This Saturday, I broke my own rule and went to a trainshow. Great American Trainshow I believe held in Kansas City. Since I live in the KC metro on the Kansas side, I decided to throw caution to the wind and go. The last time I went to one was three years ago. I got to the the arena, paid the $7 for parking and $7 for admission, not too bad.
Went into the arena and started looking at the different vendors and what they were selling. There was the usual amount of junk and there were treasures. I scored 6 more ExactRail Santa Fe grain cars, which I added to the 40 some I already have, so that made my day also since ExactRail can’t seem to keep them in supply. A bonus, they were marked down $6 less than I paid through mail order. In fact, of all the vendors there I only saw two that had ExactRail, and one who had some Tangent grain cars, otherwise the usual oversupply of Athearn, IM, Atlas. etc. cars but nothing I needed or wanted.
However, I only stayed at the show for about 2 hours and left because I became rather tired of being run into, and over, by people and their kids running wild. In fact, I was actually knocked to the floor by two junior high age kids running down the aisle and around a corner and colliding with me. I weigh 190, am 73 years old and in excellent health, but they knocked me completely to the floor (the ExactRail cars survived). Did they say “I’m sorry?” Did they offer to help me? NO! They just took off running again.
After dealing with more wild kids, parents who didn’t control or were absent, and some “adult” modelers who were trampling each other to get to a stack of cars on a shelf, I said no more vendors. Went to the layouts, not much showing that was of interest to me. So, I grabbed my 6 grain cars and went home.
I guess I must be sheltered, I didn’t know that even the "World
Sorry to hear about your bad experience. I hope you didn’t say anything negative to the kids (young thugs) that ran you down - you certainly wouldn’t want to harm their self esteem.[}:)]
Glad you weren’t seriously hurt Bob. But you know what they say, “Turn the other cheek…”
Children can be inconsiderate sometimes when they are having fun. And I’m sure the kids didn’t stop to think you might be hurt. If they did I’m sure they would have checked on you.
Junior Highschool kids are old enough to know how to behave. It is all about respect - but how to learn respect, if the parents fail to educate their kids accordingly?
I have been too 2 Train shows, not in a hurry to go to another one. What I could not stand was the noise. After 20 years running a Body Shop I cannot stand noise. In fact I stop going to inside car shows 20 years ago for the same reason.
What I am surprised by is when K-10 Model Trains have there open house one Sunday a month is how well behaved the kids are. No running around or yelling. But, then again they are running and watching trains.
I’ve always found that, while there are always a few kids who are out of control, usually the adults are the ones I have problems with. I’ve seen so-called "grown-ups push in front of me to rummage in the bins under the table and curse when they don’t find what they’re looking for. They don’t usually run around like kids, but there are several adults who have no manners at all, smell bad, and just walk around with sneers on their faces.
And then there’s the adults who act their age, and kids and teens who are just as mature - these people form MOST of the train show audience. You just have to accept that not everyone acts like you and the friends you allow near your layout. It does take some time to get used to the train show environment.
Bob … Be glad you could find the grain cars. The Great American Train Show in Nashville last year was mostly Thomas trains for kids. … It was also jammed with noisy, obnoxious, uncontrolled kids. … That show will return to Nashville in April. …
I agree that there are some kids who run wild at shows. Thank God they are in the minority. Most I have seen are well behaved, but begging Mom or Dad to buy them some item. Im 6’ 4" and about 240lbs, when they run into me they go down. As noted the so called adults are they worst.
Bob,I am sorry that a fine gentleman such as you was knock down.Its appalling that the teenagers was running wild and didn’t have the common courtesy to stop and render aid.
Anyway some times I suspect I have a large target painted on my back while attending train shows.I been bumped into,ran into by women pushing double wide baby buggies and been elbowed more then I care to remember.
A very embarrassing moment for me happen at a show…I turn from a table and almost fell over a guy in a wheelchair…I apologize several times and they guy said not to worry about it…It happens a lot but,you sir,are among the few that stops and apologize.
The scary part is not so long ago I would have felt his presence behind me.
Being known by the show organisers I used to sometimes take my well behaved 128lb bull mastiff with me to shows. I’m not sure whether it was just Ted**,** 250lbs+ and 6’ of me or the combination of the two of us moving slowly that tended to keep things calm. [:-^]
There was a side benefit that when someone is bent down or kneeling to look at those tubs of bits on the floor they tend to have an interesting reaction to a large dog nosing in to see what they are looking at. [}:)]
Like dogs the problem with unruly kids is usually the idiot (adult?) human that is supposed to be training them. [V]
Maybe it was just my happy smile that encouraged them to behave? [:D]
Hello Bob glad you were not hurt.The boys that ran into you were not there for the trains. They were there to run wild so dad could look at trains and get them out of moms hair for the day. What time did you get to the show? I go to a few shows a year but I go early. Less kids. The line is long to get in but the crowd spreads out better. When I leave it looks full. I have bumped into people but never hard enough to knock anyone down and I say sorry. Most of the time we back into each other. If you ever go back to a show try going early. Have a nice day Frank
I was there within 30 minutes of opening, but getting through the ticket line and into the arena took another 30 minutes. Quite frankly, when I first walked in I almost turned around then and left, but didn’t.
I am used to rowdy teens, the church I working with now (supposed to be retired but you know), has a large number of early and mid teens that come for activities and they all come from unchurched families. I have gotten used to them, and we all get along pretty well.
It’s always irritating when people are inconsiderate, and it doesn’t matter what their age is.
I’ve been to Wal-Mart enough that I’ve gotten fairly used to people pushing and shoving their way through. So far, the train shows I’ve been to haven’t been as bad as Wal-Mart.
Bob, glad you are OK. The behavior of many young and old today is a disgrace to our culture, or what little is left of it.
I think train shows may be running their course for several reasons - your situation is one.
I am amazed at what some of you around the country pay to go to these things. We always have free parking here.
I go maybe once or twice a year, to look for hard to find stuff. That’s it. If I can buy it at good price mail order or at one of several regional shops, I just buy it.
I don’t think I’ve ever bought something at a train show that was a “new release”.
As for being a model railroad hermit, I’m with you on that.
I do my best to avoid being in a pushy, shovey crowd. Perhaps that explains why I’ve never gone to a train show the fifty years I’ve been in the hobby. On the other hand, attending conferences charging a fee of something like $100 is pleasurable as they are without children, teens, and most child-like adults.
I realize what I am going to say will raise the ire of some, others will agree and some will think this comment doesn’t belong in the forum - but I have worked with junior high and high school age kids for over 25 years and in the last few years I have seen a marked change in behavior. Too many times I run into kids now that are rude, have little sense of responsibility, little regard for authority and, IMHO it is the result of poor parenting. A few months ago I received an e-mail from the mother of an 8th grade girl who said that - and I quote - ‘my child is now at the age when she must make her own decisions and I must abide by what she decides.’ You could knocked me over with a feather. I realize there are some outstanding young people out there and we hear about them every day, but when parents abdicate their responsibilities you run into, literally, situations like you encountered at that show. Based on my experiences I understand how you feel which is why I am getting out of youth work in June.