Seems allot people are not attending April York, is this true?

David, I am not able to attend this spring.  Lionel not being there has nothing to do with it.  I don't go to see the latest offerings by the major manufacturers.  I can't afford any of the things they show off and still have any money to get to York and back and not stay homeless while there.    

I have attended once in April and once in October, and will certainly miss going.  I really enjoyed meeting many of you there in person, seeing many unique and ageless models, and the OGR breakfast and supper!  I am anxiously awaiting my next opportunity to go!  

I've been there and done that twice, don't see any reason to ever do it again. The expense to travel 2000 miles isn't worth it just to see people I know. Finding any deals goes out the window once I have to pay shipping to send it home. It was cool to see it and check it off the bucket list...but I over it after the 2nd time 

Scott, Sorry to hear of your wife having health problems. I wish her and you and your family the best. Speedy recovery! As far as York; I am unable to make it this time. I have attended over 70 times and always enjoy the fellowship, etc. and my not going has zero consideration of the importers not being there. Enjoyed their exhibits but it is such a small part of the York experience. Items there that can not be seen at other train shows. I have a fair collection of trains and a layout but still enjoy York for what it is. Enjoy and hope I can make it back in October.

Craignor posted:

David,

I will be there Friday, and our friend in San Diego is coming in on Wednesday night.

That’d be me!  At least I think I’m a friend. 

Cant wait to get there!  Looking forward to seeing everyone and all the trains!!

This will be my 18th consecutive Spring York meet.  Its become something of a right of passage for me. Spring would not be the same without it and I'm hoping there will be many, many more to follow.  I'll be there Thursday afternoon and Friday morning then its off to West Virginia to prepare for the Spring Gobbler season.  

I did not post this thread for people to explain why they were not going I was only asking if you were not going because of some vendors and manufacturers not going this April. I know at least 7 people not going because of the above, sad but true. 

I know that some people can't go because of health issues, financial issues and are just too far away or family issues. 

Hey Brian, you will always be a friend and looking forward to seeing you at the end of the week. 

Dave

I've been a member since 1988 and have only missed 3 meets, all due to tragedy and death. It's the only thing that can keep me away. 

I discovered there were three train shows on pre-York weekend. Actually four with the Flyer fire hall almost filled. Timomium was on, with lots of tinplate.. seemed like more than usual..no O scale except l got to meet the guy doing the CCK structure kits...he has a $300 HO watermill kit, that might run $500 in O, IF anybody had room for it, and he does it...huge complex.  Like that RGS stampmill kit that was big unantlered bucks!  There were structures at Strasburg O scale, although l thought show was smaller than some in past, but it is never large enough to suit me.  CCK said they got chased to Hagerstown by hurricane, and l should have mentioned their maybe showing at Strasburg, except Timonium was on that day, too.  I would hope he shows up at York, as sure would like to see more structures there, too. I think l offended the guy at Timonium who offers big buck HO structure kits, only!, (how provincial), when l mentioned buying O from CCK.  "Build it and they will come".  Recycle it, and they won't? THAT is the reason l won't miss some manufacturers.  At least, these shows were a good start to the week.

I am in the processes of building my layout and have too many other things going on at this time to make it to York in April. After I have finished the layout I was planning on going to York in Oct to pick up the odds and ends that I might be missing to complete the layout.

MELGAR posted:

Apples55 posted:

I won’t be going to York next week, but it is totally unrelated to the attendance of some of the manufacturers - I’m having my second knee replacement on the 16th, so I have more important things on my mind at the moment. I really hope to make it in October (which would be my first visit on two good knees!!!). Going forward, I will go to either because I am most interested in the multitude of vendors who sell things like buildings, accessories, signage, die-cast, etc.

Best wishes, Paul.

MELGAR

Thanks Mel... can’t wait - my knee is killing me!!!

david1 posted:

I did not post this thread for people to explain why they were not going I was only asking if you were not going because of some vendors and manufacturers not going this April. I know at least 7 people not going because of the above, sad but true. 

I know that some people can't go because of health issues, financial issues and are just too far away or family issues. 

Hey Brian, you will always be a friend and looking forward to seeing you at the end of the week. 

Dave

I think they are looking for a reason to not attend.  You can't buy anything from the manufacturers and the vendors not attending all have a vibrant web presence.  What's their point of going in the first place?  To each their own. 

