The BIG E in West Springfield, MA. Jan. 26th & 27th.

I'll be there on Sunday at 2 PM with Melgar.

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'll be there on Sunday at 2 PM with Melgar.

So Sunday 2pm at Charles Ro? I will try to be there. What building is Charles Ro in?

CharlesRO is in the better living center

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

One more thing: it would be great for those Forum members like me attending on Sunday, January 27th, if there was a Forum get-together that day sometime after 2 PM, maybe for Pizza. Is that a possibility?

Arnold

Arnold, this is a great idea. I'm going to the Big E, but at this point I don't know if I'm going Saturday or Sunday. If I'm there Sunday, count me in--it would be great to meet you and everyone else. 

John

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the show.

Jeb

Jeb, are you selling product at the show? I'm running low on Coal Fired Steamer. Thanks to Marty Fitzhenry and Gunrunnerjohn, who have done PS3 upgrades for me, I'm going through a lot of it. 😀

John 

This should be set in stone by now.  NO SNOW is in the forecast.   But it will be cold, low to mid 20's

Hudson J1e posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'll be there on Sunday at 2 PM with Melgar.

So Sunday 2pm at Charles Ro? I will try to be there. What building is Charles Ro in?

A good idea is to print out the list of exhibitors and the layout map that's on the show website before you go, to familiarize yourself with the layout of the buildings and also to highlight what exhibitors you want to see and where they're located. It also makes getting around a lot easier and you can plan out a general "route" and avoid doubling back to buildings.

Richie C. posted:

Hudson J1e posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'll be there on Sunday at 2 PM with Melgar.

So Sunday 2pm at Charles Ro? I will try to be there. What building is Charles Ro in?

A good idea is to print out the list of exhibitors and the layout map that's on the show website before you go, to familiarize yourself with the layout of the buildings and also to highlight what exhibitors you want to see and where they're located. It also makes getting around a lot easier and you can plan out a general "route" and avoid doubling back to buildings.

 

Thank you. That’s good advice. 

Hudson J1e posted:

Richie C. posted:

Hudson J1e posted:

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'll be there on Sunday at 2 PM with Melgar.

So Sunday 2pm at Charles Ro? I will try to be there. What building is Charles Ro in?

A good idea is to print out the list of exhibitors and the layout map that's on the show website before you go, to familiarize yourself with the layout of the buildings and also to highlight what exhibitors you want to see and where they're located. It also makes getting around a lot easier and you can plan out a general "route" and avoid doubling back to buildings.

 

Thank you. That’s good advice. 

However, be careful of serendipity! I have found some my most interesting purchases at tables that were not on my list to visit.

Gary, Do any pre & postwar parts dealers set up at the show?   

Ed, you might  research the Big  dealer info list in each hall. You might be surprised.

 Jeanne and I will be coming in from Cape Cod on Saturday - as I read the comments on the Photo Op it looks like Saturday 2 p.m. at Charles Ro & possibly another Photo Op on Sunday - is this correct?

Mike

You are correct.

eddie g posted:

Gary, Do any pre & postwar parts dealers set up at the show?   

Yes, if I recall there’s one near CharlesRO.  But since I’m not looking for that stuff, I’m not sure how many.

Well it looks like the weather is going to be good for Friday & Saturday. I don't know about Sunday. We are going on Friday and staying over. If I were to go on Sat morning , I would have to leave around 5am....No thanks.

Yup.  Getting up at 5am.   Plan to be on the road at 5:30am Saturday.   3 hour trip.   Staying over Sat. night in Winsdor, CT.   Then back to the show on Sunday.     When I travel to York, I hit that road at 2:30am. (York is a  8.5 hour drive)    - For the Big E.  I get to sleep in!

