I stopped by the local fall trainshow in New Braunfels, TX, Sunday. It’s put on by the local train museum.
Just back to the hobby this year (but having caught prior shows) I was most interested in looking over HO goods at some of the larger vendors (there’s usually a large display from a fellow in NE). The target vendor wasn’t there, but I had two very positive experiences. First, a nice fellow from a slightly distant N-scale club was very helpful in explaining his tree variations on his modules. He promised to forward some how-to details (I’m not yet at that stage). Second, as I like to build freight car kits, I was delighted to find (“score”) some non-current tank car kits: one Athearn and 4 Walthers. I note that not many current kit manufacturers offer the smaller / older vintage tank cars, so I grabbed the 5 kits. I felt bad paying only $5 each, but I dodn’t offer a bonus. I put together the Athearn (adding Kadees and metal wheelsets) and it went together pretty nicely (a bit of trouble getting the truck screw threads to tighten the truck adequately w/o stripping).
Anyway, I enjoyed as usual the experience and I should probably more often find and visit other shows in the area.
I have hit the New Braunfuls train shows in the past, and found them “just the right size” and very friendly and not overloaded with obstacles (unattended small children, suv size strollers, etc.).
Waco also had some nice size/atmosphere shows as well.
Paul,I found over the years that a train show is what one makes it to be…To date I’ve enjoyed 98% of the shows I went to and enjoyed talking to other modelers at the display layouts or some times while drinking coffee a conversion is struck up over a purchase a attendee or I’m looking at…
BTW.That 2% I didn’t enjoy was mostly old toys,American Flyer,Lionel,train set locomotives and cars with very little scale stuff. These shows did have good coffee and apple pie though…
In another post I mentioned that when I was getting back into the hobby I was interested in upgrading from DC to DCC. At a train show, I ran into an operator that was nice enough to try a throttle from the DCC system I was interested in purchasing. I also like to view the various layouts for modeling inspiration. And of course show deals are always welcome
I listened to the occasional gripes about our local train show for years. Too small, not enough variety, not enough layouts, same dealers…
For a couple of years, our local NMRA division, the Illinois Terminal Division, tried to hold another show at the half-year interval. It’s a lot of work, didn’t really catch on, and we quit for the time being.
Well, the mall site the main local show was held at “changed their direction” and decided a train show no longer fit their image.
Now, there’s nothing without an hours drive.
There’ve been rumors of a rebirth by the longtime organizers of the show, but nothing concrete yet. That may just be gone, don’t know. If anyone has an interest locally, send me a PM. There’s a gap that needs to be filled.
I try to support the smaller shows. Around here, the bigger shows are all clustered together in the November-December timeframe, and then again in March. The rest of the year there isn’t much close by, so some of the small ones help fill the gap and give me my train show fix. Different vendors, different layouts, too.
I think I’ve ended up buying more at the small shows than at the large ones, too.
While I enjoy going around to the various vendor tables looking for things on my want/need list or viewing the layouts, I think what I enjoy the most about train shows is meeting other modelers - especially ones that I have gotten to know (at least by name) here on the forum. Meeting and talking to some of the small cottage businesses and vendors is also fun.
Even if I wander around a show and don’t purchase a single item, I don’t necessarily consider it a lost venture.
In my experience, the local smaller shows (Colorado Springs) tend to cater to the niche modelers (Early Rail, narrow gauge, out-of-production collectors) much better than the big shows in Denver, like GTE. The smaller vendors are more willing to deal, too.
OTOH, the large shows have a lot more variety for the mainstream modeler. And the large shows have the space for a large variety of layout exhibits, including our modular group. If I want to see layouts, the large shows will have a lot more of them.
