The show is this weekend in Wheaton, IL. While it isn’t an extreamely long distance. Is it worth the trip or would my time and money be better spent at a hobby shop.
I asked this about a year ago and based on the feedback decided not to make the trip (5 hours plus drive for me each way). From what I understand the show is mainly dealers and as such would be a decent show to visit if you are looking for a lot of selection. There are few if any club and display layouts at this show. I have 2 young boys and they soon tire of me looking at vendor booths, they want to watch trains run, so not a good show for kids.
If you are in the market for some stuff, I would think it would be well worth your time. No Hobby shop is going to have the inventory that would be on display at the show.
I went the the show in Wheaton a couple of months ago for the first time in around 10 years - about 1-1/2 hour drive each way for me. Lots of RTR stuff these days. There did seem to be a lot of Lionel and tinplate stuff too, if that’s something that interests you. The nice thing about the show is that you can find out of production items or other things your hobby shop might not have in stock. Being out of the hobby for some time, I did go through some sticker shock, but that just seems to be the way it is nowadays. Show pricing is show pricing though, running the gamut from, “are you kidding? No thanks”, to, “Sold!” Good bargains can still be had if you take the time to look for them. Unfortunately, on my last trip, I didn’t have as much time as I would have liked to check everything out. I might be heading out that way this Sunday myself. If you’ve never checked it out, why not? It’s worth, at least, a look-see. BTW, it’s $5.00 to get in, so it’s probably more worth the trip if you’re actually in the market to buy. Then again, it’s always good to support your local hobby shop. If you decide not to go this month, there’s always the next.
I went myself last summer. I was expecting to find at least some good deals, but for at least the stuff I was looking for there weren’t that many. I wasn’t totally disapointed, but I wasn’t totally impressed either.
Basically my verdict was this: I will only go again if the show happens to coincide with some other reason or two that I want to head to Chicago. Otherwise it’s not worth the three hour each way drive(and the hotel costs if we stay overnight, as well as the gas it takes to drive there). Some day I may go again, but only if I need to go for some other reason too.
Noah
Its usually worth the $7 admission fee but it been awhile since I went so I don’t have any knowledge of recent shows.
Bryan
It all is a matter of what you need. I went a few time (Oct/Nov) and found lots of Proto 2000 at a good price. $65.00 for E6 a/b. $35.00 for GP30’s. Saw Bacmann 8-40cw’s for 25.00. Picked up Kato Ac4400 Bnsf for $85.00 and Atlas 8-40cw CSX for $75.00.
Could have spent alot on N scale for under $45.00 per engine also. Lots to look at.
Bob
I go almost every month. It all depends what you are looking for. Nicer weather brings the outside venders. Inside are usually dealers, but they are usually willing to deal on the price, which is always lower then in the LHS. You kinda have to look around and see whats there this month. It only takes me about 45 mins to get there so I usually go. You can get a $1 off coupon from the MR ad (it tells you the site to go to)…They also have an auction at 2:30? which stuff goes really cheap. Has 4-5 buildings of stuff new and used. Go once and see. Just my feeling.[:D]
They also ALWAYS have some kind of layout running in 3 of the buildings to keep little ones happy. Usually hands on operations in 1 building and a couple of club layouts in the other 2, My 7 year old had a ball
It is not what it used to be, but still good. All of the 4 buildings used to be full, but now
the end one could be closed off, some people do not want to give up their long time
spot. At $7 a head it adds up for a family. I have been going to buy parts but the two
parts guys have not been showing up. They each have a 4 to 6 hour drive one way.
You have never seen so many trains in one place, ever ! I would say that G gauge is
in the least supply. Sometimes you can find someone who is “dumping” stuff and
really get a good deal. You never know. There is usually a nice layout running on the stage of the main building. It normally takes two to three hours to go through everything and then go back to check on things. It does take up a whole day. My son has gone to the show in Philadelphia and says that the Wheaton show is MUCH bigger.
Good luck !
Kids get in free, by the way.
THe January show may be a good one to pick up end of the year bargains. A lot depends on what you are looking for. Hot models may have already flown off the shelves. You may also find a supply of old stuff. I’d go woth a list for anything specific I was looking for, also to get a check on prices.
The weather may be the only thing to keep me away. It’s too far to drive on icy & snowy roads. I’m amazed by how much the area around the fairgrounds has grown. Someone not into trains may shop one of the nearby stores.