The Great Train Expo is going to be in town this weekend and I’m debating whether it’s worth it to me to go. I’ve not been since it operated as the Great American Train Show - my opinion if it then was, after paying $3 to park and $7 admission so I’m out half a sawbuck before even walking through the door, it was a very large show populated with vendor after vendor trying to cover their expenses by charging retail-plus for their wares. Good deals on anything were few and far between. Maybe there would’ve been more had I arrived first thing Saturday morning.
For those who’ve been to the show recently, have things changed much?
I will occasionally fork over a few iron men for an admission ticket but I generally stay away from these things which, like you, I have found to be a vast collection of wall-to-wall junk–at least its junk to me. Years ago at a GATS show I encountered a dealer who had a couple of Con-Cor REA painted boxcars but I didn’t have to pay for admission to that one and would probably not have been there otherwise; and at one time there was a vendor who attended GATS shows out here in the West and he used to have some good N-Scale deals but he disappeared and I haven’t been to one of these train shows in many years now.
I recently went to the the GATS show in Shakopee Mn. I noticed most vendors were charging less than list price, but higher than can be had on EBAY. Since I don’t have a local hobby shop, it was nice to see some of the products first hand. The operating layouts were interesting to see. Most of them were pretty basic, but I didn’t expect much from traveling layouts. I did manage to buy a P1k F3 AB set, a accurail boxcar and a backdrop. There weren’t any steals that I saw, but nobody was clearly gouging anyone. Once I factored in the shipping for separate items, I think I saved a little money. The experience of being surrounded by trains was well worth the seven dollars to get in.
Went to one in Atlanta several years ago; found a good bit of n-scale stuff not locally available, including some resin vehicles that are now painted and on the layout. Parking there was free, so that helped, but it was a 6 hour round trip for me. But I enjoyed it, got to see some great layouts, etc.
The last one I attended was at Cal Expo here in Sacramento a few years back. Parking was exhorbiant, and after admission, I noticed that most everything was geared to the O-guage Lionel/MTH fan. I did manage to find a couple of Intermountain PFE wood reefers at under retail, and I picked up a VERY old Roundhouse metal stockcar kit for a pretty good price. But for the most part, there wasn’t an awful lot of HO scale stuff. But for Lionel collectors, it looked like a darned good show.
I usually stick with the local Roseville Train Show every October or November–more scale stuff.
What I have found is that these shows vary from location to location. Sometimes parking is free, sometimes the venue will charge. Sometimes there are tons of dealers and no used stuff, sometimes there are a lot of “swap meet” kind of items. I like to go to them when they are around because for $7, that’s a couple hours of cheap entertainment for me. Cheaper then going to the movies. I usually go there expecting to find no good deals, and if I find something I can’t live without, then that makes it all the better. I usually end up picking up a couple more MR magazine binders from the one guy time every time I go, soon I’ll have all of my magazines looking nice and tidy.
I attended it when it was in Salt Lake one year. It was fun and they had some layouts that dont come to the Hostler’s show in Ogden. It was also nice to see booths by some of the manufacturers.
Trains shows in the northern NJ area have become 80%+ Lionel over the last 10-15 years. I used to get good buys on HO stuff at some smaller local shows, but now the few HO items are either old train set junk, or overpriced stuff that I can get at 3 different LHS in my immediate area cheaper!!![xx(]
Travelling train shows like GATS are great for the modeller who has no well stocked local hobby shop nearby. You can wheel and deal in used stuff, comparison shop for newly released items, stock up on tools and supplies and find detailing parts, structures and DC and DCC control systems, among other things. Sometimes you have to steel yourself to deal with very crowded conditions, especially on Saturdays and sometimes you can get good price breaks late on Sundays when someone just doesn’t want to “take the darn thing home again”. One problem with these shows is that they, together with e-mail vendors, are taking most of the retail dollars in the hobby, leaving local hobby shops with declining support. No hobby shop can hope to stock the range of products one finds at a big GATS or scale show which is my main incentive for going to them. Also there are the modular layouts which range from works-in-progress to impressive fine scale artistry in quality. My advice, have a shopping list, know what you’re looking at, and be prepared to take advantage of “targets of opportunity”!
Every show every time and every location is different. Two years ago I thought the show was done for. Many of the large vendors who follow it around didn’t show up and there were very few layouts. Then the very next show had new and different vendors and several of the traveling layouts showed up. So you never know until you go. Youze pays your money and youze take your chances.
As far as deals goes one has to hunt them out. I’ve been to at least three where I missed the good deals the first time through.
