What Did You Get At Spring Thaw-Allentown?

Since my focus now is adding scenery to my layout, I only picked up some plaster cloth and hydrocal.

Picked up 2 MTH premier Pennsylvania passenger cars from a earlier run. Needed 2 to complete a set and thought I would never find them for separate sale, just goes to show you never can say never. 

I purchased about 20 pounds of paper, primarily employee timetables and rulebooks and my son got an NS hat.

 

There was more I wanted to get but the Jersey Central Railroad Historical Society's annual show at Mother Seton in Clark is next week so I needed to conserve a few bucks for that.

 

Bob  

I bought a set of 4 Standard gauge Passenger cars.

They are the Later Large Series 1923-1932

Numbers 418, 419, 431, and 490

They have been well played with and will be a semi restoration project for me.

If anyone has a parts diagram list for these cars that they could share I would be very appreciative!

 

It was great to meet some of you today!

 

Why do they call it spring thaw, spring doesn't start till March 21st.

Sean M. was there Dumping a LOT of Stuff at Dealer cost as he is closing the business and starting anotehr chaper in his life. I picked up from Sean M the MTH PRR s2 Dummy he has had for some time. I also picked up the MTH and Lionel 2012 & 2013 catalogs that have been missing from my collection along with the Photo at the OGR stand.

They've been calling the February meet the "Spring Thaw" for as long as I can remember. As long as the show stays as good as it's been for all those years, they can call it anything they want.

 

Here's one of my trophies from today. It is the Operating Manual for the GE Dash 8 unit with the full cowl:

 

I got a $5 needle point oil dispenser, but it was great to meet a bunch of the forum folks in person and see the show.  A hall full of trains, what's not to like there?

Aside from delivering a set of passenger cars from my recent OGR passenger car extravaganza to a fellow-forum member , the Allentown show turned out to be more of a relaxing stroll for me rather than any serious buying -- which is more than fine with me since I've been doing a fair amount of "selective" damage to my wallet lately. 

 

Having said that though, here are my favorite GREAT DEAL ALERTS in case anyone is heading to the show tomorrow (Sunday).  Each of these items had me seriously thinking, "Should I?  Or shouldn't I?".  But in the end, I kept the wallet in my pocket -- this time. 

 

• Check out Pete Costa's booth (towards the center of the original Agriculture Hall building).  He had the Lionel Motor City Express Set for $795... BUT most importantly was willing to break up the set and had the autorack cars priced at $95, except for the BNSF with the (non-operating) ETD priced at $115.  So for those of you looking to grab an extra autorack from the set (if like me you only purchased the 2-pack offerings), these prices seem very reasonable -- although I wouldn't pay extra for the BNSF since the ETD from Lionel is non-operational.
• Nicholas Smith Trains (along the Chew St. wall of the annex building) had the Lionel Southern Crescent locomotive for a staggering $695.    If I didn't already own the locomotive (and paid more for it), I would have grabbed this in a heart-beat.  I'd be VERY surprised if that's still on the table by end-of-day Sunday.  Heck, it might already have disappeared by end-of-day Saturday.    They also had ZW-L's for $650, and you wouldn't need to ship them home!!!
• Both dealers mentioned above also brought along a nice selection of Lionel Centipedes.  The twin-units were in the $1700-$1800 range, and I think I even saw one or two of the new single-unit offerings for $875 at Costa's booth.  But hey, if you're gonna go for the Centipede, why not go all the way and get great stereophonic effect of the twin-unit sounds? 
• It was GREAT chatting with Mike at JusTrains (located just as you walked from the annex into the main hall building).  This was their first Allentown show, but it almost felt like old times.  Kirke taught Mike quite well about the graces of first-rate customer service... and Mike showed me one of Woodland Scenics pre-built (and lighted) buildings that have a distinctive "craftsmanship" look to them with TONS of detail.  At $99 you'd be hard-pressed to build it yourself for a penny less -- not to mention the time it would take to add that level of detail.  I think Woodland Scenics is definitely on to something here.  Watch that space closely... and JusTrains has them at great prices!

 

There were certainly more deals to be had... but THOSE were the ones that caught my eye this time around.

 

So I hope that helps those of you who may be heading to the show on Sunday.

 

Have fun!!!

 

David

Some items from Sean  (MTH LIRR Boxcar, 2 MTH Garbage Flatcars w/containers, Lionel small accessory transformers, a BCR and the prize, a Lionel lighted lockon )

 

A Lionel GATX Intermediate TankTrain car from Just Trains.  I mostly have just the Canadian National ones, but for the price they were asking, I figured I could have a "visitor" within my CN train.

 

2 needle oilers from ECTP.

 

ZW-L from Nicholas Smith.  There was one left when I left around 2:45.  I have a sneaky suspicion these won't be floating around too much on dealers tables at York, but I may be proven wrong.  I figured striking while the item was available at that price was a good idea.

 

-Dave

A rubber ball air puff blower for $3.00 and a 10 pack of #44 batteries for $5.00. I searched for some interesting 1/43 die cast, but did not find anything new.

$99. was a super price. Other dealers were asking $119.

