what do you miss at York that used to be there?

Walter and the RMT booth... I enjoyed asking him to make more New Haven items!

and.....

Lower prices than we see now!

The sprawling bandit meets, especially the one at the Billy Budd that ran down the side streets were fantastic.  Grab a beer and a hot dog and look at trains, what a couple of days.  Sad to say, all gone now.  The Thursday opening of the TCA meet was very effective in killing them off.

I love the orange hall don’t get me wrong but miss the grandstand building underneath and the Lionel tent! 

The food stand outside the Purple Hall.  There are still plenty of places to grab food, but that one was always one of my favorites.

I miss having the OGR Grand Stand Meeting in the Grand Stands! It was quite nice to get outside for a bit vs in the Gold Hall.

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

I love the orange hall don’t get me wrong but miss the grandstand building underneath and the Lionel tent! 

I second that!

The Brown Hall

I get nostalgic for the yellow and gold halls.  Crowded and chaotic, but they had a lot of character. 

I miss the array of new products from the manufacturers that are no longer there.  Weaver, Aristocraft, K-Line, Pride Lines and Arttista all come to mind.

Gone too is the Green Hall and the gentleman with the homemade trains.  My sons were young then.  Every York they would always head to his display to push those trains back and forth.

Mostly I miss those York friends that have passed.  However, I'm thankful for the memories and the chance to have known them.

Time moves on and things change.  The great thing about York is the opportunity to have new experiences and make new memories.  Still anticipate these meets even after attending for a quarter century.

There was a vendor who set up barbeques and cooked beef right on the premises. I think it was by near the black hall. I really liked their sandwiches.

Ted R posted:

I get nostalgic for the yellow and gold halls.  Crowded and chaotic, but they had a lot of character. 

I miss the array of new products from the manufacturers that are no longer there.  Weaver, Aristocraft, K-Line, Pride Lines and Arttista all come to mind.

Gone too is the Green Hall and the gentleman with the homemade trains.  My sons were young then.  Every York they would always head to his display to push those trains back and forth.

Mostly I miss those York friends that have passed.  However, I'm thankful for the memories and the chance to have known them.

Time moves on and things change.  The great thing about York is the opportunity to have new experiences and make new memories.  Still anticipate these meets even after attending for a quarter century.

Just curious.. what kinds of engines were the homemade engines? I know a guy who made his own CNJ and Reading camelbacks as well as PRR E6's. 

I think that fellow who made the camelbacks was still in Orange in the Spring.

The Green Hall - plus, as others have written, the Yellow/Gold Halls.

The man in the Conductors uniform who looked like the Old Skipper and was selling the Toonerville Trolley in G and O scale.

RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:

Ted R posted:

......................

Gone too is the Green Hall and the gentleman with the homemade trains.  My sons were young then.  Every York they would always head to his display to push those trains back and forth.

..................

Just curious.. what kinds of engines were the homemade engines? I know a guy who made his own CNJ and Reading camelbacks as well as PRR E6's. 

Not to speak for Ted, but I think it was trains made from tin cans (like large instant potato cans).  He had a stick with a hook that he would latch on to the engine and then push the train down the tracks.  Pretty unique.

I miss Yellow a little (but not the weird pattern you had to walk to make sure not to miss anything!), but I'm sure the vendors do not at this point.  I recall both Joe Grzyboski and Nicholas Smith crammed into one of those side vendor booths, with overflow just on some tables across the aisle from their booths.  They each probably have 7-10 times the space they used to have. 

I'm sure Lionel and MTH don't miss their old setup either.  I think most vendors were very pleased with moving to the Orange Hall and the booth model offered for display space.

-Dave

C W Burfle posted:

There was a vendor who set up barbeques and cooked beef right on the premises. I think it was by near the black hall. I really liked their sandwiches.

I don't know if it's the same one, but there is still a BBQ vendor that regularly sets up a grill near the Silver/Blue entrance (Memorial Hall sign), towards the road that leads over to Purple/Orange.

-Dave

Me!

Haven't been to York in several years!

Simon

That is an easy question.......The concession stand under the Yellow Hall near Greenberg's Books.....they had the best cake donuts with rich chocolate icing!

Vince's Trains.

Marty of Ma & Pa Trains.

Beth and Public Delivery Track

There was an older man who always sold books on RRs, transportation and military topics in the Purple Hall year after year..... I always found something neat there.....and then the next York he was gone....I hope he just retired....

Rails and Shafts....I believe the owner passed. The successor company did not last very long.

Peter

  The evening auction at the fairgrounds .

Rocky Mountaineer posted:

The food stand outside the Purple Hall.  There are still plenty of places to grab food, but that one was always one of my favorites.

I agree.

I miss Owen's happy smile and hello.

Alexander's Restaurant......an easy walk from the grounds.  

Also have been missing Dennis from Arttista in recent York meets.  I will always remember that at one of his last participations in Orange Hall, he displayed one of his new figures that I'd been asking for for a few years....the guy looking through binoculars...who now proudly stands at the rail atop my forest fire lookout station created from an old Lionel 395 tower.  Elsewhere....TBD...will be his twin brother checking out the sunbathing neighbor.

Also, I miss Bill Parisi (OGR staff)...because he helped me at an April York meet plan an expanded version of the Ameritowne Midtown Hotel to hide a basement support post .   He was taken to glory I believe in June of that year....a mere two months later.  His guidance for the project was spot-on ...for which I will hold a special place of gratitude in my heart.

Yeah, I miss Vince's Trains, too.   We...wife and I...bought our share of engines and passenger cars there.  I always wondered why they didn't provide complimentary 'drool' towels at the booth's entrance! 

Finally, I miss the full gamut of ED-TCA's York rules....including bans on cameras, cell-phones, etc..  Yeah, you heard me!!  ()   

"Why!?!?", you say?

Because I miss those regular announcements over the PA, shocking us out of our railroader's reverie, reminding us of the plethora of no-no's...and wondering why appeals for personal hygiene and hefty fines for crop-dusting weren't included.   It was the stuff that minstrels of yore would've written a tuneful ditty about to celebrate its heroic effort!........With a 'Hey-diddle-diddle-hi-ho'!!? 

York meet....better for you than pork meat!  

Can't wait!!!

