During the 80s, one of the finest train shows I've ever had the pleasure of attending was "Rail Expo" in Jersey City, NJ. Held in the magnificent edifice which is the former Central Railroad of New Jersey's Jersey City Terminal, now the centerpiece of Liberty State Park, all available space within the terminal building was covered with an incredible variety of everything trains from models of all scales to memorabilia, hardware, photographs, books, artwork and anything else having to do with railroading. Vendors were a good mix of private individuals looking to trade or sell excess materials along with the larger well known dealers. I had a table at several Rail Expo events and always did very well in terms of sales and trades. Of course, with such an appealing array of merchandise being offered for sale by my fellow vendors, I often returned home with as many goodies, if not more, as I brought to the show.
I couldn't think of a better venue for a train show. Just standing in the concourse looking at the now quiet tracks under the vast train shed sent shivers down my spine when I thought of the activity which had been witnessed there many years prior. You could almost hear the air pumps of the Camelbacks and the throbbing of F-M Train Masters as they waited to wheel homeward bound commuters toward Bay Head and Phillipsburg. I felt honored to have been granted an opportunity to spend time in a place where so many railroaders and passengers went about their business during the heyday of waterfront railroading in the New York City Metropolitan Area.
Are there any other forum members who had an opportunity to attend a Rail Expo event? The forum's own Mr. Walter Matuch was a key organizer of these events and I remain indebted to him to this day for giving me and all other participants a chance to have participated in these shows. Perhaps Walter will chime in with some of his own memories of the show. I only wish I had taken some pictures.
Bob
It was a good show ,it was like a day in the park mixed with a train show.
