good show within reasonable distance!
Visit the Chicago Valley Railroad for Chicago Trainspotting and Budget Model Railroading.
There are 2 types of train shows The flea market type such as the Greenberg shows and the manufacturer type show like The National Train Show. I do not think either is worth driving hours to attend but then I don't have to.
I go to the Greenberg show mainly because it's less than an hour away it's a fun afternoon. I also went to the NTS in Cleveland but I was on the way to something else not train related.
The only ”show” I consider worth taking extra time to go to is the semi-annual swap meet of The New York Society of Model Engineers because I can get used equipment for almost pennies there and I get to meet fellow MRR’s in a quiet environment.
Joe Staten Island West
Paul3but everyone just calls it "Springfield".
Except those of us who were born in Springfield.
I think shows are what you make of them. I dislike the digging through some dirty old box of a lot of junk looking for gold. That’s not me. Many friends are.
Trainsfest in Milwaukee, Wi. Is a great show, very busy, energetic, great building and many dealers/mfg. as noted above. The dealers are very friendly with decent deals. The manufacturers are numberous and very willing to take time to talk to you. Trainfest is very kid friendly with many layouts allowing kids to run. It is called the biggest operating layout show. There are a tremendous amounts of layouts in all scales. But again as noted above not a swap meet.
Plano, Texas is good. Sorry, I am not a fan of Springfield, because of facilities. Galesburg is good as is Mad City in Madison Wisconsin in February. Mad City has again as noted no Manufacturers but has the swap meet tables. Another maybe IMO too kid friendly show in a beautiful facility.
My suggestion is to check the show schedules on the websites of Spring Creek Models, YankeeDabbler, Scaletrains, Digitrax, Walthers, the sound decoder companies and then visit the show websites that these guys will be attending. YMMV
Have fun
Tom