KD

I miss the guy that was under the grandstand, sold trains in a small booth and had his tank cars hanging from hooks around his booth. Looked like he was selling sausage's. Also miss everything already mentioned.

Clem 

In addition to the many things mentioned above, I also miss the joke announcements over the PA system.  Some of them were quite funny, and some made me do a double-take in wondering if I actually heard what I thought I just heard.   They kept me on guard and actually paying more attention to the announcements.  After a while, I just tune out announcements about arrows and such if that is all that is being announced.

Andy

I agree with Andy on those no-longer heard comical announcements and also agree with those that miss the Friday night auctions and Alexander's restaurant.

Bill

Bob posted:

The sprawling bandit meets, especially the one at the Billy Budd that ran down the side streets were fantastic.  Grab a beer and a hot dog and look at trains, what a couple of days.  Sad to say, all gone now.  The Thursday opening of the TCA meet was very effective in killing them off.

I'm with you on that one, Bob! I truly enjoyed spending a couple of pre-meet days at those bandit meets.

The Friday night auction.

W&W posted:

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

I love the orange hall don’t get me wrong but miss the grandstand building underneath and the Lionel tent! 

I second that!

I third it!  Those are exactly the two things I thought of when I read the excellent topic question.  The Yellow Hall was really something in its day.  I used to love looking at the offerings of that guy who made really nice refinery models.

I also miss talking and laughing with Tony Lash and his son Duke, spending time with some departed friends (e.g., Al Otten) and many others.

I don't miss TGIF, mail-only badges, and expensive hotels with no real options.

Fun thread.

Steven J. Serenska

For the EDTCA meet it's very easy, the Friday night auction with the wood slat, folding chairs.  Sometimes the temperature thermostat on the central air system didn't work real well and it might be chilly.

But overall, I miss the large selection of bandit meets.  It was an exciting mixture of chaos, fate, fantasy, and humanity.  

Mike Regan working for Lionel and handing me a catalog. 

Dave45681 posted:

RaritanRiverRailroadFan4 posted:

Ted R posted:

......................

Gone too is the Green Hall and the gentleman with the homemade trains.  My sons were young then.  Every York they would always head to his display to push those trains back and forth.

..................

Just curious.. what kinds of engines were the homemade engines? I know a guy who made his own CNJ and Reading camelbacks as well as PRR E6's. 

Not to speak for Ted, but I think it was trains made from tin cans (like large instant potato cans).  He had a stick with a hook that he would latch on to the engine and then push the train down the tracks.  Pretty unique.

I miss Yellow a little (but not the weird pattern you had to walk to make sure not to miss anything!), but I'm sure the vendors do not at this point.  I recall both Joe Grzyboski and Nicholas Smith crammed into one of those side vendor booths, with overflow just on some tables across the aisle from their booths.  They each probably have 7-10 times the space they used to have. 

I'm sure Lionel and MTH don't miss their old setup either.  I think most vendors were very pleased with moving to the Orange Hall and the booth model offered for display space.

-Dave

Yes, those were the trains.  Everything was homemade including the tracks. 

Sometimes I miss the Mercedes I could have bought with what I've spent at (and going to) York.  But I get over it.

Me!

I miss buying direct from Mike Wolf under the grandstand, and the G gauge prototypes that Aristocraft occasionaly sold in the Gold annex. Also the ROW layout in the Gold annex too. 

RockyMountaineer: That was the Sodl's stand. Good breakfast and lunch at a reasonable price. 

Most of all, I miss my stamina to walk through all the halls in one day!

Sodl's is gone??

I miss the AOL spaghetti dinners in the (VFW?) hall a few blocks away. K-Line would debut some of their newest offerings there.

Joe Hayter and Weaver Models, Andy Petersen and Petersen Supply, Dennis Arttista and Arttista, and Jeff Dobslaw and JD's Trains.

Also Beth Marshall and the Public Delivery Track. With Beth's exit from York, the Brown Hall closed.

Lou "Mr. TCA" Redman, member # CM-3

Once, during a sort of lull in the proceedings on a rainy Saturday morning, I saw him just standing at his table, looking out over the Blue Hall attendees, with sort of a wistful look on his face.  I said to him "Look what you have created...incredible!"  He nodded modestly, and all he said was "Yes...it's great, isn't it?"

RoyBoy posted:

Sodl's is gone??

 

Rumor was it was supposedly being eliminated to install bathrooms for that building.  As of April, there was nothing to be seen but an empty space where the food stand used to be.  Projects at the fairgrounds can be slow sometimes I guess.  (or the rumor was just a rumor)

I guess we shall see if anything has changed next week.

-Dave

I agree with all the sentiments recorded here. All these experiences are what has made the York Meet the great event that it is. 

For me the thing that never changes is the excitement building up before the Meet. The looking forward to just the grandness of the Meet, seeing all the trains, buying some of them, and most of all seeing and catching up with forum members, friends and family that attend the Meet. Talking trains, happy greetings and having meals together. 

Even though I will miss this York Meet, it truly is a stress reliever and mini vacation that I really enjoy. 

Have fun everyone, and I’ll see ya there in April!

artyoung posted:

 

Most of all, I miss my stamina to walk through all the halls in one day!

Ah, yes. Even when I do all the halls, it now involves a number of "sit" breaks and men's room visits. I make sure I have plenty of one $ bills on me for tips. 

Dmaxdeere87 posted:

I love the orange hall don’t get me wrong but miss the grandstand building underneath and the Lionel tent! 

I’m with you on this. It was crowded, busy and old fashioned. 

That's easy ... ME! 

CHOO-CHOO MIKE posted:

  The evening auction at the fairgrounds .

Several yrs back I liked watching the auction until I entered a set of excellent condition postwar Congressional cars  in the auction. When they came up for bidding, the bidding was over before you could blink. He must of had a buddy bidding on them who really wanted them. They sold for $450. At that time they should've brought $700.- $750. easy.

The AOL Bbqs under the carport between the grandstand and the open field that became the Orange hall after we were banned from the fairgrounds after 5 Bbqs. Grown man drinking beer, talking trains. Dangerous folks doing that! The food we cooked was far better than the garbage served on the fairgrounds. Sitting around on coolers talking trains and stories to the wee hours of the night and Mike Newcomer(let him rest in peace) telling us stories and laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes.

Those were the good ole days from 20 years ago.

