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Allentown (PA) First Frost Meet and OGR Breakfast

AlentownAlentownOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Join us at the Allentown (Pa) First Frost Breakfast with OGR Forum guys and those of like mind. The annual breakfast will be held Saturday, NOVEMBER 11th at the Hamilton Family Restaurant, aka HamFam, (2027 Hamilton St. in Allentown) prior to the opening of this great train show hosted by the Allentown Train Meet Associates (ATMA).
 We start gathering at about 6:30 a.m...some earlier...but come whenever you can as we order and get served on the fly.
We  will have the coveted 'early admission' tickets to the show at the nearby Allentown Fairgrounds. The early admission tickets gain you entrance to the show at 8 a.m., a full hour before the gates open for the general public.
  http://www.allentowntrainmeet.com/
 
Let's start the list of those planning on coming to the breakfast. Adding your name(s) does not obligate to you come.
 
Please copy the list, paste it and add your name(s)
 
Alentown (Chuck)

 

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NYC FanNYC FanOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
 
 
 
Alentown posted:
NYC Fan posted:

Hey Chuck,

How's the scrapple at the HamFam?

You're asking an Italian from 'da Bronx? I don't touch the stuff. And have given up strawberry pancakes for fear of never being able to run for President some day.  

Chuck,

It's just the Pennsylvania Dutch version of Sauseeeech!

 

 

LionelbillLionelbillOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER
Chuck thanks for organizing this, I'll be there with my appetite.  I'm looking forward to immersing myself in trains after a 3 month hiatus :-) and the gathering at the Ham Fam.
 
"Alentown posted:
Join us at the Allentown (Pa) First Frost Breakfast with OGR Forum guys and those of like mind. The annual breakfast will be held Saturday, NOVEMBER 11th at the Hamilton Family Restaurant, aka HamFam, (2027 Hamilton St. in Allentown) prior to the opening of this great train show hosted by the Allentown Train Meet Associates (ATMA).
 We start gathering at about 6:30 a.m...some earlier...but come whenever you can as we order and get served on the fly.
We  will have the coveted 'early admission' tickets to the show at the nearby Allentown Fairgrounds. The early admission tickets gain you entrance to the show at 8 a.m., a full hour before the gates open for the general public.
  http://www.allentowntrainmeet.com/
 
Let's start the list of those planning on coming to the breakfast. Adding your name(s) does not obligate to you come.
 
Please copy the list, paste it and add your name(s)
 
Alentown (Chuck)

 

 

Dennis LaGruaDennis LaGruaOGR Forum Member

Outside of York, this is the best PA train meet within 100 miles of it. Two large halls packed with trains, many at good prices with a giant farmers market across the way. As with tradition there should be an 11 AM group photo in front of the OGR booth. Will be there but just can't commit to the breakfast.  Leaving NJ at 4:30 AM to make it is just outside my paradigm.

Pat MarinariPat MarinariOGR Forum Member

GRJ:

Picking you up might be a little awkward.  Jean & I go up to Allentown on Friday night, have a nice dinner and stay at the Holiday Inn across from Dorney Park.  

Now if you and Bobbie want to join us for dinner and get a room at the Holiday Inn, I’d be happy to pick you up on our way.  I might even be able to be talked into dropping  you off on our way home.

 

If anyone else would like to join us for dinner, we have a reservation for 6:30 Friday evening at the Carmel Kitchen Wine Bar @ 3750 Hamilton Blvd.

Dennis LaGruaDennis LaGruaOGR Forum Member
Joe Hohmann posted:
prrhorseshoecurve posted:

 

Excuse me but ISn't the guy on the left an NS engineer? doesn't he show up for breakfast from time to time?

 

I didn't know Amtrak had a observation car. Details?

Not to hijack this thread but that is the presidents car in the photo. Amtrak runs cars called sightseer lounges, the modern version of the old dome cars.  They also have dining cars, sleepers and coaches. We travel exclusively by train in a sleeper/bedroom and probably have over 70,000 miles on Amtrak on trips as far as  Seattle.

Getting back to the subject of this thread, I would say that a number of the York dealers set up at Allentown, but most do not go to York. The meet is way different and the variety is too. I've always found less state-of -the-art high end stuff there and more affordable trains including some great buys on overstock, overun and surplus trains. Its really more of a mixed bag of stuff than at York, a bit of everything; trains, books, parts dealers, even a guy who rebuilds ZW's.  You never know what you are going to find there.

