So how was today's Spring Thaw meet at Allentown, PA?

I felt prices were very attractive from the private sellers.  Lots of TMCC engines in the $100-$250 range.  Weaver cars in the $10-$20 range.  Retailers were sticking to close to list prices.  Some of the displays/layouts were relocated.  The spaced that was opened up was too cramped with very narrow aisles.  

Allentown is always a fun time.

Glenn 

I love the Allentown train show. Pre-ordering tickets for early entrance is a must, in my opinion. It is noticeably more crowded after 9:00, and it’s much harder to get around/see everything when the building is full. I picked up a fastrack switch and a k-line engine today.

I always have great intentions of going but never get up early enough for the 2-1/2 hour drive. My loss. I’ve been one time and loved it.

Had a list a mile long and couldn't find one thing to scratch off the list - wound up buying a lionel boxcar - 220 miles was a long way to travel for just one "treasure".  This was my first time in over 10 years visiting ATS - I was hoping for less private vendors and more store/company vendors.

Paul

Did well today. It was a most enjoyable event and very crowded.  Found  three out of four major items on my list plus some small parts.  Got some great buys at JusTrains and at Grzyboski's'  Private sellers were blowing things out at low prices. Lot's of NOS boxed items there. Slightly different assortment of dealers there for the Spring Thaw Meet. Noticeably absent was OGR so the morning photo shoot didn't materialize.

I think this was my 30th Allentown Spring Thaw meet.  I've always enjoyed this meet even when I don't purchase anything of note.  Its only about a 90 minute drive for me from South Jersey so I don't sweat it when I come up empty handed and today was pretty much one of those days.  I was only looking for one piece in particular but it didn't materialize.  I ended up buying some tools, shrink wrap and a Pennsylvania Railroad DVD.  I thought the crowd was good and the independent vendors had some very reasonable prices on their inventories and were more than willing to negotiate.   All in all I chalk this up as good day.

I had a good time! Went to the OGR forum breakfast. Purchased my pre order ticket. Got my lighting boards from the Gunrunner. I found an MTH PS1 demo boxcar ( I am a sucka for demo schemes) I picked up 3 still sealed Korber O Scale steel water towers at a deep discount and....

I picked up two still sealed in a bag k-line factory kits at $5.00 ea! 

It was a fun show. Got to talk to many friends and even bought a lantern.

It was my third time to this show..I travel about one hour from New Jersey.....it is very enjoyable...nice layouts ....I picked up a K-Line New York State Quarter boxcar for a good price....I also enjoy going to the  farmers market building next store...its like stepping back in time...

got a new tube of solder, found a accurail NOS from 1995 with 6 N&W 55 ton hoppers for $22. Their was a private seller that had a box of 1/87 military vehicles with old kaybee toy price stickers on them, $1.50, $1.25, you get the idea. I started to load up my hands with about 8 packages, the guy said I didn't price them out yet. I said these are not the prices, he said no. I dropped everything and walked away. 

It was crowded. I got there around 11. Scored one k-line die cast hopper, and some rmt light towers. Most of the k-line items I saw seemed a bit out of my budget, but I got my hand stamped and will be back tomorrow. 

Well 3 members of the Pittsburgh Independent Hi-Railers left Pittsburgh at 3:30 am and were back home at 8:30 pm. 

This was the first time that 2 of us had ever been to the show the other member had been there a few years ago. We all had a GREAT time. Each of us came home with things . Prices were very good.  We were glad we mad this trip. 

As a Bonus we stopped at Trains and Lanes Hobby Shop. That is one Hell of a shop. would say it was by far the best shop I have ever been in for a long time. You Name it they had it. 

What a fun day and I am not even tired. Train show to go to tomorrow morning and a on line auction tomorrow night.  

This has been a Train Weekend. 

I got away from the layout for about half an hour. I scored a couple of Weaver boxcars and an MTH NYO&W box car. I'm happy!

Chris

LVHR

Was a good meet for me, got two items that have been on my list for awhile, one at a fair price the other a real good deal I couldn't pass up. Saw other items I would of liked but felt I spent my limit.

I enjoyed the meet today.  Got some parts from one of the parts suppliers there.  Saved on shipping.  Also bought an MTH bridge that was just the right length for the spot I chose.  

It was crowded when I was there which was the hours before noon.  One suggestion I would like to make to the meet operators would be to have directional signs posted for each isle.  I'm not a browser.  I pretty much know what I am looking for.  So getting stuck in an isle full of lookers and groups of people having a discussion can be annoying.  

Excellent show. Got there about 8, there was a long line and immediately ran into Pat & Jean Marinari at the end of the line. What a nice way to start the show.