I know Allan Miller will chime in about those days.

Remember when MTH performed repairs at York? 

Gerry posted:

Remember when MTH performed repairs at York? 

I do, they did the repairs in their tent

Ted R posted:

Gone too is the Green Hall and the gentleman with the homemade trains.  My sons were young then.  Every York they would always head to his display to push those trains back and forth.

Made of soup cans and coffee cans, those trains had a character of their own.  I enjoyed stopping by the Green Hall and chatting with that fellow. 

Pete was a club member of ours and still does a few local shows with his tin can trains and track he made. I helped him set up this past month at Railroaders days at Pine Creek RR in Allaire State park, Wall, NJ.

I miss the AOL dinners at the Viking club with the late great Stirling Woodham (I hope I got his last name right.) as the M.C.  And as Ted mentioned it was always fun to talk to Mike Newcomer there too. May they both rest in peace. If only there was a Hall of Fame for York people!

I also miss the Green Hall it was a great place to find a bargain, because nobody knew it was there!

ME!!!

I most miss me being there. My York excursions have been derailed the past few years by a combination of scheduling difficulties as well as personal and family health issues. Hope I'll soon get this old caboose and family consist back on track for a not too distant trip to the TCA York Meet.

People.

irish rifle posted:

Also Beth Marshall and the Public Delivery Track. With Beth's exit from York, the Brown Hall closed.

I too miss Beth , Bought many a car from her. One thing she deserved better and should have been a Key vendor in the Orange hall.

RoyBoy posted:

Sodl's is gone??

I miss the AOL spaghetti dinners in the (VFW?) hall a few blocks away. K-Line would debut some of their newest offerings there.

It was the Viking Club, and that was a huge amount of fun.

I also miss the announcements for the Ethics Committee meeting hosted by Bob Grubba 

Paul

I also miss the Grandstand meet up

and of course the hospitality ... for bonus points whose face is that on the right?

and of course - the Lionettes

Paul

Railrunnin posted:

RoyBoy posted:

Sodl's is gone??

I miss the AOL spaghetti dinners in the (VFW?) hall a few blocks away. K-Line would debut some of their newest offerings there.

It was the Viking Club, and that was a huge amount of fun.

I also miss the announcements for the Ethics Committee meeting hosted by Bob Grubba 

Paul

I also miss the Grandstand meet up

and of course the hospitality ... for bonus points whose face is that on the right?

and of course - the Lionettes

Paul

Looks like the famous  Jim Barrett.

Bill

Nope, not Jim. He is wearing glasses in the picture and is by name crazy (hint hint)

miss the great deals by loco louie in the yellow hall.

Anyone have old pictures of inside the grandstand during York? That would be awesome!

You couldn't take pictures back then.

I miss the small animal wooden shelters. They provided shade for cars parked inside.

Speaking of the grandstand, one of the dealers there was George Ether, a retired Reading Company conductor. He modified K-Line cabooses for railroads not offered by manufacturers. He wore his uniform. I always enjoyed talking with him. Here is a photo of one of his cabooses. The real one runs on the Wanamaker, Kempton & Southern

I greatly miss Kirk in the Purple Hall. RIP, Kirk !!

ReadingFan posted:

I miss the small animal wooden shelters. They provided shade for cars parked inside.

Could you please expand on this?

Beth Marshall with Public Delivery Track. and....

The no cell phone rule. Before flaming me, let me explain. Since the rule changed, I have made the mistake of leaving it ON. That opens me up to calls from work. A few years ago while I was at York, my (now) BOSS called and gave me 15 minutes to be at work. I'm from Richmond, Va.

He was none too pleased when I explained that I might be able to make it to my car in 15 minutes. 

Fred Dole.......bought this from Fred many moons ago....in the Yellow Hall to be exact....

Joe:  The animal shelters were for the critters at the York Fair (the nation's oldest agricultural fair - older than our country, in fact). The Orange Hall is at that site now.

Gilly@N&W posted:

Beth Marshall with Public Delivery Track. and....

The no cell phone rule. Before flaming me, let me explain. Since the rule changed, I have made the mistake of leaving it ON. That opens me up to calls from work. A few years ago while I was at York, my (now) BOSS called and gave me 15 minutes to be at work. I'm from Richmond, Va.

He was none too pleased when I explained that I might be able to make it to my car in 15 minutes. 

a) If your boss doesn't understand the concept of "vacation day", you need a new boss or a new job.

b) What would have happened if you were on vacation overseas?  (They would have figured it out.)

c) Well, if you hadn't called in "sick"...

d) Two words:  Caller ID

Mallard4468 posted:

a) If your boss doesn't understand the concept of "vacation day", you need a new boss or a new job. On call 24/7/365 w/o any premium comp.

b) What would have happened if you were on vacation overseas?  (They would have figured it out.) Overseas vacation is beyond even discussion.

c) Well, if you hadn't called in "sick"... The vacation days had been scheduled since January (this was the October meet)

d) Two words:  Caller ID Two words, flip phone. Open, and busted!

All great ideas. My solution is to retire 2/1/18. Updated: I retired 1/31/18.

I have had Friday 10/20 on the vacation schedule since January. I might know Thursday if I am going. Right now, I'd give it no better than 50/50 odds. Updated: Ultimately found out Wednesday that "it just wasn't convenient". (I ended up having to eat the motel cost for Thursday night).

Friends that I used to meet up with back in the early 2000’s that have now passed on to the train room in the sky.

Arthur, the gent you are talking about was Lyle Cain of Lyle Cain enterprises.  He sold the Toonerville Trolley and related items in the Yellow hall.  The Yellow hall was lots of fun.  I still have my trolley today that I purchased from him.

This will be York number 75 for me.  I have seen many come and go over the years.  I thought about composing a story about my years at York.  Back when I started the halls opened at 0800.  I could do every aisle in every hall and be done by noon.  I laugh when I hear rookies making statements about York slowing down.  

The first person I met at York was a young kid named Mike Wolf.  Mike introduced me to Lou Caponi.  We were all car guys and a great friendship was born.  My good friend Louie is gone and I think of him often.  He did great work for the LCCA.  Today Al Kolis has done a great job as Louie did before him.  I miss those who have passed and value very much the great friends I see every York.  

Gilly, I was very lucky as I always had great bosses at work.  When they needed someone to cover, I was the go to guy.  They were all aware of what York was to me and we all worked together.

