After seeing the ad in MR for the Wilimington, MA Greenberg Show this month my wife asked if I wanted to go. I haven’t been to a Greenberg Show since the 80s, one in Philadelphia was great, one in Virginia was so so. Has anyone been to a Greenberg Show recently? What was your opinion? I’ll probably go regardless since I haven’t been a train show in years (not many in West Texas lol) but I’d still like to know what y’all think.
I go to this one every year. It’s usually quite good. There are a lot of operating layouts, and plenty of dealers, too. The show is held at the Shriner’s Center, so their share of the profits goes to a good cause. It’s easy to get to, and parking is free, too.
There is a lot of tinplate, O and S gauge. I don’t model that, but I still like to walk down those rows and remember my Lionels. Still, there are so many dealers that there’s plenty of HO and N to go around as well. Yeah, a few dollhouse and toy vendors still show up, but they’re only a fringe group now.
Go for the sausage at the snack bar.
There’s also a show in Marlboro the first week of December. It’s usually pretty good, too, but by that time I hope to be skiing.
When is this? I’d go.
I attended one at the Greater Reading Expo Center last week. Like MisterBeasley said, a lot of tinplate, O & S gauge. There didn’t seem to be as many vendors this year as last year, and the HO vendors were a bit congested because there were so few of them.
Still, I found some stuff - ironically, I bought from the same 2 vendors I bought from last year.
All in all, it was a pleasant experience, so I guess it was worth the hour drive.
It’s the 17th and 18th. The Shriners center is just off Route 93, between 128 and 495. 128 might be labelled 95 on the map. It’s always been 128, but some years ago they decided to call it 95, too.
Anyway, here’s a link:
http://www.trainshow.org/showinfo/200711WIL.htm
They’ve also got an ad in the latest MR.
last time I went I picked up 25 proto 2000 box cars and gondola’s for like $4 each
such a deal, but lookout, theres a lot of old junk… it just dont last stay away from the older products
but this year I guess I’m on my own
I dont like to do things by myself
where have all the train freinds gone long time passing!!
K
I hear you, Budliner- I’ve been to one small show in MA so far this year, and it’s kind of boring without anyone to talk to. I’m not a part of any club and my friends think I’m nuts for liking trains. If I’m not working, I might try to catch this show. I’m aquaintances with at least one guy who sells superdetailed vehicles at the “serious” train shows; maybe he’ll be there. He avoids the ones where all the “really old Lionel guys and whining kids who want Thomas stuff” go to, and I’m not sure if Greenburg is on that list.
Hi Dave. Welcome to New England. Interesting move, politically at least (not to go into the subject, but RI is even more democratically dominated than the infamous big brother to the north).
I’d skip this Greenburg show. The layouts present aren’t particularly remarkable, nor are the deals.
Moreover, I’d skip Greenburg simply to dump my money on the HUB show in Marlborough, MA at the beginning of December. This show is a bit closer than Wilmington, and is a much better show overall, being supported directly by the NMRA. Many really remarkable clubs display at the HUB show, including but not limited to the good ones from Greenburg. Additionally, the HUB show has a wider variety of retailers. Where Greenburg has been shifting more and more towards Lionel and Toy Trains, the HUB show has held to primarily HO and N. Neither does it have a feeling of a toy fair as the Greenburg does.
Again, welcome to New England. There are numerous modellers everywhere around you. Have you checked out the Providence Northern club in Warwick, RI?
The HUB show sounds more like one I’d attend. Any more info on that one?
It’s on December 1 and 2, it’s pretty good. I go every year.
Yoshi’s right, there is a lot of MRR activity around here. I think the Providence Northern had some fire damage, but I’ve seen the layout at an open house and it’s very nice. I would’ve joined if it wasn’t that far away! (I live in Central MA)
Maybe I’ll see you at the HUB show!
Won’t be able to make it the HUB show this year, will be out of town, but will most likely be at the Greenberg show on Sunday. While I’m sure there will be alot of stuff that I don’t model, like Mister Beasley looking at old Lionels is always enjoyable, but I’m sure my wife will get tired of hearing “I had that one when I was a kid!” lol. In any event, seeing a bunch of trains in one space always gets me pumped to work on my stuff. Of course I can’t wait for the Amherst show!
Enjoy the show. I’m sure you’ll have fun, as it is still a great show regardless.
I will be attending this one either saturday on sunday[:)]
I’ll be attending Saturday, and possibly Saturday, as a member of the Hub Division, and president of Youth in Model Railroading.
If we are lucky, Ebay Store’s Sunny’s Warehouse, will be there with thier Christmas sale. Several years back they had a 50% off older spectrum stock. I picked up a Doodlebug for 20$, while SD45’s and F40’s also went for that price, and GP35’s
where 17.50.
Hey, I just got back from the show. (It’s Saturday afternoon now.) I thought it was a lot of fun. Of course, I mostly go for the fun, but I always have a couple of small items to be on the lookout for.
I did find some pigs for my stockyard, a few loading dock workers, some crates and a scrap metal gondola load. I also got a Preiser Santa with a sack to add to the layout for the Holidays.
There were several good layouts to look at, too. Northeast N-Scale had their usual fine display, including (I think) several new modules. I really liked the “Union Station” corner module, with interior lighting and details inside the main building. (Remember, this is N. Interior detailing is rare in N layouts that I’ve seen.) I noticed a couple of modules on the Hub Division’s HO-scale layout dedicated to the Bedford and Billerica railroad, an old narrow gauge that used to run just down the street from me. There’s a fine S-gauge layout, too. There were a couple of O-gauge layouts, and a big Lego setup as well.
For the “Most Improved” category, though, I’d have to go with the Young Model Railroaders group. This modular layout started out a few years ago with barely enough track to complete a loop, and has now grown to include a bunch of new modules, plus a center section of staging that’s new this year. There were a lot of youngsters running around the show with “Exhibitor” badges on this year. They’re all actively involved in the railroad, and they have a lot of parental support, too.
Is it open tomorrow too? If it is, I’ll try to persuade my parents to bring me![8D]
Yes, it’s open 10-4 both days. Free parking, easy to get to.
The turnout was very, very good, too. Sometimes you couldn’t see from one end of the aisle to the other because of all the people.
Thanks for the quick reply! I’ll ask about it at dinner.
Was there a lot of good things at the White Elephant tables?
There was one dealer with some pretty good deals.
I picked up a P2k CN SW9 for 30$. No DCC but it runs excellently and silently.
Tyler, if you can go give me a call, and at what time you could make it.
I have the day off from work tomorrow, so I think I’ll check out the show. Who knows, maybe I’ll see one of you guys there!