Having gone to the show for the last four years, I have to say that it is not to be missed! The layouts are very inspiring, the product demonstrations are most helpful, and the selection of items for sale is truly awesome.
I have to say that I probably wouldn’t be constructing a new layout right now if it weren’t for that show. Several years ago, I spoke to the folks at Mianne Benchwork, which had an exhibit in the Better Living Center. Last year I brought them a set of scale drawings of what I had proposed, and a month later I had a complete kit for the benchwork delivered to the door. The layout went up in no time and I’m in the wiring stage now.
Other vendors such as Bar Mills Models and Scenic Express put on demonstrations during the show. I’ve picked up a lot of good modelling tips from both of them. The Bar Mills booth is a good place to go in the afternoon when you’re getting tired - you can sit down and learn something at the same time.
Since it’s about a 6 hour trip from Western New York, we usually go up on Friday, stay 2 nights in a hotel and start for home late Sunday afternoon. It usually takes me both days to see it all - plus when we go up on Friday there’s usually time for some railfanning along the way.
Aftre the show on Saturday, there are a number of good restaurants to choose from. The Hof Brau Haus in W. Springfield has great German food, and Chef Wayne’s Big Mammou over near the Amtrak station has some great things to eat.
In summary-it’s a fun weekend. If they don’t have it at Springfield - then it doesn’t exsist!
Meh, you have nothing over the folks from Scottland (my wife who is from just south of the boarder of Scottland in New Castle has the following for you to consider MisterBeasley!):
50 degrees-New Yorkers turn on the heat.
People in Scotland plant gardens.
40 degrees-Californians shiver uncontrollably.
People in Scotland sunbathe.
35 degrees-Italian cars won’t start.
People in Scotland drive with the windows down.
20 degrees-Floridians wear coats, gloves, and wool hats.
People in Scotland throw on a T-shirt.
15 degrees-Californians begin to evacuate the state.
People in Scotland go swimming.
Zero degrees-New York landlords finally turn up the heat.
People in Scotland have the last BBQ before it gets cold.
10 degrees below zero-People in Miami cease to exist.
People in Scotland lick flagpoles.
20 degrees below zero-Californians fly away to Mexico.
People in Scotland throw on a light jacket.
80 degrees below zero-Polar bears begin to evacuate the Arctic.
Scottish Boy Scouts postpone ‘Winter Survival’ classes until it gets cold enough.
100 degrees below zero-Santa Claus abandons the North Pole.
People in Scotland pull down their ear flaps.
173 degrees below zero-Ethyl alcohol freezes.
People in Scotland get frustrated when they can’t thaw their kegs.
460 degrees below zero-ALL atomic motion stops.
People in Scotland start saying ‘chilly, you cald an aw?’
500 degrees below zero-Hell freezes over.
Scotland wins European Cup.
Riogrand – thought for a second you were talking about some fictitious place where some guy named “Scott” lives. Don’t show that post to your wife: the Scot’s are a proud lot (I’m 1/4 Scottish myself – and grandmother MacDonald always used to say, “Ye canna dilute Scottish blood, laddie.”… although when I was older, she modified that to, … except with good Scotch Whiskey), and she’d likely kill you for misspelling her native land.
I agree that Scotland will win the European Cup when Hell freezes over… but that’s beside the point. New Englanders just deal with the weather, whatever it is. Check the forecast, and dress appropriately… accounting for a +/- 20% swing in temp or precipitation. Gov Malloy will have to close the roads to keep me away!
I’ll feign ignorance since I’m just a bloody American! My wife is from Newcastle and half talks like she is from Scotland. She always says “aye” instead of is and she does the “canna” thing too, but some differences too like “divint de that man”!!! oi! But also as my wife says, I can only be right one day of the week and this is Wednesday so figures I spelled it wrong!
I lived in Syracuse for 15 years so about the only thing they have over Springfield or perhaps Maine is the aweful “lake effect” snow. By March, you are ready to shoot yourself but otherwise it’s probably about the same!
Another piece of advice, if you are planning on staying at a hotel during your visit, it’s probably a good idea to be looking for rooms NOW. Closer to show time, everything could be booked for a 20 to 30 mile radius around Springfield. Dinner on Saturday evening could also result in a long wait, unless your hotel serves meals.
Room rates will also rise as the local hotels start to fill up. We have a couple of nice B&B’s here, if you don’t mind an hour’s drive up to the show in the morning – but you’re in the off-season down here and can probably get a great rate.
Heh, I was too cheap to get a hotel so I drove out and back the same day - 7 hours of driving and all day at the show makes for a long day, but much less expensive.