It has been a great run.  

This is an awesome thread . . . thank you!

For me, definitely the Yellow Hall, The AOL Gang, their cook out and the Viking Club, and of course, the comradery from all of those who I have met over the years,

I guess the yellow, gold, and green halls have been gone for ten years or more because I have been to York almost twenty times and I don't remember them. I would like to read more about them.

Scrappy

This is my 66th straight York and I have loved everyone. I miss the friends I have made and have passed away. 

There is one person I miss more then life itself and that is my brother Ron who passed away last Christmas. we attended every York together and had allot of fun talking trains. It's just not the same without him. Miss you bro. 

Dave

artyoung posted:

Joe:  The animal shelters were for the critters at the York Fair (the nation's oldest agricultural fair - older than our country, in fact). The Orange Hall is at that site now.

Thanks. That was before my time (TCA time, that is. I'm 75).  I know they still have a few of those at Timonium.

I attended every York Meet from 1982 thru 2013 but I only will be a going on occasions due to not being as young as I was and I used to be. I really miss members who were friends that I would see at York who are no longer around. And Beth and Rachel Marshell of Public Delivery Track. Rachel lived on the next street from me when I was a kid and was also my sisters best friend.

Gil Finn

RIP

I think he only brought it once, but Neil Young's HORDE layout.  (I forget which meet, but I think 1998)

That was a phenomenal display to see at York.  Glad I was there for it for it's single appearance.

Also the Big Mo (MTH layout in a trailer) display that Harry Turner used to bring (Harry also no longer with us unfortunately).

-Dave

Not sure about all the love for yellow - I'll take orange over it any day.  Bad lighting, bumping into girders, etc.

When did the change from yellow to orange occur?  There is a gap in my York attendance from about 1994 to 2003. 

I also miss the woman who sold decals.  I think she had rubber stamps too.  IIRC, she couldn't reach an affordable licensing deal with Lionel.

Mallard4468 posted:

...............When did the change from yellow to orange occur?  There is a gap in my York attendance from about 1994 to 2003. ...........

Wikipedia claims it opened in September 2003, so if we trust that, it would be the October 2003 meet was the first using Orange.  (I didn't try to double check  with old York meet flyers).

-Dave

Dave45681 posted:

Mallard4468 posted:

...............When did the change from yellow to orange occur?  There is a gap in my York attendance from about 1994 to 2003. ...........

Wikipedia claims it opened in September 2003, so if we trust that, it would be the October 2003 meet was the first using Orange.  (I didn't try to double check  with old York meet flyers).

-Dave

Seems like only yesterday -- certainly not 14 years ago.  But I guess that makes sense.  Toyota must have had a ten-year arrangement, and it's already been a few years now that the Utz sign has been on the building.

Wow!!! Time IS really marching on.  

The woman who sold decals  and dry transfers was Janice Bennett.  She had many and I believe was licensed by Lionel to reproduce all the Lionel decals.  When I restored my M10000, I got my transfers from her and they are as fresh today as the day I did the job.

Not sure about all the love for yellow - I'll take orange over it any day.  Bad lighting, bumping into girders, etc.

The Yellow hall certainly was smaller than the Orange. The opening of the Orange hall as a dealer hall heralded the explosion of dealers at the York meet. Whether that was good or maybe not so much, is all a matter of perspective.

Since we are taking about halls, when did the Silver hall open?

Also, another place I miss at York: there was an Italian restaurant, I think it was called Anthony's. I always had one dinner there during the York show. It closed a number of years ago.

I was wondering same thing and I’d love to see some pictures of yellow hall back in day full of people! I can’t wait for this week it’s awes and memorable 

C W Burfle posted:

.......................

Since we are taking about halls, when did the Silver hall open?

Also, another place I miss at York: there was an Italian restaurant, I think it was called Anthony's. I always had one dinner there during the York show. It closed a number of years ago.

The York Expo Center site indicates the Memorial Hall building was expanded in 1995. 

On the topic of other restaurants no longer there:  There used to be something called either the West Side or West Shore Steakhouse (not sure if I am subconsciously mixing the name with West Side Lumber ).  Also more recently, Damon's closed a while back.

-Dave

"Arthur, the gent you are talking about was Lyle Cain of Lyle Cain enterprises.  He sold the Toonerville Trolley and related items in the Yellow hall."

Marty, yes, I remember that gent, too. He usually wore a navy blue conductor's uniform.  But Lou "Mr. TCA" Redman was definitely the gent in the center of the action in the Blue Hall with whom I spoke.  He was wearing his trademark beige railroad-themed three-piece suit, probably made from some curtain material his wife found in a Woolworth one day.

Dave45681 posted:

I think he only brought it once, but Neil Young's HORDE layout.  (I forget which meet, but I think 1998)

That was a phenomenal display to see at York.  Glad I was there for it for it's single appearance.

Also the Big Mo (MTH layout in a trailer) display that Harry Turner used to bring (Harry also no longer with us unfortunately).

-Dave

Yep, Neil Young's display was awesome, the engine had a camera in it which was connected to the jumbo tron screen outside. I heard he also would set it up at one of his concerts.  That weekend Neil signed a tee shirt my son was wearing.

The stand that sold cinnamon buns

K-Line, Murray Klein, and his free glazed doughnuts. That display layout of his was quiet! He must have had an inch of carpet foam under that black cloth.

Chris

LVHR

I miss my Dad the most.  I went to my first York meet with him in April 1979 (I was in 4th grade) and it was simply the best time a kid could ask for. York is the one place I go where I feel his presence the most, especially the Blue Hall, where he always had a table, and where I now have mine. 

John

I remember the orange hall opening in time for the October 2003 meet.  That was the one where Lionel introduced Railsounds 5.0 and the JLC H7 locomotives.  At their booth they had individual stations with locomotives on rollers that you could try with a Cab-1.  One of them was the new NKP TMCC Berkshire.  When I tried it and pushed the whistle button I was blown out of the hall; it was to me, and still is, one of the best sounding locos ever made.  I went right over to Gryzboski's booth and bought one.  My dad was with me, and we had a lot of fun. 

I do remember the outside tents and still miss them, it was always fun to see what was inside! 

Great thread!   

