Who is going to O Scale West?

I had to look it up as I'd never heard of it before. It's a little too far for me to drive.

And future OSWs are not looking promising right now.

rdunniii posted:

And future OSWs are not looking promising right now.

Why?

I'm not sure what it says that I'm on the West coast and had never even heard of it. Nor had a pal of mine into 3-rail who called last night, when I asked him about it.

p51 posted:

I'm not sure what it says that I'm on the West coast and had never even heard of it. Nor had a pal of mine into 3-rail who called last night, when I asked him about it.

Not surprising, since it is a 2-Rail SCALE show, for strictly O Scale. Same as with the famous Chicago March Meet, for 2-Rail O SCALE (although many 3RS modelers in the mid-west seem to be attending the March Meet over the last 5 years, or so).

I would love to go but alas I will not. Every time I see pictures of a UP winner I want to buy it!

Some really fine modelling on display at that show, but as Hot Water described 2rail. I look forward to the photos every year.

I am going.

O Scale West is mostly an O scale show.  It has also featured S scale during the past few years.

The manufacturers who have attended past shows include 3rd Rail, Kohs, Key and a couple of others.  Some of the scenery manufacturers also have displays.  There is a wide variety of O 2-rail and 3-rail, and S scale items for sale.  Public Delivery Truck has brought a large selection of new 2 and 3 rail O gauge items to sell.  There is usually a large selection of O scale kits and built structures for sale.   I have purchased both 2 and 3 rail items at this show. 

Past modular layouts have included:  The Orange County O Scale Club, the Yosemite Valley Narrow Gauge layout, an S scale modular layout, an S scale narrow gauge display, and a 3-rail O layout.

The high point of this show for me are the self-drive layout tours.  There are some fabulous 2-rail O scale layouts open.  There are also many On3 layouts open.  Some of these layouts are owned by Master Model Railroaders.  Bob Brown, the owner and publisher of the Narrow Gauge Gazette, has opened his beautiful home narrow gauge layout for tours during past shows.  

There is speculation that this may be O Scale West's last year.  Rod Miller, who runs the show, has told people that he wants to retire from running the show.  To the best of my knowledge. he hasn't found anyone who wants to take over operating the show.   There has also been talk about moving the show from its long time home in Santa Clara, CA (near San Jose) to Sacramento or somewhere in Oregon.  We may find out if there will be a 2017 O Scale West at the show.   Stand by.   

NH Joe

Hot Water posted:

p51 posted:

I'm not sure what it says that I'm on the West coast and had never even heard of it. Nor had a pal of mine into 3-rail who called last night, when I asked him about it.

Not surprising, since it is a 2-Rail SCALE show, for strictly O Scale. Same as with the famous Chicago March Meet, for 2-Rail O SCALE (although many 3RS modelers in the mid-west seem to be attending the March Meet over the last 5 years, or so).

I just texted a pal of mine into proto 48 who lives in Oregon.

He'd never heard of it, either but in all fairness, he said he'll look into it in case it's something he might enjoy.

My point is that the word isn't going very far here in the West...

mwb posted:

rdunniii posted:

And future OSWs are not looking promising right now.

Why?

$$$$$$, pure and simple.

Hot Water posted: 

Not surprising, since it is a 2-Rail SCALE show, for strictly O Scale. Same as with the famous Chicago March Meet, for 2-Rail O SCALE (although many 3RS modelers in the mid-west seem to be attending the March Meet over the last 5 years, or so).

Well not entirely true. O Scale West has had the Golden Gate Lionel club with their 3 rail layout there for quite a few years. While a major portion of the items at the meet are in fact 2 rail, There are many 3 rail item available and that aspect has grown the last few years. They even offer the custom made event cars in 2 or 3 rail. Public Delivery Track will switch out trucks either way for you as well as other sellers and there are a lot of detail, buildings, and scenery items available for 2 or 3 rail. I have walked away with many items (sometimes too much) every year I have been going. We west coasters do not have a lot of trains hows over here so I take what I can get. Besides changing trucks and wheels is not that difficult.

rdunniii posted:

mwb posted:

rdunniii posted:

And future OSWs are not looking promising right now.

Why?

$$$$$$, pure and simple.

Well, ok.  But $$$$ is always a consideration to doing anything. 

I will be there. Disappointed that our club layout (Golden Gate Lionel RR Club) will not be there this year.

Apparently they do not have the space for layouts this year.

RoyBoy posted:

I will be there. Disappointed that our club layout (Golden Gate Lionel RR Club) will not be there this year.

Apparently they do not have the space for layouts this year.

Oh bummer! I always look forward to watching the layout. Might be in a different hall this year? 

p51 posted:

I just texted a pal of mine into proto 48 who lives in Oregon.

He'd never heard of it, either but in all fairness, he said he'll look into it in case it's something he might enjoy.

My point is that the word isn't going very far here in the West...

This is a problem with the O scale 2-rail community will need to overcome.  Even O scale events such as O Scale West are not well publicized beyond the dedicated and aging hobbyist group.  You can't count on word of mouth and the dwindling local O scale community to advertise your show.  

NH Joe

O Scale West has been happening for 27 years 20 or so in the same location.  It has been advertised in the various model railroading magazines and western historical societies that advertise such things.

We got 75% of the same space we had the previous years.  To get back to the 100% we had previous years will cost 50% more.  We have searched locations that meet all the requirements from Reno to San Bernadino and none of them are available for even just 50% more.  Most are 100-200% more.  So right now we either increase prices correspondingly or... 

One of those requirements is that everyone has to share the same open space. 

One of the dealbreakers we have been told is using separated spaces for anything.  Another dealbreaker we have been told is increasing prices.  So...

Seems like something that could be done in Sacramento...maybe at McClellan Park...the old AF Base...they seem to have a lot empty space out there...might be worth inquiring about.

SD60M posted:

Seems like something that could be done in Sacramento...maybe at McClellan Park...the old AF Base...they seem to have a lot empty space out there...might be worth inquiring about.

Done.  Has to have the hotel collocated or...   So...

I went to the show yesterday and was very dissapointed,there were no layouts and no Public Delivery Track that has affordable pricing.

Mikey

There was a modular S Scale layout in the Napa Room at the other end of the hotel but I agree with you that the show was disappointing. I was going to take my great-nephew to the show today but there isn't much for him (a non-buyer).  We may go to some of the "layout visits".

Public Delivery Track is retiring and moving on to other things.  No more shows and how the website will fade away is anyone's guess.

Seeing the Kemtron/Russ Briggs/OSA passenger cars actually built and finished was enough to make it a great meet for me.

We lost 25% of our space and if you went on friday you probably had to park over by Levi stadium due to the other events going on at the convention center at the same time. 

Layouts had the option of other spaces but only the S gauge folks accepted.  That has become one of the space requirements that everything has to be in one big tent.

But we did make it rain this year as we do every year regardless of what time of year.