The annual Great Train Show in Grayslake, Illinois, will be taking place next weekend. I've never gone to this show. How does it compare to the monthly show at the DuPage County Fairgrounds?
Cheers!
Keith
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Never been to Graylake train show but also would like to hear comments as well , What is mostly there postwar, modern, lionel, mth, and is there mostly ho, o gauge there etc.
Thanks
Have not been to Great Train Show at that venue, but as a general rule the GTS features a lot of operating layouts and a ride-on train for kids. The show is oriented more toward families and people who are new to the hobby, and the vendors tend more to carry more HO and N. You'll see more of the full-line vendors who make the circuit of the big shows, and fewer local dealers. Kind of like a much-scaled-down version of Trainfest. Not a swap meet atmosphere like DuPage.
Considering the variety of excellent portable layouts in NE Illinois and SE Wisconsin, it could be interesting.
I'm usually at DuPage in Oct, Nov, Dec & Jan. I've thinned my collection to just Legacy and DP rarely has any new stuff. If you like the old stuff it's a bonanza!!
Never been to Grayslake.
The Great Train Show at Grays Lake should be pretty predictable as has been stated. It's like a mini Trainfest with little O gauge and mostly HO and N. Great show for families. DuPage you never know for sure what to expect. It may pretty much the same as the previous month or there may be new vendors with great bargains on different stuff. If you go regularly like I do, you can at least depend on seeing many familiar faces and have fun socializing even if you can't find anything to buy. Go to both and you won't miss out on anything.
Art
I have been to the Grayslake show a couple of times, since its only 12 miles from my house, which is an easier drive than DuPage, especially in bad weather. Its in a new building that is a bit larger than the main building at DuPage, more like the new building at Kane County, and it is oriented toward families and newbies.....nothing wrong with that. As stated, not as much O Gauge as DuPage, but enough to keep me interested. I'll go, just to support it...I don't buy much these days, but its always nice to see whats going on. I only get down to Wheaton once or twice a year, even in great weather.
