My wife and I just returned from the Rocky Mountain Toy Train Show in Denver. I feel it is a mini version of York and it is a public show. As usual it was great. Right after getting there I bought a brand new Lionel Big Red Button for $10 which was a great start. At 1:00 I attended Ed Dickens' presentation on the movement of UP Big Boy 4014 out of the park in Pamona, California. He talked for a little over 1 hour and showed 175 pictures. The small room, and hallway, was packed with 50-100 people. I thought he did an excellent job describing all aspects of the engine preparation and move. He praised his team at least 50 times. He had two of his ream members there as well. I knew it was a tough move but had no idea how much was involved. Again it was a great presentation and I thank him and UP for doing it.
After that we went to the Lionel booth and I asked, of course, about when the catalog was coming out and the price of the Big Boy. The rep said that the catalog would come out during the last week of March. His guess was that the Big Boy's MSRP would be $2499 and the street price would be around $2000. It that's true then I can afford one.
We then went to the Stoddarts booth and I bought a Chama station sign and a Daylight logo sign. Both are beautiful. I hope to get one of the engines next time. They told me it takes 6 hours to make each one and they keep improving them. Again they are beautiful.
While I was listening to Ed Dickens my wife bought a B&O china plate for $8, what a deal!
I attend many different train shows in Colorado and this is by far the best!