This news if of intense interest to those of us in Milwaukee since Dave Swanson and his Great American Train Show company took over Trainfest in 2022. We had heard of some health issues and of course wished and wish him the best.
Dave Nelson
LATEST NEWS (04/05/2023)
Great American Train Shows Inc. is thrilled to announced that our recent show season which ended on 3/26/2023, dramatically exceeded our expectations. Our attendance set new records in over 10 different markets. We want to thank our loyal customers and exhibitors for their tremendous support. We are happy to have concrete proof that the Covid-19 impact is now behind us.
Having train shows recovered to exceed their previous levels we are now positioning our Train show business for growth. Great American Train Shows Inc. is pleased to announce the sale of Greenberg Train and Toy shows and the Great Midwest Train Show to Dillon Goble. Dillon was formerly the Vice President of the Midwest division of Great American Train Shows. The new Greenberg shows organization will focus on continuing our outstanding shows in the Northeast and expanding to the Southeastern Atlantic states like Georgia and Florida which formerly held very successful Greenberg shows.
Great American Train Shows will continue to focus and grow in all states that are not Atlantic states. Bill Grove will continue to manager Great American Train shows and will assume ownership of the shows. Dave Swanson who formerly owned both Greenberg and Great American Train Shows has chosen to retire for health reasons. He will continue to be available for advice to the new show ownership. Neal Carnaby will be the primary on site manager for Greenberg shows and will also provide on site management
Cincinnati has been without a train show long before covid came along. Great American usd to be downtown annually. The local NMRA division has an annual show but it’s 20+ miles away from the city and, for me, too far to drive.
Went to a one day train show in Staunton (the ‘u’ is silent), VA yesterday. They had 4 or 5 layouts set up and it seemed reasonably crowded, and a fair number of couples in their 30’s to 50’s.
Florida and Georgia are anemic with good train shows now. Florida has one OK show in Sarasota, but not very good. I think Atlanta still has an annual show, but I have not made it there in four years.
My mentor and great friend went to the large one in MD and said it wasn’t great. He was looking out for pre-used Tortoise switch machines and the adapters, but had zero luck. Eh, it happens.
I see them at train shows all the time. Just takes a keen eye, some time looking at all of the boxes sellers have. If you see used track on a table, just ask if they any tortoise machines! You never know…
The problem with new construction in Florida, especially in retirement communities, is there’s no basements!
Some guys in Florida build layouts in their garages but unless the garage is air-conditioned forget about running trains in the summer, it’s an inferno down there at that time of year! [:|]
So, if you’re retiring to Florida look at three bedroom homes, one for you and the missus, one for potential visitors, and one for the layout! [;)]
There may be more than you think. There are clubs in Florida that have local shows (Don’t discount club shows! You never know what you’ll find!) and you can find them on railserve.com under “Events” or check “Railfan & Railroad” magazine’s website under “Timetable.” Both list local shows and they’re accurate.
A lot of new construction in Florida now has what some builders are calling “reverse basements”.
My friend Rob’s new house in Spring Hill has this. A full 20 by 30 room above the house with one window at the end. My understanding is these are very popular, and they would make perfect train rooms.
The house below is four bedroom, three bath, and a 300 square foot home office. It is an upper-midscale cookie-cutter home.
Interesting! A market reaction to all the model railroaders moving south? [;)]
I had to look up Spring Hill having never heard of it. North of Tampa, not a bad location at all. I was in the Fort Myers area last week and didn’t see any “reverse basement” construction but then I wasn’t looking for for it either! [(-D]