Well, my buddy and I just go back home after the 3rd week-end of Saturday Train Show/Flea Markets. I did pretty good selling off old stuff - and I only spent $47 at the show. Of course I spent another $68 at a LHS after the show. This one was another 1 day ‘flea market’ type of event, and I am tired. Up at 5:30 and a 80 mile drive to the site, unload 5 boxes of stuff, then pack up the remaining 3 boxes and hit the road again. I plan to relax and get to bed early this evening. Next week there is nothing happening, and in 2 weeks we make the long 200 + mile trek to the Mad City show in Madision. At least we will not be trying to sell stuff - just looking and maybe some buying.
Something I have noticed this year is an acceleration in the trend of less ‘dealers’ and even the remaining ones are not doing as ‘deep’ a discount, at least here in the MN/WI area. Also the price of ‘used’ cars seems to be going up. Even old ‘filthy’ Athearn cars command $5 or higher now(one character ‘informed’ me that BB stuff is now ‘out of production’ and is in the rare/collectable arena!). Another used stuff dealer had trays of freight cars for $4 each. I found a complete Accurail USRA single sheathed box car in that stuff - No broken stirrup steps and the vertical brake wheel was intact! I think I am going to read my new MR/RMC/Trains mag’s I bought today and fall asleep.
Jim Bernier
We had the Great Scale Train Show in Timonium here in Baltimore. It seemed unusually crowded this morning - I had to wait in line over 20 minutes to get thru the door (like a friggin’ rock concert!).
We got there around 10am and did a quick look in the middle then we went off to the left side. I t was about 30 minutes later that my dad wanted to get a bite so i said just call me when you are done and I will let you know where I am… He called me like 10 minutes later and said that he could not beleive how much busier it had gotten in the short time we were there… I am going to go back tomorrow for a quick look at a few things… Joseph
Hello Again Jim!
Wow, you have been “out and about” recently! We had a great swap meet here in Portland today sponsored by the SP&P Historical Society. Prices were still pretty reasonable. I picked up a near mint Atlas SP S4 for $35! Most HO cars were in the $3-$5 range, a lot down there in the $3 range. One guy was selling new Athearn SD 40-2’s for $20 each or 3 for $50! The SP&S always has a great swap meet.
Put your feet up for a while!
LP
I also went to the Great Scale Model Trains Show in Timonium. This appears to be the largest one yet. I got there at about 2 minutes after nine and had to park in the top row of the inner parking lot. The line was very long. But the show folks managed to keep it moving pretty good. I thought it was a pretty good show, pretty crowded but that’s good for the dealers - keeps them coming back. As usual I manged to find a number of goodies.
Enjoy
Paul