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Excellent York post, Eddie. I wish more folks would document the meet and bandits. Thanks!
I second what Mike H posted. I don't get to the bandit meets often, but you have captured "in time capsule form" what many of us will remember about train shows.
Thanks Eddie.....
Thanks for the pics Eddie. I had a great time at that show, and Tuesday's weather was fantastic.
One comment; there must be something wrong with your camera that makes us look so elderly, I'd have that checked out if I were you (LOL)
Lionelski posted:Thanks for the pics Eddie. I had a great time at that show, and Tuesday's weather was fantastic.
One comment; there must be something wrong with your camera that makes us look so elderly, I'd have that checked out if I were you (LOL)
Thats Funny! John
Thanks for the pictures Eddie, looks like a lot fun. I have a question if you don't mind, did you purposely include a lot of prewar in your pictures or was there that much at the show.
Keith k posted:Thanks for the pictures Eddie, looks like a lot fun. I have a question if you don't mind, did you purposely include a lot of prewar in your pictures or was there that much at the show.
Indoors, there is a lot of prewar. Some very interesting stuff.
Most of the dealers moved inside on Wednesday. It started raining around 10 am.
Thanks Eddie, great shots.
5th time at York, but 1st time going to a bandit meet. Stopped in on Wednesday morning. I am not a collector and everything I have is modern and runs around the track, so I skip over all the other stuff. I'm usually just looking for rolling stock that would be fun to have on the track, and it's a small sampling compared to York, but I thought those selling modern had stuff priced to sell. Saw MTH premier boxcars for $18 each and traditional rolling stock for less. I wouldn't make a special trip for the meet, but it was convenient on Wednesday. Glad we stopped in.
Thanks for documenting - I never had the time in the past to attend any of these, great to see what was only in my mind's eyes for many years.
With York going to two days, I may come down early on Thursday and catch one or two of these. I'm guessing they'll adjust to be close to the York show for maximum exposure. 
John. you better come very early Thursday next April. a lot of these sellers will close up early to set up at the fairgrounds.
Well, if they close before 8-9, they don't need my business. 
Looks like the highest grossing sales was the food truck. HaHa
Looks like a great meet.
I've stayed at this hotel for a wedding before. Interesting to see how it was "taken over" for the bandit meet. Thanks for posting the pics!
This was our first York and I have to say that the parking lot bandit meet at Wyndham was one of my favorite moments. It was awesome to see all these trains outside and we found some of the best deals here. Honestly I would have spent even more but was afraid to spend it all before the “real” show. As it turned out I should have as there were some really motivated vendors with excellent prices which were tougher to find at York. What a great time. I hope it flourishes with the new 2 day format. We will be back!!
This is probably a stupid question but for the bandit meets, especially outside, do people just show up, park and put up a table with their wares? Or are they getting permits or talking to an organizer or anything? I was thinking the very nature of "bandit meet" is just show up and put up your table. I've sometimes thought about going down and setting up a table to thin out my collection as I have too much "stuff" for not enough "space".
And I thought old car guys were crazy... Unbelievable. (Please don't think my comments are detrimental. I wish I'd have been there.) One last thought. Is there a connection between the Hershey (PA) old car meet and York being held at more or less the same times in the same state?
Lots of old trains there. Never to late to start a collection just show them the money ! I see the same when I visit England go to a large toy train swap meet find endless old trains mainly English, plenty of old stuff around if you have the dosh and willingly to part with it. Roo.
1. Were the tax guys 'invited'? Rather, have they ever had their presence or say?
(I mean, a moniker like "bandit" would seem to invite some unwanted attention, I should think!?)
The show at the Billy Budd was essentially killed by the "tax guys". Different town/county whatever. Never a problem at the Wyndam or any others in the area.
2. I don't see any security in the photos.... Is a TCA badge requisite for a sale at a bandit meeting?
No.
3. If not, I guess the 'York' experience has been public all along?...."Y'all come!!"......just not within the fairgrounds, until the last couple years, select halls?
Todays bandit meets are a shell of what once existed.
4. If the deals were better at a bandit event, why all the hullabaloo about the duration of the main York event....3 days, 2 days, no Thursday, no Saturday, etc., etc..
The quantity and variety are dwarfed by the actual York meet.
5. If the bandit event(s) are so convenient (minimal hauling and set-up except for those inside the motel ballrooms), why not just convert 'York' to a big field event.....kind of like a TCA Woodstock event!!....or the Tailgate Celebration Activity of TCA.......TCA²!!
Weather. Collectables and cardboard don't react well to it.
Empirebuilderdave, To set up outside it will cost you $80. for the 3 days. You can't just buy one day. I don't know what it cost to set up inside. Those tables are sold out from show to show. If you have a table outside and it rains, they let you go inside and set up in one of the conference rooms.
EmpireBuilderDave posted:This is probably a stupid question but for the bandit meets, especially outside, do people just show up, park and put up a table with their wares? Or are they getting permits or talking to an organizer or anything? I was thinking the very nature of "bandit meet" is just show up and put up your table. I've sometimes thought about going down and setting up a table to thin out my collection as I have too much "stuff" for not enough "space".
