Ok we all attend train shows. How far have you travelled to a specific show. Not on vacation but driven to just for show. How far would you goooooo?[:D]
There’s one annual national convention/show (I use the term loosely) for model railroading down here in Mexico. There may be a couple of small local shows also, but I’m not sure there are. Nothing near me in any case. We went to the convention last year, and it was a 10 hour drive (each way). We plan on going to the one this year also, and it’s being held about 8-9 hours from here.
Hey, you gotta make do with what you have available.
Regards
Ed
I’m more fortunate. One of the top three MRR shows in the U.S. is held each year in Springfield, Mass. I live about 40 miles away from the site. However, if I had to drive a longer distance, I would drive about 250 miles for a yearly show, and if the only show was 500 miles away, that trip I would make maybe once every 3-5 years.
20 miles or so–from Sacramento to Roseville, and from Sacramento to Woodland. The annual “International Railfair” show in Roseville beats the pants of Sacramento GATS, and the extra gas used is more than compensated for by the cheaper admission and better selection. The Woodland club show/sale is free and features a lot of local club exhibits, so it’s also worth the drive–and one can take back roads to parallel the old Sacramento Northern interurban line, which is fun in itself!
2,300 miles.
How can I possibly compete with that? Great Britain is only 900miles long from top to bottom[:D] I hear there’s a good show in Hamburg, Germany … [;)]
I’ve gone about 150 miles for a train show.
I took the whole famn damily down to Tucson for a show. 300 total round trip… I drove almost 5 hours for 1.5 hours of shopping. Shame it was so small too.
Oh well, still fun…
John Kanicsar
well–like Jetrock, to Roseville (I didn’t know about Woodland until just now), but unlike Jetrock, it’s only about an eight mile drive from Carmichael. And the Roseville show is just about as good as it gets, at least from my point of view. Besides, the fairgrounds are right across from the UP (ex-SP) main north to Portland, so even if the show gets boring (HAH!) there’s usually a train coming by every hour.
Tom
Measured in hours, I’d say four. I don’t have any big train shows close so this month it’s over to Memphis, next month down to Little Rock and up to Springfield, Missouri. Me and some friends car pool to save money. That gives us more to spend at the train show and eat out on! [dinner]
Bakersfield, CA - about 40 miles/45 minutes (the only show I’ve been to so far).
I’m thinking about attending the show in Long Beach later this month - about 80 miles/1.5 to 2 hours.
My limit is an hour and a half for Toronto or london ON shows.We have 2or three other yearly shows within a 10 or 15 min driving range that I attend each year as well so I don’t have to drive the megamillage. Rob
About 35 miles, 70 round trip!
About 5 minutes!! We have our annual train show right here in town just down the road abit. LUCKY aye.
Ken
250 miles, to the Amherst show this year.
trolleyboy, me to. Toronto is a little over an hour for me and London is close to 2 hours. There is a show this weekend in Port Hope that I’ll be at.
I regularly attend the Madison show (75 miles) and the Peoria show (175 miles). I think the farthest I’ve driven just for a swapmeet.show was to the 2001 NMRA convention in St Louis - 300 miles one way.
I’m a bit down on train shows at the moment. I hauled about 60 miles to the Wentzville, MO, GATS show last year and did not enjoy the cramped vendor area with little or nothing priced well.
“0” I don’t attend train shows. I will not pay for the opportunity to buy something and I also object to the Model Magazines giving free advertising to these shows, especially when the money goes into someone’s pocket and not to a group that needs the cash.
Rick
Sorry you feel that way. My local club puts on a show every year. It helps to pay for supplies, the insurance, the rent etc for the year. We charge 3 bucks for admission and it does not go into anybody’s pockets but the clubs. I’m glad that Model Railroader helps us out by promoting our show for free, its really appreciated, thanks MR. I enjoy going to other clubs shows just for the ideas it gives you to improve your own layout. The free clinics that are put on are also very helpful for a newbie like myself. I really believe shows are helpful in promoting the hobby, its great to get the “old” guys out of the house to mingle with the “new” guys and where else can you go that has almost every type of train imaginable all in one spot. Who says you have to buy anything? I usually buy a box car or something at a show but I’m not forced to. I just wi***here were more shows to attend every year.