Near Pittsburgh, Pa. Outside venue. Ft. Pitt Chapter TSA. Selling some Nscale train stuff. Very disappointed. Mostly Lionel, O and LGB scales. Many collectors and Ebay flippers. Few had working layouts. Has the hobby evolved into a collector one?
Dave K.
Dave K Ft. Pitt Chapter TSA.
I'm surprised that the members of the TSA were able to take time off from their jobs frisking passengers at the airports to have a train show.
Oh, you meant TCA. I believe they are primarily large scale. Probably not the best venue for your interests.
Never been to a train show, and from what I hear and read, never one to attend one.
Rich
Alton Junction
TSA was right
Dave K TSA was right
TCA – Fort Pitt - Home Page (hobbytraincollectors.org)
richhotrainI think maxman is correct.
Wow, probably the first time this year. Don't tell my "boss".
I buy most of my rolling stock and structures at train shows. The price is right. They may need some paint, some details, couplers, whatever, but they go on the layout and look good, for half the price of buying them new. And the last hobby shop up here closed 10 years ago. So it is either train shows or ordering from Walthers at full list price.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
maxman richhotrain I think maxman is correct. Wow, probably the first time this year. Don't tell my "boss".
richhotrain I think maxman is correct.
Train shows are great. I probably bought half my trains at train shows. They are a good place for old NIB (New In Box) trains, which in these days of limited runs can be hard to find.
But you do have to know who is putting on the shows. Some are very targeted to specific parts of the hobby like TCA's toy train shows. Some are small local shows which can have some great prices or be a bust. Some are big general shows.
Personally, I enjoy going to all the shows and seeing what they have. Though after 50 years in the hobby and having more stuff than I can use, I seldom buy much.
Going with my middle son who is into Lionel 3 rail gauge is always great.
Paul
Setting up a working layout, outside, this time of year could be an iffy proposition.
I guess I was spoiled by the Timonium show. Other trains shows I've been to tend to be mostly Lionel and a box of HO stock with horn hook couplers.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
If one is to go to a show by the Train Collectors Association, then, yes, you will come away with the impression that things are slanted to collectors.
Is there a place that shows what train shows are still happening... accurately.
I am planning a ling trip in June, and if I can hit a good train show ANYWHERE! I would love to.
I am not going to the Northeast or Califiornia and the Desert Southwest, but I am going everywhere else.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 I am not going to the Northeast or Califiornia and the Desert Southwest, but I am going everywhere else. -Kevin
richhotrain Never been to a train show, and from what I hear and read, never one to attend one. Rich
Rich,
Train shows are a double edged sword, and some are better than others. The Timonium show here has always been very good. The Greenberg shows are OK, but not great.
Personally, I have to be in the right mood, and be looking for a list of specific out of production stuff to be really modivated.
Of course when I go to Timonium I see lots of people I know, that is sometimes nice.
I don't like the crowds, the strollers, the bad food, or the rude people........
Sometimes you find great deals on great stuff, sometimes not so much.
It is largely a big model train flea market, but with many of the vendors being extensions of regular brick and mortar shops selling current stuff. Places I would not normally travel to becuase they are far away and they do the whole train show circuit.
And then you have the display layouts, modular groups who come and setup, some are pretty big and rather impressive, some not so much.
While somewhat interested in trains, my 9 year old grandson does not have the patience for it, even when he knows he can get stuff........
When I go, I prefer to go alone or sometimes with one friend........
You should go once, just to see some of thew old out of production stuff for sale if nothing else. It can be like a museum of the hobby.
Sheldon
ATLANTIC CENTRAL richhotrain Never been to a train show, and from what I hear and read, never one to attend one. Rich Rich, You should go once, just to see some of thew old out of production stuff for sale if nothing else. It can be like a museum of the hobby. Sheldon
richhotrainKevin, don't do what you did last time. If you get to Maryland, eat crab. If you go to East Boston's Little Italy, eat Italian food. Don't you dare order Cajun!
I will not be going to Boston or Maryland this trip. Those will wait for a Timonium Show to be tacked on.
This trip will be Illinois and Washington to see my babies. Michigan Upper Peninsula, North Dakota, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, and places in between.
ATLANTIC CENTRALWhen I go, I prefer to go alone or sometimes with one friend.
It is hard to find a good train show friend. Randy and I always had a good time together, but others I did not pair with as well.
Now I only go with my wife, but she makes me spend too much money.
NittanyLion If one is to go to a show by the Train Collectors Association, then, yes, you will come away with the impression that things are slanted to collectors.
SeeYou190 Is there a place that shows what train shows are still happening... accurately. I am planning a ling trip in June, and if I can hit a good train show ANYWHERE! I would love to. I am not going to the Northeast or Califiornia and the Desert Southwest, but I am going everywhere else. -Kevin
The Atlanta shows are scheduled for late August and late October. The Duluth show early then the Cobb Galleria show. Google search shows the dates.
- Douglas
Train shows can be great but don't go ecpecting to find x. go for the social and look around, you may find what you are looking for or maybe something you never knew existed.
