Train Show Strategies

[medic_149]

Just want to say thanks to all for the tips on the show. Had a great time at gats. Got a 4-8-4 northern with 52' tender--39.00, also 0-8-0 with tender for 15.00, and a 0-6-0. the guy wanted 20 for it, but couldn't get it to run, so i talked him out of it for 2.75 to use for a staged loco in a logging scene. Went to several of the clinics. Learned a lot about scenery technics.

[Anonymous]

No that was music man , I must have seen 5 people with beenies on space mouse couldnt pick you out !

[fec153]

Hey- If you go, wear PINK hats so you will be recognized.
Flip

[SpaceMouse]

Yes, it's always nice meeting new freinds.

[Anonymous]

Hey Spacemouse It was nice meeting you at the train show.

[SpaceMouse]

My biggest disapointment was the layout, a 15 x 20 foot oval. Most of the HO stuff was junk, but I was able to locate one treasure so to speak. I got 3 Bachman Spectrum passenger cars in PRR. Now I have to figure out how to pull them apart to paint the interiors.

I also got 2 old-time cars, a tanker and a flat car. The flat car was the first pre-1900 one I've seen. I also got 10 MR back ossues for $8.

There was one guy that had a Riavrossi Viginia and Truckie 4-4-0 with 5 matching Overon Passenger cars that wanted $125 for the set. At that price it was not tempting although he insisted he paind $150 for just the engine.

Of all the engines I've purchased, I've never seen one before I bought it. I have been condsidering getting a Spectrm 3 truck Shay, but after today seeing them along side the 2-truck climax, I think I like the Climax better. It's nice to see first.

Another cool thing is that I saw rad markers for 3 railroad points of interest. The Altoona Museum, the Portage National Monument, and Horseshoe Curve. I went as far as pullig off the expressway at the Horseshoe curve exit, but it seven miles out of the way and it had started snowing pretty hard.

The trainshow, interesting but underwhelming.

[Anonymous]

Pinecroft was a big disappointment, for me anyway, it was nothing but old flyer and O gauge! They did have a nice selection of brass, I just didnt have the money for it today. I did manage to pick up a track map of Altoona and Juniata Shops in 1951 for $5.00. Nice to meet someone from the forum also, Spacemouse didnt see ya! Did meet 8500hpgasturbine though...[:D]

[M636C]

As well as getting there early, if you can be there about closing on the last day (if more than one), some dealers aren't keen to pack things away and will drop prices in the last hour. I had been thinking about a Proto1000 Erie Built in UP colours, but the last one sold before I got around to it. However, towards the end, the dealer dropped the price on the UP Erie A+B set, so for a few bucks more, I got two units rather than one. This might not really be an advantage, but I'm happy. This doesn't work for rare items, but if you only want a common unit at a good price, it can work! Of course it might not be possible to do both early and late, but i you can't do early, don't overlook late!

Peter

[3railguy]

Being a train show junky myself, I think Highiron and jetrock gave you some darned good advice. Especially when it comes to negotiating price and testing engines. I often wi***here were more chronological manufacturer guide books like the Athearn guide book for HO and N scale. These books aid greatly in assuring you get a model with the features you are looking for and don't get stiffed with an out dated lemon.

Probably my biggest word of advice is not to settle for alternatives if you don't find the items on your wish list. There will be other shows and what you want will eventually show up. If not, buy it new from a retailer even if it means paying a higher price. You will not be fully satisfied with alternatives and will may very well regret buying them after the dust settles. Especially when you do find the items on your wish list. If you are new to the hobby, you may discover stuff you never saw before that is not on your wish list but you like it better. That's OK too. Just make sure it's priced right and is the kind of quality you expect.

If you are looking at something you aren't sure about, probably the best thing to do is go to one of those club modular layouts and ask one of the operators about the stuff you are looking at. In most cases, they are more than willing to help you because that is what they are there for. To promote the hobby in your best intrest. Chances are good, these guys are eat and sleep trains and can tell you if it's a good product or not and how much you should pay. Often times you'll get opinions from half the group which is even better.

[MisterBeasley]

I carry a clipboard. I can write on it, and clip the free literature and handouts for other train shows behind my work sheets. I like to think of the price of admission kind of like buying a movie ticket - even if I don't buy anything, it's a couple of hours of entertainment and education.

