TCA CONVENTION

As a local resident I have been in and out of the Rennaisance Waverly hotel several times since Sunday. It seems like very sparsely attended......nowhere near the air and bustle of the old Chattanooga convention some years ago.  Also there are no representatives from MTH, Lionel etc.  Ho Hum.

Lionel has a seminar tomorrow at 11AM

Neal Jeter

Hoo..boy...I did do the one to New Orleans years ago..and it was hot on the way down..

Later went to one in St. Paul, and one in Vermont...NORTH! in the summer...guess

people want these in the summer, but they better plan them for Fairbanks, Regina,

or Calgary.. It is 100 degrees here today and this is NOT Minneapolis.....and I would

not be surprised if it is that hot in that city today.  It was discussed here earlier this year and decided that (humid) south was not where we wanted to go with the recent warm winter and apparent weather trend.  It was 100, I think, the whole week of the

Phoenix one some years ago...not noticeable without the humidity...

Maybe two smaller ones....one in south around December holidays, one in north in

summer...both might get more attendance...certainly one prior to Christmas, if like

attendance spikes at local shows, would be well attended.  Most Yorkies would jump on a junior York just before Christmas, to break that long cold wait from October to April, naturally somewhere snow has to be described as unknown to the locals.  And

what about the manufacturers....is or historically was that not their boom sales season?

(tell me why this doesn't make sense and would not work?)

 

I always thought the main purpose of the convention was to conduct National BOD business. The public exposure and the trading pits were not originally the main focus IMO.

Well if attendance is down, I'm sure TCA and other clubs will look for ways to attract members to attend future conventions.

 

I read your replys.

I hope they seek you out for your ideas.

Thanks

 

GG1GUYY

I drove to Atlanta yesterday (Friday) from Greenville, SC for the express purpose of attending the Trading Pit (interesting name since the badge says "Trading Hall Pass.")

 

I went as a one day excursion and paid the $20 admission.  The number of tables was smaller than I was expecting but I still managed to pick up a few items and some bargains.

 

My take on most pricing was that it was high but I've been accustomed to York Orange Hall blowouts.  On the way home I made my first visit to Legacy Station in Lawrenceville, GA and purchased a couple of items there.  Neat store and nice people there.

 

There were about six operating layouts in the Hotel Lobby, just outside the Trading Hall, including a neat animated display called "Squeekville."  Go to www.squeekville.com to view his layout display.  The guy wants to see about setting up at York, and I think it would draw lots of interest.  The theme of his animated display is mice and the Mickey Mouse theme.  His dad started it in 1936.

 

For me it was a 300+ mile round trip.  I've attended every York Meet since 2003 and find that I do better by saving my $$$ for that event.

 

I enjoyed the day which I usually do when I'm around model trains.

 

 

I attended the TCA as an exhibitor and occasional collector, not a member nor dealer, my own impressions and those based on the people I talked to there are as follows.

 

Atlanta in July is indeed too hot for any convention but 'tis the season and hey, could've been in Denver or San Antonio. The shows planners laid out an excellent week long schedule of visits of local attractions, activities, tours etc. Most members seemed to enjoy the events and the annual business meetings. The most frequent  negative I heard and therefore will comment on was that the trading pit was only really open Friday and for a few hours Saturday; this did not go over well with many there, also as a collector it appeared there could have been more dealers in attendance, with the empty tables as evidence etc. though the ones that made it had a lot of really good stuff, a big cut above the usual 3 rail and AF I see at the local, tour and regional shows as you would expect. There were some great bargains too but the prices seemed for the most part about right, with the few usual "you got to be kiddings" Again though saw a lot of really good condition true collectable pieces.

 

I will say as a long time exhibitor with a lot of shows under my belt the TCA members are a great bunch of folks and we enjoyed visiting with them a lot. Thanks TCA.

I would like to amend my earlier remarks by pointing out that Lionel put on a seminar (late addition to the schedule) where they showed their most recent cars and engines.  Most interesting.  I wish they had talked about Legacy.  Having a convention in Georgia in the summer can be pretty hot.  Yesterday we had at 106 DEGREES F the hottest day ever in Atlanta.  So you were present at a historic event.I still wish MTH, Third Rail and Weaver would have made an appearance here too.    Odd-d

The Atlanta Convention had 250 tables.  The PRIMARY PURPOSE of the Convention is fellowship gained by attending the various tours(over a dozen on my part).  The tables were not empty.  There were many UNIQUE items, especially Tinplate Ives.  The prices are high at every TRAIN SHOW...that's why I buy off Ebay and at Auction Houses.  In short, the Convention is a way a NONTRAVELER like me gets to see part of this wonderful country.  I assure you after spending a few thousand dollars in one week, I was not there buying trains.  The pits were open Friday 9 to 5, and Saturday 7 to 11...mostly to accomodate the TOURS and BUSINESS MEETINGS.  I encourage other MEMBERS who ATTENDED to give their comments.  Yes, it was 106 degrees in Atlanta the past 3 days, but it was 100 in Baltimore today when I landed.  The people were friendly, and the City was very accommodating.  There were tours to the Tennessee Valley RR(featuring the restoration of the "4501"), Stone Mountain, Aquarium, World of Coke, CNN, Carter Presidential Library, Tennessee River Dinner Cruise, Great Locomotive Chase(Rebels still mad as **** at Yankees for stealin' their engine), Trolley Tour of Marietta, and Downtown Atlanta.  Oh, forgot to mention the LAYOUT TOURS...including MISTY MOUNTAIN!!!  A SMALL percentage attends every year...not everyone can afford airfare, hotels, etc...that's just life.  The next Conventions are in St. Louis, Philly, NYC, Houston, Pittsburgh, Albequerque...again it is an excuse to see OUR country...not buy trains.  Unfortunately, WE lost a TCA Member(Mr. Malloy from Pennsylvania) who collapsed in his room after attending a Night Tour.  My condolences to his family!!!  Please pray for him and his family TODAY!!!

Thanks for sharing the photos Ron!

 

Ricky

Wow! Lots of photos at a TCA meet and no melt down. Imagine that!

Ron, thanks for posting the pictures.  Looks like some nice layouts there.

 

Happy railroading,

Don

Ron, thanks so much for the report and all the pictures!

Hi Ron,

 

thanks thats what I was looking for.

 

GG1GUYY

Thanks for the great pictures..

Ron,

 

Thanks for the update and the photos.

Here's a picture of a guy in the TCA Convention Trading Hall that had a "SECURITY" hat on by an exit door.  Looks like the heat got to him or the overload of too many trains.

I saw him too...I was gonna take his pulse...how long til the first post calling us all GEEZERS???  Nice to know our trains were PROTECTED!!!  Word has it his decendents watched over the General...the SOUTH still replays the Civil War!!!

Ron!

 

Nice photos!

 

Al K. 

Wine bottle in the bag.

Saw on the news today that there were over 2000 high temperature records broken around the world just last week. So where do you think this is going?!

 

Hotlanta is going to become Hotterlana.

Would someone PLEASE copy this to the TINPLATE FORUM, so we can share the many tinplate photos???

Thanks for the pictures. I hope to post a few pictures Sunday of the Casey Jones HI Railers at the Atlanta TCA convention.

 

Richard Gonzales

Casey Jones HI Railers

Ron

Thanks for the pictures. I'm sure I'm in one of them.

Ron:

 

MOST EXCELLENT convention report and GREAT photos! 

 

THANKS!