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Mike23 posted:

I'm closer to Boston, there'll be train vendors there worth the ride? I honestly don't know. Thought it was like a big 4H Fair (shrugs shoulders)

Yeah! A "4H fair" exclusive to model railroaders of ALL scales! With 4 buildings of trains and train related items, if you don't like it, your not too interested in the hobby! Even your "buddy" Charlie Ro attends this show Yearly and with some great deals to Boot!

I pre-ordered my two day pass!

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Last edited by prrhorseshoecurve
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I plan to go to the Big E for the 1st time on Sunday, January 27th (I have another commitment that Saturday).

I'm too far away and unfamiliar with the vicinity to organize a Forum get together that Sunday, but if someone is willing to initiate such a get-together on that Sunday afternoon or early evening, I would love to attend. Arnold

Preorder your ticket and GET there EARLY! Traffic and parking is a "Big Dance"! .... NOT to mention you have FOUR huge halls to visit!

MELGAR posted:

This show is the one I enjoy most. If you live in New England and like model trains, it is a "must." I begin to look forward to next year's Big-E Springfield show the moment the current year's show ends.

MELGAR

New England? That's a bit Shelfish of ya! Lets try to include Canadians [Yes Rapido has a booth...eh!] and the

Mid-Atlantic states!

There are several multigage interests at this show. The layouts in most popular scales are a BIG attraction. Clubs come from near and to far set up the exhibition layouts. G gage, O Gage, O scale, S Gage and S scale   HO scale,  N scale,  narrow Gage in popular sizes,  European Marklin club, some switching layouts too. Train and related merchandise for sale everywhere you look! The clinics are cool to attend as well. Check your entry books for table and other locations. It's a really exciting show to attend. Have a great time attendees. I can't go this year, first time missed in about a decade.  I really don't need more trains but all the layouts and folks that run them will be missed. 

 Melgar, show Arnold around! have a great time and good Pizza afterwards.

I'll be there. I believe that this will be my 35th show (although I may have missed a year or two).

On a more somber, but show related, note. The memorial service for Sudro Brown, one of the show's founders and long time builder of modules, was yesterday. He passed away several weeks ago at age 80. He was still active until the end. I saw him at the last Amherst railway society meeting that I attended in August. Living in the same town, and as academics, we had many mutual friends both in the train community and the academic community.

Here's the tribute to Sudro from the Amherst Railway Society website

http://www.amherstrail.org/ARS/news-SudroBrown.php

Lad Nagurney

You just started counting down now. This will be my 26 show, plan on going both day regardless of weather. I believe it was 4 years ago on a Saturday it snowed bad. Put the truck in 4x4 and still get there early, plus side of being 15 mins away. The best show I went to due to lack of people. Looking forward to seeing you all there.

I'd estimate 20%  O gauge, 25% tops.... if all the other gauges went home, it wouldn't hold a candle to York.

But, I still look forward to it every year!  Lots to see... many, many, more operating layouts makes it a family event!

I wish they had camping (with hookups) like York.. then I'd make it a 2 day event.

BUT,

First things first... NJHR is right around the corner! (almost!)

Last edited by eddiem

Hey COACHJOE, how ya do'in?  Yeah buddy, I cannot attend this year.

But Arnold, Melgar and probably 20 something thousand attendees will go that weekend! 

I will be in NYC that weekend visiting friends and family. The Westchester toy and train show will be on again when we are on the way home Sunday. I wonder what we will eat at starlight diner!  Probably  the Ruben this time. Lol.

maybe you and Melgar and Arnold can meet up and do a pizza dinner after your show. Hope so. 

Best for 2019.

the annual Railroad Hobby Show occupies four buildings at the Eastern States Exposition, draws 25,000 people, and is one of the most respected railroad shows in the country. Twice, the Railroad Hobby Show has received the Walther’s Showmanship Award in recognition of our efforts to promote interest in railroads and model railroads in the United States. This is a must attend show ,if you are a model railroader , there is a lot to see and learn ( the operating layouts alone are something to see ) this is the type of show that will keep the hobby alive , the last two years they had an operating  live steam loco!!!!  techman   

techman posted:

the annual Railroad Hobby Show occupies four buildings at the Eastern States Exposition, draws 25,000 people, and is one of the most respected railroad shows in the country. Twice, the Railroad Hobby Show has received the Walther’s Showmanship Award in recognition of our efforts to promote interest in railroads and model railroads in the United States. This is a must attend show ,if you are a model railroader , there is a lot to see and learn ( the operating layouts alone are something to see ) this is the type of show that will keep the hobby alive , the last two years they had an operating  live steam loco!!!!  techman   

You guys do a great job of making the show appealing to a wide variety of enthusiasts. While I'm all in for the buying sprees at the big swap meets, for fun, this show is the best!

