Newbie to York

George, online registration has ended. You'll need to sign up the others at the registration desk in the Silver Hall.

The layouts and the manufacturers will all be there on Thursday. 

If you're only there on Thursday, you'll miss the OGR presentation Friday at 2pm, in addition to the longer hours. 

As for the teenagers, that's always a shot in the dark. But teenagers do love to eat and there are lots of places to eat in the York area!

Hope you enjoy the Meet!!

George , You and the family are in for a treat . Along with what you have already mentioned , try to allow some time to visit the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum across the street from the Stasburg Rail Road .There are a lot of outlet stores for shopping in the area . You may want to take an Amish buggy ride .  You all can fit and they are very informative on the Amish way of life. Try to stop at the "Shady Maple " restaurant. for a really good smorgageboard. I believe its about 20 + or - minutes from  the TCA museum . I think its in Honeybrook PA . I f you have studied Clem's primer then you know that there are the "Bandit " meets at the various motels around York earlier in the week , Monday  thru Wednesday. The TCA museum is the place to be on Wednesday as thats where the major manufactures announce what they have new .You may also like to travel over to Hershey Pa . There's chocolate world , Hersey Park and the AACA Museum ( Antique Automobile Club Of America ) . As for as York itself , everything is up and running by 12 noon on Thursday when they play the National Anthem. Get there earlier so you can head to the Silver Hall and get your relatives signed up as quests . I think they are signing people as early as 8 AM. The most important thing is to relax and enjoy yourself . Jim

Lots to see in Pennsylvania.  Enjoy York and have fun.  This will be York number 73 for me.  Each one gets better.  We never know what Eddie G will give us for weather.  I tell everyone to throw a large plastic trash bag in the car in the event it rains.  This way you can keep anything you purchase dry before it gets back to the car.

In addition to the excellent tips offered above, remember that Thursday is a relatively short day for the meet, since it opens at noon.  Suggest that you plan to return on Friday or Saturday.  In the past, crowds are thin on Saturday, but we don't know what will happen with it being open to the public this time.  (Please don't turn this thread into a debate about opening to the public.)

Between New Hampshire and York you could plan a stop at Steamtown in Scranton. Besides Steamtown, there is a trolley museum, Lackawanna Coal Mine, and a nice train store (name??) on the main st near Steamtown. Grzyboskis is just down the road at Moosic but I suspect most of their inventory will be at York then.

Pete

Lots of good advice above and you probably know this already but if you see something you want at York don't wait and come back for it just buy it. Most of the time it will be gone when you get back to it.

I also recommend the PRR Museum and the Strasburg RR. I've been there many times and I always enjoy it.

Have a great trip!

Thanks for the responses and Ideas. I know Thursday is a short day for me but for teenagers and other non train folks it will probably be just long enough. I am excited about the trip and excited about York as there will be a ton of stuff to see in the area and to buy at York . Marty I like the trash bag idea too.

Not sure how long your visit to PA will be in total. Strasburg is "on the way" to York...about 45 minutes away. With such a large group, you MAY find that Thursday at the meet is enough (as long as you are not searching for particular items, you can walk all the aisles on Thursday. I've done it many times.) IMO, forget Saturday. There is enough to fill an entire day in Strasburg...the PRR Museum, Choo-Choo Barn huge layout, Strasburg RR (45 minutes round trip), TCA toy train museum (all very close to each other), and Amish tours/lectures. What have you planned for overnight stay?

It will certainly be a trip to remember. 

Gettysburg is 45 minutes away - might be worth the trip since you'll be in the area. 

-Greg

Strasburg is not on the way to York if you are taking 84 81 83.

Joe Hohmann posted:

Not sure how long your visit to PA will be in total. Strasburg is "on the way" to York...about 45 minutes away. With such a large group, you MAY find that Thursday at the meet is enough (as long as you are not searching for particular items, you can walk all the aisles on Thursday. I've done it many times.) IMO, forget Saturday. There is enough to fill an entire day in Strasburg...the PRR Museum, Choo-Choo Barn huge layout, Strasburg RR (45 minutes round trip), TCA toy train museum (all very close to each other), and Amish tours/lectures. What have you planned for overnight stay?

It will certainly be a trip to remember. 

We are staying at Eden Resort/Suites Hotel in Lancaster, PA

The shady Maple restaurant that Summerdale Junction talked about is in New Hollan on rt 322. There is also a place called the Green Dragon on 272 in Ephrata but it is only opened on Saturdays, It's a flea market of sorts, Nice place to spend a few hours if you like things like that. There is also Amish there selling there goods. 

As for teenagers there is a hotel in Strasburg I have been meaning to try that has an indoor water park.

http://www.caribbeanlancaster.com/

I am not sure exactly what age bracket is best for this but it looks like a cool option.

JZ

rtraincollector posted:

There is also a place called the Green Dragon on 272 in Ephrata but it is only opened on Saturdays, It's a flea market of sorts, Nice place to spend a few hours if you like things like that. There is also Amish there selling there goods. 