Trussman posted:

Yep, Neil Young's display was awesome, the engine had a camera in it which was connected to the jumbo tron screen outside. I heard he also would set it up at one of his concerts.  That weekend Neil signed a tee shirt my son was wearing.

Funny story regarding signatures at that event.....

I forget if it was the VHS video that they had for sale or maybe a Lionel catalog, but my dad got into the idea of having Neil sign something from the meet. 

So he sees a gentleman dressed in railroad overalls operating the layout and asks him to sign.  The man replied that he would sign it if he liked, but his name was Larry!  He then pointed out where Neil was standing.

BTW, while I did not attend any concerts, I believe that was the whole premise of the layout was for his tour with his group HORDE at the time.  I don't know how many concerts there were or if the layout went to all of them or just certain ones.  That's also what led to the HORDE boxcar that you still see sometimes.

-Dave

Phaltzgraff pottery.  Used to be made in York, Pa.  Now made in China.

For a good number of years, every trip to York included a stop at their outlet store, regardless of whether my wife was on the trip. If she was there, she picked out her own stuff, otherwise, I'd bring home a few surprises.

Grampstrains posted:

Phaltzgraff pottery.  Used to be made in York, Pa.  Now made in China.

Made in the same place where most of our trains come from...

Mallard4468 posted:

Grampstrains posted:

Phaltzgraff pottery.  Used to be made in York, Pa.  Now made in China.

Made in the same place where most of our trains come from...

Same can be said for the YORK peppermint Pattie

Ted R posted:

.......Mostly I miss those York friends that have passed.  However, I'm thankful for the memories and the chance to have known them.

Time moves on and things change.  The great thing about York is the opportunity to have new experiences and make new memories.  Still anticipate these meets even after attending for a quarter century.

That's solid gold, right there, applying as it does to life itself.

FrankM.

I miss being there.

My enjoyment and part of what I miss of the TCA Meets @York included starting each day quite early. I enjoyed the quiet times I spent dozing and waiting at sunrise for everybody else to arrive, each morning, having driven from my Holiday Inn Express room in Lancaster while it was still dark, to avoid any traffic and to get myself into this parking slot close to the big roll-up door of the Orange Hall. I often needed quick access to the car during the show.

This shot was taken from inside my vehicle, looking out the driver's window, left, toward one of the Orange Hall's parking lots (Brown Hall on the right).........

This was the view through the right side of my vehicle, facing east....

I really miss the wonderful customers, for whom I have always been grateful, who would almost wipe me out of displayed inventory before 20 minutes had passed after our hand-over-the-heart singing of the National Anthem opening. It was a thrill needing to go to the car, later, to acquire the inventory of Insta-Ramas I had kept in reserve.

And of course, having friends such as Allan Miller, Jim Elster, Roy Baker, and Eliot (Scrapiron Scher) come by my little booth to make a pleasant and cheerful fuss over my latest work was the perfect start for each Meet. That really mattered a whole lot to me, their friendly and encouraging voices, and of course , the developing friendships themselves, which meant and mean so much to me.

And finally, speaking just as a vendor and modeler, having a few big customers, such as Richard Kughn and a couple others, swoop into the booth, late on a Friday, or early on Saturday, wave a hand over all that I had remaining in my booth, and say, "I'll take it all," was fantastic! Such good fortune used to make me wonder if I would still have to remain at my empty booth if customers had bought everything before Friday finished or Saturday arrived. The wondering was fun in itself , man-o-man!

Yes, I miss the excitement of it all, every person  who greeted me at my  booth and looked around, and which, at times, meant having the work of this simple English teacher's hands accepted and taken home to layouts and included in the happiness there.

Thank you, TCA, Thank You, Debbie Geiser, who was always patient with my many questions, and Thank you, customers, who, after every Meet, left me with no inventory to take home. That was a feeling of accomplishment I cannot describe to you. I miss  all of you. It was great, great fun.

FrankM, Layout Refinements, and Moon Township, USA

Well Frank, we miss seeing your first-class work. I only have ONE "weathered" item on my layout...one of your pickup trucks. It says a lot that you usually left York empty-handed.

Thanks a lot, Joe, I appreciate the reach-back. I hope you have a very good time at York this trip. Be safe and happy. I enjoyed following your pre-York posts on this part of the forum.

Frank

Dave45681 posted:

I think he only brought it once, but Neil Young's HORDE layout.  (I forget which meet, but I think 1998)

That was a phenomenal display to see at York.  Glad I was there for it for it's single appearance.

Also the Big Mo (MTH layout in a trailer) display that Harry Turner used to bring (Harry also no longer with us unfortunately).

-Dave

Anyone ever see any pictures of this...? Be interesting to see.

I suspect I'm one of the few here that have actually been to a few H.O.R.D.E. shows - although I don't think Neil Young & Crazy Horse was playing an of the ones I saw. I recall them being latecomers to the H.O.R.D.E. tours.

I do own a HORDE boxcar!

I miss the excitement of my first time at York in 1983. I set up in the White hall and I will never forget the fellow running through the hall with a tape recorder. He was making notes of specific items in each isle. That made an impression on me that this was a serious train meet where people came buy. I think that fellow was forum member Peter (Putnam Division). I never asked him but I guess that is what I am doing right now.

I hope you all have a great time at York. there is nothing like it on earth.

Alan Graziano

TRAINPOP, Vince & Peggy, all the great customers, and the hundreds of great trains we unpacked every year

I miss all the hot babes.

Craignor posted:

I miss all the hot babes.

Lurking out in the dark parking lots later than the rest of us, are ya ?

Moonson posted:

Craignor posted:

I miss all the hot babes.

Lurking out in the dark parking lots later than the rest of us, are ya ?

More likely he is remembering something other than a train meet!

-Dave

He made a wrong turn at Jerome Avenue.

Roving Sign posted:

Anyone ever see any pictures of this...? Be interesting to see.

I suspect I'm one of the few here that have actually been to a few H.O.R.D.E. shows - although I don't think Neil Young & Crazy Horse was playing an of the ones I saw. I recall them being latecomers to the H.O.R.D.E. tours.

I do own a HORDE boxcar!

Unfortunately this was several years before I owned a digital camera, so I don't have any pictures. I forget if either of the 2 O gauge magazines might have had a story with a pic or 2 or not back then.

