03-29-15 Altoona Train Show

We're heading to Altoona tomorrow to spend Easter with Mom.  I always visit Neely's.  He had over 30 tables at the show.  I'll ask him how it went.

Is this the same show that was held in the past in conjunction with the Railroaders Museum shindigs?  I recall attending a show with the family, touring the museum, and having lunch under the tent.  That was many moons ago.

I remember attending an outdoor train show held on the grounds of the Horseshoe Curve (lower level, of couse) back in the late 1980's.  It was a nice little show on a beautiful summer day with some real train action up on the hill!  I believe that was before they installed the incline so it was a tough walk to the top.

Bill

WftTrains,

My friends and I attended that show. When we finished looking at the items for sale we went to Duncansville and had breakfast at Joe Panero's restaurant. At one time Mr. Panero was a very good customer of ours. Back in the seventies I would attend and look for Flyer. In the eighties I set up and sold MPC. After the eighties, I stopped playing shows. I would still attend but only to say hello and can you lend me a couple dollars to buy gas to get home. I can remember attending this show at the following locations.

Geeseytown Fire Hall

Railroad Museum

East Freedom Fire Hall

Altoona Armory

Pinecroft Fire Hall

Altoona Convention Center

I always loved this show because the people that attended it were very friendly.

I did not attend the show but had some friends that did and they said there was a lot of HO and not a lot of action for the buyer or the seller.  My one friend did find a 80s Lionel Alton Limited set for around $250, engine and cars.   

I think the show being on Palm Sunday hurt attendance. 

Your friend is right.  I was there, and for me, it wasn't worth getting up early.  Much less 3-rail than usual, both PW and 3rs.  I ended up getting some GG1 insulators and a couple of books on Toronto streetcars (I used to live in Toronto).  Few 3rs locomotives, and the ones that did appear weren't anything I was looking for.

Mind you, spring shows are as a rule less interesting than their fall equivalents, in my experience.  I will be back for the fall show in October.  Hopefully, it won't be such a disappointment.

Palm Sunday hurting attendance?  Well, the show was originally scheduled for the 15th of March on their website.  I don't know why it was moved; seems to me it would have been better in mid-April.

pennsydave,

Your friend got a nice set for $250.00. This set was pictured in the 1981 catalog.

Hi Jimmy,

I might have bought something from you that day.  But I didn't know you then as that was before you became famous thanks to the OGR Forum and the Internet! 

I do remember buying some Plasticville from a guy from Ebensburg who had several tables full of Plasticville. 

Bill

WftTrains,

Sorry, you didn't buy anything from me that day because I wasn't set up to sell. The gentleman you bought the Plasticville from was Paul Gerchick. He's from Ebensburg. I always called him Plasticville King. Once upon a time he had tons of Plasticville.

Here is a picture of Ron Walter, my father Bob Sutter and myself taken at the East Freedom Fire Hall around 1982 or 1983. Ronnie is one of the best friends I ever had. He was also one of our train repair people. My father always enjoy attending train shows and visiting with everyone.