My first York: Best way to carry purchases

Well, pushing a cart through the aisles at York will make you VERY unpopular, so that's out.

For smaller purchases, a modest sized backpack is not a bad idea.  Remember that the aisles are crowded at times, and having anything bulky will be a real drag, both for you and the folks around you.  I have a bag I sling over a shoulder for small stuff like tools, etc.  For larger things, you'll end up carrying them until you can drop them off.

In the couple of times I had big purchasing hauls, I made frequent trips back to the car to drop things off.  Carrying around a 15# locomotive or a set of passenger cars for a long while is really a drag!

Actually I believe carts are not even allowed after the show opens. Shopping bags are OK.

Pete

Just get a canvas bag.  The plastic bags vendors use are hit and miss.  You will be making trips to the car so just plan on it.

Even with a modest number of purchases I find carrying bags through the aisles to be a real pain. As suggested above, I just take stuff out to the car. May have to do a little walking but it's nice to be hands free.

Trainz has good light canvas bags

I can't top NCJ Joe's suggestion (LOL), but I would just take stuff back to the car and put it in the trunk. You will likely be walking all over the place anyhow. There are several different buildings.

Simon

Another suggestion to save you time and aggravation if the weather is less than ideal:

Most folks who go to every hall split them between the member halls and the dealer halls as they are roughly grouped together geographically.   Whichever group you plan on doing first, park your car near the center of those halls.  This will make your trips out to your car go much faster and be easier on your legs.   Then when you are ready to visit the other group of halls, drive your car and park it in that area.  

If you decide to do this, it's usually easier to find a parking spot near the Orange Hall (main manufacturer hall) in the afternoon rather than the member halls so  you may want to start with the member halls.   I do 90% of the time.

Regards,

Greg

Once you see the sheer size of the York show, you’ll understand why it is impractical to haul around a significant pile of purchases.

Obviously, a trip back to the car is generally a necessity if you have more than a single item and nothing to carry them in, so, yes, finding a suitable alternative makes sense.

First of all, in the six York show I attended, I can’t recall ever having seen a shopping cart, per se, roaming any of the halls. But I don’t recall reading any formal restriction in the list of rules specified by the TCA Eastern Division. Either way, it’s impractical.

I discourage the use of a shoulder-slung shopping bag if you’re going to load it up and wear as you make the rounds through a half-dozen halls without stopping to unload, however. You might feel like you’re losing your mind as the strap presses on your shoulder after you’ve slowly traversed just a couple of halls.

A moderate size backpack will save you a trip or two, but on a warm day in sometimes very stuffy halls you’ll find that even a backpack can make you uncomfortable. And it can give you a backache if you can even find a way to stuff a15-pound locomotive in there. 

Otherwise, enjoy the experience. I hear the shows are not nearly as crowded as they once were, which is a good thing if your idea is to shop comfortably.

Jim R. posted:

But I don’t recall reading any formal restriction in the list of rules specified by the TCA Eastern Division. Either way, it’s impractical.

A moderate size backpack will save you a trip or two, but on a warm day in sometimes very stuffy halls you’ll find that even a backpack can make you uncomfortable. And it can give you a backache if you can even find a way to stuff a15-pound locomotive in there. 

Otherwise, enjoy the experience. I hear the shows are not nearly as crowded as they once were, which is a good thing if your idea is to shop comfortably.

They do have rules pertaining to carts, large backpacks, and of all things suitcases.  

I’ve only made it to York 3 times, but I found that vendors will hold items you purchase while you continue exploring. This eliminates some trips to the car (which may be a bit of a trip in itself depending on where you’re parked).

On Thursday night there is the regular forum gathering for dinner at  Quaker Steak and Lube on Kenneth Rd (5 minutes from Fairgrounds without traffic).

Please feel free to join us for dinner or any other of the events fellow forumites have planned such as the user groups, grandstand meetings, or Thursday morning breakfast.    Folks begin gathering for the dinner around 6 pm but you can come anytime - we pretty much takeover the entire back of the restaurant.

We'd be glad to meet someone new!

-Greg

I have been to York twice.  I did the same as I do for the Greenberg shows in Monroeville.  I carry a sturdy canvas bag with an open top so longer boxes can stick out the top.  At York, I then periodically carried my purchases out to my car to ease my pain.  Of course multiple trips wouldn't be as welcome if it had been raining.  Both my times there have been rain free, though last spring got pretty windy one day.

Most important, comfortable footwear.  Purchases in trunk or cover purchases with a drop cloth.  Only take as much cash as you want to spend and leave the cards home.  If you have lived this long with out it, you will be able to exist later with out it.  "Its" are not that important.

