Madison WI train show

It is a pretty good show. I have gone for many years., and like many, will be glad it is still on during the covid bit.  You never know what you might find, like any show. Be aware that ALL of Dane County is still under a mask mandate until sometime in March as it has been extended.

@Jeff B. Haertlein posted:

It is a pretty good show. I have gone for many years., and like many, will be glad it is still on during the covid bit.  You never know what you might find, like any show. Be aware that ALL of Dane County is still under a mask mandate until sometime in March as it has been extended.

I will do my best to Google it to find out some information, but does that mean restaurants and such as well? Of course I planned on taking my kids out for dinner

It looks like it expires on February 2nd. The show is on the 19th

My experience with this show is that there are a lot of operating layouts and some dealers with train items.  I have not been to the show for 4 or 5 years, but like many train shows, it has been getting smaller and smaller and is now in only a portion of the building, instead of all of it.  Unfortunately, I am not able to go again this year.

NWL

@MattR posted:

I will do my best to Google it to find out some information, but does that mean restaurants and such as well? Of course I planned on taking my kids out for dinner

@MattR posted:

It looks like it expires on February 2nd. The show is on the 19th

As I mentioned, Dane County has extended the mask mandate into March. Here's an announcement that should clear things up as to when to wear it and when you can take it off.

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - As new COVID-19 cases in Dane Co. only begin to dip from the all-time highs set over the course of the past two weeks, local health officials moved forward with an extension to the county’s ongoing mask mandate.

Public Health Madison and Dane County’s new order effectively extends the current one, only changing the expiration date. The order requires nearly everyone over 2 years old to wear a face covering or mask when inside an enclosed public space where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit are present. It will remain in effect until March 1.

The same exemptions carry over from the original order, allowing for masks to be removed when eating or drinking, when talking to someone hard of hearing, or during certain types of performances, among other situations. It also maintains the carve out for enclosed public spaces in which everyone in the room is vaccinated.

The announcement comes less than a week before the current order was set to expire. Health officials announced that extension with two weeks remaining in the old order but had remained silent until now about whether a new one would come and if there would be changes.

Okay. Thank you for clearing that up. I'll just plan accordingly

Haven't been there, in a few years, ( My Father couldn't walk it any more) But it was a good show. lots to see and buy!  With the Point show  and Train fest being canceled the last couple of years , its Madison or Green bay, (which should be coming up in a few months) , there is nothing else here in Wi.

I live in Madison and went to the show in 2020 right before Covid.  It was all scales with lots of modular layouts.  There were perhaps about 10 dealers with O gauge 3 rail items.  I used to go to the Dupage show in the Chicago area.  Most of those dealers at Madison were usual suspects from the Dupage show.  Still there was a reasonable amount of stuff for sale.

BTW would love to meet other 3 railers in the Madison area.  Please contact me.

Bill

Yesterday, January 29th was the LaCrosse train show, this is a nice smallish show and I go weather permitting. It was well attended yesterday in the LaCrosse Center, next show will be in Copland Park on July 16, 2022. For those who do not know about these shows, they are put on by the 4000 Foundation, this group has the proceeds coming from these shows for the CB&Q #4000 4-6-4. etc. just an FYI

@ogaugenut posted:

I live in Madison and went to the show in 2020 right before Covid.  It was all scales with lots of modular layouts.  There were perhaps about 10 dealers with O gauge 3 rail items.  I used to go to the Dupage show in the Chicago area.  Most of those dealers at Madison were usual suspects from the Dupage show.  Still there was a reasonable amount of stuff for sale.

BTW would love to meet other 3 railers in the Madison area.  Please contact me.

Bill

Bill,  Im north of  Antigo 27 miles , and have had a hard time finding other O gaugers

@Dave Koehler posted:

Haven't been there, in a few years, ( My Father couldn't walk it any more) But it was a good show. lots to see and buy!  With the Point show  and Train fest being canceled the last couple of years , its Madison or Green bay, (which should be coming up in a few months) , there is nothing else here in Wi.

Yep. The Green Bay show is April 9th and 10th. I should be able to get to that one too I think. I'm in upper Michigan so both of those are about the best I can do

@Dave Koehler posted:

Bill,  Im north of  Antigo 27 miles , and have had a hard time finding other O gaugers

yep the further north one goes it seems like there are less and less of us. I'm not sure but I would guess that I'm probably the furthest North of our forum members. Except for Canada of course. I'm in the Houghton Keewenaw area of upper Michigan

At one time, the Mad City train show was a major highlight, filling every nook and cranny of the expo building it was in — three rooms across the hallway from the main hall, the lobby area outside the hall, the upper level over the lobby area, etc.

Now, it’s just in the one large hall with maybe a few tables outside the hall.

But with Trainfest, a nationally praise-worthy event with a long tradition, now in financial limbo at its Milwaukee-area expo site, the Madison show is the largest in the area. As long as you know what to expect in comparison to its bigger past, it still might be worth the drive.