Amherst Train show Big E fair grounds Jan 29th and 30th West Springfield, Ma

@superwarp1 posted:

In there 56 years of hosting this show they have never had to cancel.  In the 25 years of me going I can only think of two other times it has snowed.  I don’t know about Boston, but we are going to get the low end of the weather mens predictions on this one.  Roads are passable.  Crowds are good.

But, with that said this show will be known as who didn’t attend over who did.  Lots of no shows.  So I’m hoping next years show will be more normal vendor wise.

even with the lack of vendors there were product to be had.  Someone had the MTH woodsided passenger cars MTH make.  500 bucks but I was out of money.  Trainz had product on had.  Ray the Weaver guy in the Mallary building had some stuff.  Purchase a few items from Ross.

Sadly I was done In Three hours .

I did have a nice conversation with Steve Ross and Andy Eldaman was with him.  After walked over to Lionel and had a nice conversation with Dave and Ryan, begging for this and that to be produce.  It was a nice couple of hours but the show is obvious reasons is not to its former glory

I’ll post a video tonight

Gary:

Do you recall the name of the dealer or the Hall where the dealer is who had the MTH woodside passenger set? Also, do you recall which road name the set is? Thanks.

Pat

@irish rifle posted:

Gary:

Do you recall the name of the dealer or the Hall where the dealer is who had the MTH woodside passenger set? Also, do you recall which road name the set is? Thanks.

Pat

Better living center.  Walk in the west entrance and take a left.  Then a right.  He’s near the west Chester hobby store or was it west minister. Had a Lionel B&M ten wheeler with it TMCC for 800.  Cars were B&M

Did Trainworld show up? I watched the live feed several times and did not see them.

Gunny

@gunny posted:

Did Trainworld show up? I watched the live feed several times and did not see them.

Gunny

Didn’t see them

WOW what a day perfect day for an inside train show saw a few venders that also set up at York.

I watched the Virtual Railfan cameras and walk through video today.    Definitely a different looking show this year.    My son and I were thinking about going on Sunday.

I just finished snow blowing 12" of snow, and still there's still 6" more of the white fluffy before it finishes up late tonight!   The new plan is to clean up the yard and relax at home tomorrow.  Versus a 7 hour round trip drive if the roads are clear?   We are bummed that the blizzard disrupted our usual two day weekend get away.   We can hope for good weather and a bigger show next year.

@gunny posted:

Did Trainworld show up? I watched the live feed several times and did not see them.

Gunny

I didnt see them either but Nassau Hobbies was there!

@superwarp1 posted:

Better living center.  Walk in the west entrance and take a left.  Then a right.  He’s near the west Chester hobby store or was it west minister. Had a Lionel B&M ten wheeler with it TMCC for 800.  Cars were B&M

Hi Gary:

Great. Thanks.

Pat

I wife and I went, just like Gary we are about 15 minutes away. Was hoping this show was going to be like the last “snow show” some years ago. The high light of the show for me wasn’t what one would expect. After buying a nice weaver 50’ B&M trailer flat for 35. I hear someone next to me talking about the show. I give my two cents, turns into about a hour long conversation with his wife and him. Ends up Gregory is a OGR member but also a Marine. I’ll leave out all the details, but made the show for my wife and me. Working on putting all the videos together from the show, and what we got.

@Trainwreck nate posted:

I wife and I went, just like Gary we are about 15 minutes away. Was hoping this show was going to be like the last “snow show” some years ago. The high light of the show for me wasn’t what one would expect. After buying a nice weaver 50’ B&M trailer flat for 35. I hear someone next to me talking about the show. I give my two cents, turns into about a hour long conversation with his wife and him. Ends up Gregory is a OGR member but also a Marine. I’ll leave out all the details, but made the show for my wife and me. Working on putting all the videos together from the show, and what we got.

You never know who you are going to meet.  Saw you for like a minute then you disappeared

Wondering if anyone saw Gryzboski Trains.

Ed

They're not there. Covered already in multiple posts.

Pat

@BenLMaggi posted:

Heading over now from Albany, NY. Typically less than 90 minutes there. The drive home... I hope it won't be bad!

The drive on Saturday morning was fine. Just left a little earlier, and I only got there a few minutes after 9. I never had such a good parking spot in my life, and no lines! The wind outside was brutal but everything else was great. Less vendors... less people... but no fighting through crowds. Still a great $15 show!

@superwarp1 posted:

Five car set, going price these days.  Actually glad I didn’t buy.

I saw this. Wanted to buy it, but it was out of my range.

Well I dug myself out and I am going to drive out for today. I hope to see some of you there.

@superwarp1 posted:

You never know who you are going to meet.  Saw you for like a minute then you disappeared

Gary I know, you just started talking with Ross. Plus my A.D.D. was kicking in but it was a train show so it’s expected.

