First Trip to York

Preparing yourself for York is a wise decision -- it will help you from becoming too overwhelmed when you get there.

Be sure to check out Clem's Primer.  It has almost everything you need for a trip to York.  The new one comes out a week or two before each York, but the bulk of the information doesn't change much from meet to meet.

Andy

Make sure you make the Thursday Night confab at Quaker Steak & Lube, you'll meet a lot of the OGR guys there.  The Thursday morning breakfast at Round-The-Clock Diner is also a great place to catch up with a bunch of the OGR faithful.

@Andy Hummell posted:

Preparing yourself for York is a wise decision -- it will help you from becoming too overwhelmed when you get there.

Be sure to check out Clem's Primer.  It has almost everything you need for a trip to York.  The new one comes out a week or two before each York, but the bulk of the information doesn't change much from meet to meet.

Andy

Thank you Andy. I will be sure to check out Clem’s primer.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Make sure you make the Thursday Night confab at Quaker Steak & Lube, you'll meet a lot of the OGR guys there.  The Thursday morning breakfast at Round-The-Clock Diner is also a great place to catch up with a bunch of the OGR faithful.

Thank you John.  I plan to make it to the meet-up at Quaker Steak and Lube, but will be arriving too late for Thursday morning breakfast.  I look forward to meeting each of the OGR guys able to make Thursday night.

@Scott In Texas posted:

... but will be arriving too late for Thursday morning breakfast...

If you are a breakfast person, you may still want to try Round the Clock Diner for breakfast the rest of your stay.   The food there is excellent and inexpensive, and they have a huge variety.  Plus, if you are an adventurous sort, you can try scrapple there.

Andy

For your Thursday night entertainment, I suggest visiting the Red Lion train club.  (They're also open on Wednesday evening.)  They will have flyers at the meet, or see the meet notice for info.

@Mallard4468 posted:

For your Thursday night entertainment, I suggest visiting the Red Lion train club.  (They're also open on Wednesday evening.)  They will have flyers at the meet, or see the meet notice for info.

If he wants to meet the OGR folks, no better place than the Quaker Steak & Lube gathering.

You will have more fun, more than you ever dreamed of. When you return home you won't be able to stop thinking of York.

@jim sutter posted:

You will have more fun, more than you ever dreamed of. When you return home you won't be able to stop thinking of York.

That is what I am scared of. 😅   I guess I will have to start setting aside some of train budget each year for the York pilgrimage.  Thanks Jim.

@Scott In Texas posted:

I guess I will have to start setting aside some of train budget each year for the York pilgrimage.

LOL!  I try to go to York both in the spring and the fall.  Sometimes I skip the spring meet due to other vacations, but I enjoy seeing all of the friends I have met over the years and also getting some great seafood!  I didn't find anything to buy last fall, but that is OK too!  One never knows what they will find.

I never really know what my budget will be, it all depends how much I have at the time.

Scott, York is amazing. I met some fantastic people at the Thursday morning breakfast.  There is a lot to see in all the halls and I recommend you start walking around your neighborhood or on a treadmill at least every other day until York, lots of walking.

@Andy Hummell posted:

Preparing yourself for York is a wise decision -- it will help you from becoming too overwhelmed when you get there.

Be sure to check out Clem's Primer.  It has almost everything you need for a trip to York.  The new one comes out a week or two before each York, but the bulk of the information doesn't change much from meet to meet.

Andy

Excellent advice above.

Suggest that you read the other York threads from the last couple of meets.  You'll find lots of good info.  Ignore the griping about how the meet isn't what it used to be - nothing is.

Here are my top 3 tips:  1) When you see something you want at a price you're willing to pay, buy it - don't plan to shop around and come back later.  2) Bring lots of cash.  3) Wear comfortable shoes.

If you post about your areas of interest, you'll get tips regarding where to look.

Sounds like a brief trip - you'll miss the bandit meets, along with the TCA museum and other attractions in Strasburg (maybe on Saturday afternoon).  A longer trip will allow you to see those things next time.

