The Door Hollow Shortline will be there and the Del Oro will also be there, so that’s two G layouts inside to go with the outdoor Fairplex layout. There are only 7 layouts inside total this year.
Scratch that on the Del Oro being there, I just looked at the website for the GTE and they’re not listed, rather surprised at that, they are always at these shows.
Due to the heat expected this weekend I’m passing on the show.
That’s probably okay Bob, I think most of the usual G vendors will be at the NGRS in Tulsa which is next week.
Too bad about the Del Oro club not being there. That’s worth the price of admission alone, especially if you haven’t seen the layout and the club members’ trains before. I can imagine that it’s a LOT of work setting up that layout.
According to Upland Trains, both vendors (ex:them) and layouts were turned down for lack of space, which tells me that they are in one of the smaller halls.
Upland Trains are having a big in-store sale that same weekend. So if you are going to the show might be worth stopping by there as well.
The Del Oro club is good at promoting the hobby to the public. All they have to do is show up and set up (easier said than done). The members run trains and stand and sit around the layout, making themselves available for questions. It’s obviously a business and the people putting on the show are primarily interested in the $ by renting more spaces to vendors instead of accommodating large layouts.
I saw these guys during the NGRC in the Bay Area last year and was really impressed. Good people. I procured quite a few peanut M&M’s out of the M&M hopper cars waiting on the sidings!
Has anyone found a list of vendors at the show?
I haven’t been able to find a vendor list. They used to publish a hall map and vendors list, but with their newest web update it’s no longer available.
Hope this works, found a place that has the hall map
http://a83.fe4.myftpupload.com/exhibitorarea/
Go to Pomona and vendor floor plan. It’s by name not business but it looks like a packed hall.
And only one “G” scale layout… looks like it is turning into a toy train show.
Greg
But if they are selling the “toys” people wants, at the price theys will pay, whats the problem?
Hey Greg, the ZoCal crew got bumped as well I see.
Yep, they got the same story, not enough space… it’s BS… well, it’s actually true if you put it in their terms:
based on maximizing profit for the show, the ideal case is as many paying vendors as possible, and the smallest amount of space to “freeloaders” like layouts, who don’t pay. They realize the layouts are a draw, but as more and more of these shows turn into swap meets for people already in the hobby, I think you will see the trend continue.
Many people bring kids to see the layouts, but I think they don’t usually buy. The hobbyists I see don’t usually have kids. Just my opinion.
Greg
Yea Greg, we see a lot of kids at the layout when we set up at the Greenberg shows. I also see several familiar faces, folks who come to see the layouts. Whether they buy anything or not, I don’t know.
Exhibit at the Show
The mission of the Great Train Show is to promote the hobby of model railroading. Our staff is dedicated to providing high-quality events that truly promote the hobby in a positive way. We want people attending our shows to leave so excited about model railroading they can’t wait to start building a model railroad! What better way for the general public to become model railroaders than to see operating model railroads up close?
You can be a part of the show and help grow the hobby of model railroading. Operating exhibits are a vital part of every Great Train Show. The layouts at the show help draw people in to the hobby, attract young people to model trains, provide hours of fascination to attendees, and give people at the show inspiration for how they can improve their own setups. Participation of model railroad clubs in particular is vital to the hobby, as the show can help clubs to gain new members and increase these people’s involvement with model trains.
Model train gauges and scales are welcome to apply for inclusion in our shows. You don’t need to be a model railroad club; individuals are welcome to bring smaller display layouts to the show as well. We try and feature as many different layouts at each show as space Model train layouts of all gauges allows.
http://a83.fe4.myftpupload.com/layout/
You’re right, Greg; looks like BS to me.
One of the problems I see is sellers asking full retail on most items combined with buyers that want things 80% off, middle ground on buying and selling needs to be found.
Last year I paid 20 bucks for the little woman and me to get in the door to the train show and came away empty. No deals to be had in Large Scale. I fared much better at the BAGRS club swap meet.
I know quite a few folks on these forums (fora? sp) still believe that the large scale railroad hobby is still viable. I’m of the opinion that it is slowly “dying out” and going away. Here in So. California, we have the ideal year-round weather for outdoor large scale. But even with that factor, many of the “old timers” have just stopped participating. Greg E. still has a large layout at his home and still participates. Paul Burch is still in the hobby with his beautiful and very large layout in Gig Harbor. I haven’t heard if Dennis Serrine is still running his huge layout in Arizona.
I haven’t purchased any Fn3 stuff since 2013. I still keep my models maintained and batteries charged, but just don’t run anymore. A few years ago, I went back to modeling in 1/8th scale and the ride-on hobby. With vendors like San Val now gone, the Big Train Show on the Queen Mary and Jonathan Bliese (EMW) leaving the state for Arizona (he was my main man to go to for my Fn3 purchases and my RC?battery installs), I just lost interest. Ridee-on trains is my sole interest now. Note my posts here on LSC with various “builds”.
I think these shows are trying to attract new blood into the hobby, but not allowing enough space for large layout like Del Oro or unique layouts like Door Hollow to attend is the wrong move. Just my humble opinion.
All I can say is their mission statement is not reflected in what they are doing. Fewer layouts, and mostly vendors selling used stuff.
This does not cater to expanding the hobby and bring new blood into the hobby in my mind.
The Z scale boys use cell phones to control the trains, and are standing “outside” the layout where people can interact with them.
The Del Oro is impressive in the amount of space it takes, and the nice displays, but there is little interaction and “getting people into the hobby”
We cannot depend on these shows to generate interest and grow the hobby, again my opinion.
Greg