I wanted to report on the Pine Bluff Arkansas’s Cotton Belt 819 shops train show we had today.
First off, the crowds came. It is a rather small show and judging by the parking it gets a little bit bigger each year. This year all availible land was filled with cars. There is a Gunderson Wheel works next door and they had cars crammed among the stacked wheels. I am glad I came early.
The 4-8-4 Steam engine #819 appears to be well along in her restoration. I took video and will try to lift some pictures of her later this weekend, the lighting was poor. But a sign of progress was they had the tender attached. (Yes it had a state license plate used on cars I forgot to ask about that)
The layouts did a good job this year, you could tell some of the progress have been made on quite a few of them. The Arkansas Traveling layout club really progressed since I last saw it last winter. There are other modular layouts clubs that make the rounds in local shows.
The merchandise. One was a 1944 map printed for the military via the Union Pacific it showed every important base in the USA… imagine if that map fell into the hands of the enemy. (I did not know these existed during the war and apparently the owner did not know either)
Books had a good selection, tapes (DVD etc) there was a number of all gauges on the tables. I have to say the selection kind of declined. One local hobby shop expanded his show to 6 tables so I think some dealers kind of get bigger every year while others may not be so “fortunate”
I did find several Bev Bel boxcars but they were priced at like $15.00 and I decided that they were not worth the cost. I suppose the prices are creeping closer to ready to run cars but they would have needed work such as metal wheels and kaydees.
The bulk of the rolling stock was rather decent. I was given an oppertunity to purchase 40 MR magazines for 10 dollars flat. I passed because I had most of the issues already. (Oh well maybe s