Indy 2rail show

I’ll be there.  Hopefully a LOT of other 2 railers, we need a large attendance count.

Looking forward to it.

Thanks for posting date....location and hours?

Hoping to make the show this year!

@colorado hirailer posted:

Thanks for posting date....location and hours?

Good question - seems to be a dearth of advertising on this show -- hopefully that learning curve will not impact this show,

But to answer your question:

Fri. Sept. 20, 3:00 - 7:00 pm; Sat. Sept. 21, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Hotel Information:          La Quinta Inn & Suites Indianapolis South  

                         Address: 5120 Victory Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46203  

                    Phone: (317) 783-7751

                              $104.00 + 17% Tax per night: 1 King or 2 Queen

Request à Hanson Rail Service rate!

Facebook: https://fb.com/indyoscaleshow            Website: indyoscaleshow.com    

Email: indyoscaleshow@gmail.com                   Phone (317) 435-8378

Two of us coming from Michigan.

If I do go, I will go Friday only!     Not paying those rates for a motel/hotel in Indy.!    Or I will find a better rate elsewhere......

For hotel rates that might be better,  Look at Kokomo just to the north.  Plenty of hotels, food ect.   Here is a picture of my flyer that was out at the Franklin show this weekend.   I got a few 2 rail items as well at this show!

Hmmm....same weekend as the IMSA six-hour sports car race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Suddenly that weekend looks even better.

David

@artfull dodger posted:

For hotel rates that might be better,  Look at Kokomo just to the north.  Plenty of hotels, food ect.   Here is a picture of my flyer that was out at the Franklin show this weekend.   I got a few 2 rail items as well at this show!

One of the things to remember with these shows is that getting the venue is the hardest part for whether or not the show even takes place.  The hotel rooms associated with these shows are not listed just to provide a convenience of providing a place to stay for out-of-town guests, they are part of the complete show overhead for the the promoter.  Many of these show promoters must fund a guaranteed room reservation count whether they are spoken for or not in order to lock in the venue.  I realize that it is human nature to try and make an outing like this the most economical as possible but I don't think people realize that filling out the associated hotel room reservation is a key element in whether or not the show continues into following years.  E.g., even if the show attendance is good/great but the room reservations fall short, the hotel will very likely not want you back the next year, and as I stated at the beginning, just getting the venue is the hardest part of making a show possible.

I have no financial interest in this show but just wanted to let people know that room reservations are part of the overhead for the promoter and a gauge of whether or not the show continues.  Obviously, it is your money and you have the right to spend it however you wish. 

Scott

I only mentioned places to stay outside of Indy as many dont care for the higher cost or higher crime/violence rate in big cities like Indianapolis. But if they are not local or know the area, they may not know where one can stay in reasonable driving distance.   I will be there at the show, I am from Kokomo btw,   I am trying to get a 2 rail Ow5 modular group started again.  Many, like myself, live in small house or apartment with no room for a satisfying 2 rail layout.  Its time to change that.     Mike

@artfull dodger posted:

For hotel rates that might be better,  Look at Kokomo just to the north.  Plenty of hotels, food ect.   Here is a picture of my flyer that was out at the Franklin show this weekend.   I got a few 2 rail items as well at this show!

@artfull dodger posted:

I only mentioned places to stay outside of Indy as many dont care for the higher cost or higher crime/violence rate in big cities like Indianapolis. But if they are not local or know the area, they may not know where one can stay in reasonable driving distance.   I will be there at the show, I am from Kokomo btw,   I am trying to get a 2 rail Ow5 modular group started again.  Many, like myself, live in small house or apartment with no room for a satisfying 2 rail layout.  Its time to change that.     Mike

For those who aren't familiar with central Indiana, the show is on the south side, about 65-70 miles from Kokomo.  That's about 1-1/2 hours each way from Kokomo - after including the cost of gas, wear and tear on the vehicle, and the value of your time (3 hours round trip each day), the $104 rate for LaQuinta is a bargain.  And LaQuinta usually includes a hot breakfast in the room rate.  Crime in Indy isn't much worse than Kokomo if you exercise common sense and situational awareness.  Don't leave valuables in your car, and if you pull a trailer, park it so that it can't easily be stolen.

Don't stay at a $60 hotel - even if the room is OK, those prices attract the wrong clientele.  I'm not too particular - if a place is clean, has a comfortable bed, and reasonably safe, I'm good.  But I've learned to avoid the cheapest option; in central Indiana, I wouldn't stay at a place that is less than about $100 unless there was no other option.   

