I have never been to a Greenberg show, and I am contemplating going to Monroeville tomorrow... what is your opinion of the Greenberg Shows? Thanks!
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They are okay. They are not strictly O, obviously, and they also sell a lot of toy stuff. I can't speak to the show you are planning to go to, the one I go to in Edison is decent though it has shrunk in recent years. You can find some good items there, though like many train shows also a lot of people with tables who seem to be overpriced and never sell anything IME. They usually have modular layouts, which is fine. It is nowhere the size of a First Frost/Spring thaw, The Big E or of course a York, but it still is not a wasted day IMO.
I have often attended the Monroeville Greenberg show. Since I live in Northwestern Pennsylvania, I have never attended the Allentown or Big E shows bigkid referred to. I have seen enough photographs of those shows to know the Greenberg show doesn't compare.
I hate to compare Greenberg with the Parma or Pittsburgh (Cheswick) TCA shows, but I think I can say something positive about each. The Greenberg show is in a much larger facility than the two above mentioned TCA shows. However, as bigkid pointed out, it does include some toys, lots of model motor vehicles, and trains of a variety of scales. I think O gauge 3-rail is best represented, with HO second. There may be more modern versus pre- and post-war trains. The big draw for me at Monroeville is the Pittsburgh Independent HiRailers modular layout. There are layouts in smaller scales, but my aging eyes make those less enjoyable for me. To me the TCA shows are great places for the post-war enthusiast, but do have some modern trains as well.
I looked at your profile and see your zip code places you about twice as far as I am to Monroeville. I went to Parma once, which is a little farther for me to go there as it is for you to go to Monroeville. Keep in mind, the Pennsylvania Turnpike just raised tolls once again last week. The last I read, America's first superhighway is America's most expensive per mile. I can skip the Penna Tpk going to Parma or Monroeville, but you may want to check on the latest pricing to the Monroeville (Pittsburgh) exit. Of course if you have some additional reason to come to Pittsburgh, then it is a no brainer. I'm afraid I am sitting this one out.
@Mark Boyce posted:Of course if you have some additional reason to come to Pittsburgh, then it is a no brainer. I'm afraid I am sitting this one out.
Mark, There’s always a good additional reason to go to Pittsburgh. To get a Primanti’s Bros. sandwich n’at of course!
@rplst8 posted:Mark, There’s always a good additional reason to go to Pittsburgh. To get a Primanti’s Bros. sandwich n’at of course!
How true! Jeet jet??
With one exception they are disappointing to say the least. There's one next weekend 25 minutes from my house and the only times I was there in the last 15 years were the last 2 years due to pandemic withdrawal. Needeless to say I have no plans to go this year.
I've been to all the Greenberg shows in Pa, Nj and De and the only one worth going to anymore is the Edison, Nj show.
IMO, both Allentown shows beat any Greenberg show.
-Greg
I went to the Greenbergs in Timonium Md. this past Christmas and it was decidedly smaller than usual. Several dealers I always look forward to weren't there and there was a lot of empty tables space and whole aisles missing, the concession stand wasn't open just a table with coffee, soda and chips available. Honestly I was pretty disappointed as I look forward to it as a Christmas event , I did go to Allentown and while it was pretty good I don't know if it was worth the drive from Schrewsbury. I might just stick with York this fall.
Jerry
The Monroeville show has been disappointing the last couple times I went, after not having gone for about 5 years. I went in July and November of last year and probably won’t go back for a while. It was underwhelming both times, and not worth the 45 minute drive and dealing with Monroeville traffic.
@TrainHead did you go today? If so, what are your thoughts?
I agree the Greenberg show isn’t what it was, but as far as I know, it is the largest show that is a day trip from my home. Better shows would make an overnight stay necessary. That said, I could have gone, I just didn’t feel like a 75 minute drive each way. True, Monroeville traffic is part of the reason.
The one at the Dulles Expo Center is pretty good.
@baltimoretrainworks posted:I went to the Greenbergs in Timonium Md.
Is that the same as “the great scale train show” they have there?
@rplst8 posted:Is that the same as “the great scale train show” they have there?
No totally different show
Jerry
I hope you went. Its a beautiful day here in western PA. Cold but nice. You never know what you might fine. One thing for sure, you won't fine anything sitting at home.
I’ve been to the Edison one. It’s fine. To me it’s a good venue for picking up things like rolling stock. That is where deals can be had on freight cars etc that people don’t want to bring home with them. A few larger dealers as well who might be willing to deal on some items, too.
The Greenberg Show in Wilmington Delaware at The Chase Riverfront is not bad, a few less tables now then the last few shows before the pandemic but I always end up finding something.
Good Selection of O gauge 3 rail, and American Flyer S, followed by HO.
I still miss Pennsauken and Fort Washington.
I try to go to the Wilmington, De. show each year, as it is a nicer ride for me than Edison. All of them are over an hour from me now.
@rplst8 posted:No, joo?
LOL
Yunto?
I have been selling trains at Edison for 15 years and what I have seen is consistent crowds and vendors. It has been that way all the time. It is still the largest show in NJ, so I don't see the "not what it used to be" factor. I just started doing some other Greenbergs, so I have nothing to compare with those. Anyway lets just get out and have fun selling or buying, that's why we do this! Next show for me, Richmond!
The Monroeville Greenberg is still the largest show in Western, PA, even if it is not as large as it was 20+ years ago. From the OP's location, the only other comparable in size shows within a reasonable day trip distance, are Mt. Hope, OH (one day show), and one other in OH that escapes me at the moment. I often take really long day trips with my club to shows like Allentown and Timonium, and really don't recommend it to anyone without companions to help with the driving. Personally, I would drive alone 2-3 hours each way for a show the size of Monroeville Greenberg because any train show is better than no train show, and I enjoy a train show even if I find nothing to buy.
This past show, the Saturday crowd was bigger than I've seen it in a long time. Sunday was fairly light, but that was primarily due to the Steelers game. One of the local TV stations even did a short segment on this show yesterday. HERE is the link, in case anyone missed my post in the "Announcements" section of the forum.
Andy
Did anyone attend the Greenberg show in Oaks, PA today? Considering going tomorrow and would love to hear feedback to see if it’s worth the hour plus drive.
Rick
I and my son went to the Oaks show today. Parking was rough; there were 2 other shows going on, a Cannibis Fair, and a Reptile Show. So we arrived about one hour after train show start, and had to park a few lots over, about 1/3 mile walk.
The crowd size within the Train show was good, larger than the last time I went to Greenberg's Oaks show.
As for show content, only 1 O gauge layout, lots of HO, mostly used stuff. You won't find any large selection of O gauge newer engines (MTH, Lionel).
I was picking up a PRSL AS-616 from Holly Beach Trains so the 30 min drive was worth it to me.
