York Bandit Meets

I was never a BIG fan of the bandit meets, but if you are traveling a long distance it may be worth the longer stay starting Wednesday. I think these meets have gained a idealized legend (like K-Line and Lionel Super O track) over time, earned or not. The fire hall meets are very worthwhile for AF "S" fans, however.

Now we will hear from the folks who blame the TCA Meet opening on Thursday for the downfall of bandit meets.

While they are considerably smaller than they once were, so I am told, they are still worth attending. The Holidome is still bigger than most any local meet we have around here. You might even find that elusive item you are looking for at the small venues. I know I have.

I usually attend Wednesdays but last October I was there early Tuesday and saw some really hard to find items at resonable prices. If you are looking for rare items the earlier in the week the better. Also check the forecast. Cold, rain, wind will pretty much close down all the outdoor sellers.

 

Pete

 

To each their own, but for me there's a limit to how many tables of trains I can look at before my brain goes numb.  I've been to a few of the bandit meets from time to time, but I reach overload pretty quickly.  When I can add a couple of days to the trip, I find it more enjoyable to visit the many train attractions in Strasburg, and visit the layout in Red Lion.

AT THE WYNDHAM GARDEN, FORMERLY THE HOLIDAY INN CONFERENCE CENTER  - AKA THE HOLIDOME on Wednesday at the last meet there was a good turnout even with the rain we had that day and it was held in conference rooms and corridors as well as outside. It was a mix of vendors.

For many years, I included the extra day in the trip for them, but not now. I prefer going to the TCA Museum presentations on Wednesday. I think the Bandit Meets are open on Tuesday, but I now pass on them. More than enough at the York Meet Halls for me. Most of the vendors move over there anyway.

It been a while since I've been to a bandit meet. When I did attend, I think I always made some purchases. On the other hand, I'd see the same vendors with the same goods at the official show itself. The advantage of seeing the stuff at the bandit meet was "first choice".
In the end, I decided that the extra cost, and the extra day off from work, as well as leaving my wife to do all the family stuff for an extra day wasn't worth it.

I leave home early Thursday morning for my 6 - 6.5 hour drive, and get to the show in time for the noon opening. Then leave the show Friday around noon for the trip back.

 

I haven't been to York in several years but what I remember about the bandit meets was two things:

1. There was a lot of European stuff at the bandit meets that I never saw inside the official meet - prewar Marklin 0 gauge, that sort of thing. I wasn't in the market, but it was fascinating to look at.

2. There were some vendors and bargains that didn't show up at the regular meet. I talked to one vendor who said that the official meet was too expensive and rule-bound for his liking, but he did great at the bandit meet. This was a big shop from the Midwest, he had a ton of good quality Lionel rolling stock at good prices and he was blowing out some big steam for a couple of hundred less than anybody else. 

There is still quite a lot of European stuff at the Wyndham formally the Holiday Inn. Years ago there was a fellow from Chicago that had a lot of European inside at the Billy Budd, Holiday inn & now a Days Inn. I haven't seen him in years.

It's sort of like Lucille in her Merry Oldsmobile. She ain't there much anymore.

 

Gerry

 

The spring Bandit meets always fall around my birthday which I use as an excuse to get out and add to the collection.

 

Based on recent years, is Tuesday or Wednesday better?  It seems like on Wednesday they were packing up early to get over to the show, but not sure if everyone is set up as early as Tuesday.

Six/half a dozen.

 

Richie

Some of it is weather dependent. Current forecast shows chance of showers on Wednesday. If that holds true, Tuesday will be better. Good weather both days and give the nod to Wednesday.

 

Pete

If it's anything like the ones at the DuPage show each moth, they vary a lot.  One month someone will have fabulous bargains and the next month it will be mostly junk.  It is fun though to browse them to see what you can find.

 

Art

We want to save our brains for the real show too.  We were planing to go to the B&O museum on Wednesday

Went to Bandit meets today (Tuesday).  The old Holiday Inn(Wyndham Gardens) meet was the only one I saw going on outside, but they had alot of nice selection and pretty good prices especially outside.

 

I saw lots of post-war and a fair amount of newer and new stuff.  Also alot of Plasticville out there this year, and pre-war in some amounts.  On Tuesday the weather was beautiful and so there were probably four rows of tables, maybe 20-30 tables outside which was pretty much matching to previous years.

 

Most dealers were looking to bargain and sell, with a few holding to high prices.  

 

Prices seemed overall about average for the meet that I've seen in previous years, so no inflation at least in the last several years.

 

I think the Bandit meets are good to support especially for folks that don't attend the full TCA meet including locals like myself.

 

 

Thanks for the brief report.  I can't believe there are no other reports on the bandit meets.  Lets hear some more.  Anyone?

 

Bill

The Days Inn looked about the same as the last couple of years, not many people there though.  Drove by the Best Western and did not see any activity.  The Wyndham Gardens had two dozen or more tables in the parking lot, and inside looked like the tables were full.  Again, not a lot of buyers.  Many sellers (inside and out) were packing up by noon.  The rain and wind came in fast about 1pm and caught some sellers in the parking lot still trying to quickly pack up their stuff.  

 

Lots of pre- and post-war stuff at these places.  Only a half dozen total sellers with newer items, and few command locos overall.  May pass on these meets next year.

If you attend infrequently as I have, and from a distance (me from FL),  I think it is quite worth the extra time.   I went to the Holiday Inn meet albeit briefly and met up with a friend from our online group so a good day.

 

Opinions vary though as they say......

 

Mark

Just checked out the Fire Hall.  Small venue but all tables had stuff on them. Clem's York guide stated this was mostly S gauge, but I saw about half ( or more) O gauge.  Post war and newer but little recent items.

 

I usually find something at these meets; last year it was a 3rd Rail engine and the year before some Weaver baggage cars.  Nothing this year.

Ron:

 

Thanks for the reports.  Several years ago I stopped going to the bandit meets because that requires at least one extra night’s lodging, meals, etc. but I may give them a new try in October. 

 

Bill

We went to the Bandit meets and were disappointed. Then we head to the B&O museum, it was worth the drive

I hit all the bandit meets, starting early Monday, and thought they were all slim

pickin's and sparse, including outdoors at the Holidome.  Both the Flyer dedicated

firehall and the other were filled, but not so at the Billy Budd or outside Holidome,

which seemed to have a lot of open spaces.  Way past time for me to cut back on

my attendance, as others have done.  It is no longer the Billy Budd with a tent

set up at the back of the lot.

Stopped by Billy Budd around 3pm Wednesday.  Everyone was packing up.