-Greg

I will not be able to make the York meet next week due to a commitment I made to travel to Georgia with my wife to hear former President Jimmy Carter teach Sunday school in Plains. He only teaches a few times each year and this is one of the few opportunities we have to go.

I am looking forward to the October meet when my friends and I will be able to enjoy several days of nothing but trains. 

I cannot attend this time at York for health reasons, The wife says if I buy another train before we move she will kill me. 

Jim M Sr posted:

CSX AL, bring one for my navigator, the one, the only... TRAINPOP!

We’ll see you Friday.

Jim, I sure will. Looking forward to seeing you guys.

david1 posted:

I did not post this thread for people to explain why they were not going I was only asking if you were not going because of some vendors and manufacturers not going this April. I know at least 7 people not going because of the above, sad but true. 

I know that some people can't go because of health issues, financial issues and are just too far away or family issues. 

Hey Brian, you will always be a friend and looking forward to seeing you at the end of the week. 

Dave

You have your answer - people are not attending for reasons other than the absence of manufactures.  Really IMHO, the biggest loser is Lionel.  York is an opportunity for a significant portion of their target audience to touch and feel their product.  Based on action, Lionel has signaled there are higher priorities.

shorling posted:

david1 posted:

I did not post this thread for people to explain why they were not going I was only asking if you were not going because of some vendors and manufacturers not going this April. I know at least 7 people not going because of the above, sad but true. 

I know that some people can't go because of health issues, financial issues and are just too far away or family issues. 

Hey Brian, you will always be a friend and looking forward to seeing you at the end of the week. 

Dave

You have your answer - people are not attending for reasons other than the absence of manufactures.  Really IMHO, the biggest loser is Lionel.  York is an opportunity for a significant portion of their target audience to touch and feel their product.  Based on action, Lionel has signaled there are higher priorities.

I agree Steve. Someone is leading the way, and it isn't Lionel.

"Is anybody else finding this to be the case also?"

Could not be further from the truth for me. I decided not to attend the show starting about four years ago so it has nothing to do with Lionel or any other vendor.

Charlie

I will be there Thursday and Friday.

Now that I have most everything train wise that I need I only go occasionally.    I find it hard to give up the time and effort to attend when there is so much work needing to done on my own RR. 

At this point in my life the most valuable resource I have is time.

I haven't been to York since the 80s and don't miss it. 

sdmann posted:

I just heard from our East Coast rep, Bob Heil. The Strasburg show attendance was stronger than ever in recent memory.

This hobby is not dead. York too is not dead. We'll be there and perhaps, there will be more focus on what we do.

See you next week.

Scott Mann

Been saying that for years....the hobby is not dead...it is evolving!  I even wrote about this in a recent issue of our O Gauge Railroading Magazine.  As long as there are people on this planet breathing, the hobby will still be around even if the focus changes...

I simply cannot imagine someone not going to York because of this or that manufacturer not attending.

Seems incredible.

So, "a lot" (many) of us will be there, as usual, next week.

Bridgeboss Jim posted:

Hi Everyone. Ive had a reoccurrence of a health problem and will not be there this time around. Hope to be back in October.

Jim from www.bridgeboss.com

Jim,

Theresa and I wish you a speedy and full recovery.  We wont be there until next October.  Hope to see you there.

Trackside Tidbits:

The only people not going to York are those that will not be there.

Walter/RMT

I was a member of TCA for over 25 years, and never attended York. It never made economic sense to go, because the cost of travel far exceeded the potential savings on trains, making purchases more expensive than buying at home. Beside, now I'm not interested in old trains anymore. I just order directly from the new catalogs when they come out, and have more trains than I know what to do with.

I would say this past October York was more enjoyable for me than the prior October. This was mainly because of friendships started from the first time were there and made for better conversation. I talked a heck of a lot to Ryan and Dave at the Lionel booth the first time, and really wanted to chat more with Dave the second time(but he wasn't there). I did talk to Ryan a bit, but talking to others in the hobby brought out more for me. I even got to finally talk with Mike Reagan which was extremely enjoyable. You get out what you put into it so says my great friend and coworker Ray(and he's not talking about trains, just saying). We all have our reasons for going or not. I'd say whatever floats your boat.

I have not missed a York since 1995.

Even with several manufacturers not attending, I am sure it will be a great show.

For example, the plus about Lionel being there is the display of new products, their operating display (frequently with prototypes that are either not yet in production or just being produced) and talking with the Lionel Reps. The manufacturers don't sell their product directly, as they would be competing with many vendors in attendance (retail stores including the large ones such as Nicholas Smith, Charles Ro, Trainworld, etc). So, If Lionel is not there, there will still be the same amount of Lionel product available.