Actually, a great question. I have no idea.
Vandalia Guy posted:And I thought old car guys were crazy... Unbelievable. (Please don't think my comments are detrimental. I wish I'd have been there.) One last thought. Is there a connection between the Hershey (PA) old car meet and York being held at more or less the same times in the same state?
It helps keep the room rates high that week at all the hotels from York to Harrisburg! 
More seriously I doubt there is a true connection. But it could be a conflict for some folks who may be into both hobbies. I might have heard someone mention over the years that they might go to a particular meet, but it was the same week as Carlisle.
-Dave
I remember my first York in 1981. I spent nearly all of my funds at the Billy Budd (Holiday Inn) and (at the time) Sheraton (Now Wyndham) but there were amazing deals to be had. This was right before the prices skyrocketed.I seem to remember additional bandit meets at a fire station or VFW hall and another smaller hotel in the mid 1980's. I'll have to dig out my photos and share them.
Joe, I answered his Question.
eddie g posted:Joe, I answered his Question.
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eddie g posted:Empirebuilderdave, To set up outside it will cost you $80. for the 3 days. You can't just buy one day. I don't know what it cost to set up inside. Those tables are sold out from show to show. If you have a table outside and it rains, they let you go inside and set up in one of the conference rooms.
gunrunnerjohn posted:With York going to two days, I may come down early on Thursday and catch one or two of these. I'm guessing they'll adjust to be close to the York show for maximum exposure.
John,
I hadn’t heard about the “Two” Day thing!! What days & hours? Is it posted somewhere! I guess I’m out of the LOOP!
Fred, it's going to be 9 to 5 Friday in the collector halls and 9 to 7 in the dealer halls. Saturday will be 9 to 2 in the collector halls and dealer halls. That seems to be what it will be. I believe that it will be that way from April on. No more 3 days. The ED needs to save money.
eddie g posted:Fred, it's going to be 9 to 5 Friday in the collector halls and 9 to 7 in the dealer halls. Saturday will be 9 to 2 in the collector hall and dealer halls. That seems to be what it will be. I believe that it will be that way from April on. No more 3 days. The ED needs to save money.
Are you sure about the hours? Source?
According to the original survey, the following are the hours for the Friday/Saturday option:
DEALERS - FRIDAY 9AM to 6PM & SATURDAY 9AM to 3PM
SET-UP THURSDAY ONLY 9AM to 7PM
MEMBERS - FRIDAY 9AM to 5PM & SATURDAY 9AM to 3PM
SET-UP THURSDAY ONLY 12NOON to 5PM
Several other member hall table holders and I were discussing this a few weeks ago at the meet, so I'm pretty sure it's not the 2 hour difference you suggest above for Friday. It also shows one hour more on Saturday than what you posted.
{edited to show the hours presented with the survey back in August}
-Dave
Eddy, never have been to York. Are the shots outside the bandit show or are all the shots both inside and out the bandit show. What makes a bandit show? Thanks and nice job. Don
eddie g posted:No more 3 days. The ED needs to save money.
Wonder if a once-a-year 4-day show in October has been considered? May save some money, and certainly volunteer time and effort. Also more worth the cost of long distance travel for attendees and dealers.
Once a year? Most of us can't wait that long. I'm 89 and the next meet might be my last meet. 
scale rail posted:Eddy, never have been to York. Are the shots outside the bandit show or are all the shots both inside and out the bandit show. What makes a bandit show? Thanks and nice job. Don
In addition to the York Fair Grounds official meet, there are several (or maybe just one now) "Bandit meets" that are held outside in a hotel parking lot as well as inside a couple conference rooms. Basically these are your standard train show type of tables, whereas the York official meet has many train vendors and manufacturers and more extensive tables. Bandit meets have gotten much smaller over the years but you can find good deals at these meets for the smaller inventory in most cases. The photos he shared are of the Wyndham hotel parking lot and inside train show, before the official at the fairgrounds.
Clem's York Primer is the best online source for finding details on the show including the Bandit meets.
Just curious as a TCA member but I’m not a ED member. Why doesn’t York go to a Saturday and Sunday format almost every large train show in the USA is a weekend event?
Seacoast posted:Just curious as a TCA member but I’m not a ED member. Why doesn’t York go to a Saturday and Sunday format almost every large train show in the USA is a weekend event?
I think primarily because it's a bunch of retired dudes
MikeH posted:Seacoast posted:Just curious as a TCA member but I’m not a ED member. Why doesn’t York go to a Saturday and Sunday format almost every large train show in the USA is a weekend event?
I think primarily because it's a bunch of retired dudes
Because that is the way the eastern division wants it. Myself, I would like it to be all day Thursday & all day Friday, and go home on Saturday.
Great pics! Thanks Eddie G!
eddie g posted:
Way to cool. Theresa & I have stayed at the Red Lion Inn for the last 2 years. After seeing these pictures and the energy of those attending, We already made my reservation for next October. I chose the one on Loucks Rd. I assume correct?
