Went to my first train show today.

Always great to hear stories like yours.  My first train show was in the early 70's at the Glen Island Casino in New Rochelle New York.  It was run by the old TTOS Tri State Division.

Well, I've heard that story before..... Get her involved. She'll love it. And, just remember it keeps you out of the bars.  LOL.

My advice if you want to get her on board. Show her some brand new tinplate! She'll be hard pressed not to like that! 

Hi Jim • Congrats on having a good time at the train show, to recharge you model railroading batteries. Well said.......

• Cheers from Michigan

Train shows are fun, and one additional element comes with time: you meet and visit with so many people you know.  Anymore, going to the local TCA meets twice a year here is mostly about catching up with old friends and acquaintances; I spend maybe an hour or hour and a half doing that, and perhaps only half an hour shopping and looking at displays.

I went to my first train show years and years ago, when I was a kid. I've probably been to two or three a year since then - maybe closing in on 200 over 60 years.  

Train shows today are pretty much like they were way back then, although I remember the tables were a lot higher - almost at eye level - in those days 

It is the increase in gravity that pulled the tables down Lee!

Yeah, and if you have 11 PS2 engines, 98 pieces of rolling stock, a few odds-and-ends, you will sell it all and jump into tin-plate.  Some fool did that!!!

Thanks Chris!!!!

- walt

Glad you had a wonderful time. You need to add the York Meet to your list of things to do.

Glen Island Casino, if I remember right, is where Glenn Miller made his last broadcast radio show, announcing at the end of the program that he had joined the army and Harry James was taking over that time slot on the radio. James was on stage and joined the Miller orchestra for a version of Ciribiribin I think I still have that audio file on my D drive. Just a bit of useless trivia.

Train shows are few and far between for me, but when I am able to make an appearance, I really enjoy the things. I always manage to buy something, but the real fun is just walking around and seeing what is there. Especially nice when there are various layouts to ogle.

It's fun to see stories like this.  We wait with eager anticipation for your post about your first York, what an experience that will be!

Lee is certainly right about how your interests will change if you go to train shows long enough.  Mine did a 180 from little visiting and mostly shopping to the exact opposite.

Art

JJ,

   Sounds like you had a great time, train shows can become addicting, and as you have seen you can usually pick up some very good deals there.  They are definitely fun for the entire family! 

PCRR/Dave

Good!  Various internet sites are great for picking up trains, but there is nothing like the human contact and visual excitement of a live show or meet. I hope while you were there you were able to pick up flyers for any other upcoming shows.  Make that a habit, and soon you will have a regular schedule of shows to attend yearly.

 I love hitting train shows, including the small ones held in fire halls and such.

If you were in Edison, than it was the World's Greatest Hobby show. Most train shows will not be like that one. They normally have a much smaller manufacturer presence, and much more dealers and little guys. Still, it is always fun to see things that may not have been around for a long time.

Train shows of all sizes are fun especially if you get to enjoy them with the kids or grandkids. They see everything as something great even tho we may have seen a thousand of that car or building in our lives. Let's you see it in a whole new light.

Jerry

Glad that you enjoyed your first train show with your 2 sons and wife - a nice family outing (something that I now do with my wife and grandkids).  The sights, sounds, smoke, people are great to experience in person.  By all means, try to get to others in the area as time permits.  Although I do not live in that area, there seems to be a lot of events and clubs operating in your neck of the woods. Enjoy your family and trains.