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What a great show, got there a little after 10 on Saturday and the line went out into the parking lot.  First stop was the Menards displays and grabbed a few of their new gondolas and met Mark from Menards and Cabinet Bob that was cool.  I’m not really a collector so I can’t comment on prices but I got a Atlas Soo caboose for $10, a Lionel nw2 for $40, a few misc kits in a bin for $5.95, train book for the grandson, some fast track for the other grandson too. Took the whole family from my 8 month old grandson to my daughters boyfriend’s grandpa at 89 and they all had a blast watching all the trains while I was shopping and with the half off Menards tickets it made my day to treat them all.

I only stayed for a little over an hour. I did meet Bob, and saw a few friends. I'm not really interested in Menards' trains because they aren't scale. I never expected to buy anything there so I wasn't disappointed. I didn't spend a nickel. I spent more time driving back and forth than I did inside the show.

Large Lionel and MTH dealers: Not sure, it was an all scale show. Vendors were mostly from within a 100 mile radius. No manufacturers except Menards.

Don't know about the food, I didn't have any. I suspect it was pretty standard.

Personally, I only reminded myself why I stopped attending shows years ago.

My wife and I drove up today and it was worth the trip. Met the Menards staff and got to see all of their buildings and trains displayed and working. Many vendors and displays. I picked up a Santa  Fe war bonnet gondola and Morton salt truck and I was able to use my rebate cards to pay for them. Also picked up some Lionel postwar cars and Set boxes. Will be looking forward to next year, this is a excellent venue.

Here’s some photos

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Big_Boy_4005 posted:

I only stayed for a little over an hour. I did meet Bob, and saw a few friends. I'm not really interested in Menards' trains because they aren't scale. I never expected to buy anything there so I wasn't disappointed. I didn't spend a nickel. I spent more time driving back and forth than I did inside the show.

Large Lionel and MTH dealers: Not sure, it was an all scale show. Vendors were mostly from within a 100 mile radius. No manufacturers except Menards.

Don't know about the food, I didn't have any. I suspect it was pretty standard.

Personally, I only reminded myself why I stopped attending shows years ago.

There's nothing wrong with this reply. I usually feel the same way. We can go online easily nowadays and get exactly what we're after. Even my girl will point out that many times I have more "stuff" in my basement than was at a smaller show.

 We took the youngest grandson to the Big E. I liked it because he liked it. I have to remind myself of the age when I got to go to Sears Roebuck's store and watch a set of WB diesels run around a loop of track. I thought that was everything back then.

 So I feel these shows help the hobby greatly. They expose people of all ages to toy trains and that, is a very good thing.

I enjoyed this show tremendously.  There were deals everywhere!  Menards was offering its 11% rebate deal on all purchases at the show. But the vendors throughout were dealing.  I got an MTH Premiere TTX TOFC with a Milw Rd trailer, NIB, for $26. The same vendor had Atlas 50' boxcars for $33.  And this vendor was one of many with prices like this.  The displays were pretty good and I liked that they were spread around the hall among the vendors, that way you saw a trains display just about everywhere.

I've taken a pretty dim view of shows over the past year and was thinking I wouldn't attend any in the future (Madison really turned me off).  And even though I don't buy Menards rolling stock, I was very interested in seeing what they would do for this show. They did it right! If this show keeps up like this, with low table prices so vendors can deal, I'll definitely keep going back. It was worth it.

feet posted:

Hope they do a show in Indiana. We don't have many train shows anymore.

I can't imagine they would.  Menards is headquarted in Eau Claire and they own the Expo building where this event took place, at least I believe they do as everything around it has "Menards" on it and there is a huge sign for Menards' employment office right there.

Seems like Menards' is really cementing their status as a significant player in our community.  It's great to see and a breath of fresh air.  I enjoy several of their products and this event seems to have been quite a topper.  A lot of folks good-naturedly lament how us "East Coast guys" have it made with the local shops, shows, history, etc. etc., but Menards has introduced a mighty big weight to achieve some regional balance--great job!  

Last edited by Tuscan Jim

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