SJC posted:

I'm planning on making the trek from Washington DC for this show, first time. The "cover story" is that I'm visiting my sister in Boston! LOL!

IF you do, when You get to the NJ, Get off of I95! Take I280 to the NYS Thruway East. Cross the Hudson River at the Tappan Z.  Stay right to the Saw Mill River Parkway North [WATCH out for the Three Lights]. Mege Onto 684 N then take 84 East to Hartford, CT and finally to I91 North. 

Your GPS Will direct you to I 95 all the way up and most of that way will be nasty truck traffic, Numerous and expensive tolls, and mostly traffic jams.

prrhorseshoecurve posted:
SJC posted:

I'm planning on making the trek from Washington DC for this show, first time. The "cover story" is that I'm visiting my sister in Boston! LOL!

IF you do, when You get to the NJ, Get off of I95! Take I280 to the NYS Thruway East. Cross the Hudson River at the Tappan Z.  Stay right to the Saw Mill River Parkway North [WATCH out for the Three Lights]. Mege Onto 684 N then take 84 East to Hartford, CT and finally to I91 North. 

Your GPS Will direct you to I 95 all the way up and most of that way will be nasty truck traffic, Numerous and expensive tolls, and mostly traffic jams.

Thanks....but I'm flying up for the weekend. Most certainly will not do that drive at all!

I’m sorry but those who think o gauge is less than 20% of the entire show are nuts.  Yes, every scale is represented and yes mostly HO but there’s o gauge to be found in ever building, all 4.  So I would say a third at least maybe more.  Here’s a list of o gauge vendors at the show.

Amato’s 

charlesRo

B and F hobbies


Grzyboski Train Store

Kadee

Lionel

AtlasO

MTH

Ross switches

Pioneer hobbies(my local hobby shop)

mega steam smoke fluid

trainworld

trainz

Zstuff

 

Many individual sellers, to many to list, one that I always visit has a large selection of Weaver rolling stock in the Mallory building. A few post war parts sellers, lots of post war in the Young building where Ross is.  So if you think 20% you’re not looking hard enough. Yes it’s not York but nothing is like York so for the love of God stop comparing this show to York

floor plan

 

 

 

 

 

Last edited by superwarp1

Bottom line is if the show is close enough for you to drive to it's worth checking out. The big vendors bring newer stuff but there are some private tables that might have some pre and post war if that's what your after. If you only are interested in post war than York is probably your best bet in the member halls or some smaller local shows with folks wanting to sell some older trains.   The experience of the show itself is worth the trip so long as we don't have a blizzard!

Last edited by Chris Lonero

Amherst Train Show is worth going to.  I missed last year but went at least 6 years in a row before that, planning on going this year.  I walk through the whole show at least 3 times.  One year I made quite a few trips out to my truck with items I bought.  If you see something it might not be there next time through.  Sunday afternoon you might get a better deal.  The layouts are great also.

A little north of Boston and been the last two years and looking forward to this year's show as long as it doesn't snow.

Don't forget Woodland Scenics and Scenic Express who usually have large displays and a lot of non-specific vendors like Mianne and others.

The MGM casino opened a few months ago in downtown Springfield, so that may be an option for a place to stay, eat and make a little money to pay for more train stuff - hopefully !

eddie g posted:

The attendance is getting bigger & bigger 30,000 to 35,000. I believe it is closer to 20,000.

Around 20,000. Sometimes more, sometimes less.   I was at red rose just the other day.  Fantastic meal as alway and I walked around the casino.  Very nice.  Yes lots of options for restaurants and hotels.  As for snow.  If it does snow, and you guys can’t make it, that’s just more for me.

superwarp1 posted:
eddie g posted:

The attendance is getting bigger & bigger 30,000 to 35,000. I believe it is closer to 20,000.

