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I enjoyed the meet. Apparently, many others were enjoying themselves as well as the place was packed.

 

I particularly appreciate the way this meet has remained essentially a train show without a lot of non-railroad stuff to sift through. As is the case with most meets, prices varied greatly. I did well in picking up a few HO pieces and a book of CNJ steam locomotive diagrams published by the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society. Worthy of mention is a very nice HO railroad being displayed and operated by the Boy Scouts Explorer Post 101 Model Railroad Club. It featured a very impressive array of power around the turntable, a replica of the Red Caboose Motel at Strasburg and a Union Pacific steam powered excursion train. It was gratifying to see a group of young folks so energized about railroading.

 

Bob 

 

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I've only been to Allentown a few times, but I really enjoy it. There aren't too many things I'll drive 100 miles to attend. Anyway, I picked up a 2343 Santa Fe A-B set, my first venture into post war trains. I'm not smart enough to know if I got a great deal, but it looks to be in real nice shape and it runs well, so I'm happy. I also grabbed a NIB 75th Anniversary Gateman for $40.00. I do know enough to like that deal.

 Oh, and I finally got my subscription to OGRR, and received 3 free issues for signing up. Can't hate that deal.

Last edited by Scrambler81

Allentown is ALWAYS worth attending!  And even for a confirmed night-owl like myself, I enjoy a new twist of having an early-bird breakfast at the Hamilton diner with OGR forum friends... old and new.   

 

I've made it a point to mark Allentown on my calendar since the 1970's when I lived in the Lehigh Valley.  Back in those days, the show was almost HALF the size it is today... just the "original" Agriculture Hall building which later was annexed with the the building area that is now the main entrance along with dealers like Nicholas Smith Trains, Public Delivery Track (although PDT has been sadly absent the last few shows), and many others.

 

Some things have remained the same over the years.  Other things have changed.  It might be as many as 5 years since Charlie Ro has made an appearance.  He originally had almost the entire back wall of the original Agriculture Hall building -- the area where the modular layout clubs now set up their displays.  Charlie moved over to the annex area when it opened, but then later relinquished his space to Nicholas Smith Trains... preferring to stay close to home-base and mind the store as the Christmas Season approaches.

 

Speaking of minding the store... that now seems to be what Joe Grzyboski, Sr. was doing for this show -- at least on Saturday... perhaps passing the baton so-to-speak to his sons.  They all did a great job taking care of business in the same space Grzyboski Trains has had since I've been attending ATMA.  I purchased a 2-pack set Lehigh Valley of Lionel GLa Hoppers to go along with the Pennsy and Berwind hoppers from the M1A set that came out this past Summer.  Also picked up one of the newer Polar Express wall hangings... the one with the panoramic shot of the Village Christmas Tree with the word "Believe" highlighted.

 

That was the extent of "damage" done for this trip.    Although I could have easily done a LOT more.    Saw some TERRIFIC deals on a bunch of items, but I have my sights set on a few jewels due in over the next several months... we all have our limits I suppose.  At least that's what I keep reminding myself.   Then I think about what recently happened over in France, and realize how fragile and short life can be.    At least for a few hours, toy train shows like ATMA make for a great escape from the realities of our world today.

 

David

Last edited by Rocky Mountaineer

I originally posted this in the Announcements Forum, as I wasn't sure where it should go.

I took a friend to the Allentown show this morning. He had never been there before, I haven't been for a while myself. I was impressed with the amount of people. My friend and I arrived at nine AM, and there were many walking out with packages already. I saw some folks I know, and was surprised to see Jeff and his dad and mom of JDS Custom. I saw several vendors who are York regulars, and talked briefly with Doug Burrell of the New Jersey Independent Highrailers club. Also with a modular layout was the North Penn S Gaugers. There was an HO club modular layout built by Boy Scout members. Well done guys.

 There were several folks that I usually see who weren't there, and some who won't be there until tomorrow. It felt good to be able to walk around, not tethered to a table for a change. I also dropped off a K Line GG1 to a new found friend who recently purchased some PARR passenger cars a few weeks ago. He lives a few miles away in Bethlehem, and we arrived almost simultaneously. I don't know how sales were going, but from what I saw, prices were very reasonable on a broad spectrum of merchandise. There was one vendor who had a Weaver TOFC listed at $100.00, but I don't think I would spend that much. Other then a stiff breeze, the weather was rather nice, with temps in the low forties, and mostly sunny skies. I was passing by the OGR booth as forum members were assembling for a photo, but I didn't recognize anyone.

 I have to laugh when I think back to York, when I told Jack Rash, (RPO Trains and Orange Hall captain), that the Allentown show was cancelled; he snapped his head around, and the look on his face was priceless, then I told him that we already had our first frost in October! I'm looking forward to the train show next Sunday at St Joseph Oblates near Pittston. 

