I’m looking to see if anyone know of any Train Shows/Swaps in Minneapolis/St Paul Area. I found the 1 on 09/20/08 but it’s 1 day and over at 1400. Any other larger ones that people may know of in the area???
Swap meets on 9/20, 10/18, (maybe), 11/22. No real train shows this year. All the swap meets are interesting, but a long drive for what you get. The Twin Cities Division will have a couple of layout tours, if you are a NMRA member. One may cooincide with one of the swap meets. Some years there is a big show around Christmas, but not this year. I am coordinator of the layout tours and the TCD table at the swap meets. I will be happy to talk in more detail if you are interested.
I build the train show list for this area of the TLR-NMRA - send me a private email and I will put you on the distribution list. Normally there are 8-9 ‘flea market’ type train events(not displays) each year, put on by the Twin City Musuem Club, the Newport Club, and a private vendor. They have a good mix of commercial and private/used train stuff. There are some ‘Train Shows’ in out-state areas as well(La Crosse/St Cloud/Eau Claire/Hutchinson).
Jim Bernier
The Twin City Model RR (O scale) club hosts two flea markets a year at the state fairgrounds (midway area), the next is Sept 20 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. They used to host two more flea markets at Bandana Square mall where their layout is located, but they are getting kicked out of there so haven’t had one there for a while.
Newport Club usually does 4 a year at Woodbury High School (southeast suburb) but I haven’t seen any scheduled for some months now. There are also shows at Century College (northeast suburbs).
The Great American Train Show usually comes once a year to the racetrack in Shakopee.
In Minnesota if a flea market is held more than four times a year (or a garage sale out of your home) it’s considered to no longer be “occasional” and there are some tax implications, so no one does more than four flea markets a year.
Hello Jim, I seen your post from 8 years ago and I am wondering if you are still creating a list of train flea markets, if so I would like to be added to be able to obtain a copy of that information Thank you Kevin
That list and emailing died many years ago. The TLR and Division Web sites are now the vehicle folks use.
There are still 3 shows in in Woodbury put on by the Newport Club, and I think the Century College show is still got 3 as well. The TCMRRM does 2 events at the fair grounds. The North Metro club has two events as well.
Check out the TLR Web page, and even Perry’s Trains for show/flea market info. I just returned from the La Crosse ‘Tri-State Rail Sale’ last Saturday.
Even MR has some listing on-line…
Jim
Century College flea market is this Saturday, Feb 4th. Next one is April 8th.
Railroad Days in Randolph, which includes a flea market, is March 25-26.
Next Woodbury high school flea market (sponsored by the Newport, MN club) is April 29th.
The Twin City Model Railroad Museum (the O gauge club) flea market at the MN State Fairgrounds is May 13th. That’s usually the last flea market until fall.
North Metro Model Railroad Club has an open house and flea market Feb 11th.
I actually went to their swap meet back in September while on a business trip to Minneapolis/St Paul that week. Impressive turnout of vendors! I even brought a bunch of rolling stock home 
There weren’t many layouts for a show of that size, but it was a quality show nonetheless.