A very kind offer sir, I expect you will get a lot of visitors.

Thanks Bobby. The East Coast guys, like Alex M and Marty F don't really need an excuse to have the forum guys over. It's a little tougher out here in "no man's land".

Very Nice offer Elliot !  But I will be at the Expo both days. Please look me up at the Menards Booth. It will be great to meet you !  I'm 2 hours just south of you in Iowa... Bob..

Thanks Bob. That's why I said 6:30, so you'd have a chance to make the hour drive after the doors close at 5:00. You could also stop by on your way home if you're taking 94 to 35. I'll be home Sunday night. I'm going early Saturday, then heading home to get set up. I'll definitely stop by the booth to say hi.

Paul says he's in.

That is a tremendously generous offer! 

We almost always make it to Trainfest in Milwaukee. How does the Eau Claire show compare?

My pleasure Pete. As for the show, I have no idea, because this is the first time for this one. It sounds like it should good.

Do they have a list of exhibitors at the show?  I search the internet but didn't find much.  Are there train dealers in the area to stop and visit?  I did find one in Eau Claire, it is a five hour drive, but if we find that one thing or great idea the drive would be worth it. 

rboatertoo posted:

Do they have a list of exhibitors at the show?  I search the internet but didn't find much.  Are there train dealers in the area to stop and visit?  I did find one in Eau Claire, it is a five hour drive, but if we find that one thing or great idea the drive would be worth it. 

Is this guy the organizer?

http://www.buzzfile.com/busine...cs-Plus-715-838-8858

Jim, I wish I knew more. I had a link posted, but the powers that be took it out, then moved this over to the announcements forum.

I looked at the website, but didn't see much either. I actually heard about this show from an HO buddy of mine who does layout salvage and buys mostly used HO and N for resale. He's going to have 12 tables  (the max). He also liked the fact that their terms were pretty easygoing, vendors could take their time with tear down. Looks like the space is huge, but what it's going to be filled with?

Advance tickets are available at Menards now. Forum member Paul2 has his already, and is willing to make the trip from the Cleveland area. Chicago is just half that distance. Even if the show isn't up to DuPage standards, you have my invitation, plus a few nice train related activities here in the Twin Cities. You could really make a decent trip of it.

UPDATE: We are now just over six weeks away from the show date. They have a pretty long list of vendors and exhibitors on the website now. Most notable for this group perhaps is Bachmann and of course Menards. This is an all scale show, and not exclusively three rail.

Whether this show is worth attending, is something each person will have to decide for himself, depending on what in this hobby interests you.

Google: International Toy Train Expo

 Just for your info, as of today, there are 49 vendors and 37 exhibitors with some having over ten or more tables  . There will be lots to see with all scales represented. Hope to see you there, I'll be in the Menards booth and layout area  along with Mark from Menards and his crew ... Bob

I sure am pumped about my drive over. First of all .. Wisconsin sure is beautiful in the summer season. 

I look forward to seeing my friends. I LOVE the Menards product. In our local store the Menards "0" Gauge buildings are purely seasonal, often with limited selection. Our smaller retail train dealers have evaporated off the scene. The only way to see new product is to make a journey to the bigger layout exhibits. Well, I guess I talked myself into this. 

Come by, introduce yourself or give a friendly handshake. Kind wishes.   

Yeah Bob, I know at least three of the vendors on the list. One of them, was the one who told me about the show in the first place. See you at the booth.

While shopping at local Menards, we saw a sign on a desk telling all about this show (apparently Menards printed plac cards for the stores to put out to drum up show traffic.)  Is this first annual show or is it yearly?  Being this would be a 3 hour drive one way to Eau Clair, would hate to do it and be disappointed if predominately HO and N and little third rail.

Anyway the associate mentioned that Mr Menard is really into trains in a big way.  So wondered if there are pictures of his layout or he prefers to not disclose for security.

rrman posted:

While shopping at local Menards, we saw a sign on a desk telling all about this show (apparently Menards printed plac cards for the stores to put out to drum up show traffic.)  Is this first annual show or is it yearly?  Being this would be a 3 hour drive one way to Eau Clair, would hate to do it and be disappointed if predominately HO and N and little third rail.

Anyway the associate mentioned that Mr Menard is really into trains in a big way.  So wondered if there are pictures of his layout or he prefers to not disclose for security.

There will be all scales at the show. I know several dealers that will be there.

RRman - My guess is that it's the first annual. Depending on the success, I would expect there to be one next year. So there is no track record to base anything on. It is an any scale show, but there will be some 3 rail. I know 4 vendors, and three of them do 3 rail. The other is primarily HO and N. All tables are sold out.

Merlin from Caboose Stop is making he trip. Curious to see what he brings.

My long time acquaintance John Cartwright does pen and ink drawings of railroad depots in the five state area (MN, WI, IA, SD and ND). If he hasn't done them all yet, he's very close. I have over a dozen of his pieces hanging in my hallway. The art itself is fairly inexpensive, can't say the same about the framing, but I like to get a little fancy with it.

Even if the show isn't quite what you want, you would still have my offer of the picnic dinner and my layout, plus the other forum members to meet, on Saturday night. I recommend staying overnight in Hudson, WI, close to my place. That way, you're an hour closer to home. Add in a stop at the Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum along the way, and it's a pretty solid train weekend.

Give it some thought.

I’ll prolly go with my dad. I know a few of the exhibitors and vendors. 

Merlins a great vendor. He’s at a lot of the shows. I’m sure he’ll bring a lot of three rail and a smattering of N and a sel3ction of HO like he does at the other local shows.

Any suggestions about where to stay in Eau Claire area? We will be staying Sunday night then head back on Monday. Also any good cheese producers to buy fresh cheese curds from?

Thanks, Frank

Hi Frank, I'm not very well versed with things in Eau Claire, mainly because I never get off the freeway, except maybe for gas, when I go that way. If you were going to accept my invitation to the open house/ picnic Saturday evening, I would recommend staying closer to the house in Hudson, WI, but that's almost an hour west of Eau Claire.

The only cheese curds I know by name are from Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery. I think you can find them all over the state in grocery stores and cheese shops. They are also just under an hour west of Eau Claire. They are excellent! Great tooth squeak.

franktrain posted:

Any suggestions about where to stay in Eau Claire area? We will be staying Sunday night then head back on Monday. Also any good cheese producers to buy fresh cheese curds from?

Thanks, Frank

Hi Frank,

There are a bunch of hotels/motels in the area but I also know there is a music festival on the same weekend as the train show, so you may be fighting for a room. There are quite a few hotels in Menomonie (WI), and it's only about 20 minutes from the Chippewa Valley Expo Center. If you take Elliot up on his generous offer, there are also several hotels along I-94.

This is a good opportunity for me to remind folks that we do have primitive camping directly adjacent to the train show. It is first come first serve but anyone is welcome to stay there!

As for my take on the cheese curds, Ellsworth curds are exceptional but I am partial to Cady Cheese in Spring Valley. Those stops are a bit of a hike from Eau Claire, so if you are looking for something in Eau Claire, the Nelson Cheese Factory is good too!

-Mark the Menards Train Guy

Thanks everyone for the information especially about the music fest. We'll keep or eyes open for those cheese curds and do some sampling. 

Frank