Can’t wait! Ive got a list as long as my arm of things I’m looking for. Hope to meet some new and old O scale friends. We don’t have many train shows in the south and certainly not a show dedicated to O scale so Atlanta is not that far to go for O scale.
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You’re gonna love it, Brother!
Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet. It is the biggest and best O scale show. I missed last year due to the cancer but I'm booked for this year!!!
Enjoy Atlanta!!!!
VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet. It is the biggest and best O scale show. I missed last year due to the cancer but I'm booked for this year!!!
Enjoy Atlanta!!!!
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Brother Love, I hope you have a lot of fun as you will meet a lot of folks with similar interest and see lots of all brands and kinds of trains, from pre-war to the latest and greatest. Are you going to the Atlanta Georgia area? If so, I recommend checking out Legacy Station Hobby Shop, they are in Lilburn, Georgia, and are a great store, Brian, the owner, and Eric, of Ericstrains gets his trains there. It’s also good to have a list of Want items or you could spend so much money.... The more you spend the better. All kidding aside, I hope you have a really fun time. Happy Railroading
SundayShunter posted:Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Because the Hill family has finally had enough and have attempting to "sell" the Chicago O Scale March Meet, to interested buyers. Plus, the hotel keeps raising the rates.
Brother_Love posted:Can’t wait! Ive got a list as long as my arm of things I’m looking for. Hope to meet some new and old O scale friends. We don’t have many train shows in the south and certainly not a show dedicated to O scale so Atlanta is not that far to go for O scale.
Even if they are "NEW", most of them will be old.
Simon
You'll have a good time, even if you don't buy anything, you'll still have a good time.
What I do when I go to a train meet, I'll walk around, check out all the tables. If I see something I'm looking for, I'll make a mental note where I seen it and the price. Chances are someone else might have the same item and possibly cheaper. On the other hand, the first one I seen might just be the only one at the meet. That's the gamble of waiting and hoping to find a cheaper one.
I can assure you Malcolm that all of the Atlanta area O scale clubs are excited you'll be here. As an aside if you have a "want list" please let us know, at least let me know as I will be one of the sellers there and can circulate to the some of local guys ahead of time (as in "basements....too......full....must... lose.... weight)
Also anyone else considering attending, this will be a good show. Sales tables, Two clinics- Tom Yorke on his model building business and Ovidiu T. (Atl's command control wizzard) on DCC , also some excellent layout open houses Saturday and Sunday.
Hope to see everyone there, ya'll come see us!
Wow, seeing you are the one that posted this is a shocker; I figured you'd been a train guy "forever"... likely a Marx or Lionel into as a kid, then plastic car models and/or offbeat figure kits, etc, then the skills got hit by the train,,,bla bla bla 😬... but long enough to have had the better chance at attending back when the hobby had more of them, and us ....
Shows can vary in presentation style from tradeshowish/big vender only to postwar junker swap meets, and somewhere in-between.
Having fun isn't hard at either because most have some kind of working displays, food and bev even if the hunt is over before it starts.. I like them leaning towards swap meet than vender 
(except for re-pop parts or detail/tool venders, Ive only really bought off other modelers)
Wishlist? kits? stock to bash on? collect? decals?
I've been to a bunch of small scale shows too There was always SOMETHING in O to smile at, mostly because it was priced like it was gold 
(but old HO/N for bashing/repair worthy is dirt cheap. I bought a buddy tons avg. about 75¢ a car,ten years ago ) ....and a lot of S seemed to be at HO shows too.
Have fun!
Dang. Can't get there. Always hope to find an old kit or parts....would have liked to have seen "Brother Love", even if not set up with fabulous cabooses. Hope the Hills find a buyer and/or another location for the March meet! Even though a lot of O scale was made in Chicago over the years, little shows up at Wheaton.
I'm planning on coming up from Savannah for the show. My first 2 rail show...I am excited to learn about 2 rail.
That's great Andy, look forward to meeting you; my understanding is we've added one or more additional clinics to the agenda including one on Proto-48.
Likewise I expect we may get some more two-railers here from the Savannah area as well.
Pete DeBruin
I am bringing stuff to sell and money to add a GM&O, IC or TC caboose to my roster!
I'm excited... How many vendors/sellers are usually there?
Hot Water posted:SundayShunter posted:Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Because the Hill family has finally had enough and have attempting to "sell" the Chicago O Scale March Meet, to interested buyers. Plus, the hotel keeps raising the rates.
Don't raise the bridge, lower the river!
Go find a better location with cheaper motel rates.
Mixed Freight posted:Hot Water posted:SundayShunter posted:Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Because the Hill family has finally had enough and have attempting to "sell" the Chicago O Scale March Meet, to interested buyers. Plus, the hotel keeps raising the rates.
Don't raise the bridge, lower the river!
Go find a better location with cheaper motel rates.
It is NOT the room rates that is the issue. It is finding a hotel/motel in the Chicago metro area, with a large enough event hall, at a "reasonable rate".
Mixed Freight posted:Hot Water posted:SundayShunter posted:Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Because the Hill family has finally had enough and have attempting to "sell" the Chicago O Scale March Meet, to interested buyers. Plus, the hotel keeps raising the rates.
Don't raise the bridge, lower the river!
Go find a better location with cheaper motel rates.
Terribly easy to say - far, far harder to do and find a hotel with a suitable space for the meet.
Mixed Freight posted:Hot Water posted:SundayShunter posted:Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Because the Hill family has finally had enough and have attempting to "sell" the Chicago O Scale March Meet, to interested buyers. Plus, the hotel keeps raising the rates.
