World's Greatest Hobby show near Philadelphia soon.

david1 posted:

People just love to complain about everything. The traffic problem was one show only, the first one.

Oh! My price is too high, give me a break, $15 for a day out is cheap. 

Get there an hour early to avoid traffic and parking problems, another fantasy, there will be no problems if you go at opening or after. 

order your ticket online and get a reduced price, check a map or gps if you must not go by 422. There are short cuts. 

GO THERE AND HAVE FUN, THATS WHAT I PLAN. 

Dave

Lunch is on you next time! lol

-Greg

Greg, if David is buying lunch, count me in!

Dave45681 posted:

Francine posted:

I'm hearing a lot of crying and complaining, but understand that:

1) There will be train manufacturers there

2) Traffic won't be as bad, because the first Oaks show had a gun show at the same time  and gun shows are/were packed.   This time it is a pet show.

3) Plenty of dealers and displays - some of which are huge.  Have you seen the Reading Historical Society's?  And with World's Greatest, there are usually other type hobbies as well.

 

 

General consensus would be it won't be too crazy with Pets and Trains simultaneously?

-Dave

I'm going to guess that more people have pets than guns, but we'll see. I'm still going early. David, get there at 11:30 and I'll sell you my parking space for $20. 

Ok.  If David is buying lunch and Joe has a tailgate party, I'm in.  Don't really care about the trains now.  Sounds like another York Thurs morning breakfast in the making.  

I can look at the mfrs/dealers ad's on line or in a reputable magazine.

Besides, i can't buy any of it till I wait a year.  Then I can see if anything made it to the USA with the right color and all the trucks and couplers intact.

We will be there with a modular layout...stop by and say hi to us at the Independent Hi Railers!

Wow. I just saw a commercial for the show. Admittedly, it was at 2:00 AM on METV, but still, I am in Atlantic County, NJ. Surprised to see that out here.

aussteve posted:

Ok.  If David is buying lunch and Joe has a tailgate party, I'm in.  Don't really care about the trains now.  

What do you like to eat at 9 am...cold pizza or Hershey's nuggets with almonds? 

On a serious note, I'd like to thank the members of modular groups for setting up your layouts for shows like these. I was in a group for about 4 years before it disbanded (the Friday afternoon set-ups were tough for those with jobs). The WGHS at Oaks was one of our last shows. The people were appreciative, and the kids well behaved. Hopefully, this will be true for this show, as well. BTW, because we had to be there very early, we had no idea about the traffic and parking woes.

I'm going to list the manufacturers that will be at Worlds' Greatest Hobby show on a separate listing.

The last time the NPOG club set up at the WGHS about four years ago at Oaks, it was a very good show.  Lots of folks coming by to see the displays, and everyone was quite well behaved, I don't remember any serious issues with the viewers.  That's contrasted to some other shows we've done.

I think the worst show I was involved with was the TCA National Convention.  NOBODY was around, we were running to an empty space!   That's one experience I don't care to repeat, we were there for three days, and I think probably less then 90-100 people total came by for the three days!  I have no idea why they even wanted modular clubs there, but I personally will never do one of those again.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

 Lots of folks coming by to see the displays, and everyone was quite well behaved, I don't remember any serious issues with the viewers.  That's contrasted to some other shows we've done.

I think the worst show I was involved with was the TCA National Convention

The worse show I remember, in terms of viewer behavior, was at TCA York. One woman was taking my expensive diecast cars off of the layout "for a closer look", and one guy used the parking lot of our large terminal as a desktop to write something on a note card.  

Joe, I don't take expensive stuff to modular shows.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Joe, I don't take expensive stuff to modular shows.

I better see the weiner-mobile tomorrow or I'll be vocal about the lack of quality items on display!

-Greg

I'll make sure it gets packed.

Joe Hohmann posted:

On a serious note, I'd like to thank the members of modular groups for setting up your layouts for shows like these. I was in a group for about 4 years before it disbanded (the Friday afternoon set-ups were tough for those with jobs). The WGHS at Oaks was one of our last shows. The people were appreciative, and the kids well behaved. Hopefully, this will be true for this show, as well. BTW, because we had to be there very early, we had no idea about the traffic and parking woes.

