Train shows - how are they doing?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Well, this weekend was train show weekend here in Maryland, the Great Scale Model Train Show in Timonium, MD, just north of Baltimore.

I only live about 25 minutes away, but I don’t always attend. But, as chance would have it, this weekend I was watching my 4 year old grandson, so off we went.

There is one vender there who specializes in Hot Wheels cars, so the 4 year old was all in.

It seems to me, that the last four or five of these things I have been to seem to show a gradual deline in attendance and activity. I’m not suggesting some “the hobby is dieing” scenerio, more like maybe train shows have run their course?

A decade ago, this thing would have been packed - with venders and customers. Not so this Saturday, the boy and I easily navigated around with his umbrella stroller and scooped up some loot.

For him, a dozen or so Hot wheels, or “awesome cars” as he calls them.

For me, some “new old stock” locomotives at rock bottom prices and the chance to check on the status of my wagon top B&O covered hopper order from Spring Mills Depot.

I guess without the liitle guy I could have found more, but it was good day out with him.

I scored two Spectrum 2-8-0’s, new in the box, $60 each, and a WM Proto2000 BL2, only $40.

The place was no where near full from a vender standpoint, a condition I have noticed for several years now.

Dealers consisted of the usual mix, some with new stuff, some with used stuff. The supply of older NOS is finally getter smaller with some of these guys. The amount of new stuff seemed much smaller than past shows - especially locomotives.

So what is the train show situation where you live?

Sheldon

2

I attended the “Title Town Train Show” in Green Bay on Saturday. It seemed just as crowded as previous shows. There appeared to about as many vendors/layouts/dealers. I don’t know if people were buying a lot or not. I’ve heard reports of TrainFest in Milwaukee and Mad City Train Show in Madison increasing in attendees. I hope other shows around the country are also doing well.

The Green Bay show also had 2 miniature train rides for the kiddies as well as a large table full of LEGOS for them to play with. An ample seating area and reasonably priced concessions also helped.

3

Timonium’s winter show was pretty great this year. I’d actually planned on going to this weekend’s, but today’s weather probably didn’t help. It was magnificent outside.

4

Hi Sheldon,

I’m part of the problem. I used to travel to a few different shows each year but I’m no longer inclined to do so. I still visit the Barrie/Alandale train show each February. Its about 1/2 hr away.

The Barrie show has seen a significant decline in the number of vendors in the past few years. The number of tables being rented by individuals has gone down, as has the number of hobby shops with booths. All of the hobby shops that used to attend are still in business so obviously they weren’t doing enough business to justify the time and expense.

For me, there are a couple of factors that that have caused me to stop attending the shows other than Barrie.

  • One is that I am spending most of my hobby money on the internet. The internet offers a vast selection of things that might interest me whereas the train shows offer comparatively little. Both involve some time searching but on the internet I can view literally thousands of items in two or three hours in the comfort of my chair vs spending that same time standing uncomfortably bent over, fighting with my bifocals, and, in the case of the Barrie show, sweating my rear end off because it’s in a greenhouse. The odds of me getting what I want on the internet are much better.

  • Related to that is the fact that I have already accumulated enough stuff to keep me modeling for a few years. I’ve got kits, super detailing parts, motors, power drives, scratch building supplies, etc. etc. coming out my ears. I’m still buying items but I’m becoming very choosey about what I’m spending my money on. Also, most of the things that I intend to spend money on likely won’t be found at the train shows anyhow. I’m speaking of things like sound decoders for specific engines.

  • The final factor for me is that my back is becoming more painful each year. Standing and bending over for long periods is not fun. I now have to use a cane if I’m going to be on my feet for any length of time.</

5

Here in western PA, I’ve definitely seen a decline in both attendance and the amount/quality of vendors at train shows. The Greenberg show in Monroeville is a shadow of what it was 10 years ago, and the various smaller shows have declined as well. From my point of view it seems like they now consist of two categories: total junk, and new stuff at or near full retail.

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Sheldon,What I have notice the better train shows is packed while the so/so shows is lacking in attendance.

IMHO the day of the train show may fade into the sunset since most train show prices can be beaten on line. Some vendors just doesn’t get that old yellow box Atlas/Roco Alco S4 isn’t worth $85.00 especially since you can buy the newest upgraded release for around $99.00 on line.

I will hit on this very lightly since it doesn’t involve all vendors… I lost count of the vendors that sells at the same shows I attend with the same box worn stock I seen at every show and still at ridiculous prices.

7

Sheldon,
Here in Massachusetts, we’re sort of spoiled by the Amherst Railway Society’s Big Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield at the end of January. It’s arguably the largest model train show in the USA, and sees 20,000+ visitors every year. In the past 10 years, the show has only gotten bigger and bigger by going into a fourth building to the show (first just the front part, then the back).

We also have the NMRA Hub Division’s show in December. It’s held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Trade Center in Marlborough every year. They fill the display area up every year. It’s probably the 2nd largest train show in Mass. The other might be the Greenberg Show in Wilmington, but I’ve never been to that one.