Don

yesterday was the first november show i made in 3 years, noticed some great prices, good crowds, i ended up with with PE box car, an old beat up mpc tank car, and 2037, i ended up spending less then $100 including the breakfast! i must say i'm tempted to head back this morning for cheap rolling stock, but my wife who is recovering from surgery this week was gracious enough to let me go yesterday, so my place is home today. usually by this time on a sunday when i'm off i'm fishing, but today is home.

Dave

Originally Posted by rail:

...

I took a friend to the Allentown show this morning. He had never been there before, I haven't been for a while myself. I was impressed with the amount of people. My friend and I arrived at nine AM, and there were many walking out with packages already. ...

I had an early-admission 8AM ticket, which I paid EIGHT dollars for at breakfast 'cause Chuck was low on singles.  At least that's what he told me.    Next time he buys something from me on the forum, I'll need to charge him an extra dollar!  

 

Seriously though... I made a trip out to my car around 9AM and the line of folks purchasing tickets to get into the show was unbelievable -- extended out to the cross-walk for the main Fairgrounds building... then made a sharp turn along the parking entrance avenue out to where cars park in the fairgrounds infield area!    That's alotta people in line.  And it was windy and brisk at that hour too.

 

I had to leave the show early around 10AM due to some last-minute work commitments that came up during the week, and by then the aisles were packed with peeps.  Glad to see the ATMA show still draws a good crowd.  

 

David

 

I made the early breakfast, David slipped in behind me late and I didn't even see him at first.   The show was crowded and busy, I saw lots of folks carrying stuff out, so somebody was buying.  I only bought one thing, I scored the tail car for my Coors Silver Bullet Train, so that made the show worthwhile, at least for me.   I managed to score a vendor pass so I went in the back door and avoided the long line at 8:00AM.  The ride up and back with John Devlin was very nice, I got to relax and let someone else do the driving.

 

 

i thought the show was great, and I didn't even manage to buy anything!

 

Great crowd, lots to look at, and worth the trip from NYC. I thought prices were all over the map, but if you wanted anything postwar (not my current area of interest, but I know it well) you could find it at a reasonable rate. Same goes for newer stock, with the exception of nice full scale equipment, which seemed a bit pricey compared to ebay, forum pricing here etc... That being said I didn't try to bargain very much on anything, so actual sale prices may have been good.

 

 

It was a good show, very crowded. Prices were high on many items I saw. I picked up a scarce Plasticville House I needed to nearly complete my vintage PV collection.

 

Other then that, didnt really see anything else I was looking for. Did get run into twice by attendees in motorized wheel chair carts and did got bumped into a few times by some rude buyers, who didnt have the courtesy to say excuse me....

Originally Posted by RadioRon:
Originally Posted by Greg Houser:
No Public Delivery Track.

She was not at York last month either, Greg... at least not in her normal spot.   Must be easing back.

Hi Radio Ron---yes, she was not at York.  Did she have a health issue? If so, I wasn't aware and wish her nothing but the best.

 

Regards,

 

Greg

Originally Posted by Greg Houser:
Originally Posted by RadioRon:
Originally Posted by Greg Houser:
No Public Delivery Track.

She was not at York last month either, Greg... at least not in her normal spot.   Must be easing back.

Hi Radio Ron---yes, she was not at York.  Did she have a health issue? If so, I wasn't aware and wish her nothing but the best.

 

Regards,

 

Greg

I talked to Jack Rash while I was there, and he said Beth's friend that helps her is having health issues. 

Don

     Having had to miss York (even though I'd bought tickets last summer) due to recent rotator cuff surgery, I was able to make First Frost yesterday and really enjoyed it. Great show as usual but missed a few OGR regulars I've seen there at some past shows.

     Picked up an American Flyer S girder bridge although no PE S gauge handcars were to be found, or at least I didn't see any. Anyway, also got a nice brass look wall piece and a couple tools, too, and for LED upgrades to my PE FlyerChief S passenger cars, I saw gunrunnerjohn and bought some CCLR's which he'd kindly brought with him. (Unfortunately didn't get enough and I'll be needing more for those MTH Premiere 64" Woodsided passenger cars I mentioned, John, so hopefully, I'll be able to get them from you at NP O gaugers display on first weekend in December in Lansdale. Will drop off that non scale PE berk with the whistle steam effect, too, John, so you can open one up to see if a MTH smoke unit and your super chuffer can be added while still keeping that whistle steam effect. I just wish that when adding tmcc and cruise I could keep it's original sound card with audio clips from the film.)

     Was disappointed Henning's Trains didn't have a table there. 

     And while, talking to a fellow running the new FlyerChief S gauge PE set, discovered the smoke unit on his engine also had quit. That's quite a few folks I've met who've had issues with that Berk's smoke unit, otherwise, a fantastic train at a bargain basement msrp price.

     Would have gotten more but picking up my Lionel Hallmark ToyMaker Santa Express set this week and as it's somewhat pricey (but a really nice looking train), wanted to leave First Frost with some funds available for it.

Last edited by ogaugeguy

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