I’m always ready for York. No planning needed! Flight, hotel and car rental are ready months ahead. My up to date inventory is always with me. I don’t make a list anymore cause the trains find me!
Food and activities are on the fly.
mike.caruso posted: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!
You guys are my kind of people!
-Greg
Hi Dave, It may not be a project for you, but I drive 500 miles to get there, & I stay 6 day's. I have a check off list (25 things) to bring with me, and things to do before I leave. This will be my 80th trip to York. If you are not aware, I am 88 years old.
eddie g posted:Hi Dave, It may not be a project for you, but I drive 500 miles to get there, & I stay 6 day's. I have a check off list (25 things) to bring with me, and things to do before I leave. This will be my 80th trip to York. If you are not aware, I am 88 years old.
Heck, I just turned 53 yesterday and even I have a list of things to do so that when I do arrive I can devote all my energies to having fun! 
-Greg
My 5th and still a rookie but most of the basics are easy now.
My main planning now is:
Knowing I'll see so many trains I can't bring home.
Larry
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Yep - I always walk away with an empty wallet … that's what makes York so great!
In our group, we are such work-aholics, planning is essential … planning to have a good time!
I can only think of a couple other things that would be more fun! 
Some of us are kidding, some are not. But I like hearing the differing viewpoints of the members at the various points in their lives. We will all be there one day or have already been there. None of the posts sounds like they are making too big of a project out of it. Some people just like to plan it to the last nut. Some like to wing the whole trip. I am in between, I need to plan a little to make sure I fly into the right city and get to the right place and have a place to sleep. The rest I am willing to wing except for taking the advice of the members so I don't look like a dweeb at my first York.
Chris Sheldon
"The rest I am willing to wing except for taking the advice of the members so I don't look like a dweeb at my first York".
LOL... I think we will all fit in. York brings the nerds out in everyone.
Last York I had to take a crash course in 1930's Lionel O prewar... Had to figure out what was what... its was a whole new collecting adventure...
Today I am making a list of all the prewar parts I need...
Any new suppliers in the Orange Hall?
This will be my first York and my second train show ever. I have no idea what I am doing, what to expect, where to go when, or who anyone is. This sounds like a recipe for making new friends, impulse buying stuff I didn't know I needed, and having a great time.
1. Make sure CDL is up to date
2. Rent tractor and trailer
3. Empty all bank accounts
4. Make sure I'm there by Wednesday morning.
Don't forget to load up the camper too!
FireOne posted:so I don't look like a dweeb at my first York.
Chris Sheldon
If you are under 65, you will look like it may be your first York.
Joe Hohmann posted:FireOne posted:so I don't look like a dweeb at my first York.
Chris Sheldon
If you are under 65, you will look like it may be your first York.
Better to give the appearance of being at your first York than your last one.
FireOne posted:... except for taking the advice of the members so I don't look like a dweeb at my first York.
Chris Sheldon
Unless you use it for tracking your inventory, don't have a price guide sticking out of your pocket.
Price guide pfff. Last thing on my list of things to bring... I may even bring a couple of shot glasses and join Ted in the parking lot for some pre-tail gating!
This will be my first York and my second train show ever. I have no idea what I am doing, what to expect, where to go when, or who anyone is,
Pete, comfortable walking shoes, lots snd lots of cash, credit card with a zero balance and at least a $10,000 limit.
The way to get through the day, rum or bourbon every few hours!
The trunk bar will be open for operations!
Joe Hohmann posted:FireOne posted:so I don't look like a dweeb at my first York.
Chris Sheldon
If you are under 65, you will look like it may be your first York.
Just turned 58, so I hope to attend a few of these shindigs. Without the price guide in my pocket.
Chris Sheldon
Phase 1: The Squirrel . . . . . . . Put all available cash into a secret hiding place that even you will forget
Phase 2: The Book . . . . . . . Check and recheck your accommodation. Ask for multiple e-mail confirmations just to make certain you have not screwed it up.
Phase 3: The Black Hole . . . . . . . Make certain every square inch of the trunk/wayback is completely empty. This includes and emergency equipment that might take up room you could use for a boxcar.
