York in one day?

I always do the member halls first. That is the best place to fine some good deals and you will have a good chance finding that one item you don't know you need till you see it. I go on Thursday and Fridays, If I only had one day to go It would be Friday. On Thursday the member halls are open from 12:00 to 5:00. On Friday they are open from 9:00 to 5:00. You really need two days there!

Have fun and good luck.

 

Cash is king in the member halls. Most dealers will take a card but again, cash is king. I take a certain amount out before I leave home and say "once its gone, I'm done". That has and hasn't worked at times..... As for the ATMs, I've ALWAYS seen them empty by Friday morning and never reloaded. Be prepared. Bring more than you think you'll need. You can re-deposit it when you get home. 

 

You'll find newer stuff in the dealer halls (brown, purple, orange) and a mix of everything everywhere else. 

 

Check out Clem's York Primer HERE

 

I'm lucky to live about 2 hours south of York just outside Washington. I do a (long) day trip on Friday leaving in the wee hours of the morning and returning well after dark. I've done, and will continue to do York in a day. I usually make it into every building twice. I move fast with a stop for lunch and the OGR forum meeting. Enjoy yourself!

In my experience, most dealers, as in table holders in the dealer halls, will take a credit card. Most member table holders, those in the non-dealer halls, do not take credit cards. And many are hesitant to take a check.

 

Enjoy the show.

I have never known anyone to be hesitant to take my check in the collector halls.  

 

York starts on Monday and ends on Saturday.

quote:

I never known anyone to be hesitant to take my check in the collector halls.

 

You must have an honest face.

Yes, you can do the show in one day. I've done it a few times on a Thursday between noon and 6pm. However, if you have a long "buy" list, you will need more time. Now the question is "Thursday or Friday?" Although Friday will offer you 3 more hours, Thursday gives you a better shot at the great "finds". I can think of a number of great finds I've gotten in the Orange Hall within the first 2 hours on a Thursday. For a new person, start in the Orange Hall (major train companies, major scenic suppliers, some vintage stuff as well). The other halls are great for locating stuff from your list, but for me, they tend to be row after row of "same all, same all".

Since the Meet starts at noon on Thursday, you would restrict your time if this is the only day you would attend. Friday it starts at 9:00 AM. As far as where to go first, depends on what you are looking for primarily. For us, we go first to the Orange Hall to see the manufactures and dealers as our preferences are the modern era. You can make all of the Halls in one day if you move fairly quickly.

 

In any event, you will have one of the best train days you have ever had by attending the York Meet.

Well at 62 I need 2 days to cover everything some twice.  Friday is crowded and moving through the halls is slow. I go for all three days but definitely need 2.  Take your cash!!!  as others have said, cash talks.  I find if I hold in my hand what I am willing to pay for an item I usually get it.  It is tons of fun!!.  You will have a blast.

I can do it in one day, getting through all the halls twice. That is with me (at age 24) going from 9 to about 6, only stopping for lunch during the OGR Grandstand meet. Then I get through most of the halls twice.

 

 

Historically, since 1985, I have been through every hall twice on Friday...and until

recently, once on Thursday and once on Sat. I skipped Sat. this last time because

there was nothing I wanted to go back and look at or negotiate for.  I think I may

have only hit all the halls once, much more leisurely on this past Friday.  Obviously,

the dealers need to bring much more appealing stuff.  (for what it is worth, I

usually have the icecream for lunch between the blue and silver halls...saves time)

I went to my first York meet in October and was only able to go on Friday. Because of time constraints, I didn't arrive until 2 so I had to move very fast to get through all the member halls. I'm planning on going again in April but with more time. If I had to do one day over again, I would probably do Friday since everything opens at 9 but make sure I was there when it started. It was a whirlwind and I had to move very fast this past time. 

BURF, I'm sure you know my face. I won't be going to many more Yorks. it  would be nice to meet you someday before the end.

Heck Eddie you easily got 20 more Yorks in you. You cover it better than many guys half your age

I've done York in a day several times due to other commitments.  I always go on Thursday so I can go to the Thursday get together.   I agree the best place to start is the Orange Hall.

-Greg

Very good question, Carl!  Great answers from those who have been there!

 

I have never been there either, and know I could only justify a one day trip too.  No hotel bill, please.  "All knowing Google" tells me York is just a hair over 4 hours from my home.  Doable in one day, especially if I find some of the Pittsburgh area guys to meet up with an hour into my trip at Monroeville.  When driving my bad knee locks up, so I have to get out of the car often.  If someone else drives, I can rock and roll. ;-)

 

I am just soaking in the comments, but won't be going this spring.  I am missing enough work with 2 operations for me and one for my wife this winter.  At 58, I can get around as well as anyone else my age, so I can make the most of the time there.  I love reading the reports and PHOTOs from everyone who goes.

 

Maybe I will see YOU there this fall!  :-)

I have to do it in a day this Spring.....I have a wedding to go to......

 

I will be coming up late Weds night....I figure to roam the halls from noon to 6...Have dinner at Tuesdays.....and be on the road by 7:30 latest (just under 4 hours to central VA).

 

I suspect I will spend most of my time in Orange/Brown/Purple, with a look at the layouts, if any.

 

Because of my time constraints, it will be important to have a list of what I need, and where to find it.......6 hrs, but it will still be fun!

 

Peter

 

Friday is the best day, you should be able to do it in one day and see it all. Most importantly is how far is your trip to York. Best bet is to allocate the extra $100 or so and find a room.

As you are into PW start in the member halls but allocate dome time for the purple and Orange halls as well

Enjoy

My first three Yorks were one-day trips, Friday-only.  The first two I drove there and back home the same day (4 hours each way).  One day at York is better than no days at York by orders of magnitude.

 

If I had to choose between Thursday and Friday, I'd go Friday unless I was on the hunt for something really rare.  You may miss some "bargains" if you go only on a Friday, but I had no trouble finding bargains on Fridays, and this past York, I even found some on Saturday.  You will never miss what you weren't there to see in the first place.  The only bargains I ever missed out on are the ones I saw, passed up, and then turned around to go back only to find them gone.

 

Andy

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday is the best day.