DuPage Train Show Report from Sunday, Sept. 13th

Art

Nice recap of the show!  Sounds like you had a good time on a beautiful day. 

Thanks, Ken.  Wish that you could have made it.

 

Art

Made it down their for the first time in two years!!!! has it been that long, didn't come home with much, just to HO scale cars, a Lionel HO SP Caboose from 1959 and a NMRA limited run Utah Belt Boxcar, got those for 10.00 each

Art; you seem to enjoy that show every month. What a great positive attitude.

Art, there was only one guy at a train show in need of a shower? you guys in Illinois are lucky. Id kill for just one smeller at a show

Is there a listing for the dates of the up coming shows?  The Google search link doesn't work.  Thanks

 

http://dupageshow.com/

Yes.

 

 

 

Show Schedule

September 13, 2015 October 11, 2015 November 8, 2015 December 13, 2015 January 10, 2016 February 14, 2016

 

 

 

I kept a table there for about two years, but mostly just to get in for first grabs. 

There were a lot of collectors there (big city) looking for the same stuff I was, and

findings dwindled.  All-Nation and other assorted companies made O scale items in

the Chicago area but little showed up at Wheaton...all seemed to go to the March

Meet.  I got out of the habit of going, but thought about driving on up after the

Indy show, but had decided not to, and made another commitment.

Art, I had to work so I was in and out quickly picked up a New Woodland Scenic Passenger Station for $103 from Bill and a powered MTH Rock Island B unit for $100. I was going to get 2 other buildings from Bill but had to leave before he finished unloading. I saw plenty of good deals with out everyone set up buy was in a hurry. I hope to have time for breakfast next month.

Great report Art!  I have got to get up there the next time I am visiting family...would love to meet all of you guys!

 

Alan

Mike - I didn't see you.  You'll have not be so quiet next time. 

 

Art

Matt - I'm just getting over a head cold and my nose isn't 100% yet.  Maybe that was a good thing? 

 

Art

Dave - Glad you could make it.  Those stations are beautiful, I have to find a place for one, probably have to replace my Ruthven station.  Hope you can make it for breakfast next month. 

 

Art

Thanks, Alan.  You have the schedule so it would be great if you could time your visit for the right weekend.  We always are glad to welcome visiting royalty. 

 

Art

Art probably  because  I had a packer shirt on and a packer hat...  hopefully we can sneak down their again sooner than 2 years

I also was at the show selling outside, it was a perfect day. I would say it was not the busiest show but not bad. I did make one pass through the buildings and ran into Art and said hello. Here's a few quick shots of outside selling.

 

I picked up a nice later version of postwar 6464 B&M for $40.00.

franktrain

 

I left a little after 11 AM to get home to go out to lunch with the family, but I was told that the crowds really died after the Bears/Packers game started at noon.  That is not at all surprising as it was the first regular season game between two great rivals.  Well, at least one of them was great. 

 

Art

I'm hoping to make a show before Christmas.

Zett,

 

Since you live so close to I-80 why not jump in the car and come visit out FREE open house this weekend.  You can make it there in about 45 minutes.

 

Open House from 10;00 - 5:00 Saturday & Sunday.

 

Details on the website:

 

http://www.hirailmodulartrainclub.com/

I wish I had your enthusiasm for the Du Page meets. For years I was a faithful monthly attendee-but over the last few years it seems that there are more empty tables, the same sellers with much the same "stuff" and no new/different sellers (in years past it "seemed" to me that there was always a few different/ non-local folks who would sell at DuPage). My "intent" is not to complain, rather to stimulate the DuPage "organizers" to try to think out of the proverbial box and put some new "life" into the meets because I would hate to see the day when this hobby was conducted entirely on the likes of ebay with no meets, LHSs, etc..  

The DuPage monthly Train Sale, is not a "Meet", as there is no model contest, as is generally done with once-a-year Scale Meets, i.e. either N, HO, O, or G for example. The DuPage sale is also very "public oriented", thus I couldn't imagine WHAT the Great MidWest Train Show people could, or would, do in order to "think outside the box", as long as they continue to make a profit.

I know exactly where you are coming from.  In fact, I used to say the exact same thing.  But a few things changed for me.  I have come to realize how much enjoyment I get out of my friends that I can share my love of the hobby with.  That list of friends has grown substantially by my being on this forum, encouraging people to meet for breakfast at DuPage and after, going to visit layouts on layout tours, and just having a lot of fun visiting with people about trains, real and model.

 

I could make a fairly long list of people who don't sell at DuPage anymore, but I also have a good list of new ones that do.  Merlyn, Bill, Ted, and Tom all have new trains at discounted prices every month.  Michael, Angelo, Tim, Ed and many others have great deals on used trains.  There are great selections of train books, artwork, caps and t-shirts, train signs, and die-cast cars and trucks at every show.  I still find great deals on weathered engines and cars, and all kinds of things that I am looking for.  Always see new K-Line passenger cars for sale and that alone is reason enough for me to go.  I've gotten fabulous deals on Atlas track & switches and Atlas, MTH, and Lionel cars in the last 6 months.  And none of them were from the same person.

 

But for me, I enjoy seeing and visiting with my friends so much that even if I don't buy anything, which happens fairly often as I have gotten most of what I am looking for, I still have a great time and can't wait for the next month.

 

Come join us for breakfast and maybe you'll enjoy it as much as we do.

 

Art

turtle 7, I was attending the Dupage shows regularly with friends, following breakfast much like Art describes here, in the late '80's and early '90's and I can assure you that seeing many of the same sellers with the same stuff week after week who appear not to sell anything is not a new phenomenon.

Yeah I pretty much go there to visit friends, and this month I picked up a couple freight cars. It's a social event for me.

 

As Art and others have stated, a big factor that contributes to the fulll enjoyment of this hobby is the social aspect.  Spending time with frends, running trains and BSing about trains is a blast.

The days of hermets enjoying their trains alone in their basements is in the rearview mirror.

I LOVE watching others run their favorite trains as much as I enjoy running my fav's.

I really look forward to my bi-monthly play dates with like-minded adults.

I went out with my dad last spring, Art and friends took the time to invite us over to their lovely homes and show us some great layouts. Good times and great people. I only bought one thing at the show but Id make the trip again in a heartbeat just for the people

In the 80's and 90's there were no internet sales or train talk we could do on a daily basis.

 

So beside hobby shops the DuPage Show was it. So naturally it was a big deal and we were very happy with it.

 

I still go when I can and never walk away wishing I couldn't stay longer.

My Dad was their best customer.He only missed a few show from the late 1980s until he passed away last November.

I just remembered another cool thing about the DuPage show.  It is very close to the UP's mainline so we get to see a continuous parade of UP freight's passing by from the parking lot.  When FrankTrain is outside selling in the beautiful weather he also is treated to a great real train show. 

 

Art

 

 

The only thing better than that would be a trip in the way-back machine to 1958 AND Santa Fe tracks.  That way we could see the Super Chief, El Capitan and l-o-n-g reefer blocks of map cars. 

 

Hey, a guy can dream can't he?  

Jim - I totally agree with you.  And while we are dreaming, we could see the California Zephyr in all it's glory too.  It still had black nose stripes in 1958.

 

Art

Jim - I totally agree with you.  And while we are dreaming, we could see the California Zephyr in all it's glory too.  It still had black nose stripes in 1958.

 

Art

 

That works for me.