Me too.  It's the only reason I'm going.  I only wish more of the ticket revenue was going to them instead of the pockets of WGH....probably only pennies on the dollar.  It's the layouts and being able to see everything in action which is the real impetus for drawing folks into the hobby. 

-Greg

gunrunnerjohn posted:

I'll make sure it gets packed.

Excellent!! 

-Greg

gunrunnerjohn posted:

Joe, I don't take expensive stuff to modular shows.

You mean, like trains? 

I mean like my Vision Line BB or similar.

I'll try to resist the urge to grab the weiner-mobile off the track in order to get a closer look.   

-Greg 

I think my biggest worry about a public display was: Kid has fingers on track, train runs over fingers. Train drops on, and breaks, kids foot. Parents sue modular group for not stopping train. We put ropes around our display, but found that kids love playing with ropes. Some use plastic barriers. Kids love hanging on things. 

I'm at the show now - well in the parking lot..but it's a mile from  the entrance...traffic terrible, parking non-existent, Joe forgot to bring breakfast, Gunnrunner has nothing good to run and it's cold.....my advice, stay home!

Obviously I'm joking.  No traffic, good parking spot, will try to find Joe, brought my own breakfast, and hope Gunnrunner brought the wiener-mobile. 

-Greg  

I have been to a lot of shows at that venue, not just train shows, and I never remember trouble with traffic or parking there. Coming from Jersey, my troubles were always getting home. 76 is always unpleasant, so I would often run all the way out the Pa. Turnpike to the Jersey Turnpike. Much longer, but at least I would keep moving.

OK, I was wrong...great show, very worthwhile going to it. The "early birds" did fine. I got a parking space close to the entrance, then read for 45 minutes. They let us (relatively few ) wait in the heated lobby area, so there was no line out in the cold. When I left at 11:30, the crowds were making it hard to walk. Parking-wise, people had already played "create-a-space", and many cars were roaming around looking for one. Thankful parents with a SUV full of kids got mine. The flow of cars moving toward the expo center was heavy and slow. 

Lionel had a York-type display, and MTH and Williams had nice ones as well. The previous show here had 2 bored-looking Lionel reps and a backdrop. Some big dealers were here, like N.Smith and Just Trains. The previous show sold mostly cheap toys, but there was a good mix at this one. I bought 3 HO buildings for my S layout. I could not find these (for obvious reasons) at York or Allentown. Last but not least, the modular layouts were many and very nice. I met 3 forum members...John Devlin, Bill Parkinson, and Greg Houser. I was lucky to get to them before they had a chance to run away. 

I'd never run from you Joe!

It was good to chat with you!  I also enjoyed the layouts, especially talking with Craig from the standard gauge group and John from the NP O-Gaugers.  Very nice layouts across the spectrum of scales.

-Greg

Well went to he show. Sent pics of some items to friends, one of which came and took my parking spot by entrance. Did not see anyone of people from here, Of course I have never met any of you either. Sat in car from 8:30 to 9:15 then moved inside. Am amazed that people don't listen. Even more amazed at people just plowing though and not even a mention of excuse me. Guess I am old! Bought a couple things. Saw the weiner mobile (sitting on siding) went around to talk to John but he was too busy. Every time I try to talk to him he is busy or others just cut in like they did at York when I tried to talk to him. Really having a hard time with how rude people are. Thought we were all on big family of kindred souls but I guess not. Show was good though. Even my wife said it was good. Sorry to have missed you all.

Curtis

Sorry I didn't get to talk much Curtis, you caught me at a bad time.  We run two trains on each track, and you have to be pretty vigilant to avoid a crash.  And I was proud of Greg, he didn't try to run off with the Wienermobile.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

And I was proud of Greg, he didn't try to run off with the Wienermobile.

Mama taught me not to mess with anyone named "Gunrunner". 

- Greg

Good thinking Greg.

Sounds like a good show.  And, yes, the gun shows grab many more attendees than "pet" shows.  "Dog" shows on the other hand.....  I live about five minutes away and see the traffic/parking all the time the I gas up at BJ's.  I'd say Gun, Train, Dog in that order.  Dog shows have many more RV's which take up a lot of parking.

Hope to be able to stop by and see the NPOG setup.  Thanks for coming.

I was hoping for an update on how Sunday went. Hopefully the modular groups had a good audience.

