eddie g posted:Please NO snow storm.
Doesn't snow in New England anymore. At best, it "slushes" !
SJC posted:I'm planning on making the trek from Washington DC for this show, first time. The "cover story" is that I'm visiting my sister in Boston! LOL!
IF you do, when You get to the NJ, Get off of I95! Take I280 to the NYS Thruway East. Cross the Hudson River at the Tappan Z. Stay right to the Saw Mill River Parkway North [WATCH out for the Three Lights]. Mege Onto 684 N then take 84 East to Hartford, CT and finally to I91 North.
Your GPS Will direct you to I 95 all the way up and most of that way will be nasty truck traffic, Numerous and expensive tolls, and mostly traffic jams.
prrhorseshoecurve posted:SJC posted:I'm planning on making the trek from Washington DC for this show, first time. The "cover story" is that I'm visiting my sister in Boston! LOL!
IF you do, when You get to the NJ, Get off of I95! Take I280 to the NYS Thruway East. Cross the Hudson River at the Tappan Z. Stay right to the Saw Mill River Parkway North [WATCH out for the Three Lights]. Mege Onto 684 N then take 84 East to Hartford, CT and finally to I91 North.
Your GPS Will direct you to I 95 all the way up and most of that way will be nasty truck traffic, Numerous and expensive tolls, and mostly traffic jams.
Thanks....but I'm flying up for the weekend. Most certainly will not do that drive at all!
Holy mackerel. I looked at the participants and I am overwhelmed. This meet is huge. I would love to attend but 6 hour drive is a little too far for me. I could see this being more fun than York.
Believe me York is more fun if you are into pre & post war O Gauge.
I’m sorry but those who think o gauge is less than 20% of the entire show are nuts. Yes, every scale is represented and yes mostly HO but there’s o gauge to be found in ever building, all 4. So I would say a third at least maybe more. Here’s a list of o gauge vendors at the show.
Amato’s
charlesRo
B and F hobbies
Grzyboski Train Store
Kadee
Lionel
AtlasO
MTH
Ross switches
Pioneer hobbies(my local hobby shop)
mega steam smoke fluid
trainworld
trainz
Zstuff
Many individual sellers, to many to list, one that I always visit has a large selection of Weaver rolling stock in the Mallory building. A few post war parts sellers, lots of post war in the Young building where Ross is. So if you think 20% you’re not looking hard enough. Yes it’s not York but nothing is like York so for the love of God stop comparing this show to York
If you research Amherst Train Show, you will see many photos that I and others have taken.
I have been taking photos of vendors or layouts for the past several years. Enjoy.
DMASSO posted:If you research Amherst Train Show, you will see many photos that I and others have taken.
I have been taking photos of vendors or layouts for the past several years. Enjoy.
Hey Don since it’s too far to attend now that I’m in Florida I’m looking forward to seeing your pictures.
Thanks Doug. Happy New Year.
Gary, Charles Ro. Atlas, Grzyboski, Zstuff, kadee, Lionel, Ross & others on your list don't bring any pre or postwar to Springfield. 1900-1969
Time for a dumb question. If this meet is only 20-25% O Guage, why has Lionel elected to cover this two day event and blows off York in the Spring? Probably more a rhetorical question.
Bottom line is if the show is close enough for you to drive to it's worth checking out. The big vendors bring newer stuff but there are some private tables that might have some pre and post war if that's what your after. If you only are interested in post war than York is probably your best bet in the member halls or some smaller local shows with folks wanting to sell some older trains. The experience of the show itself is worth the trip so long as we don't have a blizzard! 
Alabama Joe posted:Time for a dumb question. If this meet is only 20-25% O Guage, why has Lionel elected to cover this two day event and blows off York in the Spring? Probably more a rhetorical question.
Bigger diverse crowd/demographic. Attendance averages 30000 35000 for the two days vs 9000 10000 for York.
Not to mention a lot of families and kids to promote model railroading for future generations. The Lionel booth has a lot of kids and makes the public aware of several product lines Lionel imports.
