Who is planning on attending the March meet in Chicago this year

I agree, it was a great show with a good crowd.  Had the pleasure of meeting many forum members there which was a treat.  A lot of great bargains on cars too.   My buddy bought two new Atlas freight cars for $20 each as soon as we walked in.  I bought two new Atlas 40 Ft steel reefers, a Milwaukee Rd and a Rock Island, for $25 each.  Saw Steve Nelson and his wife, Scott Mann, all my favorite vendors, and Hot Water, John Sethian, Matt Makins, to name a few I remember.  

Looking forward to layout tours this afternoon in DeKalb and Rockford.  Another great show!

Art 

Oh, I forgot to mention. In my opinion, you can see the sights in Chicago any time, but the layout tours are a fabulous opportunity to see some great layouts. Everyone I have visited I learn something from that I can use. Whether it is the scenery, the track plan, the operating session, the weathering, or something else, they have all been very much worth your time to see. And the people are as nice as any you will ever meet in my view. You always hear about Southern Hospitality, well you can't beat Midwestern Hospitality either. Try it, you will like it.

Art

Awe thanks Art. 

Art

Nice meeting you as well!

We're on the way back home to Memphis. The Chicago show was great. I didn't sale anything but I picked up some nice 2 rail cars that will on become 3 rail .

Mr. Muffin was there and we confirmed all of my orders. I enjoyed seeing him again.

Atlas was a no show.

Here is a picture of the trading hall.

Thanks,

Richard

Did Golden Gate Depot have the Harriman samples on display?  If so, photos please?

86TA355SR posted:

Did Golden Gate Depot have the Harriman samples on display?  If so, photos please?

No. They are not shipped yet.

Saw two Duluth and Missabe Range brass cabooses there but neither were the desired version with side door.  Hard to tell looking down from the top at the roof, but l got snarled at for tipping one over to see the side, and missing door. Person may not be aware that there are two versions. Didn't see any old kits of interest, such as Train Craft, or ??? Another show like York that occurs too few times a year.

I had a great time, even though my left leg gave me heck walking. Found a US Hobbies SD9 custom paint CB&Q in excellent condition for $265.00. Always wanted this loco. If I could walk I would be back on Sunday morning.

Darn, all the smart phone photo functions were disabled at the show; i.e. NO PHOTOS!!!

Lame.

Pingman posted:

Darn, all the smart phone photo functions were disabled at the show; i.e. NO PHOTOS!!!

Lame.

Not true. Saw all sorts of folks taking photos, especially of the Sunset/3rd Rail advanced sample of the CB&Q E8A, which Scott Mann brought with him from China.

Hot Water posted:

Not true. Saw all sorts of folks taking photos, especially of the Sunset/3rd Rail advanced sample of the CB&Q E8A, which Scott Mann brought with him from China.

That E8A looked amazing.

Would love to see those Q late E's if anyone has pics. 

Did Key have any CZ pilot cars? 

Key did have a CZ car on display.  IMO the plated finish on the pilot model had a slight brass tinge. Within several feet of the Key booth was the Union Station Products table with a plastic ATSF Pullman Standard sleeper built from one of their kits.  It was spray painted with a metallic silver finish that in my opinion looked more like stainless steel than the finish on Key, AtlasO, or Sunset passenger cars.  If I were in the market for a stainless steel car I'd contact Union Station Products and find out what brand spray paint they used on their display model.

I should add that the show was fantastic - well run, well attended , lots of full tables with great deals - my thanks to Mike Hill and his family for putting on the show.     

Thanks Ed, I'm sure Key will get it right. Just wanted to see if they improved the prvious pilots. Any pics would be appreciated. 

Like to try different restaurants in area of attended shows. Heard about but didn't get to a breakfast place called Blueberry Hill? that l passed leaving,  a couple of blocks east of the hotel on Butterfield Rd. Anybody try that?

I took my son (6 1/2) with me. We were a little disappointed that there weren't more layouts on-site. We enjoyed the On30 in the front entrance and the operator "whistled" at him as we walked around the layout. There was a "John Allen timesaver" but no-one was operating it and another small shunting display with someone on their cell phone as we walked buy. Didn't buy anything other than a die-cast car.

AtoZ Lewis posted:

I took my son (6 1/2) with me. We were a little disappointed that there weren't more layouts on-site. We enjoyed the On30 in the front entrance and the operator "whistled" at him as we walked around the layout. There was a "John Allen timesaver" but no-one was operating it and another small shunting display with someone on their cell phone as we walked buy. Didn't buy anything other than a die-cast car.

As information, the March Meet is NOT an actual "Train Show", like those "World's Greatest Hobby Shows". Thus, there are no operating layouts for "show". The layout tours, i.e. open houses for the attendees, is how the folks attending this big O Scale sale, see operating layouts.

I had a great time meeting some of my nefarious fellow posters to this site.

Dick

Any pictures from 3rd Rail display of E-8 locomotives 

N&W Class J posted:

No way is the hobby dieing, I couldn't believe the crowd that was there at the opening...the room was packed.  It was a great day there!

Once again, another really GREAT meet.  Thanks to the Hill family and everyone who put hard work and sweat into it. 

