Seth,
You can certainly quote me!
There is always great excitement for York week. If I was heading out that way as in the past, I'd stop by the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania and the Toy Train Museum on Wednesday. To note, the L1 that Lionel has released in the catalog recently was in the back outside by the turntable at the museum. I had taken pictures last year when I was there and was impressed by how big it was(having not seen a Mikado in person for a few years). I believe Steamtown has one if I remember correctly, but not all steam engines are the same.
I would also try and make a trip out to Strasburg(next door) whether riding the rails or snapping pictures like crazy. I always remember to obey common sense rules as well as common sense railroad rules(don't walk on the tracks unless at a crossing with no trains coming). The one year a guy almost got hit because he didn't think the staff was yelling at his behind to get off the tracks. I got part of that on camera though the guy can't be seen(but you can hear the staff yelling).
I wonder what engines will be running York week? I haven't glanced at their site since I'm not going to be out that way. Maybe I'll check later.
@eddie g posted:I have a 530 mile drive each way, and I have been doing it for 45 years.
eddie g, you are a remarkable man. Have a safe drive.
Do most people arrive Monday or Tuesday?
@TimMacPA posted:Do most people arrive Monday or Tuesday?
It depends on your objectives. If you want to hit the bandit meets, arrive Monday or no later than first thing Tuesday - they wind down on Wednesday morning. If you haven't been to the attractions in Strasburg (TCA museum, RR museum, Strasburg RR, Choo Choo Barn), be sure to allow a day for that.
@TimMacPA posted:Do most people arrive Monday or Tuesday?
Most people arrive Thursday. The bandit meets on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are shadows of their former selves. I wouldn't go just for those but if you want to see other sites in the area that's a different story. Also, if you are a diehard collector your opinion may differ. Most folks who come in early meet friends so there is a social aspect with dinner, the casino (it's dinky), or something else. If you're alone you'll have a lot of downtime (which is fine for some folks). Here's the schedule:
DAILY SCHEDULE MONDAY:
8 AM – 5 PM: Reliance Fire Hall open.
10 AM – 5 PM: National Toy Train Museum & National Toy Train Library OPEN
DAILY SCHEDULE TUESDAY:
8 AM – 5 PM: Reliance Fire Hall open.
10 AM: Eastern Division BOD Meeting: Orange Hall Meeting Room
10 AM – 5 PM: National Toy Train Museum & National Toy Train Library OPEN
DAILY SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY:
8 AM – 5 PM: Reliance Fire Hall open.
8AM – 6 PM: DEALER SET UP: Orange /Purple Halls. Dealer badges required.
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM: York Registration open in the Silver Hall.
10 AM – 5 PM: National Toy Train Museum & National Toy Train Library OPEN
11 AM: York Show Volunteers Lunch & Meeting in the Blue Hall. Call Hope 703-743-2151
5:30 PM: Welcome Party in Blue Hall
6 – 9 PM: Red Lion Area Historical Open House, 73 N. Main St, Red Lion, PA 17356
Lastly, read this for more info as you're a rookie:
https://www.tcatrains.org/wp-c...er_Spring_2022-1.pdf
-Greg
@Mallard4468 posted:It depends on your objectives. If you want to hit the bandit meets, arrive Monday or no later than first thing Tuesday - they wind down on Wednesday morning. If you haven't been to the attractions in Strasburg (TCA museum, RR museum, Strasburg RR, Choo Choo Barn), be sure to allow a day for that.
OK, so am I correct in assuming that a bandit meet means unsanctioned?
@TimMacPA posted:Do most people arrive Monday or Tuesday?
I don't know about most people, but my friends and I arrive around noon (250 mile drive) on Tuesday and leave around the same time on Saturday
@Greg Houser posted:Most people arrive Thursday. The bandit meets on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are shadows of their former selves. I wouldn't go just for those but if you want to see other sites in the area that's a different story. Also, if you are a diehard collector your opinion may differ. Most folks who come in early meet friends so there is a social aspect with dinner, the casino (it's dinky), or something else. If you're alone you'll have a lot of downtime (which is fine for some folks). Here's the schedule:
DAILY SCHEDULE MONDAY:
8 AM – 5 PM: Reliance Fire Hall open.
10 AM – 5 PM: National Toy Train Museum & National Toy Train Library OPEN
DAILY SCHEDULE TUESDAY:
8 AM – 5 PM: Reliance Fire Hall open.
10 AM: Eastern Division BOD Meeting: Orange Hall Meeting Room
10 AM – 5 PM: National Toy Train Museum & National Toy Train Library OPEN
DAILY SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY:
8 AM – 5 PM: Reliance Fire Hall open.
8AM – 6 PM: DEALER SET UP: Orange /Purple Halls. Dealer badges required.
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM: York Registration open in the Silver Hall.