I carry a checkbook. A dealer, any dealer, has to pay a stiff fee to the credit card company when you charge something. Some computer show vendors will tack on 5% for a credit card, so you might negotiate 5% off to pay by check rather than plastic. Of course, cash is always the tender of choice, but you might not want to carry that much. And it always helps to know where the nearest ATM is.

Don't forget to look for the little stuff. At the last show I went to, I got some Preiser figures - pretty much MSRP, but no shipping charges, and none of the LHS's had them.

Talk to the exhibiters, particularly the modular layout people who aren't selling anything. Ask about their scenery techniques, or who made the kit for a building you like.

And don't mind the little kids. Instead, be more like them. Forget about the mortgage and the lawn and the NHL and just enjoy some trains for the day.

[jrbarney]

There are many good tips given already. When I go to the GSMTS at Timonium, right after I get the back of my hand stamped, I check the floor plan that Mr. Zane keeps near the entrance to make sure I go to my favorite vendors first. Some vendors seem to have favorite locations. I bring both my checkbook and my charge card. Some vendors will let you buy for a little less if you use a check, so that they don't have to pay a charge card fee. My railroad library has gotten big enough that I carry a bibliography in a loose leaf notebook so that I won't buy a duplicate copy of a book I already have. I carry a smaller loose leaf notebook with the parts or kits for which I'm looking, organized by manufacturer, alphabetically. Frequently I bring a heart healthy bag lunch and a water bottle so I don't have to waste time in the long lines at the food concession.
Bob
NMRA Life 0543

[Anonymous]

Always rummage through the junk boxes under the tables (if the dealer lets you). I got 6 under table switch machines for the price of one that way, along with a bag full of detail parts dirt cheap. A lot of these boxes are stuff from estate sales that the guy hasn't really gone through, and will sometimes sell the whole box cheap. Tip: if you find a handful of items of real value in a box of junk, don't pull em out and ask for a price. If the guy's at all knowlegeable he'll want to charge what the items would cost off the shelf. Instead, without indicating what you've found, offer to take the whole box of junk off his hands. Since he may not be sure just what's in it, he may give to you for less than he'd charge just for the items you want.

[Jetrock]

I'm going to a show in Woodland this Saturday so it's always helpful to review my own advice about train shows and make sure I follow it! I just got rid of a lot of stuff at the show I worked last month, but this time I'm strictly buying!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bikerraypa

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxmu

Yes that is Pinecroft, not a big show , but there is a good bit of vendors there I will be there also mabey ill see you there!

I didn't know about that one. I go to the Greenberg show at Monroeville, and last week was the Kittanning Township fire hall show, which is small but good. I might have to head for Altoona.

You guys are all local for me. I'm in East Brady.

Ray out

East Brady, huh? I went to High School in Karns City so I definitely know where you're coming from and my father in-law who lives in West Kittanning told me about the show there. But I digress.

Many great strategies given on this thread and I recognize several that mirror my own when it comes to gun or computer shows. Whether it's a Hakim bayonet or a video card daughter board (depending on the show of course), I'll quickly scan the tables selling what I'm specifically looking for and if I find it at a good price, I'll buy it. Early on I'd make the mistake of seeing what I want and then thinking to myself "Maybe I can find another one cheaper". This seldom (in my case) worked to my advantage. Usually in my quest to save a dollar or two, I'd pass up what I wanted only to return and find it sold.

There is a GATS in Columbia SC on April 2-3 which I will attend and apply some of the good ideas posted here. I believe this is the best forum I've ever encountered and thanks to all for your contributions.

Karl

[Virginian]

Gads. A show strategy! I have never had one at a gun show or a train show. I just go to wander around and have fun. See if there is anything there I haven't seen before, and maybe stumble across something I need or want. I think last show I walked away with some IM 33" & 36" wheelsets, one of those wire strippers, and an adjustable clamp. Saw a lot of neat things though.
I don't think I could enjoy myself if I was on a mission. Not criticizing y'all that have a strategy, it just never occurred to me. I'll be the guy in the 'VT' hat that got there around 11 or 1 and just seems to bewandering around looking.

[bikerraypa]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxmu

Yes that is Pinecroft, not a big show , but there is a good bit of vendors there I will be there also mabey ill see you there!