I actually spent some money for the first time in a long time  

 

Parts---lots of repair parts dealers were there

Hobby tools

Books---PRR Morning Sun Books from the nice people of The Railroad Store---(rails-n-shafts.com)

Lionel PRR and Santa Fe 16-wheel depressed-center flat cars that just came out---nice cars---from Joe Grzyboski

 

Ugly weather---perfect day to go to a train meet 

Joe S

Stopped by Sean's display for a couple of Atlas Evan boxcars...Astoria Plywood and Georgia Pacific.  Plus a Lionel Canadian National cylindrical grain hopper.

 

- Mike

Too much

 

I bought:

-Bridge ramps for a prewar bridge (I have the bridge already)

-American Flyer latch coupler 632 LNE Hopper

-American Flyer latch coupler 633 B&O Boxcar

-Lionel 659 Dump Car (to replace the missing one from my Grandpa's Commodore Vanderbilt freight set)

-A foam cradle for working on trains

-Parts

-Lots of cream doughnuts from the Amish Bakery

I picked up the fall 89 edition of CTT as I was interested in the article on the Madison Central (NJ) layout that I remember attending open houses at as a kid.  Also got a great deal on two Lionel freight cars from Just Trains.

 

Where'd you find the foam cradle!?  Sorry I missed that.  I would've definitely picked one up.  I'll have to look more closely next time.  (Admittedly, I was sort of hurrying my way through everything so I could get over to the Farmer's Market to pick up some doughnuts!!  

Had a great time at the show with my son and my Dad. I bought two Morning Sun Books: Delaware & Hudson Vol.4 and Lehigh Valley Vol. 5 from rails-n-shafts. Saw some good deals but not any must have items for me. Just Trains had Z-4000s for $385, think that's the lowest price I've seen for them in a while.

When you go into the new hall, there is that little room to the right where they have all the modeling tools. It was along the right wall when you entered.

 

They had some really nice ones. The O/S ones were available in a standard and a long length, both of which have one slot for an upside down engine, and another to put the engine on an angle for side work.

 

I bought the standard length (which I measured at 18 inches, quite long enough for me). It cost $32. The other ones were $38 I think.

That's so weird.  I always stop by that room...this was probably the first Allentown where I did not.  And I spent more time than anywhere else right outside that doorway at Doherty's Whistle Stop.  Oh well, will definitely take a look in November.

My main purchase was an IVES std #3242 engine with #187, 189 passenger cars to add to my collection and also operate. I also picked up a Lionel std #92 searchlight tower, and a tin cannon. I enjoyed the day's outing with two close friends and the occasional encounter with other friends. The day's activities were only surpassed by the birthday dinner with family that my wife prepared last evening. I had a wonderful day!

 

Eric Hofberg  

There's a dealer at the York Meet (can't recall his name right now) that sets up in the Purple Hall and who sells mostly tools and parts.  I have the foam cradle he sells and it is one of the most useful tools I have.  I like to take very good care of my locomotives, and that cradle is invaluable for protecting even the finest details while lubricating or servicing things.

 

I'll try to remember to post the dealer's name tomorrow, when I'm at the office.

B&B Hobby?

 

(bought a multimeter from them today)

 

---PCJ

""Why do they call it spring thaw, spring doesn't start till March 21st.""

 

Blame the groundhog!  (aka grundsow)  He said spring was coming early in 1979, the first year of the Spring Thaw Train Meet.  

Prior to Saturday, it had been quite a few years since I had attended to the Allentown meet. It was good to see it has remained a genuine train show as opposed to what I now call Greenberg's Great Flea Market.

 

Bob

Went specifically looking for the Ross Table.  Didn't find them.  Came away with some gargraves track for a new project and an ep-5 shell for a kitbash project.  I did enjoy the modular layout.  It is nice to see they do not subscribe to the rule that all modules must include only straight track.  That one with the 3 wind mills was right out of western PA.

was looking to do some trading, but dealers was not interested. I arrived a little after 12:30pm and it was busy, but you could still walk the isle's and not try to push your way through.

 

was happy to see scenic express in the corner, my take was small this time.

a watermelon patch for my daughter,

and two packs of O scale foam road.

I got two Trainman Wabash Gondolas from my buddy Sean   I also bout a Weaver CNJ baggage car from Beth

Had a great time as always at this year's spring thaw gathering.  I came away with a nice clean Lionel 2338 GP7 and two Marx wind up trains.  Now I can't wait for York!

4 lionel hoppers: 2 SOO Ps-2's 2 aluminum, 1 CSX and 1 diamond chemicals Got home to find all 4 bearing caps missing from a truck on one of the SOO's, have to call Nicholas Smith today.

I got a D and H Tee shirt, Two coffins for my cemetery scene, a covered gondola to send to pats trains to have them out fit it as a track cleanning car.  and two coin holder that everybody tell me that they remember their grandfather had one ot those. hahahah!!!!!  great show   

For the same reason I'm teaching a class at a local college in what they call the "Spring Semester". Liars all!

 

Well we all know that college is full of liars!

LOL I almost bought those coin holders, hope I'm not old enough to be your grandfather :-) used one when I had a paper route.

No Lionel Bill. I am sixty years young!! Get a lot of comments on those little coin holders. It kind of neat to see they still make them. Ed P.