A lot of Eagles attire was being worn. I spoke to a few of the people about the game and David1 was REALLY EXCITED about it. Still. Maybe he figures it will take another 58 years for a championship.

I went looking for an engine which I don't need at all, and didn't find it. So I bought some vehicles for the layout. One of the dealers was selling Menards lighted cars at 2 for $25, which i thought was an excellent deal. The friend I went with had nothing on his list and bought 2 engines by the time we had a cup of coffee. Good show and a great time.

Gerry

   With York being number one, Allentown is number two in my book. Seeing such a large crowd actually shows there is still a great interest in our hobby. If anything is putting a damper on it, on the top of the list would have to be, people just don't having enough "hobby money" left after paying the bills. Watching the crowd coming out, about one out of ten people had their hands full. The others may have had only enough cash to come and drool. I really feel for the young families today and how hard it is for them to survive. Gone are the days that dad could be the sole provider while mom could stay home and be totally devoted and focused on raising the kids. The bills got paid and there was actually some fun money left over.

   As far as arrows on the floor, the crowd gets so thick in there, they also could use one way and do not enter signs at eye level to keep a smoother flow through the isles. One other change that would help, would be to move the flyer table out of the wind tunnel entry way. What a mess that always becomes.

   At the end of the day, it's a great show. Not only did I leave a happy camper, with a trunk full of great deals, but those kids that got to race the trains and see the layouts run, will be bugging mom and dad to bring them back every show.

I agree that York is number 1 and Allentown number 2. Probably because I live 90 minutes from York and can travel back and forth in one day. Allentown is a hard miserable drive up 95n and the PA turnpike. It requires an overnight stay. The crowd was large and hard to negotiate, but I did find lots of small goodies. I thought that the train races were great for the kids. My wife and I attended the First Frost last year for our initial visit to Allentown. We were impressed and returned to the Spring Thaw. In my opinion the First Frost was better show. 

Got there at 10AM, two hour drive for us but well worth the drive.  I too only live an hour from YORK and that still is the best.  ALLENTOWN is deffintly number 2 in my book.  Got a deal on a bump and go trolley for 35 bucks and saw lots of 1-48 cars that GUYZ were selling .  Cheaper if you bundled.  Not much new stuff and seems like a lot of Lionchief and Lionchief plus was on hand.  Otherwise had a good day with my friends and beers and wings afterwards on the way home.

FYI there is a table selling brand new Williams diesels for $100. Some trainmasters. I thought that was pretty nice. 

Oh Yea for got to say the in the bigger hall there was a couple selling light bases lit by incandescent bulbs that were pretty cool.  He had bases that were made from parts of steam pressure gauges to old Lionel engines but the neatest part were the bulbs he used that  had different coils in them,  Also he stated that the wattage used there was about 1400 watts to power all the bases.  Pretty cool and warm too when you were standing there.  Pretty good prices too.  Neat GUY to talk to.

Allentown is a good show, I attended for the first time last fall and was impressed. just couldn't make it this week. No shortage of product on the tables. If I ever need to sell I'll consider getting a table there. (BTW The farmers market was a nice plus)

Bulbs are blooming in Virginia.   

I really enjoyed seeing this Menards building on the club layout ... it confirmed my desire to purchase one ...🚂

N scale club had a Horseshoe Curve layout that is awesome and there was this nice HO layout as well...

Had a great time meeting old friends and making a few more.

Lots of great buys, got a new never used AtlasO SF GP35 at a great price with tmcc and EOB. Also at the Nickolos Smith tables they had some RK husky stacks in four road names at $25 ea. I bought all four.

A great time meeting many Eagles fans also and yes I was a little excited as Gerry M. mentioned.

Dave

L.I.TRAIN posted:

Allentown is a good show ...  If I ever need to sell I'll consider getting a table there. (BTW The farmers market was a nice plus)

Two comments to add... the early-bird line was so long at 8AM, I went into the Farmers Market for a quick stroll.  Brought back lots of memories when the days that my Mom & Dad would go there every weekend.  The foods there are fantastic, and some of the booths there are the same families from years ago carrying on the family business.

My take on the Allentown show is it's always been one of my favorite train show venues... hands down.  This time, I really wasn't in a buying frame of mind... although that's not to say I couldn't have done some serious damage there, as there was certainly a variety of product on the tables... just that nothing in particular really called my name this time.