Probably someone might (I think since it was outside the halls, the older camera ban would not have applied - but I may be mistaken), but this was almost 10 years before everyone had a camera in their pocket as part of their smart-phone.

-Dave

Dave45681 posted:

Moonson posted:

Craignor posted:

I miss all the hot babes.

Lurking out in the dark parking lots later than the rest of us, are ya ?

More likely he is remembering something other than a train meet!

-Dave

Or maybe just wishful thinking. I'd have to caution him about leaving the fairgrounds at night, though, no matter the hoped-for adventure. And I'd have to agree with Arthur about not making that wrong turn at Jerome Ave.

The December 1997 (Run 156) edition of OGR had a five-page spread of the H.O.R.D.E. layout with several photos of the layout under construction and in operation.

Moonson posted:

Craignor posted:

I miss all the hot babes.

Lurking out in the dark parking lots later than the rest of us, are ya ?

Nope, just a dumb joke...seeing a hot babe at York is like seeing a Unicorn.

Craignor posted:

Moonson posted:

Craignor posted:

I miss all the hot babes.

Lurking out in the dark parking lots later than the rest of us, are ya ?

Nope, just a dumb joke...seeing a hot babe at York is like seeing a Unicorn.

Not dumb, Craig, just simple playfulness. We got that, which is why a couple of us decided to play along with you.

FrankM

Nope, just a dumb joke...seeing a hot babe at York is like seeing a Unicorn.

LOL, years ago one of the dealers in the Yellow hall had a tall, attractive lady working in their booth, dressed in a pair of hickory striped overalls. If I recall correctly, they were cut down into hot pants.
Anybody remember this?

One thing I miss: the shotgun start to the show.

Tony Lash

ME  

I will be there Virtually.   

BradF posted:

Tony Lash

Yes, I agree, because, speaking as a booth holder, the man sure wasn't shy to spend a buck-or-two (!) and always amiable.

Miss;

The fresh “open pit” roast beef sandwiches outside the purple hall.

The AOL dinner and car port parties with Neil Young

Setting up at the preshows but not the hassle of the big truck, tent and money it cost me.

Tony Lash, but got to see him this show!

My friends either gone or moved on, Pat Neil, Delair Gregg, everyone who was around us in thePurple Hall.

The funny announcements. 

Dont Miss;

Running for our tables ( circa 1973)

No cell phone rule

No picture rule

Bad weather in the parking lot shows

charlie, Nassau Hobby Center

Charlienassau posted:...

Dont Miss;

Running for our tables ( circa 1973)

 

Huh? I'd love to hear you tell us about that one. I can't imagine why such a thing would have been needed (!)

NOTHING.

Moonson, they only had one hall ( blue) back then and it was first come, first served: we ran for the tables and claimed them.

Charlienassau posted:

Moonson, they only had one hall ( blue) back then andit was first come, first served: we ran for the tables and claimed them.

Wow. That's some harsh......stuff.

What happened to a presenter who hadn't gotten to a table in time? Did he not off-load his wares and have to return home? That "system" sounds almost arbitrary and cold.

Hard to imagine any TCAers running.

we're talking 30 plus years ago - the same guys but much younger.  Crazy times. Dudes leaving their infant babies in car seats on saved table tops. 

youngstown posted:

Gil Finn

RIP

He never made it to York. I even offered to drive to Scott Depot, WV and pick him up and take him. By that time he was too sick to go.

Scott Smith

Here is my list of things I miss at York.

Loco Louies

Thursday at Fridays was a more social gathering since everyone tended to walk around.

Pat Trains (Yes he use to have a booth in Orange Hall)

MTH Repair Tent

Big Mo's train layout

K-Line (BTW they had the best train layout I have seen at York. It was in the room behind their booth and it was a complete city using superstreets..I wish we could have shot pictures and video in those days).

Scott Smith

Dunno what his official name was, but we called him 'Mr. Shakey'.....the lifesize figure in the conductor's uniform that stood at one corner of the Scenic Express booth.  The ol' geezer had the shakes and held a pan for 'tips'. 

I 'spect he lost his mojo somewhere along the line and was retired.  Or, maybe the fairground latrine attendants felt he was too competitive for the tips and had him....'dispatched'???

Poor guy.....they should have at least given him a stool to sit on for those long show hours.

Worse yet?......I'm starting to identify with the guy's attributes, too!  (NOT an offer to substitute, mind you!!!)

KD

All things change and York is no exception. Over the years many manufactures, vendors and people have come and gone. In recent times I've missed the good people that are no longer with us and K-Line, the larger displays of MTH Lionel, Atlas, the older antiques and the availability of more scratch built stuff.

ME

Nice that Arthur reminded us of our founder Lou Redmond, in that colorful "white suit" he used to wear. You wonder what he really thought. "Isn't this great" vs "Have I created a monster?" Ha ha

And how about the free donuts that K-Line used to hand out in the Purple Hall on Friday morning? Gone with the wind...

And the "crush" in the Blue Hall, "the gold mine" as my family used to call it, "where all the good stuff is" (that hasn't been secretly sold at Billy Budd etc. earlier in the week). Still crowded but much easier to navigate these days, thanks to the Silver Hall taking part of the load.

And at 5pm as the blankets covered the tables, you thought "boy that was fun, now I have to wait another 6 months!"

"WEAVER"...................Paul

S & W Parts Supply in Purple Hall

And the lovely voice of the announcer lady saying to follow the direction arrows in the Halls.

THE PUBLIC DELIVERY TRACK.  COME BACK BETH!!!!

Alexander's Restaurant. 

Bill

At the TCA Convention this summer in Pittsburgh, they had Lou’s suit on display, and some other cool items.

I didn't read all the pages but if not mentioned I miss Ma & Pa Junction he carried almost all of Williams to the show. WBB has changed it so much it's really not Williams anymore.

I miss the independent food vendors on the fairgrounds.  Now they're all run by that french fry vendor.  Much worse food, much greater prices, not much variety.

Also miss the Giant Food store across the street from the Blue Hall.  Always picked up a really good sub-sandwich there for my way home on Saturdays.  

(Ah... Nothing is forever!)

Paul Fischer

All my friends that have passed away. Remember, I have been going to York for over 41 years.

Beth and Vince, plus Alex at the Korber booth.