Last edited by Dennis LaGrua
Joe HohmannJoe HohmannOGR Forum Member
Greg Houser posted:
gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'm going to have the full winter coat for standing out there waiting to get in at 8:00 AM, it's gonna' be pretty COLD!

Looks like I'll have to read a book or listen to music in my car until there's no line and I can make a run directly into the show from my car!

-Greg

That' what I usually do. The line is usually looooong, and what's 15 minutes, anyway. This show I'll be reading a history "By Streamliner, New York to Florida" (since that's what I'm doing in March). Or, you can wait in the farmers market and watch everyone freezing their **** off.

TedsGG1TedsGG1OGR Forum Member
Alentown posted:
Just confirmed the luxurious OGR Forum Room at the HamFam!

See you guys there!

  • Alentown (Chuck)
  • RockyMountaineer (David)
  • Tuscan Jim (Jim)
  • Kenn [ogaugeguy]
  • Mark [PRRHORSESHOECURVE]
  • John (gunrunnerjohn)
  • Greg Houser
  • Chris Read
  • Steve (Corsair29)
  • Joe Hohmann (whatdidyousay)
  • LionelBill
  • Pat & Jean Marinari
  • bluelinec4 + 1
  • John & Christine D
  • Lehighline (Chris)

 

I'll be there with advance tickets.   I had to dig a bit to find this post! 

gmorlitzgmorlitzOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
Ed Boyle posted:

Don't forget,  At 11:00 AM we will have the OGR/Allentown Group Photo at the OGR booth.  This time it is going up on the Forum!!!

We might even do a retrospective of the last two or so shots we did at previous Allentown Meets. Clean T shirtrs and other "formal" gear suggested for this important  cultural event 

Ed Boyle

Clean T-shirts? Its going to be 20 degrees. I guess if you have enough anti-freeze in you, it won't matter.

Gerry

Greg HouserGreg HouserOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBERMEMORIAL SUPPORTER
Joe Hohmann posted:
gmorlitz posted:
Its going to be 20 degrees. I guess if you have enough anti-freeze in you, it won't matter.

 

New Allentown forecast is 16 degrees. So much for me wearing shorts. Remember, when ordering your coffee to say, "With a shot, please".

I was joking with my wife that I'm gonna need to bring my flask for some of mama's secret recipe to add to my tea. 

-Greg

O ogaugeguyOGR Forum Member DIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Drats! Can't make it today after all. A relative's major medical appliance scheduled for her home delivery late yesterday was delayed and won't come until sometime today so have to stay put awaiting its arrival. Hopefully, there'll be no snafu's for the Spring Thaw meet. Have fun everyone and stay warm waiting in that early morning opening line.

Joe HohmannJoe HohmannOGR Forum Member

Just returned from the breakfast and show. Both were great fun. I walked into the OGR Room at the diner, and was surprised to find 8 guys already there at 6:20. Since it was about 18 degrees at 7:45, I decided to read in my car until everyone was inside. The only problem was that everyone else had the same idea. There seemed to be more people than usual before the "9 O'clock Rush". While I needed nothing, I bought 3 items, anyway (total about $59.). Thank you Chuck, for arranging this twice a year.

Scrambler81Scrambler81OGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

Got started a little later than I like, but it worked out well. Had a nice breakfast, then got a great parking spot and threw in a DVD. My episode of Wild, Wild West ended around 8:15, and by then the line was completely gone, so I walked right in. I was mostly buying odds and ends, like some die cast, but on the way out I offered a real low bid for a Thomas starter set, and it was accepted. Don’t know why, but I still get a kick out of Thomas, so why not?

Tuscan JimTuscan JimOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER

Just got back--like most, only positives to report. The show seemed to be more well-attended than the previous few, lots of foot traffic as well as what seemed to be very strong seller representation, so a good blend for all (I hope). My big pick was one of the last two special run Strasburg Paradise observation cars by Nicholas Smith. I had been mulling over that purchase decision for quite some time, and when they got down to the final two that seemed to do the trick and push me over the ledge of indecision ridge.  Beautiful car!

John D.John D.OGR Forum Member
Scrambler81 posted:

Got started a little later than I like, but it worked out well. Had a nice breakfast, then got a great parking spot and threw in a DVD. My episode of Wild, Wild West ended around 8:15, and by then the line was completely gone, so I walked right in. I was mostly buying odds and ends, like some die cast, but on the way out I offered a real low bid for a Thomas starter set, and it was accepted. Don’t know why, but I still get a kick out of Thomas, so why not?

I bought 4 items and all 4 vendors accepted my "low-ball" offer.