@Scott Kay posted:

One of the things to remember with these shows is that getting the venue is the hardest part for whether or not the show even takes place.  The hotel rooms associated with these shows are not listed just to provide a convenience of providing a place to stay for out-of-town guests, they are part of the complete show overhead for the the promoter.  Many of these show promoters must fund a guaranteed room reservation count whether they are spoken for or not in order to lock in the venue.  I realize that it is human nature to try and make an outing like this the most economical as possible but I don't think people realize that filling out the associated hotel room reservation is a key element in whether or not the show continues into following years.  E.g., even if the show attendance is good/great but the room reservations fall short, the hotel will very likely not want you back the next year, and as I stated at the beginning, just getting the venue is the hardest part of making a show possible.

I have no financial interest in this show but just wanted to let people know that room reservations are part of the overhead for the promoter and a gauge of whether or not the show continues.  Obviously, it is your money and you have the right to spend it however you wish.

Scott

Excellent post regarding the hotel situation.  Nickel and diming it might save a few bucks but could bring about the end of a small show like this one.  (I have no financial interest here either.)

Oh I agree the La Quinta is a bargain.  Just giving options.  When the 500 race happens in May, you cant get a room here in Kokomo, so for some its an option.   Was just throwing it out there.  I hope there is an awsome turnout for the show.  I have several things I am hunting for projects. 

Any of you 3 rail scale members going ? Always something you want/need at scale shows.

@nikko posted:

Any of you 3 rail scale members going ? Always something you want/need at scale shows.

I'm local and have gone a couple of times over the years.  The fact that it was primarily on Friday was a problem when I was still working, and it was a ghost town on Saturday.  Also, the cost was just too much for a small swap meet and a couple of layout tours.  Please note that I'm not criticizing the cost - it's a small niche group and they need to cover expenses - just hard to justify for myself.

Indy O Scale Show next week.I do 3 rail scale and ALWAYS find great items at these 2 rail shows.See you at the show.

I had a great time at the Indy meet, good first show in the new venue.  2 rooms filled with mostly all 2 rail O scale trains with a tiny bit of scale S gauge stuff(both brass and non brass).  Lots of new stuff to vintage stuff.  I picked up a nice US Hobbies brass Boraxo 2 bay hopper with sprung trucks(rotating axle end caps) for $35(no box), a pair of Weaver hoppers with trucks/Kaydees for $20, a unknown importer PRR brass caboose in dirty condition with metal trucks/couplers for $60 and a NJ International tri light signal for $15.  I was pleased.  I would have loved to gotten the Pierce 0-8-0 with both center drivers blind for $200(asking 250) but he only took cash and I didnt have that much with me comming off a month and a half layoff at work.   Been a good heavy engine for my tight curves.  But i have my eye on a Saginaw PRR H10 as it better fits my plans.   Everybody seemed pleased with the reborn meet in the new venue.  Hotel was clean looking, right off I465.  Looking forward to the next one.     Mike

A shoutout to Pail Hanson for doing a great job of pulling together the 2024 Indy O Scale Meet. Also to his helpers and advisors. There were 3 layouts open that were new to us and a chance to see a great PRR layout again. The hotel was excellent. For those who missed it, make it a plan for next year. Thanks all.

2 rooms filled with mostly all 2 rail O scale trains....

Anybody have any idea on number of tables and numbers of attendees?

Great to have the Indy Show again.

Attended Saturday morning, greeted by Paul Hanson at registration desk with a smile.  A very pleasant/super easy process to enter show, if you didn’t preregister on line.  If you did, he was prepared with nice custom printed name badge for show.

Paul put together a great show and plenty of vendors/deals to be had.  Parts, brass, resin kits, track, decals, scenery materials, books, tools, and 3D prints-all available.  Bought driver castings for $1 each, a complete set of new finished/quartered drivers for $20, Pittman for $15.

Parking was free in a safe/secure area with easy access to lot off show floor.   Hotel conveniently located off interstate, restaurants within walking distance.

Bright future for this show, will attend again next year.  Date is September 19-20, 2025.  Mark your calendar now.

came in from Chicago area for the day . Thanks Paul ,nice job great meet!!!!

Hotel should have been nice; it looked brand new, with no signs  on it.  I circled the block before l took a chance and guessed the right building.  For a cheaper one, there was a Red Roof lnn across the street. I have been staying in Indy for years, but mostly up  north and west, without getting mugged yet, for things like the Covered Bridge Festival straight west .

There are some great and unique resturants in Indy as well that are well worth trying for those staying the night.  Paul did a great job on the new Indy meet.  Looking forward to the next one.   Hope to see a few more vendors in the O scale room at the Danville, Indiana NMRA show in November as well.