GATS in Portland OR tell me more? and anyone going?

[Anonymous]

This will be my first time going to GATS I think. It all depends on what kind of feedback I get on it. Previous posts show some dissatisfaction with it (other locals) and it sounds like a lot of layouts and manufacturers, but is there a swapmeet, or clinics? I prefer the swapmeets overall since I tend to be on the frugal side and really don't care if I see ad's in person. Goodside of it I was thinking, might get a chance to get some of Atlas' doubleplugs for local roadnames and my wife said she would go, even though she has a phobia of trains. Ah the train bug has bitten even her. So anyone game for this show? [:)]


Chris

[Bob Hayes]

Hi Chris,
I've been to the Novenber show, when it coinsided with the wood working show, which last year it didn't. Since I live in Chiloquin, which is near Klamath Falls, it's not worth the drive for me. But since you are much closer, it's not too bad, and if you don't find anything you want, there's Vic's, The Hobby Smith, and The Whistle Stop pretty close, who will be glad to take your money. As far as the show itself is concerned, it's about average; high parking fee, $6 or $7 to get in, and a lot of Lionel. I've been in the hobby since July 1954, so there's not a lot of stuff they will have that I will want. But for someone who hasn't amassed 700 freight cars, you might find something of interest.
Bob Hayes

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bob [:D]
I thought it might be worth at least a one time visit, but I don't like Portland it's just to big. And to think at one time I lived in Los Angeles [:p] I guess like you said, other places will steal my money so.....
I've heard of The Hobby Smith, The Whistle Stop, and Tammi's but not Vic's I'll have to look that up, and if I can't get to them all I just found out today I will be going up there again on March 30th for a DHS training.
I know Chiloquin somewhat, my motherinlaw lives in K Falls so I get down there about once a year, Collier Memorial State Park is one of my favorite places for visiting. Thanks again.

Chris

[Bob Hayes]

Chris,
Vic's is on Broadway on the westbound side. He's more O scale than anything else, but has some other scales too, and a nice O scale layout in the basement. I've not been to Tammie's.

If you get to Collier Park, you are only about 4 miles from Train Mountain, largest 7.5" gauge RR in the world according to Guinness Book of World Records, and I'm next door.

What part of L.A. are you from? I was born in Pomona, and lived most of my life in and around L.A. & Orange counties.

Bob Hayes

[Anonymous]

You know with as many times as I've been down there I didn't know about Train Mountain till about six months ago. It is on my destination hotspots list, I want to take my daughter since she is crazy about the whole train thing to. I grew up in Northeast LA, not quite Eaglerock or Glendale but about two miles from Taylor Yard. Thats where I became an SP fan, watching them roll thru all day. In fact it's horrible to say but I became friends with one girl (during my teen years) mostly because she and her parents lived on a hillside that overlooked the yard. Been around most of Southern Cali, Anaheim, Pomona, Hollywood, Northridge, and on and on....
Thanks for the tip on Vic's currently I'm going N scale and giving my daughter the HO, but I'm not picky and now with my own house, someday I wil get a garden RR up and running just gotta get the wife over her phobia first. Thats where N scale come in, she thinks their cute.

Chris

[Bob Hayes]

Chris,
Check out www.trainmountain.org
They have a meet coming up June 3-5, with a work week before.
Bob Hayes