What is your guys opinion on the Great Train and Toy Show… and the Worlds Greatest Hobby on Tour?..
The only show I’ve been to that’s worth going to is the the East Coast Large Scale train show. I’ve been to Greenburgs show a few times and those others are probably the same as that one. I have found a few good deals at them, but you have to hunt through all the other stuff to find them.
If they help to bring more people into the hobby then that’s a good thing.
Trains shows for me are a mixed bag. There are no big train shows anywhere near my home, therefore travel is a must. A couple hours drive is not too bad and there is one or two shows that fit that bill. Both shows are all scales, and generally have only a small percentage of large scale items available.
To make any of the larger shows, like the ECLSTS I am looking at two days drive time each way, plus hotel, or flights, hotel and rent a car. I looked at going to the ECLSTS last spring and option two would have been over $1,000 for the trip. Kinda killed the ‘discretionay spending budget’. Option one would be less dollars, but cost me at a minimum 4 days leave in stead of one or two depending on flight schedules. Having never been to an ECLSTS I have no experience with vendor pricing.
The smaller local shows work like this. Deals can be had if the vendors are small local mom and pop shops or individuals trying to liquidate collections or reduce a larger collection and usually they are not mentioned in any advertising for the show. The advertised vendors who are retailers in the first place generally have no deals to offer, or the discount is quite small.
For me, I might like to do an ECLSTS once for the sake of meeting several of the members here who make the journey most years as part of their yearly vacation plans. Those folks elude to some good deals to be had there as well. I do try to support the local shows although I seldom make any purchases - near full retail is not what I go for.
I agree with Ken that if the shows help bring new blood into the hobby then they have a benefit. My opinion and others may differ.
The Puget Sound Garden Railroad Society (PSGRS) show the modular layout at several shows around the Puget Sound and Portland areas. I only go to the one in Puyallup at the state fair grounds. Last fall I did fine one item I wish i had bought, a rotary snow plow, but didn’t! This show has allot of ‘stuff’ for sale but you need to be very selective and inspect each item before you buy as you might get something that needs allot of repair work. Last year I was looking for a K-27 but had no luck. I now have one (that is 2 now)
PSGRS is going to Portland this spring and set up at the Portland show which I think is at or near the the storage facility for 4449 and a SP&S Mountain! What they have there I don’t know so good luck. We do get a new member or two that these shows.
Paul
One time the Worlds Greatest Hobby Tour came here, and it was OK. Don’t remember seeing any Large Scale. There were a lot of parents with kids. I guess the Great Show is the left coast equivalent.
Recently we are having Greenberg Show more than once a month. I usually find something, but I have to look hard. For me, it has become more of a social opportunity.
My favorite is the ECLSTS even though you have to put up with a lot of characters (and some outside, too). When it was in New Jersey, it was go and then leave. At least in York there is so much to do nearby or on the way. Lots of different places to eat which we don’t have near home. It is so peaceful in Amish country. There is the Strasburg Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum which has grown.
There is the Ma&Pa Historical Society, but they are only open Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is now the steam engine in Red Lion, but with the same days. They have made a special run if someone sets it up.
Don’t know where you’re from Travis, so can’t make traveling recommendations.
The worlds greatest hobby came to Cleveland Ohio and it was pretty good in my opinion. The sales weren’t that good but the layouts were tops. There was one good large scale layout but the narrow gauge O scale stuff was awesome. My favorite layout though is the freemo HO layout. The nmra show was horrid. For large scale exclusive shows I’ve only attended the ECLSTS and I really enjoy it.
T
I used to enjoy going to “Train Meets” when I was into “O” Gauge. The vendors were mostly small time dealers and individuals, me included at times. Except for the ECLSTS, in York, Pa., there aren’t many train meets that deal in large scale as the main entrée. And the number of small time train meets has diminished greatly over the years.
Terry, then I am glad that I didn’t go to the NMRA show.
Most “all scale” shows I have been too are very light on large scale, if there is any at all. The Greenburg show here in Pittsburgh (Monroeville) usually has a smattering of left over and used large scale to choose from. The ECLSTS is THE show to go to for large scale round these here parts.
A big exception for all scale shows is the Springfield MA big E show.
4 buildings open to the public and quite a bit of G scale.
I found a 4044 brand new for $10, a 5075 with cable in box for $10 and a 3 way Y LGB with EPLS for $20.
Switch does need rail repair, I need to secure several rails to the ties, but this just takes time.