Scott in Texas,

Take big notice on the 3 tips advice especially with the buy it when you see it. It probably will be gone when you return and that’s if you can recall what hall, what aisle, what table the item was at!
York is HUGE. If you are an O gauge person, this is the show to go to!

@Mallard4468 posted:

Excellent advice above.

Suggest that you read the other York threads from the last couple of meets.  You'll find lots of good info.  Ignore the griping about how the meet isn't what it used to be - nothing is.

Here are my top 3 tips:  1) When you see something you want at a price you're willing to pay, buy it - don't plan to shop around and come back later.  2) Bring lots of cash.  3) Wear comfortable shoes.

If you post about your areas of interest, you'll get tips regarding where to look.

Sounds like a brief trip - you'll miss the bandit meets, along with the TCA museum and other attractions in Strasburg (maybe on Saturday afternoon).  A longer trip will allow you to see those things next time.

Thanks for all the advice.  My available space for a layout is very limited/compact, so I am currently collecting MTH Railking primarily.  I also prefer roads from the southwest, collecting Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, Missouri Pacific, Santa Fe and BNSF.

May also look for some signals and scenery items.  Maybe some logo’ed wearables in the road names above.  Who knows what else I may run into.  😊

Stop at the UPS booth to have your trains shipped home.

The UPS booth is between the blue and silver halls. Check their operating times

Received my badge yesterday in the mail.  This only increases the level of excitement.

The boys above are correct.

Buy it when you find it. It will be gone later.

Lots of cash in small bills for those little things you didn't know you needed.

Layers of clothes. The halls are hot. Outdoors is not.

Plastic grocery bags to put the loot in. If your hometown has not already outlawed them.

Food is available; not your haute cuisine, but it'll keep you going until you find a restaurant after the event.

Prepare to be amazed. Keep moving.

Scott in Texas---You know some one could copy that badge and use it to get into the York meet. Not too smart.

Oh, stop.

@Arthur P. Bloom posted:

The boys above are correct.

Buy it when you find it. It will be gone later.

Lots of cash in small bills for those little things you didn't know you needed.

Layers of clothes. The halls are hot. Outdoors is not.

Plastic grocery bags to put the loot in. If your hometown has not already outlawed them.

Food is available; not your haute cuisine, but it'll keep you going until you find a restaurant after the event.

Prepare to be amazed. Keep moving.

Thank you Arthur.  Lots of good advice.

@eddie g posted:

Scott in Texas---You know some one could copy that badge and use it to get into the York meet. Not too smart.

Valid point.  Thanks Eddie.

@eddie g posted:

Scott in Texas---You know some one could copy that badge and use it to get into the York meet. Not too smart.

WOW, that comes out of left field!  Do you spend a lot of time worrying about stuff like this?  How is someone going to copy his badge, rip it off his neck?

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

WOW, that comes out of left field!  Do you spend a lot of time worrying about stuff like this?  How is someone going to copy his badge, rip it off his neck?

Hey John. I had attached an image, which I have since removed. The badge does not have hardly any details which most people could easily produce, but I understand the concern and removed on second thought.

If you stop to look at something, have the sense/decency to pull over to the side so as not to block all the people behind you.

JOHN...He had a picture of his badge on here. He since removed it

@eddie g posted:

JOHN...He had a picture of his badge on here. He since removed it

That probably wasn't a great idea.

Anyone with a printer and a child's facility with WORD can grind one out in less than a minute.  The ED/TCA does not apparently feel the need to print any security features into the badges. Not even the simplest image, such as the TCA logo. The color changes from year to year, but a set of markers and a white badge brought onto the grounds solves that issue.   It's not a passport, and who would go to all that trouble? Oh, wait...that's right...there's no security (proof of identity or reputation) even to join.

Bring quarters or dollar bills to tip the bathroom attendants. They do keep it clean for those sea of unwashed stinky folks and the rest of us cleaned, well-groomed folks!

@Scott In Texas posted:

Received my badge yesterday in the mail.  This only increases the level of excitement.

Wow they are mailing out badges already? I registered last week. Hopefully mine will be here soon.

