The annual show is coming up on the weekend of July 19th in Anaheim. I’m debating whether to attend (I’m really interested in the exhibitor show since the conference events are mostly during the week which I can’t make). I live in NYC so going out for just the weekend is quite a trip (6 hours on a plane each way) but there are very few good shows on the East Coast so I’m considering it. Those of you who have attended the exhibition in the past, how big and impressive is it? How would it compare to the Big E (since that is the one big show I have been to)? Thanks.
The show is well worth attending if you are in the area. Some of the layouts that are on the list are the very best in the Western area. It would seem that if you had to fly 5 to 6 hours each way, rent a car and pay the fare for three days of room and board, it might be very costly.
I was planning to go but decided the high price of fuel plus the three nights of hotels and meals made the trip too costly.
NOTE: It will be a great show even without Overland. Overland was on the vendor list but Brian has cancelled both Overland and T55 products from the display.
Brad, I went to the 2005 show in Cincinnati and really enjoyed it. What I found to be of great interest is that you get to meet the real manufacturers. This show is not about looking for low-cost train show vendors, but for seeing new products and getting a chance to ask questions of companies whose products you use.
I agree with Simon the show is to see manufacturers new products and not to look for low-costs show vendors although some good deals can be found. I was to the Philadelphia 2006 show and to the Detroit one last year. I feel the Detroit show was much better then the one in Philadelphia. I also go to the Big E show every year and it is much bigger then the two NMRA shows I attended so far. I plan on going to the 2009 NMRA show in Hartford Connecticut this show would be much closer to were you live.
Definetly try to make it! I attended the NMRA convention in 86’ here in Houston (during a hurricane mind you) and had a blast. There will be all sorts of modeling clinics, modeling contests, layout tours of local hobbiests’ layouts, switching contests, and a chance to see some of the latest cutting edge products at the many booths that will be set up, not to mention, meeting a whole lot of nice folks interested in the same thing you are. I’ll be glad when another one comes to town again in this area one day…chuck
Since you will be missing much of the show’s activities, I would find it especially hard to justify the large expenditure of money and the physical exhaustion such a trip will require.
I attended the show in Phila in '06 - it was great. As Simon said - you’ll not get super discounted prices (well, maybe a few) but you get to meet all the mfr’s and see the latest new items. There were also many exhibit layouts that were a lot of fun. If you’re into Legos, the show I attended had a HUGE Lego set-up - my grandson LOVED it. I went two days - one by myself and one with the grandson. My [2c]
I drove up to Philadelphia from Nothern Virginia and felt it well worth a day trip. Because it is heavy on manufacturers it is a very different show than Great Scale in Timonium, but just as good. However, I wouldn’t fly to the west coast just for the show - too expensive in time and dollars for what you get.
For those that might be fortunate enough to have the time and money ( Or frequent flyer mileage and a relative to stay with) I believe there is a side trip scheduled down to the San Diego Model RR Museum. If you are out there and have never visited it, try not to miss it.
Peter Smith, Memphis
PS:I have both the mileage and two kids to stay with in San Diego but decided to use the mileage to go to Portland OR in September to attend the National Narrow Gauge Convention. Then I plan to drive down to Mt Shasta in northern CA to do research in the area that I model. After getting a Prius at no extra charge in NYC last week and getting over 50 MPG, I tried to get one in Portland but found it would cost me almost $400 more than a standard mid size that I had previously reserved!
If you are interested in all the side activities, such as layout tours, etc, then go. Otherwise, save your bucks and go to the Winter show in Springfield Mass. Virtually all the manufacturers attend and the hobby is at it’s peak at that time of year.
Depends on the co$t of airfare for a weekend trip. Just be careful about keeping Eastern time in the Pacific time zone. If there are any flight delays, you’d need Monday off to get back!
The NMRA Convention is best done over a several day period. Trips to home layouts, industries, & some tourist locations are hard to beat. This would be your ONLY chance to see some of the fine layouts.
The Convention also includes clinics & modular layouts. Most scales should be well represented.
The National Train Show is were all the mfr’s announce new products to be released this year or at the first of the new year. There can be some references to the LHS for some items. At the Company Store, you may find one of a kind special run cars.