Allentown Train meet this past weekend ???

I’d love to hear a report, too!

Peter

Dakman Video Productions has great viewing on Utube!

I went with a few of my PIHR friends on Saturday (a very long day trip from the Pittsburgh area -- a 556 mile round trip for me, personally).  We try to go at least once a year, weather permitting.  Got to see and chat with a few friends I usually only see at York, and we all found some goodies to take home with us, and we also make a point to make a quick visit to Trains and Lanes Hobbies in Easton, PA after the show where a couple of us found some more goodies to bring home.

The show was very busy while we were there, and the crowd was big enough that it was sometimes challenging to make it up and down the aisles.  I even heard more than a few people wishing out loud for York-style arrows (one way aisles).

Even though I spent more on travel than I did at the show and T&L, the thrill of the hunt, fun and fellowship are far more important to me, so, to me,  it was a great show overall. 

Andy

Went after a long absence,I thought it was great 2 large halls lots of vendors well worth the $10 dollar admission.Prices varied, most were fair plenty for all gauges and scales, parking was easy not crazy crowded I would recommend it.That's it in a nut shell...cheers...joe

I live 70 miles away, hard to pass this one up.  In November on Saturday morning i was able to park close to the building, crowd seemed sparse.  Not the case this past Saturday.   Arrived at 1030, had to park pretty far out.  Folks were already carrying out armfulls of stuff.  It harkened back to years ago, crowded, active, seemed electric.   Most dealers seemed engaged, items were moving.  We are getting older.  I was touched by the mid 40's son wheeling his elderly father through the hall.  The older man was enjoying his time, probably reliving memories.  At this point in my hobby career, can you say that, I am not looking for anything in particular, just enjoy the vibe.  Picked up another tropicana car, my unit train gets ever longer plus now i don't feel bad adding graffiti decals.  Also picked up some very inexpensive HO track to build out my micro layout.  Leaving at 1 I was speaking with another attendee who was making a trip to his car with an armful and said he had to go back in to get the rest.  Who says the hobby is dead?  Not at this show. 

Allentown is always a pretty good show, and Saturday was indeed pretty packed this time.

Saturday was busy up til 3pm. Sunday was busy til 1:30pm. After Church it died. All I ended up Buying was semi clean LGB sectional track for $4.00/section.

Thank you!

Peter

I couldn't make it, my car was in the shop until Monday mid-morning. Good thing was not that expensive for what needed to be fixed. I'd like to hear too how it was.

Couldn't make it because of work.  If you went on Saturday and didn't hit the farmer's market across the street, then you did yourself a big disservice!  Plenty of great food and spirits to enjoy there and take home with you.  For future reference, the farmer's market is closed on Sundays.

Returned to the Spring thaw meet after a two year absence and found it to be just as crowded and exciting as I remembered.  In my opinion business was very brisk and the dealers were quite willing to engage and negotiate.  I saw multitudes of customers walking out with their arms filled with merchandise.  I was there on Saturday at 9:00 AM and the line to enter was very long.  There were two younger men behind me in line who apparently had never been to a train show or meet before and were commenting to one another that the long line was insane and that they couldn't believe the number of people who were attending.  When I left at 1:30 PM people were still entering.  Glad I went.  

I enjoyed attending the 07:00 OGR breakfast for the second time. Great food and even better company and conversation!

Everyone I talked to felt that the show was very well attended. Vendors were friendly and wiling to make a deal. I walked out with arms full so for me it was a great show.

Miketg

Wish me n Anna could have made the trip to Allentown, we go every year but she had knee surgery! we'll see you all next time!

Alan  Anna

Saturday was packed. We were waiting in line outside at 9:10 am and early admission guys were coming out with their arms full.

Saw some things I almost bought but didn't have to have them so I passed. Talked to a bunch of train nuts, I mean friends.

I did get into a verbal altercation with some clown trying to push his way through an aisle bottle neck that everyone was trying to navigate. The first time I bit my tongue.  When the same guy did it again in the next aisle, I made sure to let him know exactly how I felt.

It was great. I only wish the event people would place more chairs around especially where the food and layouts are. Everybody needs a place to relax. I would have stayed a lot longer if they did.

I wish I could have gone. I agree about the chairs. It is hard to find a place to sit there but otherwise it’s always been a good show when I have gone in the past.

My son and I enjoyed the show on Sunday. I purchased a few items, and my son brought some HO steam engines. We both thought the show was very good and of course it was great spending the day together. We try to hit both the spring and fall shows.