Instead, I did see a few empty tables early on, and I only stayed 'till about 10-ish, then had other things to tackle during the day.  So I'm not sure if the table owners ever showed up.  But I was thinking, "WOW, I certainly could have brought some of my stuff that I'm selling and fill those empty tables quite nicely!"    In fact, I have so much stuff I'm planning to sell in the coming months, I could EASILY have filled up the tables in that small ante room where the former locomotive test tracks resided... I'm talking about the area that was also the former entrance/ticket foyer before the annex building was added to the original Agriculture Hall footprint.  A handful of us on the OGR Forum should band our resources together and try to grab that space for a couple of shows, and we could all have our stuff on display to sell.  Then we could rotate our "booth time" throughout the day/weekend, so we all wouldn't be tied to the tables for the entire weekend.

Just brainstorming out-loud... 

David

Approximately how many attendees are there at Allentown (either First Frost or Spring Thaw)?  I'm thinking of making the trip down from New England some day, but the prospect of a 5-hour trip (each way) gives me pause...

Thanks. 

Steven J. Serenska

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

.  A handful of us on the OGR Forum should band our resources together and try to grab that space for a couple of shows, and we could all have our stuff on display to sell.  Then we could rotate our "booth time" throughout the day/weekend, so we all wouldn't be tied to the tables for the entire weekend.

Just brainstorming out-loud... 

David

David and I were discussing this on the way out in the parking lot.  I am in if the idea materializes.

Glenn

""Approximately how many attendees are there at Allentown (either First Frost or Spring Thaw)?  I'm thinking of making the trip down from New England some day, but the prospect of a 5-hour trip (each way) gives me pause...""

The shows have over 625 tables on 50,000 sq. ft.  Total attendance is somewhere in the 4500-5000 range.  It's a large show with plenty of variety.   Scroll back in the thread to get the insights from the Pittsburgh contingent.   Their trip is about 5 hours or so. 

For that much driving I'd suggest getting a room.  If you check on their website. www.allentowntrainmeet.com  they have hotel sponsors who have favorable  room rates if you mention the show. 

Is it worth the trip?  I think so.  But that is my opinion.

With York being number one, Allentown is number two in my book. Seeing such a large crowd actually shows there is still a great interest in our hobby. If anything is putting a damper on it, on the top of the list would have to be, people just don't having enough "hobby money" left after paying the bills. Watching the crowd coming out, about one out of ten people had their hands full.

Yes, Allentown is one of the best shows in the area. As for folks buying, the manufacturers need to understand that some, if not a lot of us, have enough trains already so buying has become being very picky.

Count me in too, Rocky M Dave. That's a great idea.

It was a fun show all and all. My father, brother and I made the trip down from Upstate NY, and had a great time! Nicolas Smith trains had some great buys on freight cars, so we picked up some scale cars. Also grabbed a sound hut for our TMCC gantry crane and a C&O cabbose. I was also a bit surprised at the lack of newer stuff, but atill had a great time!

We also stopped by Trains and Lanes. And holy cow! I’ve never seen so many Legacy locomotives in one place! They really do have everything you need, the prices weren’t great, only walked out with some styrene and paints. 

I had to miss my usual attendance at the Ham Fam breakfast and show on Saturday due to  my sister's wedding.  I did make it there today and found several bargains on accessories which I snapped up along with a few pieces of rolling stock and a PRR T-shirt.  I really missed seeing everyone yesterday but York is right around the corner!

-Greg 

Dave Zucal posted:

Count me in too, Rocky M Dave. That's a great idea.

I'd be interested in this also. I've thought about selling stuff at York, but there's NO WAY that I'd be willing to give up walking the halls and looking for my "bargains". But to do a table for a few hours would be great.

Don't know where you guys are located but if you would like to meet, I can schedule something at a small train club I belong to in Paterson, NJ.

Gerry

I really miss going to the Allentown Meet since we moved out west. I really wanted to go this weekend, but our Invicta watch cruise to the Bahamas was non-refundable. But I’m looking forward to York in April!

Dave Fortney, this is for us!

TedsGG1 posted:

""Approximately how many attendees are there at Allentown (either First Frost or Spring Thaw)?  I'm thinking of making the trip down from New England some day, but the prospect of a 5-hour trip (each way) gives me pause...""

The shows have over 625 tables on 50,000 sq. ft.  Total attendance is somewhere in the 4500-5000 range.  It's a large show with plenty of variety.   Scroll back in the thread to get the insights from the Pittsburgh contingent.   Their trip is about 5 hours or so. 

For that much driving I'd suggest getting a room.  If you check on their website. www.allentowntrainmeet.com  they have hotel sponsors who have favorable  room rates if you mention the show. 

Is it worth the trip?  I think so.  But that is my opinion.

 

About half the attendance of York is certainly respectable for the Allentown Train Meet.  I've been saying that the Allentown meet is the largest public train meet in Eastern, PA.  Less than half a tank of gas and we've there and back the same day.  York ED/TCA now opens two halls to the public but only offers 400-420 tables at a far higher admission. Big deal!