First Time @ York

Flying would be the easiest. Driving if you plan to buy a lot. Consider the costs for driving vs shipping things home. I've been able to do the entire meet, two runs through every building with a pit stop for lunch and the OGR Forum gathering on Friday (I move fast). I'm lucky to live 2 hours away. You can make a whole week out of it - Wednesday at Strasburg and Thursday, Friday, Saturday at the fairgrounds. Check out Clem's York Primer if you haven't already. You can find it HERE

 

I liked the new Marriott I was supposed to stay in last April but opted to cancel the reservation and went home. The building itself was brand new and spotless. 

Anyone else from your area in TCA to travel with? You will get a lot of replies with suggestions of hotels here.I personally don't have any recommendations, as I stay at my sister's across the border in MD.  How long will you be staying? The meet is three days, Thursday Friday and Saturday; there is a lot to see.

Don

I always stay at Hampton Inns........can't go wrong.

 

Peter

If you go you will not be disappointed. As far as a Hotel goes you better get on that soon if you want to stay in York. And make sure you bring a lot of money because you will find all kinds of trains there and some very good prices. It is the best place to buy trains to talk trains and to make friends.

Good luck and have fun!

You will find a mind boggling assortment of trains but keep your head and check out  what you are purchasing carefully. It will be quite the experience for you.

 

Bob C.

Thanks much. What and where is the wednesday meet? Would I b able to do the show on just Thursday and Friday. I tend to spend time in booths etc. is best strategy to do an overview and then return to places of interest?

Greg.

> On Jan 10, 2015, at 2:42 PM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

An overview is a nice idea but things can move fast at York and the items you were interested in may well be gone by the time you revisit especially if they are commonly desireable items at good prices.

 

Bob C.

See Clem's York primer:  http://www.wbachapter.org/clems_primer_oct2014.pdf.  

 

Unless you are on a really tight schedule, drive.  With the state of air travel these days, the location, the number of connections, rental cars, etc., you won't save much hassle and expense.  You'll spend a bundle on shipping stuff if you fly.   

 

Bring cash.

 

If you see something you want at a price you think is fair, buy it - don't pass it up and try to find a better deal.

 

Check the York forums on this site and Trip Advisor for lodging reviews.  Book early.  

A "overview" would take 4 1/2 hours. As others have said, "buy it if you like it" because you may "loose" it.

 

You should consider driving it...12 1/2 hours, 795 miles one way, about $200. for gas round trip. A lot of us have driven to Disney World. This is a "Disney World" of trains.

If you can arrange your schedule, try to come in Wednesday morning and take in the TCA museum manufacturer presentations at the Museum in Strasburg. Particularly if you have never been there before. Also if you are not a TCA member, it would be good to join now and get this out of the way.

 

Going to the York Meet is the pinnacle of where our hobby is at. The manufacturers are all there and there are plenty of opportunities to purchase the hard to find items. This is a very good move on your part, and you will return after experiencing your first.

Most of the planning depends on weather you are working or not. If you are working and short of vacation, Leave Wednesday morning and get in that night. Do shows and activities Thursday and Friday. Home Saturday. Sunday with Family. Fly or Drive about the same.

 

Not working, Do whatever you want.

 

Help us with better suggestions by telling us your status

 

 

I am not working so I can get there on Wednesday. Are there any meets that day? Hoping to Meet my wife in DC Friday night but don't want to shortchange the trip. Also Friday looks to be the most expensive hotel night etc. Appreciate thoughts on the amount of time as well as which halls to hit first. I know there are hard to find items. Are there any bargains on things like track or Ross etc to be had?


THanks,


GREG.

Going to York at least once is the same as going to Mecca at one time in your life.  The suggestion to visit the TCA Museum and other commercial railroad oriented things in nearby Strasburg is likewise worth the time, especially if you are traveling all that distance.

Greg, make some friends here on the forum; folks you can privately exchange email with; and, perhaps speak with over the phone, to make arrangements to meet in person in York.

 

I'm sure there are many on the forum who will gladly help you to a great YORK experience.

I beleive that on Wednesday there are some bandit meets (details listed in Clem's Primer), but if you have never been, there are manufacturer presentations at the TCA's Toy Train Museum in Strasburg (about an hour East of York in Lancaster County).  Strasburg also has the Strasburg Railroad (tourist steam), Choo Choo Barn (great layout) and PRR Railroad Museum (great RR collection), so you can easily make a day of it in Strasburg.

 

As to which halls to hit first, it depends what you are looking for.  For newer modern production, the dealer halls are best.  Most start with Orange then go to Brown and Purple.  For older stuff, the member halls are the way to go.  You never know what you will find in the member halls.  For things like Ross track, you can some times find small amounts of it in member halls at real bargain prices, but you can also go straight to the source as Ross sets up in the Orange Hall directly across from OGR.

 

Also, UPS sets up outside of the Silver Hall in case you need to ship things home.

 

Andy

Returning to DC on Friday night is tough as you have to deal with Baltimore & DC beltway (695 & 495) gridlock. I make it a point to stay until they turn the lights out at 6:30 in the Dealer halls.

Check out previous threads in this York forum. You will find almost all your questins have been already asked and answered. 

In answer to a question in the thread above, the Wed night session of the DCS users group is held at the Holiday Inn on Louck Road.  Figure to be there by 6, earlier if you want your DCS eqpt upgraded by forum members.

 

Show opens at noon on Thursday.  There is a bandit meet at the Holiday on Wednesday that closes about 2PM

 

I agree with Sam that the Baltimore and DC Beltways are a hassle.  The route I take from northern Virginia is to take the Dulles Greenway (toll) from VA Route 28 near Dulles Airport), west to US 15 at Leesburg, and then take US 15 north all the way to US 30 in Gettysburg.  Then east to York.

dont forget to meet a bunch of TCA guys at Ruby Tuesdays on Thursday nite at about 6pm! 

It is near the York Fairgrounds....about a 5 minute drive (+/-)!