Greenberg Train show - Oaks, Pa.

You didn't miss a thing.  It was a waste of time and $7 (or $8 if you didn't have a coupon).   It was a quick and painful reminder why I swore off Greenburg shows within an hour of me several years ago.  But hey, put one in my back yard for the first time in a few years and there I was like an addict needing a fix!  lol

 

--Greg

 

That's sad to hear the quality of these shows has gone down hill so much.  I haven't attended a Greenberg show since the days of the Fort Washington expo center YEARS ago.  I think the last one may have been December 2005!!!    That was more out of convenience than anything else, as even back then the shows were beginning to show their age. 

 

David

Thanks for the confirmation, I've stopped going to Greenberg shows some years back for the same reason!

 

Gentlemen,

   The Greenburg show in Monroeville, Pa is usually darn good, was even better in the old building because the parking was better.  The Monroeville show is definitely worth attending, good vendors and clubs with nice layouts both.  Prices are usually good also.

PCRR/Dave

 

Maybe Dave, but it's a six hour drive for me, and that's one-way!

 

John,

   That is another problem, the good Greenburg Shows use to be all over the country,

today not so much.

PCRR/Dave

The quality of the shows really depends on where you live.   The one in Edison, NJ is pretty good and I've seen pics and reports which seem to confirm the Pittsburgh area show us good as well.   As for the shows in the Philadelphia and surrounding area---pretty much a waste of time as far as O-gauge.    How I miss the old shows at the old FT Washington Expo center.

 

--Greg

And the weather conditions.  There was a fresh 4" of snow topped with freezing rain in the area this past Saturday.  No doubt some of the public and choo-choo train vendors had the common sense to stay off the roads. 

I think we all miss that location...especially Greenberg (the center was converted to office space). They have tried a number of Phila. area locations to replace it...Aston, Ft. Washington, Reading, Lancaster, Oaks, and Wilmington. None drew the attendance, and a few were downright disasters (Aston and Lancaster). Reading was wonderful for dealer and modular group set-up, but it drew families out for entertainment, not spending money. I think the best shows in the NE are probably Timonium and Edison, especially for modular layouts.

ditto

The Ft Washington location was excellent even with an hour drive.

The best ever for me was the show in Pennsauken, NJ

4" of snow being bad?  I can hear all our NE and mid-west forumites laughing at that one.    The weather in the area did not start to get bad until late afternoon.   I stopped for lunch and a movie (next door to the show) and roads were no problem as of 3:00 pm when I got home.   As for empty tables, I only noticed two.  The biggest no-shows were the modular groups but I don't judge shows by the layouts they have up and running.  

 

The parking lots of Target, BJs and Lowes were mobbed when I got at the show at 10:00 and were still that way when I left the movies around 2:20.   I don't think attendance had much at all to do with the weather - probably more like folks trying to get done their holiday shopping.

 

--Greg

 

Yup, probably a combination of items => the season, economy, weather, declining interest in model trains, prices...etc.

 

Though, one item is probably still consistent...and that's not the smell of scrapple permeating the show halls. 

There was one modular layout that was supposed to be there but during set up the owner had a massive heart attack and died in the hospital on Sunday. 

 

Please say a prayer for Carl Person. 

The Greenberg show that comes to the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington Delaware isnt too bad. Alot of vendors, and I always come out with a few things...

Our modular club will be at the WGHOT show in Oaks.

 

Unfortunately due to work had to miss this show. Many say it wasn't a good show. What was making it a bad show? Is it just because there wasn't enough of your scale or interest? The crowd? Venders? What in your mind would honestly improve it? I thinks Oaks is a great location, plenty of parking, interior space & decent restrooms.

Next month is the WGHOT show. Looking forward to that and having our club layout on display. That show is designed for a slightly different crowd than Greenberg but that is alright, any opportunity to showcase our greatest hobby to new people.

I've been several Greenberg shows at Oaks, all were more toy shows and a lot less train shows.  I'm sure there's a place for a toy show, but when I go expecting to see a decent assortment of trains, and all I find are cheap Chinese toys, I'm disappointed.  I am unlikely to go to another at that venue.

While some may not like the Greednberg shows in certain areas, I will vigorously defend the Edison, NJ show that is held three times a year at the NJ Expo Center. Been going to that show for close to 20 years now and for the past 15 years, have been one fo the groups that sets a up a display layout there and runs trains there doing command control demos using DCS, TMCC and Legacy.

It takes a lot of pre-planning on the promoters part in advertising, renting out the venues, etc. etc. I've seen the work that Frank Hicks puts in prior to the weekend's show plus what they have to do during the weekend there. He and his crew work hard to put on these shows, whether they are good or bad, in some people's eyes. But the shows continue and Greenberg PROMOTES this hobby. And Edison is a real good show no matter if some folks bring the same old stuff and/or vendors bring different products to sell. Bargains are to be found there.

 

P.S. Go ask my friend Ernie who bought a Kline NIB Tank engine with TMCC for $200. 

 

PLEASE- don't bash the Greenberg folks for promoting the hobby.

 

P.S.S. And I don't work for Greenberg-I work for the hobby.

 

Just my 2 pennies!

Gun Runner,

   John I agree if Greenburg wants to put on a regular toy show they should advertise it that way, when I attend the shows I go for the trains, not the junk Chineese toys.  Usually the Monroeville show is 90% train oriented.

PCRR/Dave 

Gee Ted, I'm not bashing Greenberg, I'm just saying that the Oaks show rarely has much for folks in the O-gauge train arena.  Are you disputing that?  Have you attended the Oaks show?

 

John,

Not disputing your facts but I do think Greenberg brings in a variety of dealers to their shows. Perhaps, Oaks is one that is not a big O gauge dealer show. And, yes, I haven't been to Oaks but went there for the 1st World's greatest hobby show there which was a family-oriented crowd.

Use to go to Fort Washington, Pennsauken and Valley Forge shows which were pretty good shows.

The reason that the Greenberg show dose not do well there is the price of tables

and the amount of outer shows in the aria cheaper.

 

Good heavens, I did not know that. I was talking to Carl at York, and he mentioned that he and his wife would have their modular layout at Oaks. He was 74, and he and his wife would set up this large layout almost single-handedly at a number of shows each year. The first modular group I belonged to, Delaware Valley Hi-Railers, was "headed" by Carl. A very nice modular layout will probably be no longer seen, since it has basically been a two-people show.