  1. I asked two vendors "How much do you need for xyz?" He replied with the same number I had in my head.
  2. I had one vendor drop the price 3 times while I was standing there claiming he didn't want to take it home.  He was really close to what my wife said she wanted to spend on it (which I thought was a REAL low-ball offer!) but I took the shot and said "You don't know what my wife said." "How much?" he replied.  "$xx" I said sheepishly.  "Tell your wife she just got the deal of the century."  Boy did she!  About 35% off his sticker.
  3. Vendor only had one left, the display.  He knocked a few bucks off the sticker but was still a little higher than what I had in my wallet.  I took a shot "I literally only have $xx left in my wallet."  "I can live with that, let me find a box."

I came home with 4 purchases that brought me joy and $0 left in my wallet.

Oh, and a full belly and some new friends.

Thanks Chuck & ATMA!

Dennis LaGruaDennis LaGruaOGR Forum Member

Pulled out of NJ around 8:30 and 22*.  Arrived at Allentown 1:10 later.  The meet was pretty busy and there were fantastic buys galore.  Met lots of old train friends and had good chats with all.  This train show has always been one of the best and this year the show lived up to its name.  The usual large dealers were there Nicolas Smith, Gyzboskis, Town and Country, OGR, along with many of the smaller ones.  Didn't find much on my want list but still had a great time and left with $50 in food purchases from the humongous Farmers Market on the fairgrounds across the way.   This meet has always been a must attend event and I hope to be going there for years to come.

 

Rocky MountaineerRocky MountaineerOGR Forum Member
david1 posted:

... and got two more of the lighted Christmas houses from MTH.  ....

MTH has really hit a grand slam with the LED products.  Dealers can't even hang on to the flat cars with trees and crates.  They're gone as soon as they receive them.  Just Trains only brought ONE white flat car with the white crate, and I grabbed it around 8:15am when I saw it.   Then later snagged the Polar Express colored ones from Nicholas Smith!

I also grabbed an MTH Polar Express style aquarium car that had skaters moving about in the animated windows.  The LED lighting in the MTH aquarium cars is much more superior to the older-style incandescent bulbs.  Very evenly illuminated.  Heard lots of passers-by commenting positively on the display model too.  I wish Lionel would adopt similar technologies for their aquarium cars, as they've taken a disappointing turn in recent years.

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer
DL&W PeteDL&W PeteOGR Forum Member

I didn't see or get any good deals. Was there from 1 to close, most packed it up rather than lose $10. But I did get a TCS speaker for my Bachmann NS GP38-2, picked up the L&NE DVD Volumes 1,2,3 and a Reading DVD for my oldest son for his birthday. Steam to Diesel transition 1940's to mid 1960's. Grabbed a brand new lifelike HO power pack from Hennings for $1.50, every one else was selling used packs for $8-10. I had a $20 bill out, a table had 2 HO atlas L&NE coal cars for $15 each. Said this is all I have left, would you take 20 for both. He packed them in the box to take home.

DL&W PeteDL&W PeteOGR Forum Member
Tuscan Jim posted:
DL&W Pete posted:

"I didn't see or get any good deals..."

I guess the $1.50 power pack from Hennings wasn't a good deal if you consider it a gift... 

I'm glad we are getting Sunday reports because I've only been on Saturday so it's good to hear how things went.

That was the price on the power pack already, I wanted the two L&NE coal cars. That would of been my good deal, we had plenty of room to walk through the isle's today.

L.I.TRAINL.I.TRAINOGR Forum Member

I made my Frost err First trip to Allentown on Saturday. Great crowd as the halls were really packed. I got a Great deal on an MTH Genset Diesel  in BNSF colors I also picked up some rolling stock.

I met Chris from the NJ independent Hi-Railers modular club. Chris bought a few cars that I posted here on the forum and I was happy to deliver. As soon as I handed the cars to Chris he had them placed into a long freight consist. (thanks Chris). 

Tuscan JimTuscan JimOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBERDIGITAL SUBSCRIBER
DL&W Pete posted:
Tuscan Jim posted:
DL&W Pete posted:

"I didn't see or get any good deals..."

I guess the $1.50 power pack from Hennings wasn't a good deal if you consider it a gift... 

I'm glad we are getting Sunday reports because I've only been on Saturday so it's good to hear how things went.

That was the price on the power pack already, I wanted the two L&NE coal cars. That would of been my good deal, we had plenty of room to walk through the isle's today.

I guess I would have been a bit surprised as well when he took the cars back home rather than accept your offer on the last day of the show.

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