Phase 4: The Fill . . . . . . . Make sure you have gone to the gas station three weeks before York to ensure you have enough gas so you don't have to do any Thursday morning stops. Not even for the bathroom. You might miss the national anthem.
Phase 5: Waffles . . . . . . Make sure your wife knows when you are leaving so she can get up at 4:00 AM and make waffles for you and everyone riding in your car.
Phase 6: The Space . . . . . . Get a good parking spot in front of the Orange Hall and line up at the doors well before the anthem. Then, when the anthem finishes and the guys behind you are screaming, "Play Ball," you rush to Vince's Trains before anyone can grab that Little Joe from you.
Phase 7: The Awakening . . . . . . You wake up and realize there are still 12 days until York week and Eddie is still counting.
Phase 5: Waffles . . . . . . Make sure your wife knows when you are leaving so she can get up at 4:00 AM and make waffles and scrapple for you and everyone riding in your car. 
Jdaddy, I don't think that would be a good idea.
You're right Eddie. There is no where to take a nap. And I have allot of ground to cover
HCSader73 posted:This will be my first York and my second train show ever. I have no idea what I am doing, what to expect, where to go when, or who anyone is. This sounds like a recipe for making new friends, impulse buying stuff I didn't know I needed, and having a great time.
#1 Expect sensory overload. I would suggest starting in Orange Hall.
#2 A great place to meet and greet people is at the pre-meet Breakfast at the Round the Clock Diner on Thursday morning.
#3 Check out Clem's York Primer
Gilly@N&W posted:HCSader73 posted:This will be my first York and my second train show ever. I have no idea what I am doing, what to expect, where to go when, or who anyone is. This sounds like a recipe for making new friends, impulse buying stuff I didn't know I needed, and having a great time.
#1 Expect sensory overload. I would suggest starting in Orange Hall.
#2 A great place to meet and greet people is at the pre-meet Breakfast at the Round the Clock Diner on Thursday morning.
#3 Check out Clem's York Primer
#1. Check; #2. Check; #3. Check. I still don't know anything, but shame on me if I don't have a great time!
Ted Bertiger posted:This will be my first York and my second train show ever. I have no idea what I am doing, what to expect, where to go when, or who anyone is,
Pete, comfortable walking shoes, lots snd lots of cash, credit card with a zero balance and at least a $10,000 limit.
The way to get through the day, rum or bourbon every few hours!
The trunk bar will be open for operations!
Thanks Ted!. I'll take the bourbon neat. There ain't nuthin' like good sippin' whiskey and time.
HCSADER73, What kind of trains are you into? What years? Are you a collector, operator or what? I need this information so I can help you on where to start, what hall. I think that I know a little about York. This will be my 80th trip to York, 500 miles each way. P.S. Not a good idea drinking at the meet.
eddie g posted:HCSADER73, What kind of trains are you into? What years? Are you a collector, operator or what? I need this information so I can help you on where to start, what hall. I think that I know a little about York. This will be my 80th trip to York, 500 miles each way. P.S. Not a good idea drinking at the meet.
Very kind of you, Eddie!
I am into Lionel postwar O gauge, particularly steamers. I don't have room in my condo for a layout so I am a Carpet Liner out of necessity. My objective is to take cast offs, rehabilitate them, and make sets for my grandchildren. Most of the locos and cars I acquire are broken, rusty, and filthy. Some are no better than corroded paperweights. So far I have succeeded to repair and to renew every junk car and loco worked on. I started out with all the technical skill of a History major. Since you can't wreck junk, I have been bold in taking things apart, seeing how they work, reading Greenberg, and putting things to rights. I spend most of my money on little things, like screws, brushes and springs, eccentric rod assemblies, drive rods, and side rods to replace the corroded ones which cannot be redeemed and the occasional armature. (I haven't attempted to rewire magnetic fields yet.) The aggregate cost of component parts adds up fast.
Right now I am trying to put together a Christmas themed set for a friend's little girl...nothing a collector would value, or which might be hurt by being painted red, green, and white with Christmas decals.
You are so right about the drinking.
John Pignatelli JR. posted:Make sure your wife knows when you are leaving
He already told his wife he was going on a 3-day religious retreat. No reason to push his luck.
eddie g posted:Not a good idea drinking at the meet.
