Skip to main content

I agree, it was a great show with a good crowd.  Had the pleasure of meeting many forum members there which was a treat.  A lot of great bargains on cars too.   My buddy bought two new Atlas freight cars for $20 each as soon as we walked in.  I bought two new Atlas 40 Ft steel reefers, a Milwaukee Rd and a Rock Island, for $25 each.  Saw Steve Nelson and his wife, Scott Mann, all my favorite vendors, and Hot Water, John Sethian, Matt Makins, to name a few I remember.  

Looking forward to layout tours this afternoon in DeKalb and Rockford.  Another great show!

Art 

Last edited by Chugman

Oh, I forgot to mention. In my opinion, you can see the sights in Chicago any time, but the layout tours are a fabulous opportunity to see some great layouts. Everyone I have visited I learn something from that I can use. Whether it is the scenery, the track plan, the operating session, the weathering, or something else, they have all been very much worth your time to see. And the people are as nice as any you will ever meet in my view. You always hear about Southern Hospitality, well you can't beat Midwestern Hospitality either. Try it, you will like it.

Art

Saw two Duluth and Missabe Range brass cabooses there but neither were the desired version with side door.  Hard to tell looking down from the top at the roof, but l got snarled at for tipping one over to see the side, and missing door. Person may not be aware that there are two versions. Didn't see any old kits of interest, such as Train Craft, or ??? Another show like York that occurs too few times a year.

Key did have a CZ car on display.  IMO the plated finish on the pilot model had a slight brass tinge. Within several feet of the Key booth was the Union Station Products table with a plastic ATSF Pullman Standard sleeper built from one of their kits.  It was spray painted with a metallic silver finish that in my opinion looked more like stainless steel than the finish on Key, AtlasO, or Sunset passenger cars.  If I were in the market for a stainless steel car I'd contact Union Station Products and find out what brand spray paint they used on their display model.

 

I should add that the show was fantastic - well run, well attended , lots of full tables with great deals - my thanks to Mike Hill and his family for putting on the show.     

I took my son (6 1/2) with me. We were a little disappointed that there weren't more layouts on-site. We enjoyed the On30 in the front entrance and the operator "whistled" at him as we walked around the layout. There was a "John Allen timesaver" but no-one was operating it and another small shunting display with someone on their cell phone as we walked buy. Didn't buy anything other than a die-cast car.

AtoZ Lewis posted:

I took my son (6 1/2) with me. We were a little disappointed that there weren't more layouts on-site. We enjoyed the On30 in the front entrance and the operator "whistled" at him as we walked around the layout. There was a "John Allen timesaver" but no-one was operating it and another small shunting display with someone on their cell phone as we walked buy. Didn't buy anything other than a die-cast car.

As information, the March Meet is NOT an actual "Train Show", like those "World's Greatest Hobby Shows". Thus, there are no operating layouts for "show". The layout tours, i.e. open houses for the attendees, is how the folks attending this big O Scale sale, see operating layouts.

N&W Class J posted:

No way is the hobby dieing, I couldn't believe the crowd that was there at the opening...the room was packed.  It was a great day there!

Once again, another really GREAT meet.  Thanks to the Hill family and everyone who put hard work and sweat into it. 

Whether the March Meet, OSW, the Indy meet, the Strasburg shows, the roving National or any of the other fine shows there is no way this hobby is dying.  

As always, there were plenty of bargains to be had for buyers and as a seller it was a great meet for selling.  Much of our hobby is a niche market AND by the nature of it some of our toys are expensive.  It takes shows like this one to connect buyers and sellers.

AND shooting the bull with folks you see only once or twice a year makes it all worthwhile.  The best part.   A GREAT, GREAT meet and I can't wait for the next Strasburg show on April the 22nd which for me will be the next fun O scale meet.

Last edited by Rule292
Hot Water posted:
Pingman posted:

Darn, all the smart phone photo functions were disabled at the show; i.e. NO PHOTOS!!!

Lame.

Not true. Saw all sorts of folks taking photos, especially of the Sunset/3rd Rail advanced sample of the CB&Q E8A, which Scott Mann brought with him from China.

HW, just venting as we wait to see the photos from the show.

N&W Class J posted:

Don't feel bad,  I reserved 2 CB&Q E8s....in 3 rail....and then decided to tear down my old layout and switch to 2 rail.  Yep, I'm a genius.  Too bad I had forgotten about them until about a week ago.

Shouldn't be a problem, Chris. I'm pretty sure that Scott has a "waiting list" of folks wanting to purchase the sold out E8 and E9 units (by the way, the CB&Q E9 units will have the correct plated stainless steel side panels), especially the CB&Q versions. I know I asked him for a CB&Q E8A model in 3-Rail after discussing the "sample". Scott was on his smart phone Friday evening and Saturday morning with his builder in China, discussing the "changes/improvements" I pointed out.

Hot Water posted:

Shouldn't be a problem, Chris. I'm pretty sure that Scott has a "waiting list" of folks wanting to purchase the sold out E8 and E9 units (by the way, the CB&Q E9 units will have the correct plated stainless steel side panels), especially the CB&Q versions. I know I asked him for a CB&Q E8A model in 3-Rail after discussing the "sample". Scott was on his smart phone Friday evening and Saturday morning with his builder in China, discussing the "changes/improvements" I pointed out.

Thanks for the info HW.  Updates and improvements being made right up to the end is what makes them a great company and highlights Scott's desire to put out the best product possible to his customers. 

Matt-Email sent.

Last edited by N&W Class J

     As usual the weekend went by too quickly.  The show was a good one, lots of nice stuff to drool over.   Bill Davis and his new lattice truss bridges were extremely tempting.....may consider one down the road.....  

      Yes, it was great to see old and familiar faces, including many from this forum!   There were many I probably missed as I was buzzing around there on both days trying to see as much as possible.  Did get to talk to a few folks (some of which knew me, and yet I didn't have a clue as to who they were...LOL),  from either this forum, or elsewhere......    picked up a few things from Mike at the show, and even lightened his load with one less Overland CN SD70M-2 to take home!    Thanks for the great deal Mike!   Brian Huang from Bloomington bought my two Atlas NS MP-15s I brought to sell.....Thank you Brian!       Looking forward to next year, already!

Last edited by R Nelson
Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×