One little correction - the Green Dragon is only open on Fridays.

Also near Ephrata is the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.  If this is of interest, pay close attention to the information on their page as you have to be there at specific times in order to get in on the tour.

Andy

Woops my bust Thought it was Saturday's been years since been up that way. Brother still lives in the area. thanks for the correction of Friday. 

If you have some  extra time you can go to the B&O museum.  It's in Baltimore MD but it's only about 1 hour drive from York.  It's mostly on Rte  I-83 south from York.  Pretty easy drive from there.

Rick

When you see the size of this show, Thursday might not cut it. You probably will not get every hall. York show is a MONSTER! 

Like someone said, when you see something you want, buy it then as it probably will not be there later on and/or you will not remember where you saw it. This is no little chicken-s--t of a show.

Greg Houser posted:

Gettysburg is 45 minutes away - might be worth the trip since you'll be in the area. 

-Greg

My girls have always found thing to do at Gettysburg, they love the ghost tours!

Ted Bertiger posted:

When you see the size of this show, Thursday might not cut it. You probably will not get every hall. York show is a MONSTER! 

Like someone said, when you see something you want, buy it then as it probably will not be there later on and/or you will not remember where you saw it. This is no little chicken-s--t of a show.

Ok, I ve been to Amherst Mass train show at the Big E fair grounds Springfield MA. 5 buildings and 20,000 people. York sounds similiar in size. Sometimes I buy a lot other times I've walked out empty handed. Thanks for the input Guys, sounds like fun.

MIKATT1 posted:

Greg Houser posted:

Gettysburg is 45 minutes away - might be worth the trip since you'll be in the area. 

-Greg

My girls have always found thing to do at Gettysburg, they love the ghost tours!

We took those ghost tours as well as my son and I really enjoy them. Not just from a "ghost story" perspective but also from the historical stories you learn about the local citizens.  If it wasn't for a ghost tour we wouldn't have found a really small local cemetery with the grave of a revolutionary war soldier (which was marked with the official federal marker so we knew it was legit).  

Plenty of neat things do in Gettysburg, plus I have a relative listed on one of the memorials as my great-great-great-great-great grandfather fought in the battle.

-Greg

George , You have gotten some great advise from everyone so far and everyone wants you and your family to have the best time ever . I for one would love to hear back from you and find out how you and the rest of your family made out ,this being your first trip . One other thing that I forgot to mention is the Harley Davidson Factory tour . It is right in York on route 30 . To do the factory tour you must have regular shoes on ,  nothing open toed . But even if you don't have time for the full tour , they have a visitors center that has all of the current models that you and the entire family can check out. Very cool ! 

      I am a bit of a history nerd and a Civil War buff . Gettysburg is the best battlefield of all . But ,you need more than one day to take it all in. I have been there six times and have not covered everything . The second best is Antietam  battlefield in northern Maryland . It is probably  less than a hour south of York. And by best , I mean the most untouched by modern buildings or structures .There are others that are also very good , but not with in the locality of York or Lancaster . The only major battlefield that I have not visited  is Vicksburg Ms..I will get there some day .

      The only other advice that I would like to pass on is wear the most comfortable foot wear that you own and the same for everyone in your party. I read that you have been to the Big E . There is very little HO OR N-Gauge at York . Its Standard gauge , O-gauge and S-gauge . Be prepared for a system O-gauge overload. Jim

Guys, thanks for all the suggestions. If it was just me I'd do York for 2 days but with family along I  have to think of others. Either way, It will be a great time and Im psyched!

York is an enjoyable show held in seven buildings over many acres. The show is great because the selection of trains that you will find there is huge. The prices are not usually the best  and you will not recover your travel expense in savings on the buys, but you can find things there that are not available locally. The experience for a first time attendee should be terrific. There are many places for a family activity locally so keeping them  busy for a day should not be a problem. .

Dennis.

What you said is about the best I've heard.

York is an enjoyable show held in seven buildings over many acres. The show is great because the selection of trains that you will find there is huge. The prices are not usually the best  and you will not recover your travel expense in savings on the buys

Perfect advise.

Larry

eddie g posted:

Strasburg is not on the way to York if you are taking 84 81 83.

Eddie, I know you have been going to York for many years, and I know you head down from Maine, so you, me, and "seacoast" George who started this thread, are all coming from roughly the same corner of New England.  I don't want to get the thread off on a tangent, but this might be useful for George...  

I couldn't help but notice  Eddie's interstate 84 - 81 - 83 route.  I drive down from Vermont, and for several years took the 81 - 83 route down through Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Harrisburg, it seemed  the most direct and obvious way.  Then a few years ago I started taking 87 south to 287, then 78 west, and routes 222 and 30 through Lancaster to come into York from the East.  It seems counterintuitive, running closer to the big city, and also the last approach from Allentown along 222 and 30 is not interstate.  But I have found it to be consistently a much easier and shorter drive.  You miss the intense truck traffic of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre corridor, and I always make better time and find it a more relaxed drive.