As for the small local shows, there’s the Taunton Show in September, the Brockton/Randolph Show in November, and the Hingham Show in both October and March (we had 1500 people in two days back last month). All are small shows with 50 to 100 dealer tables.

In the past 10 years, we’ve lost Train Shows in Fall River, Foxboro, and West Barnstable. Fall River lost their school space due to local politics, Foxboro’s hosting group all retired, and West Barnstable was too far from anything else.

I’ve been a show dealer with my local railroad historical group for the past 25 years. I’ve seen plenty of shows come and go. The major change is that in the olden days, you’d have the “basement bombers”…guys that would make a hobby shop out of their house and only do train shows. The distributers of the era were pretty loose with their rules about who they sold to, so as long as you had a tax ID, a business card, and an address, you could get a wholesale discount. These guys would travel from show to show, selling new sto

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Where I live most of the shows have gone the way of the Dodo.

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Going to a train show here this coming up weekend. The only other one near wher i live will be in late june. Hope to find some stuff i want cheap. last one i went to was not to crowded which i liked, i hate crowds.

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Timonium: less dealers than the show 3 or 4 months ago. Attendance was pretty good then, this Sunday was worse than Saturday, which they blamed on the rain. Sunday was beautiful so I guess they blamed it on good weather. I would say there were only 20-30% as many people this show.

One guy offered me his entire display of Walthers turnouts for $120. There were 8 or 10 turnouts and I think they were DCC friendly, including a 3 way. I felt bad for the book guy who has to carry all his stock in and out. The guys that have boxes and and boxes of cars from toy train sets, the brightly colored ones, with broken horn hook couplers…I don’t know why they bother.

,

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I know that nobody likes to mention the fact that the hobby is dying so I won’t either, but don’t you think that dropping attendance in recent years is a sign of something other than nice weather outside? [*-)]

Rich

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In my country, we have a limited number of commercial train or modelbuilding shows and a greater number more privately organized shows and meets, which I prefer.

In the past, I have attended a number of shows, but not for bargain hunting (there aren´t any) - I go there to see nice layouts and collect good ideas for my own work.

Unfortunately, both number and quality of layouts displayed has gone down.

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And yet their is no proof the hobby is dying since we do not have the figures and all the new companies.thousands of new products etc over the last ten years or so means nothing to the grand scheme.

The hobby is dying cry has been heard for as long as I care to remember and its still around. The pallbearers will be called if and when they are needed since there is no need to stand by a empty casket.

This isn’t the 80/90s its the computer age where the widest selection of models is at our figure tips. There’s no longer a need to drive miles to a show with fingers cross hoping we might find what we need after paying our way in,paying to park and maybe a light snack and still need to pay full or slightly less then MSRP…

Why bother with a train show when your finger tips can do the shopping from the comfort of your home?

14

But that same argument could be made during the heyday of the LHS.

Why bother with a train show when you could do the shopping from the comfort of driving your car a few blocks to the local hobby shop?

Rich

15

Larry, something tells me that you don’t believe in climate change either.

[(-D]

Rich

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Rich,In the heyday of LHS I seldom attended a train show and why bother when my friend Fred or Billy Bob at the shop has it in stock or could get it for me at discount?

Saturday morning was hobby shop day-that’s before and after my railroading career interfered…

As for your second question nope,no more then I believe in Big Foot UFOs,Lake Erie’s “Bessie” monster or the Loch Ness monster.

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Have to agree internet shopping is killing both the shows and the LHS, and I plead guilty to accelarating this trend. Why wait for a show when I can price shop the online retailers and get what I need without waiting or driving to a show or LHS and praying they have what I want.

Having said that I still attand some of the Greenberg shows in Edison and have been to the National Train Show and the WGH shows. Each time we go though I find myself spending less and less because I already have all the stuff I need for the SIW ecept for a very specialized items like caboose industry ground throws which I ordered from Amazon) I like looking at the layouts My wife looks at the toys and knik-knacks, and talking with fellow hobbyists. It is a fun 2 hours. Attendance is very seasonal with the holiday show being crowded and the others less so.

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In Chantilly, VA, Greenburg used to visit 2x/year until Walmart took over part of the space. Greenburg seemed smaller than before, but you need to know fair market value for things. I did quite well at those shows and agree with many that knowing the market is invaluable.

Thanks for the update on Timonium. I’m glad I didn’t make the drive. Vendors who are trying to sell old cars (read Tyco horn-hook couplers and its ilk) are wasting time.

Regardless of the show, going there is a great way for meeting people and exchanging ideas. No question that the internet causes this hobby to evolve. I like not only the ability to quickly purchase stuff online, but also have access to various HO swaps which often have a greater selection than Craigslist.

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I like trains shows and though I don’t do the same kind of shopping I used to do, I still enjoy just the fun of going and seeing what’s there. Especially when there are excellent operating layouts.

Alvie

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My grandson and I have attended most ot the train shows in NE Ohio over the past few years and noticed a decline in the number and quality of the vendors and a decided decline in attendance.

It is really a shame as we counted on several of the better vendors for good stuff and bargain prices.