My Saturday, Collinsville IL train show and MTH GS-4

With this being my first Saturday off for three years and happing to have a train show in town guess what I did? [:D] It was pretty much what I excepted, pretty much like the computer shows I gone to but neater stuff.

I enjoyed looking at the N Scale with thinking about changing scale. I wished I had taken my camera, saw the coolest wyne (spell check) in N scale. It serve 3 main lines, with cross overs but only one wyne. I all saw my first Z Scale, boy my 174 square bench would seem like a whole state! But how the heck do you see to fix anything?

I promised my self unless it was the deal of a life time I would not buy anything new, if it is new I will support my LHS K-10 Trains in Maryville IL. I will add only 4 miles from the train show in Collinsville IL. Few things did temp me, like new Bachmann Spectrum Russian Decap DCC ready for $45.00 and 3 Ton Shay for $75.00? Only thing that stopped me was I was told they where first runs from 2002 and took a 6 pin decoder? With me starting in 2006 I never heard of a 6 pin decoder.

Then there was sort of new and broken Athearn Genius Mono Constellation for $85.00. Seller had bought them from a now closed Hobby Store. I was not worried about the repairs, sounded like a broken center gear, but what if I could not get the gear? So I passed on it as well.

On the used rolling stock, good selection but a little pricey at $6.00 to $20.00 each. K-10 Model Trains has spoiled me with BB Athearns rolling stock selling for $6.95 to $8.95 new. Besides I have a round 100 sitting under the bench waiting there turn anyway. Came real close to picking up a used PK2 SD-9 Nickel Plated engine, made the second visit but seller ignored me this time. Had the $40.00 in my hand. Then I decide to repair what I had and walk off.

On the way in I spotted a M

I enjoyed your summary of your day at the train show, Ken. I am especially happy for you that you were hard on yourself and walked out the better, and richer, for it. I have only ever purchased one item of rolling stock at train shows, and I was disappointed that I couldn’t get it to stay on the tracks. It was a home-made skeleton logging car that looked great…he had sold several that day. But it was a bust, even after my LHS owner had a look at it.

You saved some money today, and will find your eventual purchase a controlled and pleasant experience as a result.

-Crandell

It was great reading your report on the show as I live too far to take that one in, I too have gone to several shows in the past and not made a purchase only my reason was not wanting to fight the crowd so I take in the layouts and save my money for my semi LHS which is a 3.5 hour drive from home.

When I started going to shows the vendor pricing was way lower than what I would have to pay at my LHS, but the last time I was at a large show the prices were higher that what I would pay at my LHS for the same item.

I drove over to the show today. Since the nearest LHS to me is 65 miles it was good to see a lot of products in person that I only have seen online or in the trade magazines.

I was a little disappointed in the prices on the used rolling stock. Some dealers did want to haggle but I’d rather just have them set the price they need on an item. I looked at some Varney USAX flatcars but they wanted 7 dollars a piece for them and it seemed kind of high for cars that needed new decks (loads had been on them at one time then pulled off) and would need Kadee couplers and boxes. Didn’t buy anything but did have a good time.

Jeff