10 AM – 5 PM: National Toy Train Museum & National Toy Train Library OPEN
11 AM: York Show Volunteers Lunch & Meeting in the Blue Hall. Call Hope 703-743-2151
5:30 PM: Welcome Party in Blue Hall
6 – 9 PM: Red Lion Area Historical Open House, 73 N. Main St, Red Lion, PA 17356Lastly, read this for more info as you're a rookie:
https://www.tcatrains.org/wp-c...er_Spring_2022-1.pdf
-Greg
All excellent info. The bandit meet at the Wyndham is the largest and you'll find a variety of interesting stuff - many of the vendors also set up at the meet, but some don't.
The Red Lion club is highly recommended - they change things up every York. I haven't checked, but it's also been open on Thursday nights in the past.
The reliance fire house meet is usually open on Thursday (and Friday?) - it's very close to the fairgrounds, so it can make for a quick stop before the meet opens at noon on Thursday. Generally heavy on Flyer and not much else.
thanks for the input folks. I'll stick with my original plans. Maybe in the spring I'll try an extended stay.
@TimMacPA posted:thanks for the input folks. I'll stick with my original plans. Maybe in the spring I'll try an extended stay.
Most folks feel that the October meet is better than April. We can't always articulate why...
For many years, I made the mistake of saying that I'd make it to the East Broad Top "next year". (Fortunately, things are now looking up for the EBT, but it was pretty bleak for a few years.) Just sayin'.
I should tell you that the reliance fire hall is mostly S gauge. The show Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday at the Wyndham is all gauges..
Is there still a bandit meet at the Four points Sheraton?
I may be coming down to York on Wednesday morning.
Out of the three main days, what is each day best for?
I'm assuming the best chance at finding rarer items is when doors open on Thursday and the best deals price-wise is Friday or Saturday?
MIKE, That show is still on at the 4 points. I just checked .
@Prr7688 posted:Out of the three main days, what is each day best for?
I'm assuming the best chance at finding rarer items is when doors open on Thursday and the best deals price-wise is Friday or Saturday?
I wouldn't waste your time playing the waiting game. If you want an item and it's a good price just buy it because there's a good chance it will be gone when you go back. If you're staying overnight to go back a subsequent day any savings on the item will already have been surpassed by the costs for a hotel room and meals to enable you to do so. Always makes me laugh when I read about how someone saved xxx amount of dollars by waiting and going back on Saturday. I can't remember ever reading an example where the savings was more than an extra day of meals and a hotel room.
As for rare items you can find them every day because these are big ticket items the majority of the time and you're not going to get much of price break over what's on the sticker. Yes, there are items at York with $20k listed on the sticker (standard gauge tinplate).
-Greg
I wouldn't waste your time playing the waiting game. If you want an item and it's a good price just buy it because there's a good chance it will be gone when you go back.
The waiting game? I would not do that as you may not remember where you saw it in what row and what building unless you write it on paper. But a good chance it was sold. You snooze, you loose!
Buy it when you see it if the price is good!
Listen to the York experts here. Lol!
@Prr7688 posted:Out of the three main days, what is each day best for?
I'm assuming the best chance at finding rarer items is when doors open on Thursday and the best deals price-wise is Friday or Saturday?
Never wait. Someone I know was looking at the VL Hudson that my local train store had up at York a few years ago. The concern was over the box which wasn't in bad shape, but not prestine condition. This simple thing made the person walk away to consider. I had returned the next day to talk to Tony my local train guy about it. He said no sooner did the person walk away, about 5 minutes or so later someone looked at it, and it was gone. This was Friday morning I was asking, so it sold mid-afternoon Thursday.
There are always those stories where something disappears just after you looked at it. One of the Edison shows right around the same time as that York show, there was VL 0-8-8-0 PRR steamer. I saw it, but wasn't interested in buying it. I simply walked around the convention hall, maybe all of 25-35 minutes and it was gone.
Bottom line is if you have a list of things you want at York, jump on whatever is your top item if you see it. I've made only two lists for York, my first in 2017, and last year's in October. 2017 became an open list because the top items on it weren't at York(engines) so I went down my list. Can't remember all of what there was, may have had one or two that showed up. Last year's was only one item, which was Lionel's Dreyfuss Hudson. Well, I managed not seeing any that were there, a few friends had said which hall's they were in, but alas, no luck for me. I did manage to talk to someone on the TCA Buy/Sell site and arrange to get that one. Not exactly the best price, not like the York prices, but better than Ebay's.
As I usually do from the car, I was tuning into sports radio over a local station that takes listener calls. A person called in quite frustrated and very angry. He wasn't calling to complain about an NFL or MLB team or player, but rather over the dramatic price escalation of funnel cake prices at the York County Fair. Apparently they've now doubled to $14 ! The program hosts then proceeded for several minutes to take up the callers complaint. They agreed this level of inflation can't be reasonably justified saying, "After all, it's just dough!"
You've all been warned! 
I'll be there for my first time. Very excited!
A short success story, York 2018 I turned the corner in the Blue hall and saw two Tinplate 381S's on a table, I turned to my daughter who I brought with me and said "I'll never see another one". A couple of guys were looking them over and I quickly signaled the table owner over and pressed cash in his hand and took one home.