Around 20,000. Sometimes more, sometimes less.   I was at red rose just the other day.  Fantastic meal as alway and I walked around the casino.  Very nice.  Yes lots of options for restaurants and hotels.  As for snow.  If it does snow, and you guys can’t make it, that’s just more for me.

We've been going for as long as I can remember.  Its gotten so crowded!   We both remember the days we used to go and be able to park right near the buildings (only two back then) and walk around freely without bumping into people. That's changed so much through the years.  After last year, we both said we were contemplating not going again because it was so crowded. 

Of course we will be there again this year.....  😆

For those in the NYC area to points south of Springfield,  the show organizers will be running shuttle buses from Union station to the show.  There’s eight trains a day from New Heaven to Springfield and back on Ctrail and a train every half hour plus Amtrak trains from NYC to New Heaven.  What better way to enjoy a train show than ride the train to get there. 

 

shuttle bus info

Last edited by superwarp1

Eddie G,

Back on page 2 of these posts you said-

"Gary, Charles Ro. Atlas, Grzyboski, Zstuff, kadee, Lionel, Ross  & others on your list don't bring any pre or postwar to Springfield. 1900-1969"

Charles Ro's tables are my first stop, he has a bunch of Postwar! No mint or like new stuff but lots of operator quality or fixer uppers. Stop by his section and see for yourself.

Lionel6457

LIONEL6457 posted:

Eddie G,

Back on page 2 of these posts you said-

"Gary, Charles Ro. Atlas, Grzyboski, Zstuff, kadee, Lionel, Ross  & others on your list don't bring any pre or postwar to Springfield. 1900-1969"

Charles Ro's tables are my first stop, he has a bunch of Postwar! No mint or like new stuff but lots of operator quality or fixer uppers. Stop by his section and see for yourself.

Lionel6457

Yeah I don't get why Eddie doesn't see what I see and I'm not looking for the stuff.  Plenty of post war stuff in the same building Ross switches is in. 

Hey Eddie, at this point don't you have everything Lionel ever made by now?  1946-1969

prrhorseshoecurve posted:
SJC posted:

I'm planning on making the trek from Washington DC for this show, first time. The "cover story" is that I'm visiting my sister in Boston! LOL!

IF you do, when You get to the NJ, Get off of I95! Take I280 to the NYS Thruway East. Cross the Hudson River at the Tappan Z.  Stay right to the Saw Mill River Parkway North [WATCH out for the Three Lights]. Mege Onto 684 N then take 84 East to Hartford, CT and finally to I91 North. 

Your GPS Will direct you to I 95 all the way up and most of that way will be nasty truck traffic, Numerous and expensive tolls, and mostly traffic jams.

Thanks for the heads up ‘Curve. I will try that route. This will be my first time at the Big E. Only I won’t take the Tappen Zee Bridge since it is currently at the bottom of the river. I think the Mario Cuomo will be a better bet!😁

Gerry posted:
superwarp1 posted:

http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/

 

List of exhibitors

 

no Mr. Muffins this year.  Guess one and done, not worth the travel

Too bad. Chatted with him and Mrs Muffin for the first time at the show last year. Really, really nice people. That is along way to travel however. Our loss.

I had to question Mr Muffins decisions on this show.  Last year I told him it would be best if he brought rolling stock,  Something in New England would of been best.  Instead he brought nothing but engines.  In a show like this with dads with young kids who's going to walk out with a 1500.00 engine????   I'm guessing not many as he's not coming back.  On top of that, CharlesRO had many of the same engines and was blowing them out for 100 bucks less, both vendors in the same building.  Ohwell, I hope he comes back some day.  Him and his wife are the greatest.

Last edited by superwarp1
Arnold D. Cribari posted:

One more thing: it would be great for those Forum members like me attending on Sunday, January 27th, if there was a Forum get-together that day sometime after 2 PM, maybe for Pizza. Is that a possibility?

Arnold

I second Arnold's suggestion that there be an OGR Forum picture (or pizza dinner after the show) on Saturday and Sunday. Eddie G has called for 1 PM Saturday at Charles Ro's. How about 2 PM Sunday also at Charles Ro's. Would like to hear some thoughts on dinner at Red Rose Pizzeria in Springfield - either or both days.

MELGAR

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