Bummer, my street is slick as ****. No go this year. I really wanted to go

@BenLMaggi posted:

I saw this. Wanted to buy it, but it was out of my range.

Yep those are them.  Might be able to get a deal before the show closes

@BenLMaggi posted:

I saw this. Wanted to buy it, but it was out of my range.

Its a steal at that price. Engine alone lists for 600 bucks. This has the desirable Pittman motor and zero issues. Lionel now wants 225 a car these days.

Pete

Great time at the show missing about 100 vendors but still 200 plus there. And yet   found flats cars, details and friends its all good!

Ben,
I noticed you looked at the set with the B&M mogul. I have a Lionel #1455 Mogul (6-38019) w/TMCC, RailSounds, Odyssey, etc. Test Run Only, Like New with original box & packing that i’ll sell for $450. Email is in my profile.

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Don. Looked like a good show with a little extra elbow room thrown in!  Those ship and boat models are great-looking.

@dk122trains posted:

Great time at the show missing about 100 vendors but still 200 plus there. And yet   found flats cars, details and friends its all good!

Hi Don,

It was great to bump into you at the Lionel booth.  Regarding the 2 photos above, I'm so glad that it was you and not me, that caused the Lionel layout to shut down, LOL. You, I, and the Lionel staff had a great laugh about "you break it, you bought it" and then you said that you buy it all anyway.  You had me rolling, LOL!!!

And while I usually don't like using my phone when I'm talking to someone, I had to pull up some pictures when I was talking to Ryan to nail down a future project.  Needless to say, shortly after you took that photo, Ryan and I fist bumped and "inked" a deal for a future custom run LEGACY loco.

Thanks for posting these pictures.  It's the personal interaction indicated above that I really love about the hobby.  You were one of the many bright points of this event.  Thank you, Don!

Stu

Just got home from the show. Best $20 spent on the hobby this year. I realize several of the large vendors of new items were not there, but there were still many dealers there for all scales. I was very impressed with the number and quality of club layouts, and kudos to those clubs and members who obviously put a lot of effort into the show.

@ByronB posted:

Just got home from the show. Best $20 spent on the hobby this year. I realize several of the large vendors of new items were not there, but there were still many dealers there for all scales. I was very impressed with the number and quality of club layouts, and kudos to those clubs and members who obviously put a lot of effort into the show.

Get this insanity.  All those clubs have a week to set up.  They have until Sunday night to teardown and get out of dodge.  I did spend of lot of money, but lets hopping for a full show next year.

Here's the report from WWLP, the Springfield NBC affiliate.

https://www.wwlp.com/news/loca...e-big-e-fairgrounds/

A couple of 3-rail trains in operation are in the video.

@Tuscan Jim posted:

Thanks for sharing the pictures, Don. Looked like a good show with a little extra elbow room thrown in!  Those ship and boat models are great-looking.

Jim, you are so right about the boat and ship models at the Big E.

I'm planning to build a removable river using a thin plywood base, 2 inch thick pink foam board, acrylic paints and Mod Podge.

I'm delighted with this Lionel NY Central Tugboat I miraculously found and bought at the show that will go on the removable river once I build it:

It will pull this custom built barge I bought at the show:

And I also bought this custom built steam ship schooner that may not go on the layout, but instead remain on top of the piano in my living room because my wife and I think it is so attractive:

Yesterday was the 3rd time I went to the Big E. I focus on scenery, structures, vehicles and figures, and not so much on trains, at the Big E.

The Big E is my favorite show.

Haven't been to York since about 1995 when I made my first and only visit to the York show.

Next time I go to York, which I hope will be this year, I think I'll focus on trains and accessories, and may decide it is my favorite show.

Arnold

Does anyone have the telephone number of John Flaherty from Stovall, Vermont, who sold custom made models, including boats and barges, in the Better Living Center building at the Big E?

He may do business under a company name I don't have. Also, I could not find John Flaherty from Vermont when I Googled him.

Arnold

Final numbers are in.  just over 5900 braved the virus of unknown origin and the blizzard that wasn’t.  Far cry from the 18,000-20,000 that usually show but it’s a start.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Does anyone have the telephone number of John Flaherty from Stovall, Vermont, who sold custom made models, including boats and barges, in the Better Living Center building at the Big E?

He may do business under a company name I don't have. Also, I could not find John Flaherty from Vermont when I Googled him.

Arnold

Would this be the guy?

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Jim, you are so right about the boat and ship models at the Big E...s so attractive:

Arnold, that's an epic haul, magnificent models for your idea (and your piano)! That's my favorite thing about train shows, how unpredictable and serendipitous they can be. That tug is beautiful and will look great hauling the barge. Great how that came together for you. I need to get to that show sometime. It will make a good road trip from SE PA.