How was Allentown?

       

Funny how we live in the social-media culture now that expects instantaneous feedback on life's events -- which isn't always a good thing, by the way, but it comes with the times.   LOL!!!

I arrived late -- around 12noon, and crowds were still healthy.   Hard to say if dealers were happy with sales volume, but I did see lots of folks walking out with a small bag or two in hand.  No big boxes leaving the building though.

One familiar local dealer had the NYC Water Level set for $1175, which was tempting -- given Charlie Ro's latest sale price was $1250.  Had I still been purchasing O-gauge items like prior days past, I might have reached for my checkbook on that one.  But Standard Gauge fills my toy train budget these days, generally speaking.

Speaking of Standard Gauge though, I must say many of the sellers with original pre-war tinplate items in so-so to downright awful condition really need a HUGE reality check!!!  I'm not even sure there IS a market for that stuff if it's not in immaculate condition -- especially for the prices they were asking.  I almost would categorize some of the less-kept pieces as junk -- even if they were original pre-war units.  That only goes so far, and I expect the only mileage those pieces see are being driven from train show to train show.  Seems they could learn a few lessens from their Lionel post-war brethren who've already learned the hard way that poorly-kept items from the postwar era don't even get a second look in today's super-saturated market.  

I missed seeing The Public Delivery Track in their usual spot at the entrance to the show.  Perhaps Beth is only doing one show per year.  Will have to inquire.

Nicest part of the show was seeing families enjoy the operating layouts.  Nice variety of displays.

David

Seemed like there was more Tinplate and G scale stuff than I remember seeing in years past.  But maybe that's because there's not that much O scale I'm currently looking for, so I pay more attention to things I would've overlooked in previous shows.  I agree with David, it was very strange not to see The Public Delivery Tracks' wall of trains as soon as you walk in the door.  And of course, the  "inner hall" wasn't the same without the big Doherty's display!  

 

Crowds seemed pretty good.  At 7 45 I had to park in the dirt lot across the street which was a sheet of ice.

 

 

 

 

Here are a few shots of the layouts in the back.  All in all, it was an okay show.  Picked up a NS Heritage dummy and a few odds and ends....can't complain.   I did think the Ham Fam breakfast was maybe the smallest attendance I've seen.

 

 

 

 

 

It was strange to not see Public Delivery when walking in the door and no Sean in his usual corner. There was not a lot to choose from I did not see much buying going on.  I was able to find a few parts I needed but that was about it

Wasn't the same with out you Sean. Though I was impressed by the new TCS sound decoders. They're working on one for O scale.

Ralph

I was contemplating long term show strategy and passing on York for 2015 and attending Allentown and the Big E in Springfield. The early reports dont sound to convincing for Allentown. Maybe someone else can convince me

Just got home. The show was well attended and the usual variety of dealers were there...Gryzboski, Nicolas Smith, Scenic Express, OGR etc. It seemed like there was a good number of tables with S gauge stuff, some G scale as well. You can still find much of what you want here and the prices were very good to about average. The entire show is about 60% the size of the Orange Hall at York and comparable to a Greenberg show. Took about 3 hours to walk the show to browse and buy some trains. The convenient part is The Ritz BBQ restaurant for lunch at the end of the fairgrounds (established 90 years ago), and the huge farmers market right across the way. The fringe benefit is that I went food shopping before leaving the fairgrounds.

It was a good day and worth the 1 hr trip.

just got home and this was my first show since nov 2012, pretty goos crowd i saw a bunch of things i wanted but past on most because it seemed the weren't willing to budge even a little in price, i ended up with  PC and CP rail gp's and mastching cabeese both for great prices from the same dealer, think i might have left my book purchase at his stand too DOH!

Dave

What No photos of that nicely done european layout?

 

I was not too impressed as a bunch of dealers did a no show or will show tomorrow. the big shocker was No Beth of Public delivery track! She must have hurt her back really bad.

I took a photo of the bridge on my phone, but I don't think it came out all that well.

 

As for the show, I'll agree with everything said here. Big crowd, more tinplate than I normally notice, nice layouts, lot was a mess (usually not nearly that bad), some dealers prices were high, some were low.

 

The only thing I don't agree with is going to Mary Ann's for doughnuts. It's the Amish Bakery for me!

 

Lots and Lots of American Flyer!!!  Got my game train cars.  Had the engine.  Very crowded in the main hall.  Still i feek]l its one of the best shows around!!!  How about a Summer Heat Show and a Winter Cold show along with First Frost and Spring Thaw show.  Hahahaha  All in all great time.  One thing need more chairs for the shoppers  Ed P.

I just made it home.  We arrived at the show about 10.  we had to park in the muddy lot across the street about six rows in.  We walked around the entrance hall and made our way to the O Gauge booth in time for the photo.  There was a large crowd waiting for the group photo.  I picked up two MTH tank cars in the purple boxes.  I bought a K-line truck and little foot bridge, a small scale ruler and square and a snap ring.  Next we went over to the Farmers Market and bought some fresh vegetables.  Left the Fair Grounds and drove over to Cabela's.  Had a late lunch at Texas Road House.

As was mentioned by several others, there were a lot of folks there. Since I have to stay at my table, I didn't get a chance to walk around. Sales for me were better today then the three days at York in October. If things are slow, I'll try to get around a bit tomorrow. The guys I'm with were taking turns buying from other guys, so I was left alone several times to mind the store.

I met some friends from another forum I'm a member of, and talked to some guys who have bought loads from me before. A few guys ordered some stuff for York pickup.

In spite of the icy lots, the the weather was far better then it's been in quite some time, and it was nice to get out.