I didn't know about that one. I go to the Greenberg show at Monroeville, and last week was the Kittanning Township fire hall show, which is small but good. I might have to head for Altoona.

You guys are all local for me. I'm in East Brady.

Ray out

[Anonymous]

They are supposed to have the Timonium Md April the 16,17

[Attaboy]

bukwrm, I've never been to one Greenbergs shows, but I was at the NMRA convention in Ft. Lauderdale in 2002 and the national train show the weekend after the convention was HUGE! Almost every manufacturer or vendor you can imagine was there. I'll be in Cinnci for this years convention too and really looking forward to it. Had a great time at the 2002 convention.

[Attaboy]

When I go to train shows I like to walk through the whole thing to what is there. Then go back and buy anything that caught my interest. If an item is the only one a vendor has and I can get a reasonable price, I buy it on the first trip through.

A really good train show for anyone close enough is the Great Scale Model Train Show at the Maryland state fairgrounds in Timonium. They put it on about four times a year and I make it a point to go at least once a year. It's a huge show, mostly HO and N scale I would say. But enough of other scales to satisfy most people. The next one is the weekend of April 23rd, I think. Check MR's upcoming events section, it is usually in there.

[Jetrock]

Train shows ARE kind of like gun shows. I'm not sure what PA gun shows are like, but I have been told that flea markets in the Midwest generally have more guns than gun shows in California--they're more like T-shirt, dream catcher, jewelry and beef jerky shows that incidentally sell a few guns.

But, like a gun show, or a computer show, you will need a little direct experience in order to learn what to go for and what to avoid. It takes a few shows before you start recognizing the dealer that always has the stuff you like, and which one is always horribly overpriced. Don't be afraid to burn a few bucks your first trip out.

Know how much you have to spend--take EXACTLY that much in cash, NO MORE and NO LESS. Don't even take your ATM card--some bigger shows get a local bank to send out a mobile van with an ATM on it.

Bring small bills to facilitate haggling. It's kind of silly to knock someone's price down from $12 to $8 and then hand them a $20.

Bring a shoulder bag or backpack, so you don't have to carry around a bunch of little plastic bags. And sometimes they don't have one to give you.

Bring a snack if you don't want to pay trade-show prices for food.

The first pass should be to look for the ABSOLUTELY MUST HAVE list. Anything that isn't a MUST HAVE, wait until your second pass around the room.

The second pass is so you can pick up the real deals not on the MUST HAVE list, once you've had a chance to check everything out.

The third pass is to dig through boxes and stacks. There are often great little bits to be had in the bottom of those "$1 for anything" boxes, underneath all the Tyco junk, but you'll have to dig for it. Those vendors who label and organize everything neatly are going to charge you more for the privilege of not having to root for stuff.

If it's a club-sponsored show, the club may be selling off some of their own stuff at fire-sale prices. This can be a good place to pick up stuff like old issues of MODEL RAILROADER and TRAINS, or assorted low-cost odds and ends.

One thing I can recommend looking for: Relatively low-detail and low-cost structure kits for your daughter. It's not uncommon to find vendors selling building kits for $2-5, which vary from the dreadfully bad to the really OK but older stuff. If your daughter is still interested in building structures, it can be a good way to give her some low-cost practice--and a skilled builder can make those low-cost kits really shine. They make great kitbash fodder, too...

Don't worry too much about accumulating stuff you don't need. Keep it for a few years until you have enough to fill an eight-foot table, then go work a train show and sell it all off!

[Anonymous]

Greenberg's Train, Toy and Hobby Show is in Cincinnati this weekend. I hope to pick up a DCC system, I will settle for a Bachman set for $50 to $70 but I would really rather get the Prodigy. Any advice on what I should expect to pay at a show? Should I even expct to see DCC sets at the show?

The NMRA convention is in Cincinnati this summer. Will the show held after the convention be bigger than the Greenberg show?

[Anonymous]

right click to see

Thats me in the CSX shirt...go figure!!

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by 8500HPGASTURBINE

CSX,

I'll be there around 10. I will be the one with the white hat that says

TITLEIST


If ya see me say HI

I'll keep an eye out. If it is this cold, I'll have a knit hat that I'll stuff in a pocket.

