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.
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
TSA was right
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.
Never say never. This proves that anything is possible, even if improbable. [(-D]
Rich
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.
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
Kevin, 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! [(-D]
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
Nah
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.
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.
-Kevin
Quite true. And outdoors shows are their own breed of train show, almost invariably sales only, not layouts, not clinics, not displays, not railroad artists, and rarely if ever manufacturers or historical societies. And even the outdoors shows have very different vibes depending not just on what special interest is putting them on, but also on the weather forecast. I have seen grim faced guys selling their Lionel or American Flyer in a light drizzle or searingly hot sun, but the better stuff is not risked in those extremes. Particularly stuff in the original boxes - not going to be put outside in the wet. Some vendors just take a look and drive back home, or don’t pack up to begin with.
A really varied train show that is more than a swap meet really needs an indoor venue, and benefits from a sponsoring organization that is interested in the bigger picture than just its own narrow focus. I have no beef with TCA shows, or shows for a particular scale, or prototype modeler meet shows which attract a particular type of “basement” manufacturer. They know their audience and more power to them. But those shows are what they are and a person going shouldn’t give up on all train shows just because (just by way of example) the TCA exists for a narrow reason.
Some very interesting train shows take place during the annual meets of various railroad historical societies - you see a neat mix of models, prototype railroadiana such as timetables, books and videos, photographs and slides. And as a r
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.
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 - 5:00pm
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…)