Eddie learned the hard way. One meet it took him 2 hours to find where he parked his car.
Since I have to plan everything else in life I don't plan York at all. I just go, immerse and enjoy.
Just go and enjoy!
Usually I just conspire with friends.
George
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"Since I have to plan everything else in life I don't plan York at all. I just go, immerse and enjoy.Let's see "
Huh? Wait a minute... your our club planner! The Clock Dinner is our main get together! That was always arranged by you!
Lets see...
1) I have my list of prewar parts ready!
2) Next I am going to grab a list of tools I should bring
Peter, You want to start in the blue hall, then go to the silver hall which is attached to the blue hall. Then up to the red hall and then to the white hall which is right behind the red hall. Do the purple & orange halls last. This is the way I have done it for as many years as I can remember. I'm not into post 1970 stuff. I am a prewar 1930-42, & postwar 1945-1956 collector and operator. I couldn't count how many layouts I have had over the years. Hope this helps.
Set a limit and then add a thousand or so to it. This will be my 13th time to York with my wife. She likes my hobby and enjoys going with me and carrying purchases out to van. I am blessed. She gives me help on my layout and advice. York is a have fun place.
eddie g posted:Peter, You want to start in the blue hall, then go to the silver hall which is attached to the blue hall. Then up to the red hall and then to the white hall which is right behind the red hall. Do the purple & orange halls last. This is the way I have done it for as many years as I can remember. I'm not into post 1970 stuff. I am a prewar 1930-42, & postwar 1945-1956 collector and operator. I couldn't count how many layouts I have had over the years. Hope this helps.
Thanks Eddie! Could you please explain the reasoning for progressing from Blue to Silver, Red, White, Purple to Orange. It would be good to know why I am doing what I am doing in the absence of following Hansel and Gretel's bread crumbs.
Thanks a lot!
Pete
Blue and Silver are largely where the long time members are. (I refer to them as the "blue and silver hair" halls; even though I'm a member of that club, I still think it's funny, but I digress.) Lots of older items and unusual stuff. Unfortunately, many folks in blue and silver haven't gotten the memo on prices - still trying to get 1990's/early 2000s prices on stuff they've been hauling home every six months for 15 years. Red and White are similar, but the members might be a little newer. Purple and Orange are dealers, most of whom are selling primarily newer stuff. Of course, there are lots of exceptions to this.
For a person interested in postwar, Blue, Silver, Red, and White will be the most promising. Which order you visit them doesn't really matter IMO, unless you're looking for a particular person. The order in which I visit them usually depends on where I park the car.
Also, my totally unscientific impression is that Blue and Silver have the highest concentration of tables which remain covered early and late in the day - I find it frustrating and curious that someone would go to the effort and then leave stuff covered up.
Remember that the member halls close earlier than the dealer halls, and plan accordingly.
Mallard4468 posted:Blue and Silver are largely where the long time members are. (I refer to them as the "blue and silver hair" halls; even though I'm a member of that club, I still think it's funny, but I digress.) Lots of older items and unusual stuff. Unfortunately, many folks in blue and silver haven't gotten the memo on prices - still trying to get 1990's/early 2000s prices on stuff they've been hauling home every six months for 15 years. Red and White are similar, but the members might be a little newer. Purple and Orange are dealers, most of whom are selling primarily newer stuff. Of course, there are lots of exceptions to this.
For a person interested in postwar, Blue, Silver, Red, and White will be the most promising. Which order you visit them doesn't really matter IMO, unless you're looking for a particular person. The order in which I visit them usually depends on where I park the car.
Also, my totally unscientific impression is that Blue and Silver have the highest concentration of tables which remain covered early and late in the day - I find it frustrating and curious that someone would go to the effort and then leave stuff covered up.
Remember that the member halls close earlier than the dealer halls, and plan accordingly.
That makes perfect sense. Thanx, Mallard!
MALLARD4468 pretty much answered your question. Like he said the purple and orange hall are dealer halls mostly 1970 & later, a lot of new stuff, but there also is some early trains in the narrow rows in the front of the orange hall. I think that the purple hall is mostly a waist of time.