And yes, 87 has a toll booth, but you'll tip the men's room attendant at York more than the toll, it's well worth it for the easier drive. 

Just thought I'd pass along my experience, in case you wanted to give it a try.  Of course, as always, your mileage may vary.

david

I drive down from Maine.   I gave up on 84 - 81 many years ago.   I've lost so much time trying to get through Wilkes Barre / Scranton.   It seemed to be under permanent construction!  Maybe it's better now?   I take 87 - 287 - 78 - 83 going to York.  Heading home, I sometimes go 30 - 222 - 78 - 287 -87.   I'm not a fan of 84.   Especially in CT.   I'd rather take a bit longer and avoid CT.  Using 90 and 87.

Seacoast, enjoy the meet and the other things in PA.  I go Thursday, and Friday (No Spring, Fall only)   But by 1pm on Friday, I'm done and heading for home.  It's a lot of old trains.  (I prefer modern stuff)  Still a great show, whichever roads one chooses to use for the journey to you train wonderland.

Hojack, In the 40 years that I have been going to York, I have tried every possible way. The fastest way in mileage is 84 to Hartford, 91 to the wilbur cross, to the merit pky, to the cross county, the saw mill to the henry hudson pkwy, over the GW bridge, Jersey turnpike to the penn turnpike, to 222 to 30 . 499 miles. I could tell you 5 other ways. You are right, 84 81 83 is the longest way. Ed  ps I have had very few problems going thru Scranton. Maybe I hit it at the right times.

eddie g posted:

Hojack, In the 40 years that I have been going to York, I have tried every possible way.

Have you tried the NJ Garden State Parkway to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry, then up Rt. 1 and 95 and 202 to Rt.30?  I thought not. 

Ha!  I love the alternate routes. 

I've only been on I-84 thru CT once in the past ten years.

Then again I've only been there twice.

"Ok, I ve been to Amherst Mass train show at the Big E fair grounds Springfield MA. 5 buildings and 20,000 people. York sounds similiar in size."

Nope. York is about ten times the size of the Big E show.  All of the Big E could fit inside one of the bigger halls at York. And there are 7 halls from large to XXXL. 

Arthur P. Bloom posted:

"Ok, I ve been to Amherst Mass train show at the Big E fair grounds Springfield MA. 5 buildings and 20,000 people. York sounds similiar in size."

Nope. York is about ten times the size of the Big E show.  All of the Big E could fit inside one of the bigger halls at York. And there are 7 halls from large to XXXL. 

York is actually smaller per square footage.

The following was found on the EDTCA web page about the York meet:

http://easterntca.com

but you would like to attend our meet and see for yourself what it's like to go to "Toy Train Heaven". With 2 dealers halls and 4 non-dealer halls loaded with trains, plus modular exhibits of operating toy train layouts, dealer seminars, buying, selling and much more... you don't want to miss it. We have over 190,000 square feet of trains, trains and more trains.

And now the (Springfield, MA. Big E) Amherst Model Railway Society web page show info:

http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/abouttheshow.php

In 2014, the Show presents its first full size railroad car sitting on a length of track (2-ft gauge), a milk car, courtesy of the Wiscassett, Waterville and Farmington Railroad Museum.  The Show grows to over 350,000 square feet or just over 8 acres.  It now takes more than a day to see all the exhibitors at what is now considered the largest show of its kind in North America!

Springfield Big E = 350,000 square feet

York = 190,000 square feet

York is smaller in total floor size.   Not 10 times bigger than the Big E!

But York is larger if comparing the  amount of O gauge.

Arthur P. Bloom posted:

"Ok, I ve been to Amherst Mass train show at the Big E fair grounds Springfield MA. 5 buildings and 20,000 people. York sounds similiar in size."

Nope. York is about ten times the size of the Big E show.  All of the Big E could fit inside one of the bigger halls at York. And there are 7 halls from large to XXXL. 

Common core math, huh? 

If you're in to O gauge York is the place to go. If you're in to HO or N gauge the "BIG E" is the place to be. unfortunately i'm in to both O and N. However I have great fun going to both shows!

Thanks guys it's ok. Size does Matter. Amherst, it's a big show but my favorite toys are BIG, 3 rail O and Standard Gauge . I'll confess I'm a closet N scaler too. Big or Small York and the surrounding Lancaster area sound like a lot of fun!

I heard the Big E is mostly HO so that makes it half the size of York! 

The Big E is all scales.   More of a meca of all things trains.   Lots of layouts.   All the O gauge at the Big E is miniscule compared to York.   Even though there is more of the modern stuff I prefer at the Big E.   I still feel more excitement before a trip to York!   

Reading other posts bring cash...? As in Ben Franklins & US Grant$$s...