Don't raise the bridge, lower the river!
Go find a better location with cheaper motel rates.
Tough to find a room large enough to fit everyone in it that is affordable. (no one likes being stuck down a hallway into secondary rooms) And easy access also.
BobbyD posted:Mixed Freight posted:Hot Water posted:SundayShunter posted:Hot Water posted:VGN64 posted:Get your train ticket to Chicago March Meet.....
Correct, and this years March Meet will most likely be the very last one.
Why?
Because the Hill family has finally had enough and have attempting to "sell" the Chicago O Scale March Meet, to interested buyers. Plus, the hotel keeps raising the rates.
Don't raise the bridge, lower the river!
Go find a better location with cheaper motel rates.
Tough to find a room large enough to fit everyone in it that is affordable. (no one likes being stuck down a hallway into secondary rooms) And easy access also.
Yeah, unfortunately, I know that too. I have a friend that used to promote a few other venues years ago. He said one of the worst things you could do was move a successful show to a new location. More often than not, it would kill the show off.
But, rising costs, plus a poorly attended show or two, could also kill the show off. So, dang'd if you did, and dang'd if you didn't.
Many moons ago The March Meet was held in Arlington Heights which is a northern suburb. The main room was on the ground level with at least two rooms on the lower level with overflow in that hallway. Not the best venue, but very easy to get to with plenty of parking. The hotel in Lombard has a huge main room and another room(also on the ground floor) for the model contest. Rooms are clean, well maintained. Two restaurants off the lobby with a wide selection of food and very good service. Free limo service to restaurants or shops within a three mile radius. Free parking under roof so if it is raining or snowing your items do not get wet. All in all, tough to beat. John in Lansing, ILL
Another update as we get close to the 6th Annual O Scale South meet this Saturday the 22nd
The show will have 25 to 30 sales tables and we expect approximately 20 vendors,
clinics will include a Modeling Buildings and Structures presentation by Thomas York
and a Modeling in Proto-48 presentation by Paul Hanson and Jim Canter.
As you know Malcolm Byrd, the prolifically excellent carbody builder is attending and will have a table.
There will be three home layouts and the Southern O Scaler's Modular layout on the Open House tours.
A splendid time is anticipated by all, we hope to see you there.
@atlpete Sounds great! Can't wait to get there. My wife is already in Atlanta for a conference. I am driving up there this afternoon...going to see my kids who live in Gwinnett. Should be a great weekend!
I hope to snag one of Malcolms awesome looking Cabeese also!
Train shows in and around Buffalo NY area used to be great! Now they aren't worth going to. Ebay had alot to do will ruining the train shows. IMHO Rob
Be sure to have your smartphone camera set-up to take photos and video in case you see something particularly interesting--then share it here, of course.
Dear Malcolm,
I am sure you are going to have a great time at the meet !!
Dan Mason and his group are fine gentlemen and it is nice to see the O scale 2 rail show in the South continues and grows.
With the possible- unfortunately- demise of the Chicago March meet , it will now be very important that the smaller, regional shows continue and grow.
Let's face it, our O Scale Fraternity 2 rail shows, besides the buying and selling , is all about the camaraderie and friendship among us.
Look forward seeing many of you at the Chicago March meet.
John -Scale2Rail Promotions
Strasburg Show- 04/18 , 08/08 , 10/17/2020
04/17, 08/07 , 10/16/2021
when is the March meet in Chicago?
March 13, 14, 15 2020
Friday is for dealer set up, a couple of meetings and some layout tours.
Saturday is the big day with the show (buy, sell, socializing, etc.), clinics, contests, and more layout tours.
Sunday the show is less crowded (with some good deals to be had) and more layout tours.
The Rockford O Scalers are open Saturday night (after the show closes for the day) and Sunday afternoon. It is a 1:15 drive from the show but if you are driving west from the show, it may not be too far out of the way.
OK thanks!!!
Very good information. Thanks
I had a great time at the Atlanta O scale show today. The host were super nice and I met 6 OGR forum members there also. I will let them chime in if they want to. I found several items that were on my want list and I sold several cabooses too. Here are a few pics.
More pics.
It was great meeting you Malcolm!
Dave
Yes! Thanks Malcolm!
It's always a good show for all of us here in Atlanta when we have folks like you and all the other fine people who were here today. Speaking on behalf of the Southern O Scalers and Model Rail Club of Atlanta our sincere thanks to all of our visitors, fine vendors and presenters today. I wish we could have a weekend like this every month.
BTW I envy anyone making the upcoming Chicago show, from my shaky perspective it's the "grand-daddy" of all O Scale Meets and hopefully this one won't be the last one.
Pete DeBruin
Malcolm, it was great to meet you at the show. Enjoyed the conversation very much and looking at your beautiful work in real life!
Ed
The worst part of attending an O scale Show is the depressive drive home. For me there is a strong melancholy feeling when I am on the way home, sort downer after all the excitement and fun of the show.
prrjim posted:The worst part of attending an O scale Show is the depressive drive home. For me there is a strong melancholy feeling when I am on the way home, sort downer after all the excitement and fun of the show.
The anticipation of unwrapping all the items you bought at the show should cure those blues !
prrjim posted:The worst part of attending an O scale Show is the depressive drive home. For me there is a strong melancholy feeling when I am on the way home, sort downer after all the excitement and fun of the show.
I usually find that feeling totally countered by counting the green in my wallet after a successful selling session.
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