How do you plan for York?

I don't.

I go, I see, I try not to buy, I fail.

Not much to prepare. Whatever was in the dryer goes in a bag rather than the drawer,  fill car with gas, set nav for 222 Arsenal Road and go.

York is in TWO WEEKS?? Geez, I'd better get a list together. I think my badges came a while ago. I should start looking for them.

Keep in mind, and be ever-alert (your safety may depend on it) for Crop-dusters. They come in low and slow, "dust," then get away fast. They are only recognizable by the back of their heads as they leave the area.

You've been forewarned.

This forum is truly amazing.  Great advice, and plenty of clever humor... Reminds me of my days in the Army... Hoo - Rah!

1. gather as much money as possible 2. rest up 3. repeat steps 1 & 2. 4. starve myself in anticipation of all the good food at the Round The Clock Diner.....then GO!

No plans I just go. 66 straight times and never a list, why start now.

Dave

My shopping lists have gotten much smaller these days. In fact, I hardly ever buy locomotives, rolling stock or sets anymore. For me it's mostly parts, supplies, smoke fluid, and maybe some landscaping materials. Oh, and a DVD or two.

I (1) make sure I have money; (2)  make sure I have my badge, (3) make sure I have my checkbook; (4) make sure I have a hotel room; (5) make sure I have more money; (6) make sure I have credit cards; (7) try to have a list of all the stuff I have, but I've bought duplicates (makes me feel good to know that I still like whatever I previously bought), and (8) have sort of a list.

Much prefer Fall York to Spring York. That fertilizer on the fields..............

Gerry

I try to do some exercises for the LONG maze of tables too!

I don’t plan anything. I’m an impulse buyer and love it. You never know what you’ll see. That’s what makes York so great.

Moonson posted:

Keep in mind, and be ever-alert (your safety may depend on it) for Crop-dusters. They come in low and slow, "dust," then get away fast. They are only recognizable by the back of their heads as they leave the area.

You've been forewarned.

 

I assume you don't mean this guy

I should add that while I normally don't carry checks, I bring a couple for the occasional big purchase that pops up (last York it was a 3rd Rail Q1 - ouch).  Better bargaining over cards.

The picture is from last weekend while kayaking near Wye Island Reserve, MD.  Buzzed us for about 15 minutes; hopefully it was fall seeding.

CAPPilot posted:

Moonson posted:

Keep in mind, and be ever-alert (your safety may depend on it) for Crop-dusters. They come in low and slow, "dust," then get away fast. They are only recognizable by the back of their heads as they leave the area.

You've been forewarned.

 

I assume you don't mean this guy

You assume correctly.

I plan to get there Thursday.

That’s enough, I am tired from all this planning.

Print my want list.  Print my itinerary with reservation numbers, etc.  Print my inventory to reduce the odds that I'll buy something I already have.

Before leaving, I light a candle in my shrine of the fitty dolla Blue Comet.  Then I exercise vigorously, pull some clothes out of the dirty laundry hamper, eat some greasy BBQ, and hit the road.

Some of the above information is true.

Mallard4468 posted:

Print my inventory to reduce the odds that I'll buy something I already have.

Learned this the hard way a long time ago.  I now always keep an updated inventory in my phone.

Get up early and hit the Thursday Morning breakfast, and play it by ear from then on.

York, what is York?????????????????

The only planning I have is the Legacy meeting...after that it's all played by ear.

Get a diagram of the Fairgrounds and go over the most direct routes from parking space to the High-Priority Halls...much like these fellas are doing.

Marty, How do you play trains by ear?

You just have to practice.

John, you take clean underwear? I just turn mine inside out. It's only one week.

I practice a lot wearing my badge and showing it to my WIFE as I go into different rooms.  I also made up arrows and place them on the floor and go in the direction they tell me.  Been doin this for the past 15 years.  The only thing I wish I had was that annoying lady's voice on the loud speaker saying "May I have your attention please....

Fill gas tank and stop at ATM.

I stay home. Works every time, and my bank account thanks me.

Jeff C

I buy lots of shells, call my cousin, ask if he has a place for me to hunt and then I load up the dogs, the shotguns and my gear and go to the farm for pheasant hunting. Then I read all about it while laying in bed after a good day shooting birds

Zero prep. My trip is early Thursday until Friday...

Tap cash before leaving home. Pack one change of clothes. Get to York in time for Breakfast. Pickup my badge. Hang out in the Lobby of the Orange Hall and visit with friends prior to opening. Try real hard not to spend all of my money in the first 15 minutes. Locate/buy high priority items on my "get list". Make sure to see the operating layouts and get lots of pictures. Have fun at the OGR dinner. Make sure to have someplace to sleep. Back to the Fairgrounds to look for deals. Stop in Shrewsbury to load up on Natty Boh with remaining funds. Head home with my loot.

"Before leaving, I light a candle in my shrine of the fitty dolla Blue Comet."

LOL... I think I found those cars last York! Now I just need the locomotive to go with it!

eddie g posted:

York, what is York?????????????????

You really should consider attending. It's a great train meet...

david1 posted:

No plans I just go. 66 straight times and never a list, why start now.

Dave

Wow! 

Plan, no plan after 50 or so consecutive Yorks. I just make sure the trunk bar is ready with ice and this time it is Bacardi Puerto Rican Rum. Rough work buying trains!

See everyone in about 2 weeks at the big dance!

Gilly@N&W posted:

eddie g posted:

York, what is York?????????????????

You really should consider attending. It's a great train meet...

Eddie G hates York.  If you follow him you can see he really doesn't get excited about it.  LOL!

I was planning to show up with $1M, stay at a five star hotel and haul my purchases home in a huge U Haul, but since I have only $69.50 to spend, I think I will stay home and cry myself to sleep in my huge pillow.

Chris Sheldon

Ted Bertiger posted:

I just make sure the trunk bar is ready with ice and this time it is Bacardi Puerto Rican Rum. Rough work buying trains!

 

 

Ted I'll be driving down Route 30 Thursday morning with a liter of Coke and a couple of limes.  If you see me pull up alongside and roll down your window.  Maybe we can do business!  

Ted Bertiger posted:

Plan, no plan after 50 or so consecutive Yorks. I just make sure the trunk bar is ready with ice and this time it is Bacardi Puerto Rican Rum. Rough work buying trains!

See everyone in about 2 weeks at the big dance!

 

TED - remind me to meet you in the parking lot again!!!

Its always a good time

FireOne posted:

I was planning to show up with $1M, stay at a five star hotel and haul my purchases home in a huge U Haul, but since I have only $69.50 to spend, I think I will stay home and cry myself to sleep in my huge pillow.

Chris Sheldon

Hmm actually that is plenty of money  I bought this little 253e fixer upper for 35 dollars! Cleaned it up and it ran like a clock!!!

I have not decided if I'll be going this time. I have no desire for more trains, or even more 1:43 cars (I know, hard to believe). It depends on my mood that day if I want to do a 4 hour 'round trip for a day of just looking. The thing that I find amusing is that I once wanted lots of train stuff, but had no $$$, while putting 4 kids through college. Now that I have the money, at age 76, the "need" is gone. Oh well, I'm taking my 3 year-old Grandson to the Strasburg RR for his first visit on Sunday.

Some of you guys make a project of going to York. It's either you go or you do not.

Get in your car, drive to York, buy trains ,go home.

it is not rocket science, just go or not, geez!

Dave