What and where is the best train show to attend in the USA? (I guess if there are good shows outside the USA, please tell us about them. I have no direct knowledge.)
I used to participate as a dealer in the Texas/Oklahoma train show circuit in the late 90’s early 2000s. Oklahoma City used to have a HUGE train show; two big halls, wall-to-wall people on Saturday, good crowd on Sunday, attendance well over 20,000 folks for a weekend. Houston had a big show at the George R Brown convention center (no more). DFW had shows at Will Rodgers coliseum (no more) and at the Plano Centre (smallish venue).
But nothing like I imagine Trainfest in Milwaukee, or the Amhearst show in New England. I know the National Train show in conjunction with the annual NMRA convention is big. Two years ago I got to go to the Denver Show. It was the biggest show I have ever been to. I went with no expectations on a Saturday, bought $400 worth of rare stuff; convinced my wife to let me go back on Sunday, and spent another $400. It was great. I couldn’t go last year because I was recovering from eye surgery and I couldn’t see.
I want to do Denver again. I want to go to Amhearst, and a National Train show. My son used to live in Milwaukee, but has since relocated back to Texas (so no easy access or excuse to go to Trainfest.
What is your favorite train show to attend? Are any of them on your bucket list?
Well, I have not been to very many different ones, but here in the Mid Atlantic we have the Great Scale Model Train Show, and it is said to be one of the better ones in the country.
Not as big as Amhurst, but big enough that lots of major vendors want to be there.
It actually happens three times a year at the Maryland State Fairgrounds.
And I will likely attend next week, October 25th and 26th.
It is only 40 minutes from my house.
Honestly, I have never even considered traveling any great distance or spending the night to go to a train show. So if if it’s not a day trip from Havre de Grace, MD, not likely to see me there - unless I happen to be in the area for some other reason.
Because I don’t venture far from home and technically, I don’t really need anything, the only two shows I go to are Davenport, IA in April and Galesburg, IL in June. There are also two train sales more close to home in April and October in Washington, IA. Two vendors rent a hall and it is only them.
I really want to get out and find some larger train shows in Kansas. There are the ones in Wichita and Hutch that are decently sized, but nothing huge. Need to see when KC is hosting one (apparently I missed one in Topeka a couple weeks ago). When I lived in Oklahoma, OKC put on a train show in the first weekend of December (now the first weekend of November) at their fairgrounds. Absolutely massive and a source of great memories with my dad. He started taking me when I was 6 or 7 and we went together up until COVID. Shame I live 5 hours from it now!!!
I’m lucky to live in MA for the last 30 years, and make it to the Amhearst show most years - was a 2+ hour drive when I was north of Boston, only an hour now that we are retired to the Berkshires. I’ve attended the NMRA show when it was in Hartford, and years ago in I think it was Valley Forge PA, great shows but they don’t measure up to Amhearst, which has something for everyone, and will literally make your eyes glaze over from train overload after about 6 hours of wandering around …
Our local club puts on the Garden City train show in March. Not a big show, but lots of interesting stuff. There is a large Free-Mo layout, a variety of vendors and other layouts. I have found some incredible bargains; three years ago I scored two new Athearn RTR CF7s for $50 each from a small vendor. But we also have Spring Creek Model Trains; always something good from Spring Creek!
I’ve been to timonium a few times - though not in the past couple…sever..:many years, but I always thought they were lacking in having the big names represented there. Also lack of panels/discussions, etc. I know it’s a train show and not a convention, but I would like to see it evolve a little. Or maybe they do now have some of the bigger names - like I said it’s been a hot minute.
I may actually go this time. There is something I want to start looking for and I should have off.
There are a few small manufacturers that typically show up. Tichy, CMR, etc. And there typically several clinics/demonstrations. Lots of modular layouts as well. No big manufacturers on a regular basis.
I pretty much only attend the Greenberg shows when they come around. I would attend others here in western Pennsylvania, but nobody bothers advertising them. That’s one of the problems in the train hobby. It does basically nothing to advertise itself.
I model N Scale so it’s the N Scale Weekend in Altoona, PA. N Scale layouts and vendors as far as the eye can see! If I’m desperate for a model train fix, then a Greenberg show in Chantilly, VA.