This thread reminded me to take a look at the Amherst Railway Society for info about a 2022 Model Railroad show (I have purchased many an item at previous Amherst W. Springfield shows, at prices better than Walthers or (shudder)MircoMark - or even eBay (not that hard to beat nowadays). Nothing about a 2022 show was referenced on the website's home page (just a recap ofthe 2021 virtual show), or even on the 'Attending The Show' page, but under Hours there was this:Saturday January 29, 2022 - 9:00am - 5:00pmSunday January 30, 2022 - 10:00am - 5:00pmThose are valid dates, so hopefully they are indeed gearing up for 2022 (I'll remember to bring my proof of Vacination...)
chutton01This thread reminded me to take a look at the Amherst Railway Society for info about a 2022 Model Railroad show (I have purchased many an item at previous Amherst W. Springfield shows, at prices better than Walthers or (shudder)MircoMark - or even eBay (not that hard to beat nowadays). Nothing about a 2022 show was referenced on the website's home page (just a recap ofthe 2021 virtual show), or even on the 'Attending The Show' page, but under Hours there was this: Saturday January 29, 2022 - 9:00am - 5:00pm Sunday January 30, 2022 - 10:00am - 5:00pm Those are valid dates, so hopefully they are indeed gearing up for 2022 (I'll remember to bring my proof of Vacination...)
I've been to that show 3 times and it was always good. The only down side is it was bloody cold - it's like going on an arctic expedition to go to those shows. One year my brand new car couldn't keep the windshield from icing over and obscuring forward few so I had to stop a number of times ot clear it.
Yeah, so brace yourself for the arctic blast to go unless by some fluke, it's not bloody cold!
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
riogrande5761 Yeah, so brace yourself for the arctic blast to go unless by some fluke, it's not bloody cold!
Global warming; maybe Greta is onto something with her frowny face. Other than the windshield freezing up that one time, I haven't had any problems either. I just hate bitter cold weather. But I still enjoyed the show.
riogrande5761 The only down side is it was bloody cold - it's like going on an arctic expedition to go to those shows.
I will probably never go to a Springfield show. I just don't do cold, and I will never own a coat.
SeeYou190I will probably never go to a Springfield show. I just don't do cold, and I will never own a coat.
Generally there is enough body heat from the other 20,000 people that a coat is not required.
SeeYou190 riogrande5761 The only down side is it was bloody cold - it's like going on an arctic expedition to go to those shows. I will probably never go to a Springfield show. I just don't do cold, and I will never own a coat. -Kevin
I grew up in hot & dry northern California, I never did cold very well. Nor high humidity for that matter, ahem. The cold was part of the reason my first marriage didn't last. You see she was born and raised there and will probably live there all her life. I couldn't tolerate it.
But, the Springfield show is probably the best show I've ever attended, so if you can brave it, I don't think you'll regret it.
riogrande5761 SeeYou190 riogrande5761 The only down side is it was bloody cold - it's like going on an arctic expedition to go to those shows. I will probably never go to a Springfield show. I just don't do cold, and I will never own a coat. -Kevin I grew up in hot & dry northern California, I never did cold very well. Nor high humidity for that matter, ahem. The cold was part of the reason my first marriage didn't last. You see she was born and raised there and will probably live there all her life. I couldn't tolerate it. But, the Springfield show is probably the best show I've ever attended, so if you can brave it, I don't think you'll regret it.
I can say that having attended these events for the last 50 years with each decade they have become more and more commercialised - that's here in the UK I mean, but regarding the cold - which I loathe - my girlfriend who I'd met in summer time in Santa Barbara CA went to college in Worcester MA and I visited her in February and I can tell you after a lifetime of moving around the planet for work and play that is the coldest I have ever been. It was brutal, so I can see why a guy brought up in CA just couldn't get to grips with it. I couldn't.
There are 2 types of train shows the giant swap meet shows like Greenberg and smaller ones like the semi-annual NY society of model engineers show. Now that I have a mobility scooter I should be able to due laps at the Edison, NJ shows once they resume.
The second type is the more educational like the WGH or National Train Show where the manufacturer's have booths to show off their latest greatest wares.
Both types are fun and sometimes you can get bargains.
Joe Staten Island West
TCA shows are Train Collectors Association shows and geared to that side of the hobby with tinplate, Lionel, LGB in mostly O and G scales with the other scales sprinkled in. You need to go to the nearest NMRA show, those are more of a Scale model train show where you will find N scale, HO scale ect. We have several NMRA shows locally here in Indiana, the large CinTrak N scale modular layout is usually there. Many shows, pre covid, were starting to fall apart. Even some of the well established one up in Chicago that is held monthly. Its a shell of what it once was just a few years ago. Good luck in your train show travels as things start to return somewhat to normal again. Mike the Aspie
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
TheFlyingScotsman riogrande5761 SeeYou190 riogrande5761 The only down side is it was bloody cold - it's like going on an arctic expedition to go to those shows. I will probably never go to a Springfield show. I just don't do cold, and I will never own a coat. -Kevin I grew up in hot & dry northern California, I never did cold very well. Nor high humidity for that matter, ahem. The cold was part of the reason my first marriage didn't last. You see she was born and raised there and will probably live there all her life. I couldn't tolerate it. But, the Springfield show is probably the best show I've ever attended, so if you can brave it, I don't think you'll regret it. I can say that having attended these events for the last 50 years with each decade they have become more and more commercialised - that's here in the UK I mean, but regarding the cold - which I loathe - my girlfriend who I'd met in summer time in Santa Barbara CA went to college in Worcester MA and I visited her in February and I can tell you after a lifetime of moving around the planet for work and play that is the coldest I have ever been. It was brutal, so I can see why a guy brought up in CA just couldn't get to grips with it. I couldn't.