Don

I thought there was a very good crowd. They kept my partner and I busy all day. It was after 3 o'clock until thing really slowed down which made the day go fast. Its always hard to figure out what the folks will be interested in so we try to have a little of this and a little bit of that. Never got a chance to look at the others tables, just too busy. Hopefully Sunday will be at least half of what today was. Don't do any standard gauge. Prices seam soft at auction and it just takes too much room for the limited space we have.

As in the past I found the Spring Thaw meet well attended and I thought there was a lot of buying taking place.  The parking lot across the street where I had to park was a mixture of ice, water and mud; however I really didn't mind it at all.  It just added another unique memory to this outstanding meet.  I really didn't purchase much, just a couple of 6 inch Marx cars and a signal or two. I just sort of ambled around and did a lot of browsing for parts.  I will go into the true buyers mode at York.  Even though I didn't return home with a sack full of loot I still thought it was well worth the trip.

forgot to mention i now have muddy sneakers. think i might head back tomorrow and see if i can locate my misplaced book. also just might snag that weaver c-630 in lv colors now that i have permission.

that last post from me was spelled even worse than usual, i must have been on an allentown high.

Dave

First, I need to learn about the food options before I go.  Donuts?  What donuts?

 

I made my first trek up there this AM.  It was about 3.5 hours up via 66/95/76 at 5am.  I forgot about the $25 in tolls that the states of MD and PA cost me - maybe DE and NJ, too - they all blended together....  Ridiculous!  Came home the "back" way to avoid getting toll'd to death a second time!

As others have said, there was a good mix of stuff.  I saw enough MTH and Lionel to make me happy that I went, but the 8 hours of travel were not enough to justify the 2 hours that I spent buying nothing.  It beat the heck out of any of the recent Greenburg shows I have been to recently.  But will probably not go again, unless I'm within 2 hours of the place.  Maybe the donuts would have changed this...

 

York is still the best, and I've even been disappointed with that, as lately I've been on the hunt for some used MTH west-coast road names and found York lacking in that area - so I just bought a used SP engine from a fellow forumite.  Could have put the $60 in gas and $25 in tolls into that and I'd be much better off.

 

On the way home, I stopped in York at B&E, since I have never been there.  Was glad I stopped - found two boxcars I had been looking for.  Not sure how I found them in there, as it reminded me of a couple of old Chicago hobby stores that were packed to the gills.

It was my first visit to Allentown and I really enjoyed it.  I loved the running layouts.  They were really nice to watch. 

 

I picked up a 6 pack of Lionel coal hoppers, 2 Western Maryland hoppers, a real nice Berkshire locomotive and a few track maintenance supplies. 

 

Special shout out to ROCKEY MOUNTAINEER.  It was real pleasure meeting you sir and the ZW-C is just awesome. 

I am surprised that anyone would go out in this stuff.   Of course, I am from CA and it was 72 degrees today.  Joe

 

 

Its called devotion, Joe... and noting better to do with a Winter Saturday!  

 

The breakfast get-together was great. Ice on parking area a nightmare. The 5 (or so) modular layouts were wonderful.

Good show for $7 admission. Worth a two and a half hour drive one way? I keep going....

As a hard core survivalist, all I can say is that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.  I've driven in Hurricanes, camped out on 10* days in the snow and hiked the Appalachia trail in February.  A little ice is no detriment at all.

Beth from Public Delivery Track called us and has indicated she will be coming back.  Her infirmity is the only thing keeping her away. 

The worst ice I saw was in the Hamfam parking lot, but the breakfast and company made that insignificant. The train show got crowed after the 9am general admission and by 11 the place was actually to warm, I think I heard Ted say they turned off the heat, so it may have cooled down by noon.  I saw lots of guys with purchases, saw a few things I wanted :-) but didn't buy as I may be moving and have to much to box up already.

Here's a few.  While I didn't notice it when I was there, I find the blue car in the sky to the left of the large bridge (2nd picture) very curious.  If anyone knows the story behind that, please share.

 

 

-Dave

I had a great day today although I usually go on Saturday today was a day for deals. Picked up  the Lionel NS Pennsy heritage unit, what a great looking engine.

 

Also picked up my Lionel Y3  that Alex upgraded to four chuffs, upgrade smoke and installation of fat boy speakers. 

 

Although not as busy as most Saturdays this Sunday it seemed to be steady with people buying at east from my point of view.

It was good show as always..There were some good deals to be found.. Always worth the visit..

Here's a few.  While I didn't notice it when I was there, I find the blue car in the sky to the left of the large bridge (2nd picture) very curious.  If anyone knows the story behind that, please share. 

In the Harry Potter movies they had a flying car.  Since they Had the Hogwarts train on that layout, my guess is they had a Harry Potter theme.

 

It's in our genes...

 

Jerry

it was packed when we got there 10:30am. I found a nice L&NE poster size picture for $1.00 of the tamaqua arlington yard. just before we left I went over to nicholas smith and found three RMT us military coal cars for $20 a piece.

 

no one was really interested in doing trades, seems they just wanted to move what they had for cash only. one of our club members came with three fully loaded broadway limited PRR DCC/sound HO diesels to trade for one used PRR 2-8-8-2 DCC/sound loaded steam engine and the dealer refused. some of the prices were high, we left about 2pm and people was not buying much. I did find the wbb L&NE FA dummy B unit, but the dealer wanted way more than I had with me. 

This was my first show as a dealer and was very happy with my sales-will be back for First Frost!!

David,

 

 

People want instant feedback with everything now!!!!   My opinion in regards to buying, train hobbyist are selling more than there buying!!!