[Anonymous]

RE: the Hogwarts cars

I think there's a few ways to get these, depending on how much you're willing to invest. You might be lucky and find a dealer splitting sets up and selling the contents seperately (happens a lot on ebay over here - split an LGB set (for example) and the contents are worth far more than the set price). Other alternatives: Hornby also have Hogwarts stock, though $35 -$40 each (at current exchange rates) might not be acceptable. Bachmann UK have some gorgeous models of the BR Mk1 coaches (the base for the Hogwarts cars) for around the same price, though they don't offer the full paint scheme - you'd have to buy their standard BR Crimson examples and renumber them/change the BR logo for the Hogwarts one.

Final alternative would be to track down some cheap Mainline Mk1s - the Bachmann Hogwarts coaches look to be the old Mainline mouldings (Mainline and Bachmann were owned by the same company, Kader - Mainline were shut down in the mid-80s, some of the models re-appeared under the Bachmann name a few years later) so a few of these in BR Crimson (or repainted into same) would match the cars you already have and be a lot cheaper. Try hunting on www.ebay.co.uk or the US ebay site - you might find some on the US one but you'll definitely find some on the UK site. Don't pay more than £10 per coach - some go for crazy money to the collectors market but spending around this much should get you decent condition usable models. Hope this is of some help!

[mcouvillion]

Hi Chip,

Never been to a train show! Wow, are you gonna spend a... Oops, have a good time. I prepare by making a list of what parts or cars I want/need. High Iron has an excellent plan of attack, so does rrinker. I usually make a quick pass by all the tables first, starting on one aisle and moving quickly and methodically down each row. If I see something that catches my eye, I grab it. If I'm interested but it is not on my list, I make a note of where it is and the price, and see if it is elsewhere at the show. After making the first full pass, I'll drop off the treasure in the trunk of the car and make a second, slow pass. This time I'm looking for specific parts or collectibles. If I still am interested (and can still afford) the stuff I was interested in but passed on the first pass, I'll go to where it was cheapest first, and try to find it and re-evaluate. Do I still want it? I usually pass all the tables at least three times at a show. I have been to several shows where I found absolutely nothing I wanted or needed. Hard to believe, but that money was burning a hole in my pocket and I still didn't spend it. After a while, you will learn what you want, what you need, and what you really need. You will know what prices are fair, what's a bargain, and what's a reamin'. Go and have fun! But, at a small show, don't expect to find loose Hogwart's coaches to add to your train. I'd be surprised if you found them at a major show within the next few years. They will eventually be there, at a price!

Mark C.

[Anonymous]

Yes that is Pinecroft, not a big show , but there is a good bit of vendors there I will be there also mabey ill see you there!

[davekelly]

My strategy? To have a good time and hopefully find something I like. I agree that you should first scan the tables to see if there are things that you want and I agree that if you leave to see if anyone else has it cheaper than it will be gone and you won't find another. On the other hand if you get it, you'll find another a couple of tables away for 10 percent less. (I call this the 50-50-90 theory - something might be 50/50, but I'll get it wrong 90 percent of the time lol). When this happens to me - I am satisfied if I can say that the price I paid was what I was willing to pay for the item.

After checking out all the table - don't forget to look at the displays! Some of the displays are very inspiring and provide ideas for me to use - be it track plan, scenery or weathering. Also, before leaving - check out the tables that initially had no attraction for you - I always think it fun to look at other scales, eras etc just to see what is out there.

But bottom line - have fun.

[SpaceMouse]

QUOTE: Originally posted by csxmu

Which show is that...Pinecroft? Every show I have been to is majority O scale with mabey 3 - 4 tables of HO. Railfest is the best show in the area, Pine croft would be second (for HO modelers) another good one is in smithfield or Huntingdon.
At Pinecroft last year I picked up an Atlas Gp38 Master Series for $49.00 and a couple of RTR cars for $10.00 each.

All I know is that it is Altoona on Sunday from 9-2 in a Firehouse. I have the directions from an email.

QUOTE: I 99 Altoona bypass go past the 17th ex. to pine croft ex. turn left after
ex. straight thu the light to a t in the road turn left 500 yds on the right
is the fire hall

[underworld]

When possible.....I go early (before opening) and stay late. Staying late lets you possibly get some extra bargains from the people that didn't sell as much as they would have liked.

underworld

[:D][:D][:D][:D][:D]