I will be picked up in taunton 20 min from my house at 7:30 sharp by bus , and enjoy the ride , bus arrives at show about 9:30 am ,parks right by the entrance door ,tickets are handed out on the bus , we leave at 4:00 pm for home ,all for 45.00 bucks  techman

Greetings and salutations.  Normally a five hour drive from Midcoast Maine( hi Mike, John, Eddie)This year a buddy and neighbor  I usually attend with was not motivated  to go, first time in many years. Ok. Then my wife and I had some family/friend, plans/obligations in NYC. But if all works out Sunday morning (unexpected but fortunately within reason ) we will head north and stop in for an abbreviated  attendance  to see layouts and possibly, yes maybe ,  be there for a forum photo   At Charlie Ro.  About a 3 hour drive north! 

OK Arnold and Melgar, I am keeping my fingers crossed.

5 hour drive the rest of the way up Sunday  evening into the night. Glad to have Monday off.

leroof.

Hope to see you there LEROOF.

MELGAR

Nothing could be finer! Thanks Mel.

Unfortunately, plans have changed. Looking at my travel and work schedule for the next several weeks, something has to give, so I'm reluctantly scrapping my plans to go to Springfield. Next year for sure. In the meantime, I look forward to York and the small shows here in New England between now and then. Have a great time, everyone. 

John

John, when is the Augusta show?

Feb. 16

Show prep.  Working on my plan of attack.

Just watched the 6 PM weather forecast on New Haven WTNH Channel 8. Looks like satisfactory weather and no snow for the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show this weekend.

MELGAR

Melgar, Well another change of plans, we  won't travel to NYC this weekend. That's a relief!  We will be able to attend Big E Saturday. If still bearable to Susan( she has never attended the show)  and 2:00, we will head over to Charlie Roe to say Hi.

sorry Arnold, we can't be there Sunday.

leroof

And to all in this thread, safe travels and well wishes the entire weekend.

leroof

Ill be there only on Saturday, i haven't been to the show since 2016

Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I'll be there on Sunday at 2 PM with Melgar.

Sounds good! I will be at Charles Ro at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

I have arrived at my hotel. This time we are staying at the Marriott Residence inn in Chicopee Ma. A little bit farther from the show than West Springfield but so far much better service than what we had at West Springfield. See many of you at the show tomorrow morning!

Charter Bus with our Vermont contingent on our way!

Jon

Unfortunately, I had to scrap my plans to attend. My refrigerator crapped out and it is going to cost over $600 to repair. The darn electronics went bad. Sound familiar? Remember the good old days when refrigerators lasted 20 years? This one is only 3 years old. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great time. 

Hudson J1e posted:

Unfortunately, I had to scrap my plans to attend. My refrigerator crapped out and it is going to cost over $600 to repair. The darn electronics went bad. Sound familiar? Remember the good old days when refrigerators lasted 20 years? This one is only 3 years old. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great time. 

For that much money I would look at consumer reports and get a new one. At least s best buy recommendation.

Well I am here at the show. This year due to nice cool weather, this show is pretty packed. Lionel giving out free catalogs for 2019! Will post pics on monday. Someone is scratch building a Hell gate bridge in 1:87 scale. It's impressive as the o gauge one down in Washington DC.

This year's live steam engine is a narrow gauge saddle tanker

Hudson J1e posted:

Unfortunately, I had to scrap my plans to attend. My refrigerator crapped out and it is going to cost over $600 to repair. The darn electronics went bad. Sound familiar? Remember the good old days when refrigerators lasted 20 years? This one is only 3 years old. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great time. 

I feel your pain.  The storms during the week blew some shingles off my roof which I learned about Thursday afternoon when my wife noticed a wet ceiling in our bedroom closet.  Sure enough I found them in our backyard.   So instead of heading to Springfield yesterday morning I was up on my roof assesing the damage which I fixed with a friend today.   Looking forward to next year already.

I hope everyone has a great time at the show!

-Greg

Great show and great crowd for Saturday and yes spent some money on supplies! No trains!

Can someone tell me why it is called the ‘Big E’?  What is the meaning?

Sorry I didn't make the picture at C Ro. I went thru all the bldgs and was done at 12 noon. So we had lunch at Panera and headed home to Maine.