I thought the show was great. Certainly a lot more of the “general population” there. Regardless, I made some new old stock K-line purchases from vendors I’ve never seen before, and the layouts were very impressive.  I got $4 off and parking was a breeze at 10:30am Saturday.  This coming weekend is the meet at merchants mall in Allentown, and then to Hamburg the week after. I’ve never been to the Hamburg meet, looking forward to something new. 

Show was good.  Drove in from South Jersey and arrived before 10 with NO traffic or parking issues.  Found a few deals from Grzyboski's, one of which is the Lionel Mill Gondola with graffiti.  Never was an admirer of graffiti but now that I have that car, I have to get the others.  If any one knows of any loads available for these cars, please let me know.  Enjoyed all the layout exhibits and recognized Gunrunner from his avatar but he was eating so I didn't want to interrupt him.      Stopped at Nicholas Smith on the ride home and they were quite busy.  It was an enjoyable day.

Rick

The show was a good one for us, even though a few things croaked during the show.  The worst was that Walt found out he has an $800 paperweight, his JLC GG1 trucks fell apart and he skidded to a stop!   I think he's in a market for a pair of trucks now...

Lots of families with kids, that's always fun to watch the reactions to various trains.  It's funny what kids will notice, a number of them actually noticed the little bell was swinging on my CC2 and the H10 as it came by.  The Wienermobile was still a hit, that's always a kid favorite.  I have to come up with another motorized unit that is as well known, any ideas?

Scrambler81 posted:

I went to the WGH show in Edison last March. Not a bad way to spend a day, but Oaks is a long way off, and the traffic on the ride home is just too much for my tastes. Spend more time in the car, than I do at the show.

 I might try Hamburg later this month, just because I have never been to it, and because I can combine it with other places up there that I enjoy. Makes more of a day of it.

After Hamburg, go west on I78 two more exits to Shartlsville, Pa and see possibly one last time Roadside America! Also the Reading Co Technical Historical Society museum in Hamburg is open at 1:00 pm!

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The show was a good one for us, even though a few things croaked during the show.  The worst was that Walt found out he has an $800 paperweight, his JLC GG1 trucks fell apart and he skidded to a stop!   I think he's in a market for a pair of trucks now...

I take it zinc rot maybe the culprit?

Yep, zinc rot for sure, the side frames are crumbling, and the main attachment point cracked right at the screw.

It was a really good show for North Penn S Gaugers.  Only one S dealer - Pikesville, but he made out well, as I believe most dealers did as everyone was carrying packages and there were lines.

My GP-7 Reading performed very well and I got to best my 322 Hudson upgraded to DCC, which also worked very well. 

Spent alot of time with the Reading Historical Society and Fire up 2100 both days.  Reading Historical Society has an incredible layout, it has to be seen. I brought my photo of my former neighbor - Herbie Hurt - hanging out the cab of 2100 at Jenkintown during a Ramble.  There is also a scene of Herbie hanging out the window backing 2100 through wye at Hagerstown during a Ramble.

Then one of the Reading Historical Society brought over a lady whose father was 2100s' engineer while in freight service.

There was a ton of kids and young families (not seen at standard shows) and Lionel and MTH were thronged all day.  That has got to be good for the hobby.

I let the kids put the Horn/Whistle button on engines as they went by, their reaction on their faces was priceless.  That's how we get people into trains.

Can a show get any better?

Watched a video of the North Penn O-Gaugers layout.   Awesome stuff!  Saw that double header Southern Crescent set run!  Very nice!  Dakman was set up right in front of the wiener mobile.   Pretty cool.   WGH used to come to the Knoxville TN area.   Not been here in a few years.  

Jim

WGHS shows up every four-five years, I think it was 2014 last time it was in Oaks.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The show was a good one for us, even though a few things croaked during the show.  The worst was that Walt found out he has an $800 paperweight, his JLC GG1 trucks fell apart and he skidded to a stop!   I think he's in a market for a pair of trucks now...

Lots of families with kids, that's always fun to watch the reactions to various trains.  It's funny what kids will notice, a number of them actually noticed the little bell was swinging on my CC2 and the H10 as it came by.  The Wienermobile was still a hit, that's always a kid favorite.  I have to come up with another motorized unit that is as well known, any ideas?

There is a pair for sale on both the Buy/Sell board and a reply on the WTB board. Lionel is sold out.