The other big plus about York is that you will never get a better price on new items from the retail vendors or items being sold by individuals. With a little negotiating, especially on Saturday, you can get unbelievable deals from almost all dealers and individuals. They do not want to pack up their inventory and bring it home.

And, as a collector and operator, it is just plain fun to walk up and down the aisles and see so many train related items from recent production to the early 1900s and from countries all over the world. And it is a real pleasure talking to the people who have tables and are selling these items.

if you need parts, they are available. If you need any kind of modeling tool you can think of, they are available. If you want videos, books, coffee mugs, tee shirts etc, they are available. There are also many people selling great services and devices, such as Bob Pearce (spelling?) who can illuminate almost anything for you. His work with passenger cars and vehicles is amazing.

Every time I go, I see new things and meet new people. It does not get any better than York.

I expect to be there. Arriving on 'da bus' as always. Gotta add one more York boxcar to that train

(Will probably need to get my badge in Silver Hall though, unless it shows up in the mail this week..)

Edit 4/10: Duhrrrr...I already have my badge 

---PCJ

"Every time I go, I see new things and meet new people. It does not get any better than York." - Jeff2035

This sums it up for me too. I have only been attending since April 2010, but I still enjoy it.

Charlie

Will not be attending my 1st York until the fall.  Just started a new job & they need me now, although the hiring bonus they offered will be sucked into the "train fund" for October purchases !!

I will not be attending This spring York.  I will be there in the fall.

Over the past couple of years I've noticed a number of empty tables in the Orange hall.  Without some of the big manufactures (Lionel, Atlas) I think the draw will be less.

My Debbie and I will be there just in case anybody is looking for me. Have not missed one since 1989. This will be our 30th year. She's the money in our marriage and fully supports my hobby since 1981!

Donald

The carpool is leaving ratville promptly at 6:15 am on Thursday.  I've  missed 3 shows... er meets, meets since 1984. 

rat

david1 posted:

I did not post this thread for people to explain why they were not going I was only asking if you were not going because of some vendors and manufacturers not going this April. I know at least 7 people not going because of the above, sad but true. 

Does it really matter David? Even if people do say that is the reason they are not going, it's not going to change those manufacturers decision go or not go. It's a matter of economics for them. Expense vs gain. Like all shows, more and more vendors are going to stop going. Thats just the times we live in unfortunately

Laidoffsick posted:

manufacturers decision go or not go. It's a matter of economics for them. 

I'm glad the modular groups don't feel that way. Many expenses (4 days 3 nights lodging and food), nothing sold. Been there, done that, twice.

Sitting on the plane waiting to take off!!  I can’t wait. Running trains at Craignor’s tonight to warm up for the Meet!!

Backing away from the gate!! Yeah, bayyybeee!!

I've decided to skip the spring meet and likely will become a fall meet only attendee. Just my personal preference. And believe me, it has nothing to do with ANY manufacturer who may or may not be there.

Frankly, I agree with one of the comments above, i.e., I enjoy my strolls through the Orange Hall, but I'm a PW guy with strong PW tastes and interests so the Member Halls are really where it's at for me.

I am now in full “York mode”........train bow tie on! 

Peter

I made it to York... Will be displaying a few interesting items.

1. One of the last 3R CB&Q O1a 2-8-2.

2. A 3R N&W K-2a Streamlined "Baby J"

3. A brand new VGN EL-2B. We have a few left to sell.

4. A scratch built B&O Domed Coach, the same that was to be part of the CHESSIE, with added ice breakers and search lights. And our C&O Hudson and Chessie Brochure for Discussion.

5. Brochures for our Rock Island Rocket, coming in July.

6. Brochures for our Diesel Offerings. FAs, GPs, E7s.

7. GGD Aluminum Train Brochures: NP NCL, SF Super Chief, B&O Royal Blue... Are you ready for some reruns?

- A sample of our Silver Meteor Lounge Car. An example of our Quality of Late.

8. And our schedule of projects in process. E5/E6s and GGD HW Cars, Coming in May

9. Rock Island Rocket TA Engine and Cars coming in July.

10. Milwaukee Hiawatha Cars and F3 Diesels coming in September.

11. DRGW L-105 Challengers Coming Late 2019

12. Electric RR Presented By Royz Trains

See you in the hall tomorrow, Orange DD 01.