OK, York, York and more York, so as I have never been there, not sure exactly what I am missing or if it is aimed at only one state. So to help me put it in perspective, this question is directed at the ham radio operators in this group. Is York the train equivalent of Dayton/Xenia?
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Yes York excedes Dayton and Orlando, look up some of this years videos on youTube you will be amazed
Jim N8DOD
York on Friday this year was really humming, best I've seen in a few years!
There are 5-7 halls, or large fair grounds buildings full of trains. Mostly O gage and some S Gauge and HO. For 2 1/2 days. York video is usually from 1 hall with all the larger companies or sellers. The halls that don't allow video/pictures usually are full of small/TCA member sellers. Usually you don't get videos of these halls. One or two youtubers have ignored the rules in these halls. The TCA has requirements for listing prices, condition, repaint etc. when selling.
"Bandits" are all the sellers that aren't in the Fairground halls but in hotel conference centers or parking lots in York. They show up M-W. There are museums, choo-choo barn and more around York. Gettysburg is also near. The northeast seems to be a natural center for the O gauge train hobby. I have been twice, I live in Texas.
If you are hardy and quick, you can get through the fairgrounds in a day. If you want to take your time, 1.5 to 2 days from my experience.
York has a population of about 45,000 and 10,000+ show up for the meet.
Well all that info sounds great, and now I have a better perspective. I've been to Gettysburg and Strasburg, so now will have to plan a trip to take in all 3 again.
To pile on Cal's question... if York is the biggest 3-rail meet, then what's the second-biggest? More precisely, which other train meet has the second-largest selection of 3-rail O gauge for sale? Where is it located?
@Ted S posted:To pile on Cal's question... if York is the biggest 3-rail meet, then what's the second-biggest? More precisely, which other train meet has the second-largest selection of 3-rail O gauge for sale? Where is it located?
In the East, I suspect the Allentown First Frost / Spring Thaw shows are second best for O gauge. A year or so ago, I did a York comparison to other shows where I could find table information. York usually has 2400+ tables of stuff for sale while Allentown has 625+ tables. The Big E show in MA has twice the floor space as York, but about half the number of tables of stuff for sale (they have a lot of layouts and manufacturer booths, plus, from what I have heard, there is a lot more HO and N there than O).
Andy
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