Mark Boyce posted:

I have been to York twice.  I did the same as I do for the Greenberg shows in Monroeville.  I carry a sturdy canvas bag with an open top so longer boxes can stick out the top.  At York, I then periodically carried my purchases out to my car to ease my pain.  Of course multiple trips wouldn't be as welcome if it had been raining.  Both my times there have been rain free, though last spring got pretty windy one day.

Which brings up one of my favorite tips (not when it happens, but  a helpful tip many do not consider) to bring some large plastic garbage bags in your pocket so you can protect your stuff from getting wet if you need to.

-Dave

Dave45681 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

I have been to York twice.  I did the same as I do for the Greenberg shows in Monroeville.  I carry a sturdy canvas bag with an open top so longer boxes can stick out the top.  At York, I then periodically carried my purchases out to my car to ease my pain.  Of course multiple trips wouldn't be as welcome if it had been raining.  Both my times there have been rain free, though last spring got pretty windy one day.

Which brings up one of my favorite tips (not when it happens, but  a helpful tip many do not consider) to bring some large plastic garbage bags in your pocket so you can protect your stuff from getting wet if you need to.

-Dave

Excellent point indeed, Dave!!  I don't mind getting wet, but I don't want those orange and purple boxes getting wet, and certainly don't want what's inside them getting wet!!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Dave45681 posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

I have been to York twice.  I did the same as I do for the Greenberg shows in Monroeville.  I carry a sturdy canvas bag with an open top so longer boxes can stick out the top.  At York, I then periodically carried my purchases out to my car to ease my pain.  Of course multiple trips wouldn't be as welcome if it had been raining.  Both my times there have been rain free, though last spring got pretty windy one day.

Which brings up one of my favorite tips (not when it happens, but  a helpful tip many do not consider) to bring some large plastic garbage bags in your pocket so you can protect your stuff from getting wet if you need to.

-Dave

Excellent point indeed, Dave!!  I don't mind getting wet, but I don't want those orange and purple boxes getting wet, and certainly don't want what's inside them getting wet!!!

Be sure to take plastic or an umbrella.  The chance of rain is a function of the distance to your car and the value of your purchase.

I'm in the canvas bag / frequent trips to the car camp.  Carrying stuff for a long time is tiring, and I like to keep both hands free.  

Don't use a backpack - too many folks are oblivious to the extra foot of clearance that is required, they block aisles and knock stuff off tables, and most boxes won't fit in a backpack anyway.

I'd have to agree with those suggesting a trip back to the car with any large boxes. 

A small bag with maybe 5 or 6 modern boxcars in it is not a huge problem to deal with for a little while, but you certainly don't want to haul around any heavy engines or passenger car sets for more than maybe finishing up perusing the hall you happen to be in when you purchase them.  Those purchasing MTH tinplate Brute engines will probably want to head straight to the car from the table where you buy it, do not pass go, do not collect $200!

Anything large and bulky is not good to carry for too long since the longer you carry it, it will likely either get dinged up, or cause an accident by knocking something off a table.  Better to take it back to the car as soon as you reasonably can.

-Dave

Just take your stuff out to Rich's RV. It's alway open and most likely out front. He likes to show it off. Don

scale rail posted:

Just take your stuff out to Rich's RV. It's alway open and most likely out front. He likes to show it off. Don

Oooohhhhhh!!! Someone is looking to get banned    

Shopping bags and make lots of trips back to the car.....I think this works the best....

Peter

Let me carry them for you !!!!

Thanks for the info. I'm looking forward to meeting you guys,

Bob

Finally found the pictures.....here's me getting ready for York in Fall 2006....always good to have plenty of bags.... rather than packing and unpacking, just "switch them out" when you go back to the car.

Peter

CP BOB posted:

Hi, I tried to search for info but found nothing. What do you recommend? backpack? cart? or ???

Thanks,

Bob

Personally, I would go " Stealth" and "all out"! 

Hey, You only live ONCE!

Here’s a thought,  and if you happen to have one,  take a kid or grandkid as a guest, Give him or her $20.00 to be your runner for the day.  Have them to bring back an empty sack and start all over again.   

Blake

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Personally, I would go " Stealth" and "all out"! 

Hey, You only live ONCE!

 

I know you are kidding, but just in case others consider this, see the bullet point 2 down from the one Marty highlighted above.  Only Single Width, Occupied (by children ) strollers are allowed.

-Dave

Dave45681 posted:

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Personally, I would go " Stealth" and "all out"! 

Hey, You only live ONCE!

I know you are kidding, but just in case others consider this, see the bullet point 2 down from the one Marty highlighted above.  Only Single Width, Occupied (by children ) strollers are allowed.

 -Dave

OK... how about this??? (supply your own kids or blowup dolls)

This is just hilarious.

Dave