Me too, John! 
Ha! I brought my holder and it still had a badge from 2011. Wrong color though so I had to pay full admission price for a new one. 
As for the original topic, York has always been a social event. Maybe more folks are saying so. Maybe more folks are buying less. Someone posted on another thread how he just comes to see friends and then he usually picks up a train or accessory item anyway.
York Meet was all about TCA members trading items. Somewhere along the way, dealers and manufacturers started coming. They obviously want to turn a profit. But profit isn't necessarily made in a single show. Some folks buy on sight, some order online after their interest was piqued, and some buy at a later York. So yes it's all good for the Meet and the attendees on both sides of the aisles. 
Bill, Excellent point! I will give an example. I have been to York twice, Fall 2017 and Spring 2018. I looked over the Mianne Benchwork and talked with Tim and company both times. Well, I finally got the okay on the new space in the family room, so I called Tim and placed an order a couple weeks before this past York which I couldn't attend. It took a year, but they made the sale. I broke my layout plan down into 3 sections, so there will be more benchwork to order when I get to the other sections.
My layout has been maxed out for a number of years now so I say that I’m going to York for the social aspect. It’s been great to talk to the “heavy hitters”. They really don’t know who I am but have always have been very friendly and very knowledgeable. Last April, while reading my new MTH catalog in my hotel room, a product caught my attention; the MTH DCS Explorer. I had bought the DCS bible years ago and after reading 168 pages, at that time, I decided DCS was not for me. Out of my collection of engines, I run a ps2 and a ps3 because they function great. I bought the Explorer, added a Z1000 brick and I’m now running both engines using my iPad!
Long story short; I go for the friendship but always manage to come home with an empty wallet!
Side Rod
Well, I don't have much York experience. Last year I went to the October meet, and of course this October meet. Ironically, at work today one of the nice office ladies(like my aunt) was asking how my vacation was. I said it was fantastic and proceeded to explain how I talked to a bunch of great people. I had also said that York was different from others shows(I didn't mention Greenberg's to her, but that is what I was talking about). I had said that any other show I have been at isn't the same as York.
I mentioned at the other shows I've been at that I really only know at least two(maybe four) people at the other shows. That being my local train dealer as he is usually there, and one of the members of the TCA I met via EBay. I usually chat with them for a bit at those shows but I don't want to occupy too much of their times either.
One thing I need to do at those shows is try and chat with some of the layout/club folks while I'm there. It just always seems I'm racing the clock at those shows even though its local(to me).
Anyway, back to York. I really enjoyed this time around much better than last year. I would say a few reasons for that are I was very new to the forum last year, and hadn't really posted or chatted with many people. I did talk a bunch last year(and I can talk a lot, lol), but I even said today to my coworkers, that I talked probably four times as much as last year.
Heck, sitting outside the Red Hall(I believe) taking a quick break, I got involved in a conversation with two gentlemen probably 20 years or so older than me. The conversations wasn't all about trains, or even the meet itself, sort of a general conversation you could have with anyone at anytime whether they be your family, friends or neighbors that you haven't seen or talked to in sometime. Shouldn't that be how anything is?
In my limited lifetime of 47 years, I've met some pretty amazing people. One person comes to mind who was someone who folks in the service would have called their old war or service buddy or something like that. My late brother-in-laws Uncle Frank. He was in the navy after WWI and could talk to anyone. Talking to Frank was like talking to a brother or kindred spirit. I really view that as such.
As for spending at York, well, I am happy to say this time around money did get spent in the member halls, specifically the Silver Hall as I bought three buildings. I usually buy what I feel, which may or may not be on my list(which is probably typical for anyone really), it just has to strike me. I had told my friends back home Thursday that I had spent more money on food than trains. Of course that changed Friday and Saturday. I did wish I had about another $500 or so, but was not meant to be this time either.
Regardless it was close to $1,000 I spent on this York. However much I give myself to spend, I will usually spend about all of it. This is true for York, other shows I may not spend a dime.
Anyway, I had a blast, I just have to start talking, lol.
Yes Dave, I remember last fall was the first York for both you and me! I agree about running into so many more people to talk to at York than at the Greenberg show. Monroeville Pennsylvania for me. I have gotten to know the Pittsburgh Independent Hirailers, who truly deserve the Blue Comet Award, and the Pittsburgh S Gauge club guys. Those S Gauge guys really do a great job getting kids involved with AF operating accessories. But I digressed.
Sorry I missed this past York, but Eddie will be telling us how long until the next before we know it. I’m glad I met him last year too!
eddie g posted:I have been going 41 years, & it has always been a social thing . 166 days to York week.
Actually Mark, he already did(yesterday)
LOL He never disappoints!
Farmer_Bill posted:Ha! I brought my holder and it still had a badge from 2011. Wrong color though so I had to pay full admission price for a new one.
One of these years I'm going to not register for York and use an old badge with my TCA card covering the date. Been joking about it for years...pretty sure I have badges in every color of paper known to man! 
-Greg
I believe that ALL train shows are social events and that's why I go. I have found that by attending the local shows, Allentown and Greenbergs I can find the small amount of odd pieces that I need without spending a fortune. At this stage of the game the trip to York is a waste of money for us. It cost over $500 for travel, two days and two nights lodging, food, refreshments etc etc. When your layout is built and you don't need much that's a large expense, but there is something to be said about the social aspect of this hobby that I enjoy greatly.