Lots of great advice above. Not much I can add except they do have public showers in the Orange Hall. That's something the sea of  unwashed stinky folks that Ted mentioned should take advantage of. If you like crab cakes there is a vendor in the parking lot with an orange truck that sells crab cakes. They are excellent and many times at York a crab cake sandwich and some stuff I brought from home was my lunch. It wastes too much time to leave the fairgrounds for food so I never do. Too much to see there.

Good luck Scott and I hope you enjoy your trip!

@Hudson J1e posted:

Wow they are mailing out badges already? I registered last week. Hopefully mine will be here soon.

Lots of great advice above. Not much I can add except they do have public showers in the Orange Hall. That's something the sea of  unwashed stinky folks that Ted mentioned should take advantage of. If you like crab cakes there is a vendor in the parking lot with an orange truck that sells crab cakes. They are excellent and many times at York a crab cake sandwich and some stuff I brought from home was my lunch. It wastes too much time to leave the fairgrounds for food so I never do. Too much to see there.

Good luck Scott and I hope you enjoy your trip!

Wow!!  Sounds like the orange food truck just moved to the top of my lunch recommendations.  I do love good crab cakes.  Thank you Phil for the information.

Registered for my first time in April.  Since my son moved a few hours away I may make it once a year from Texas.    Looking through all the info.  Making a schedule. 

Question, I saw the don't list for wheeled items and large backpacks, what can I do?  IE we have used a Fabric version of the little red wagon.  Is this too big?  What can you use to carry the load?

Thanks

@VHubbard posted:

...Question, I saw the don't list for wheeled items and large backpacks, what can I do?  IE we have used a Fabric version of the little red wagon.  Is this too big?  What can you use to carry the load?

No carts, wagons, dollies, or large backpacks in the halls.  Make frequent trips to the car for smaller purchases.  For larger purchases, carry it yourself, get help from a friend (or make a new one), or see if the seller will bend the rules regarding letting you borrow a dolly.

@Scott In Texas posted:

Very excited to have booked my first trip to York today.  Booked my flight, hotel and meet registration.  My flight will arrive in Harrisburg about noon that Thursday and depart about noon on Sunday.  I look forward to spending the next three months digging through this forum to get ideas and maximize my first experience.  I also look forward to meeting many of you there.

Thanks,

Scott

I know you have gotten a lot of Great Replies, I asked a similar question Last Fall before attending my first York.

I followed up with a review

https://ogrforum.com/...the-bad-and-the-ugly

The review also contains good replies which could help you!

@VHubbard posted:

Registered for my first time in April.  Since my son moved a few hours away I may make it once a year from Texas.    Looking through all the info.  Making a schedule.

Question, I saw the don't list for wheeled items and large backpacks, what can I do?  IE we have used a Fabric version of the little red wagon.  Is this too big?  What can you use to carry the load?

Thanks

See the post I just made, it may help you also.

Referencing your question above.  One thing I would do, is move my car while at the show.

I wasn't quite sure what was where when I first parked.  I suggest if planning to by a lot or large items, pick an entry point and park as close as you can.  You have to go to the Silver Hall First to check in! There is considerable distance between the halls, especially the orange hall.  Carrying a box of K-Line Passenger Cars (15 lbs.) 1/2 mile (including through the aisles, to get out of the hall) can be tiring for an old man (maybe you are not, but I am)!

@MainLine Steam posted:

I know you have gotten a lot of Great Replies, I asked a similar question Last Fall before attending my first York.

I followed up with a review

https://ogrforum.com/...the-bad-and-the-ugly

The review also contains good replies which could help you!

Thank you Jim.  I did find both your pre and post York threads.  Lots of good information to consider.   I also noticed your other reply about parking.  Something I had not really considered, moving the car around.

@Scott In Texas posted:

Thank you Jim.  I did find both your pre and post York threads.  Lots of good information to consider.   I also noticed your other reply about parking.  Something I had not really considered, moving the car around.

Glad I could help!

If you get tired and buy any large or heavy items, it’s been my experience that the vendors will hold your purchase to pick up later.

Just remember to go back and get it!