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