Lines hundreds of people long at opening, crowds, all buildings full of dealers with over flow tents, manufactures display trailers, packed aisles in every building plus lots of precious folks no longer with us. 

I would give anything to see Loco Louie stomp another freight car to pieces when some chiseler  tried beat Louie's price down on it. 

Although it had a short run, I miss "Mikes Kosher Hot Dog Kook-Out" held at 10 AM Thursday mornings in the parking lot near the grandstand.

Tom Tee posted:

I would give anything to see Loco Louie stomp another freight car to pieces when some chiseler  tried beat Louie's price down on it. 

I only heard about this, but I'd LOVE to have seen this exchange and final 'transaction', capture it on the phone camera, and watch it go viral!!  My hat's off to Loco Louie, wherever he is. 

I also heard of a dealer challenged to lower his price to something ridiculous on a diecast figure....not sure it was at York, though.  He had a hammer, beat the figure to a pulp in front of the slack-jawed customer. 

My heroes of the hobby show!    Lord knows I have enough 'stuff' to justify a table or two at a show/meet/market, and I'm of the same ilk....have hammer/steel-toed shoes, will 'negotiate'!

KD

Wow, what a thread!  I started attending York in the Fall of 2000, which makes me a relative newcomer compared to some of the veterans who have already posted.  I think I've missed 1 or 2, which means I've attended 32 or so.  What I miss:

• The competing public announcements.  Reminded me of those in the movie Airplane.  "The Red zone is for..."
• The smells.  Yeah, seriously, the meet had a visceral, aromatic sense to it before they opened the Orange Hall.  Animal pens used to be stacked everywhere. 
• Gold / Yellow halls - I liked walking through them.  Someone near the entrance had tons of vehicles for sale.  I got the kids a bunch of 1:43 cars there.
• The buying frenzy and crowds that came from being open only on Friday and part of Saturday.  The meet was always packed and super-busy.  You had to buy something when you saw it, otherwise it would be gone.  There were few opportunities to make a second pass through the halls.
• The Binnacle!!!!  I think it was in Silver Hall.
• K-Line
• Someone in the Red? Hall made PRR K4s locomotives by marrying two Lionel 2025s.  This was way before Lionel brought out their versions.  At the time, the only K4s on the market were MTH (back in 1997) and the Weaver / Williams ones from the early 1990s.

George

Well, in the long run, as it has turned out, in time, many of us have a lot of the stuff we bought at York on our layouts and/or in our collections at home, so we have treasured mementoes still with us to remind us of good people, good times, a unique event and venue, and the place of our unique hobby in our personal histories.

I am grateful for it all.

FrankM, Layout Refinements, and Moon Township, USA.

dkdkrd posted:

Dunno what his official name was, but we called him 'Mr. Shakey'.....the lifesize figure in the conductor's uniform that stood at one corner of the Scenic Express booth.  The ol' geezer had the shakes and held a pan for 'tips'. 

I 'spect he lost his mojo somewhere along the line and was retired.  Or, maybe the fairground latrine attendants felt he was too competitive for the tips and had him....'dispatched'???

Poor guy.....they should have at least given him a stool to sit on for those long show hours.

Worse yet?......I'm starting to identify with the guy's attributes, too!  (NOT an offer to substitute, mind you!!!)

KD

He actually made his way to our club

I miss this guys booth

And I miss this guy

The AOL dinners.

The Green Hall.

The free stuff.  (Just kidding.  There never was any free stuff.)

The buying frenzy and crowds that came from being open only on Friday and part of Saturday.  The meet was always packed and super-busy.  You had to buy something when you saw it, otherwise it would be gone.  There were few opportunities to make a second pass through the halls.

I know a number of people who preferred the "shotgun start", and even more that preferred the two day show.  IMHO, the character of the show changed shortly after it was changed to three days.

What do I miss at York?

Me. I  miss my being here...amidst all the happiness and camaraderie. And if I ever manage to craft a full-enough inventory again, I may be back. For now, as I continue to recover from several serious surgeries, I craft when I am inspired and continue to inform my previous York customers, as well as my clients, via photo attachments to e-mails, of what I have completed most recently.

However, when I do that, they say, "Sold!" and have me ship the Insta-Ramas  to them (!)

My usual inventory for York had been 40 - 44 completed works. However, right now, my inventory stored in my trainroom is comprised of exactly one Insta-Rama, to date (!) Everything continues to sell before I can accumulate enough to justify getting back to York. I've begun to wonder if my little business of Layout Refinements has shifted from my temporary "storefront" booth in the Orange Hall at York to an on-line business? I continue to wonder.

One of the very best parts of being at York became enjoying the visits to my booth, as soon as I completed setting-up, by Allan Miller, of OGR, Jim Elster of Scenic Express, and Roy Baker, of Baker's Railroad Shop, each of whom would visit the booth before the opening of the Meet, to see what I had made. Those greetings by those gentlemen, and their interest in my creativity, were moments I treasured, frankly. I miss that, too.

So, life is good, very, very good, but I do miss being at the TCA Meet @York, very much.

FrankM, Moon Township, USA, and Layout Refinements

Moonson posted:

What do I miss at York?

Me. I  miss my being here...amidst all the happiness and camaraderie. And if I ever manage to craft a full-enough inventory again, I may be back. For now, as I continue to recover from several serious surgeries, I craft when I am inspired and continue to inform my previous York customers, as well as my clients, via photo attachments to e-mails, of what I have completed most recently.

However, when I do that, they say, "Sold!" and have me ship the Insta-Ramas  to them (!)

My usual inventory for York had been 40 - 44 completed works. However, right now, my inventory stored in my trainroom is comprised of exactly one Insta-Rama, to date (!) Everything continues to sell before I can accumulate enough to justify getting back to York. I've begun to wonder if my little business of Layout Refinements has shifted from my temporary "storefront" booth in the Orange Hall at York to an on-line business? I continue to wonder.

One of the very best parts of being at York became enjoying the visits to my booth, as soon as I completed setting-up, by Allan Miller, of OGR, Jim Elster of Scenic Express, and Roy Baker, of Baker's Railroad Shop, each of whom would visit the booth before the opening of the Meet, to see what I had made. Those greetings by those gentlemen, and their interest in my creativity, were moments I treasured, frankly. I miss that, too.

So, life is good, very, very good, but I do miss being at the TCA Meet @York, very much.