Whether the March Meet, OSW, the Indy meet, the Strasburg shows, the roving National or any of the other fine shows there is no way this hobby is dying.  

As always, there were plenty of bargains to be had for buyers and as a seller it was a great meet for selling.  Much of our hobby is a niche market AND by the nature of it some of our toys are expensive.  It takes shows like this one to connect buyers and sellers.

AND shooting the bull with folks you see only once or twice a year makes it all worthwhile.  The best part.   A GREAT, GREAT meet and I can't wait for the next Strasburg show on April the 22nd which for me will be the next fun O scale meet.

Great show !!!  The "York"  of "O scale"  .   Wonderful selection of a wide variety of items ....found a hopper from the Delta Lines RR .   Looking forward to next year . The layout open houses in Rockford were  both outstanding ...wonderful hosts and beautiful layouts .   O scale seems alive and well .

Cheers Carey

Hot Water posted:

Pingman posted:

Darn, all the smart phone photo functions were disabled at the show; i.e. NO PHOTOS!!!

Lame.

Not true. Saw all sorts of folks taking photos, especially of the Sunset/3rd Rail advanced sample of the CB&Q E8A, which Scott Mann brought with him from China.

HW, just venting as we wait to see the photos from the show.

I'm hoping for some photos it's the only way I can get to these shows. I've got my fingers crossed someone will post something.

Thanks in advance.

Roo.

MR-150 posted:

Any pictures from 3rd Rail display of E-8 locomotives 

Probably not going to be many pics shown.  Scott does not like all the complaints that result from showing a sample.  Mostly about the paint, complaints about which, are carp, given the lighting and other factors of a well handled sample.

I'd be willing to bet the complainers are the ones who don't even buy models. I thought the E8 was beautiful and now I really want 2 so I'm trying very hard to get some. 

Don't feel bad,  I reserved 2 CB&Q E8s....in 3 rail....and then decided to tear down my old layout and switch to 2 rail.  Yep, I'm a genius.  Too bad I had forgotten about them until about a week ago.

N&W Class J posted:

Don't feel bad,  I reserved 2 CB&Q E8s....in 3 rail....and then decided to tear down my old layout and switch to 2 rail.  Yep, I'm a genius.  Too bad I had forgotten about them until about a week ago.

Shouldn't be a problem, Chris. I'm pretty sure that Scott has a "waiting list" of folks wanting to purchase the sold out E8 and E9 units (by the way, the CB&Q E9 units will have the correct plated stainless steel side panels), especially the CB&Q versions. I know I asked him for a CB&Q E8A model in 3-Rail after discussing the "sample". Scott was on his smart phone Friday evening and Saturday morning with his builder in China, discussing the "changes/improvements" I pointed out.

Chris, I'll take em off your hands if you're looking to get out of your reservation. 

Thanks for everyone stopping by to visit, and an extra special thanks to those that purchased stuff from me!

Hot Water posted:

Shouldn't be a problem, Chris. I'm pretty sure that Scott has a "waiting list" of folks wanting to purchase the sold out E8 and E9 units (by the way, the CB&Q E9 units will have the correct plated stainless steel side panels), especially the CB&Q versions. I know I asked him for a CB&Q E8A model in 3-Rail after discussing the "sample". Scott was on his smart phone Friday evening and Saturday morning with his builder in China, discussing the "changes/improvements" I pointed out.

Thanks for the info HW.  Updates and improvements being made right up to the end is what makes them a great company and highlights Scott's desire to put out the best product possible to his customers. 

Matt-Email sent.

Mike DeBerg posted:

Thanks for everyone stopping by to visit, and an extra special thanks to those that purchased stuff from me!

It was fun Mike and always a pleasure to talk with you....and thank you.

My grandson and I went yesterday to the meet, and drove over to three layout tours. Nice show, and incredible layouts. It was a completely new experience for him to see someone else's train layouts. Everyone was fantastic, and the little guy had a BALL running trains in "Hershey".

Chris, sold!!!!!

Matt Makens posted:

Chris, sold!!!!!

Sounds good.  Maybe someday I can find some 2 rail CB&Q E8's or E9's...doubtful.....but maybe someday.  I was eyeing this J from OMI at the show....another one that I let get away.  Yep...batting a thousand here.

     As usual the weekend went by too quickly.  The show was a good one, lots of nice stuff to drool over.   Bill Davis and his new lattice truss bridges were extremely tempting.....may consider one down the road.....  

      Yes, it was great to see old and familiar faces, including many from this forum!   There were many I probably missed as I was buzzing around there on both days trying to see as much as possible.  Did get to talk to a few folks (some of which knew me, and yet I didn't have a clue as to who they were...LOL),  from either this forum, or elsewhere......    picked up a few things from Mike at the show, and even lightened his load with one less Overland CN SD70M-2 to take home!    Thanks for the great deal Mike!   Brian Huang from Bloomington bought my two Atlas NS MP-15s I brought to sell.....Thank you Brian!       Looking forward to next year, already!

Don't worry about the J.  It found a good home in Rockford.

That's good, glad it did.  Enjoy it...

Some guys had so much fun at the March Meet they were still running trains when I got home from work.