A year ago February I was in one of the big vendors areas. Most of the stuff like you say was list, or slightly below list. I came across a rather road beaten looking case and started browsing through it. I found Atlas Master Gold (DCC/sound) locos for $104 each. I bought two. The other people at our exhibit wanted them so I sold them for $150 each and went back and got two more for myself.
Last November I had looked all through the vendors finding not much. Another person I was with found a nook that I had over looked. Among other things I got Proto-2000 tank cars for $5 & $7 each. This was both kits and built up units.
Then the real deals happen Sunday afternoon when the vendors are getting desperate to make enough to get to the next show. One vendor had been selling Intermountain Cars for $5-$6 below list or about $24 each. On Sunday morning they lowered the price to $7-$8 below list and gave $5 rebate if one purchased three. By Sunday afternoon they were selling them for $36 for three - which is generally less than 50% off list.
The GTE show will be at the Nashville Auditorium, Jan 10-11
In Feb, the WGH show will be at the Nashville Convention Center
It has been 5 years since the shows were in Nashville.
The Titans will play the Saturday eve, so I will go Sunday. GO TITANS![(-D]
Because of the state of the economy, I have no clue if it will be “worth it” or not.
In January, a lot of vendors may be selling closeout merchandise. Some shops may have a fire sale.
The lower price of gas should be a good sign, folks with $ to spend, not so expensive for the vendors to travel some distance. The only variable is the weather for good travel conditions.
Generally, these shows tend to charge too much for parking, not sure about table space/rent.
I haven’t heard a lot about local Ntrak/NMRA group participation. Clubs should have nice displays even if there are few or no bargains.
If the weather cooperates, well worth time out of the house.
We need you to go & report on how your event went. We need your opinion![:)]
If you ghaven’t already hung uo this thread… The Indy January show is usually pretty good, and better than the December show. (Says the guy going helping demo) The l;ayouts is good, and I saw some grand deals on new Walthers cars, Plus, it;s one of the few shows or MRR in general we hoosers get. Plus, I’ll be there. [:D] (That’;s not supposed to be a reson not to go.)
The GATS are average shows and I have been to them both in Louisiana and here in North Carolina over the past 5 years. The real key for it being a “hit” or a “miss” is the number and variety of vendors who happen to show up for that particular weekend. I really enjoy the shows more with multiple layout displays, and demonstrations or clinics so I don’t just rate a show with the number of great deals or steals I can get, those are far and few between these days. I also like to talk with the vendor folks and if I can walk away with learning something new even it is just one new modeling technique it is worth the entrance fee.
The Naptown & White River club hosts an open house at their building and a swap meet that fills most of the gymnasium at Manual High School - the next one according to their website is March 7 (I missed the December one). Last one I went to was thoroughly enjoyable. It had both dealers moving inventory and guys just renting a table to clear out some stuff, so it was big enough but still had a friendly intimate feel, plus there were some operating trains. Well worth the visit if you can make it.
Maybe I’ll see you there Saturday. I’ll be the guy trying to look at stuff and still keep his three-year-old son in check (as if that really narrows it down any…). So are you a-dealin’ or a-buyin’?
The Colts play Saturday night. I’m sure that day will be a hummin’ in Indy. If they lose, Sunday might be a good day. Smaller crowd, or grumpy, but if they win…$$$
Last year at the Great Train Expo i scored a Gold series Atlas SD24 DCC with Sound for $112 in the Southern Tuxedo Paint scheme. I think the vendors my change at each region they move it to. We are running a 12x48 modular HO layout during the event this year. I enjoy it and do find deals.
I live near Indy and went to the October show and will be going to tomorrow’s show as well. Your description about the show is about right, but I take the attitude that it is a good way to spend an afternoon, rather than trying to find a specific item at a great price. That’s what searching ebay or the internet dealers is for.
Having said that, usually there are a few new private individual tables where the vendor is trying to get rid of some personally owned items, or consignments for others. Usually good deals can be had at those tables. There are also the usual selection of dealers, who seem to travel with the show, that give good deals as well, just not as good as the internet. Atlas MP15 silver series for 90 bucks for instance.
I usually go early Saturday, but someone mentioned here that good deals can be had towards the end of the show on Sunday. Makes sense. Perhaps I’ll get stamped and return then as well.
Overall for me, its worth the ten bucks to be around model trains for the afternoon, sometimes finding a good deal on an item of need. But I have left the show empty handed plenty of times.
Speaking of shows around Indy, the one at Manual High School (December 13, just missed) sponsored by the Naptown club is good as well as the one in about two weeks at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds behind the Walmart in Noblesville, sponsored by the Central Indiana Division of the NMRA is also very good. Usually, there is a show in Muncie in Feb or March that is pretty good as well.