The attendance is getting bigger & bigger 30,000 to 35,000. I believe it is closer to 20,000.
Amherst Train Show is worth going to. I missed last year but went at least 6 years in a row before that, planning on going this year. I walk through the whole show at least 3 times. One year I made quite a few trips out to my truck with items I bought. If you see something it might not be there next time through. Sunday afternoon you might get a better deal. The layouts are great also.
romiller49 posted:Holy mackerel. I looked at the participants and I am overwhelmed. This meet is huge. I would love to attend but 6 hour drive is a little too far for me. I could see this being more fun than York.
That's why you book a hotel stay in West Springfield, Ma and make it a weekend!
My tickets came in the mail today. The tickets are pink wrist bands.
Same here with the snow. If it snows, no go.
A little north of Boston and been the last two years and looking forward to this year's show as long as it doesn't snow.
Don't forget Woodland Scenics and Scenic Express who usually have large displays and a lot of non-specific vendors like Mianne and others.
The MGM casino opened a few months ago in downtown Springfield, so that may be an option for a place to stay, eat and make a little money to pay for more train stuff - hopefully !
eddie g posted:The attendance is getting bigger & bigger 30,000 to 35,000. I believe it is closer to 20,000.
Around 20,000. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I was at red rose just the other day. Fantastic meal as alway and I walked around the casino. Very nice. Yes lots of options for restaurants and hotels. As for snow. If it does snow, and you guys can’t make it, that’s just more for me.
superwarp1 posted:eddie g posted:The attendance is getting bigger & bigger 30,000 to 35,000. I believe it is closer to 20,000.
Around 20,000. Sometimes more, sometimes less. I was at red rose just the other day. Fantastic meal as alway and I walked around the casino. Very nice. Yes lots of options for restaurants and hotels. As for snow. If it does snow, and you guys can’t make it, that’s just more for me.
We've been going for as long as I can remember. Its gotten so crowded! We both remember the days we used to go and be able to park right near the buildings (only two back then) and walk around freely without bumping into people. That's changed so much through the years. After last year, we both said we were contemplating not going again because it was so crowded.
Of course we will be there again this year..... 😆
Yes, it is so crowded no one goes there anymore.
This shows also offers a good selection of items pertaining to prototype railroading such as books, videos, photos and memorabilia for those of us who are so inclined.
eddie g posted:Yes, it is so crowded no one goes there anymore.
With apologies to Yogi ! 
Do you need to buy tickets in advance or can you buy them at the door?
Either. At the door works fine. As big as the crowds are, seems like there's never a long wait to buy them at the show.
I substituted the Big E Show for York. In my opinion, the Big E is for model railroaders and York is for train collectors. Wear comfortable shoes for the Big E.
I expect to be there...…….weather permitting.
John
Hoping for nice weather. I'll be there Saturday and Sunday. Already have the pre purchased tickets in the glove box.
Coming aboard the Central Vermont NRHS bus! See y'all there!
Jon 
KOOLjock1 posted:Coming aboard the Central Vermont NRHS bus! See y'all there!
Jon
First time in a few years?
At least 10!
Jon
Is O Gauge RR going to be at the show?
eddie g posted:Is O Gauge RR going to be at the show?
No, they gave up on the show a couple of years ago.
Looking forward to it. Is there going to be an OGR group/photo meet? How about dinner at Red Rose Pizzeria - which day?
MELGAR
How about dinner Friday night at the Olive Garden?
eddie g posted:How about dinner Friday night at the Olive Garden?
I arrive on Saturday morning and come back again on Sunday.
MELGAR
Hi Mellgar, And a belated Happy New Year to you'.. Is the Big E train show handicap accessible? Please let me know'..Thanks...
Maybe I could ride along with you, and share expenses...
The show is definitely handicap accessible. Every year I see people using wheelchairs at the show.
The show uses 4 buildings of the fairgrounds and there are covered walkways between the buildings. The fiargrounds has parking for those with handicap plates near the building entrances.