FrankM, Moon Township, USA, and Layout Refinements

We miss you, too Frank!

George

Thank you, George. Thank you very much.

FrankM

C W Burfle posted:

The buying frenzy and crowds that came from being open only on Friday and part of Saturday.  The meet was always packed and super-busy.  You had to buy something when you saw it, otherwise it would be gone.  There were few opportunities to make a second pass through the halls.

I know a number of people who preferred the "shotgun start", and even more that preferred the two day show.  IMHO, the character of the show changed shortly after it was changed to three days.

Certainly true ... the character of the Meet changed when it went to three days.

I don't mind the three-day Meet because I have much more time to see "everything".  Then again, the pressure of getting to all the halls in two days provided a special, memorable challenge.

I remember when Neil set up the HORDE layout. I was standing outside the tent as they were setting it up. Neil was having some issues with a steam engine. I think he was trying to get the smoke and sound to work. I didn’t recognize Neil not having seen him in over 25 years.

I motioned to a guy standing next to this guy in all black having trouble with the engine. He came over to me and I said “try reset”. He went back to the other guy and a minute later he was running the engine.

He came back over to me and said “Neil would like to meet you”. He told me to stop back in the afternoon. He asked me if they could do anything for me and I said I had some things I’d like to get signed. He said Neil would be pleased to do that. I went back in the afternoon and had a nice conversation with Neil about TMCC and he signed every thing I had including the Lionel dealer promotional TMCC tractor and trailer.

The Giant Supermarket is still there, at least it was last October. I miss the AOL BBQ and dinners at the Viking Club along with all of our friends who are no longer with us.

We still have dinner Thursday and Friday with a number of our AOL friends from around the country.

I attended my first York in 1995 in April and have kept every member badge.

Neil who?

eddie g posted:

Neil who?

Young, who else!

He also came to the AOL BBQ on the Fairgrounds one year we have a photo of him having a beer. I think it was a Rolling Rock.

One year he came in his tour bus and we got to take a tour of it. A guy named Jonn Kitterman, afilated with Lionel at the time was the driver and we were friends with him and he took us on the tour. It was kind of neat to see.

I also miss the bandit meets. 

C W Burfle posted:

 

I know a number of people who preferred the two day show.  IMHO, the character of the show changed shortly after it was changed to three days.

Two days? Are you saying the dealers stayed to 5 pm or later on Saturday?

Two days? Are you saying the dealers stayed to 5 pm or later on Saturday?

I guess you aren't familiar with what the show hours were.

Joe Hohmann posted:

C W Burfle posted:

 

I know a number of people who preferred the two day show.  IMHO, the character of the show changed shortly after it was changed to three days.

Two days? Are you saying the dealers stayed to 5 pm or later on Saturday?

No, they did not. I liked the two-day event myself, BUT primarily because the earlier days in York week could be spent visiting the numerous "bandit meet" events at various hotels and other venues in the immediate area. Those several days earlier in the week were a whole lot of fun, not to mention good exercise since some of them were outdoors. Those banditmeets pretty much whithered and even died altogether when the Eastern Division changed things to a three-day fairgrounds meet. There still are a couple or three around (maybe even more), but ALL are shells of their former selves.

laz1957 posted:

S & W Parts Supply in Purple Hall

And the lovely voice of the announcer lady saying to follow the direction arrows in the Halls.

I think you're talking about Bill Harrison.  He usually sets up at the old Sheraton in the corner closest to the main entrance 

Allan, You need to come a day or two early and take in the Wyndham meet.

The bandit meet at the former Holidome was very busy a year or two ago. Haven’t come early since then. 

irish rifle posted:

Also Beth Marshall and the Public Delivery Track. With Beth's exit from York, the Brown Hall closed.

What ever happened to Beth?

Her home base is on the west coast and that is where she is 

Joe Hohmann posted:

C W Burfle posted:

 

I know a number of people who preferred the two day show.  IMHO, the character of the show changed shortly after it was changed to three days.

Two days? Are you saying the dealers stayed to 5 pm or later on Saturday?

Heck no!  The meet was effectively over at noon on Saturday.  Dealers started packing about then.

George

Moonson posted:

Thank you, George. Thank you very much.

FrankM

You're welcome.

George

dkdkrd posted:

Dunno what his official name was, but we called him 'Mr. Shakey'.....the lifesize figure in the conductor's uniform that stood at one corner of the Scenic Express booth.  The ol' geezer had the shakes and held a pan for 'tips'. 

I 'spect he lost his mojo somewhere along the line and was retired.  Or, maybe the fairground latrine attendants felt he was too competitive for the tips and had him....'dispatched'???

Poor guy.....they should have at least given him a stool to sit on for those long show hours.

Worse yet?......I'm starting to identify with the guy's attributes, too!  (NOT an offer to substitute, mind you!!!)

KD

Isn't he greeting people  at the NJ Highrailers club now? He has been there for several years!

C W Burfle posted:

Two days? Are you saying the dealers stayed to 5 pm or later on Saturday?

I guess you aren't familiar with what the show hours were.

You are correct, before the 3-day show, I was never there on a Saturday. Thank you for your non-answer.

Joe Hohmann posted:

C W Burfle posted:

Two days? Are you saying the dealers stayed to 5 pm or later on Saturday?

I guess you aren't familiar with what the show hours were.

You are correct, before the 3-day show, I was never there on a Saturday. Thank you for your non-answer.

I thought you were being wise. You did not ask what the Saturday hours were. Can't really tell on a chat board. If I recall correctly, the show offically ended at 2:00 PM on Saturday. The show was held on Friday and Saturday. That is two days.

When they opened the dealer halls to the public they extended the Saturday hours to 4 PM. I’m usually gone by then so I don’t know how many of them stay til then.

WaynePA posted:

When they opened the dealer halls to the public they extended the Saturday hours to 4 PM. I’m usually gone by then so I don’t know how many of them stay til then.

Very few.  One last meet near a roll up door was apparently gone right around noon!   Not just packing up at noon, gone by noon!

-Dave

I REALLY MISS going to York. I just like the atmosphere the friends, and most of all the new items and ideas. I always came away with at least 5 or 6 ideas to add to my layout. Probably will not make it this April, but I need to plan on going in October. Also, I do enjoy all of the photos that you all take and post for us here at home.