I've learned to form a couple of strategies over the years. The 381S was close to a "buy on sight", but one year I was looking for a Lionel PW675 that perhaps had a damaged face that I could modify and repaint. There were plenty available and I took my time until I got what I wanted at the price I wanted.
5 weeks from today until the doors open!!! Not like any of us are counting.
I've noticed that I am starting to experience the "York Time Slowdown" -- time seems to pass slower and slower as York approaches (kind of like waiting for Christmas to come as a kid...). 
Andy
@Andy Hummell posted:I've noticed that I am starting to experience the "York Time Slowdown" -- time seems to pass slower and slower as York approaches (kind of like waiting for Christmas to come as a kid...).
Andy
While I understand your sentiments, for October York I'm just the opposite... Hard to believe it's been almost 6 months since April - seems like last week. Trying to pack in as many rounds of golf and other good-weather activities as possible before it's too late. The end of the baseball season rapidly approaching (as a Cubs fan, my season ends earlier than most). Hurrying to provide justification (i.e., make excuses) for what I'm going to buy.
Now in April, it's another story - waiting for the weather to get nice.
@Mallard4468 posted:While I understand your sentiments, for October York I'm just the opposite... Hard to believe it's been almost 6 months since April - seems like last week. Trying to pack in as many rounds of golf and other good-weather activities as possible before it's too late. The end of the baseball season rapidly approaching (as a Cubs fan, my season ends earlier than most). Hurrying to provide justification (i.e., make excuses) for what I'm going to buy.
Now in April, it's another story - waiting for the weather to get nice.
I am in the same boat, I am of the school of 'wow, york is coming up? Where did the summer go?'. As far as the end of baseball season going, the "Mighty Mets" could end up wiped out in the wildcard round they way they are playing, they made the Cubs look like the Dodgers.
The bandit shows may be a shadow of what they once were, but they are still worth going to Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. I would say between the 4 Points, Fire house, and the Wyndham there are more than 400 tables of trains. Over the past 45 years I have found a lot of my collection.
@bigkid posted:I am in the same boat, I am of the school of 'wow, york is coming up? Where did the summer go?'. As far as the end of baseball season going, the "Mighty Mets" could end up wiped out in the wildcard round they way they are playing, they made the Cubs look like the Dodgers.
As a loyal Dodgers fan, I support your position
Just a note. Jeff Kane will be at York in the Orange hall. You can order parts from him now, and he will bring them to York. His phone number is, 1-585-229-2050
2 weeks until opening day!!!!
Quick question….. has anyone heard if the hall isles for October will be wider as they were for social distancing. It certainly would be nice to have extra elbow room to look at and below the tables. Looking at the Eastern division York page I wasn’t able to see anything definite.
Well, I just read that Lionel won't be there. That kinda sucks.
@Rich Wiemann posted:Quick question….. has anyone heard if the hall isles for October will be wider as they were for social distancing. It certainly would be nice to have extra elbow room to look at and below the tables. Looking at the Eastern division York page I wasn’t able to see anything definite.
Based on my last 2 times there (well, my only two times...), I don't think you have to worry, in the Orange Hall, and then the various other halls there was a lot of open space there, and the tables were spread in a reasonable comfortable fashion.
@eddie g, looks like the Monday of York week will have a high of 52 Eddie. I don't remember when the York weather report usually gets posted, but saw that this morning. Of course as we all know, weather changes in a heartbeat. Hope you all enjoy decent weather during York week. Good luck.
Speaking of weather has it ever snowed when you went to York?
Have been going to York for over 45 years and I have never seen snow.
@eddie g posted:Have been going to York for over 45 years and I have never seen snow.
It was a very cold 36 here in NJ Eddie, but warmed up quick. I do believe that in October 2019 there was snow flurries one evening, but nothing stuck and by morning it was warmer than it was that evening. That was the coldest evening I had had in my four times at October York. Weather has always been nice for me. 2017 it was like a great Spring/Summer day, 2018 about the same, and 2021 about a warm fall day. 2019 was the coolest of my October York trips.
Will this York be the warmer or cooler of your memory Eddie? I wager you will say it will be about the same as warm Fall or cool Summer day.
York Week......7 days away......yeah!!!!
Rain, shine or snow....it will be fun!!!!!
Peter
Hello everyone. Although I cannot make it, I wish you all the very best in your search for that elusive item on your wish list. I have said it before and it's worth repeating here, if Lionel made it, it will be at York, eventually. May you all have a great time and a safe trip both ways. Eddie G, I plan on seeing you again at a future York.
@TimMacPA posted:Well, I just read that Lionel won't be there. That kinda sucks.
Up to about four years ago, I would have missed Lionel too. But not anymore. I rarely buy Lionel now. They don't seem to listen to their customers that come to York - think quality control, paint colors, and spelling. They have said that most of their sales are in train sets and they seem content with that high volume market which probably has less critical customers. Personally, I feel it is more Lionel's loss than mine.
On a different subject, from sad experience I agree completely about not waiting to buy something you see and want.
