York Fall 2021?

Did I read somewhere that the purchase of tickets to attend the October 2021 York train show begins on some date in July?

@Allan Miller posted:

I have my reservations made with La Quinta for three nights. Did not make them directly with the hotel. La Quinta (direct) room rates were higher and they had, on their website at least, a pre-payment required, no refund/no cancellation policy posted (that may have changed by now; I have not checked recently). Anyhow, made my reservation via Booking.com

If you go thru Wyndham Rewards (free to join), you can book a cancellable reservation (24 hours in advance) without pre-payment (or save a few bucks by paying now, but not worth the risk IMO). My rate for October is under $120/night including tax with AARP discount.  Since LQ is part of Wyndham, the rewards program has more ability to fix problems than third-party sites.

I'm not affiliated with LQ or Wyndham; I've just had good luck with their program.

@Mark Boyce posted:

You could make a whole week of it with all the great places to stop.

Between the shops in/near Wheeling, Horseshoe Curve, and Strasburg, that's what we're planning. Too bad that minor league baseball is over by then.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Did I read somewhere that the purchase of tickets to attend the October 2021 York train show begins on some date in July?

Yes, preregistration for the fall show opens on July 15th.

Does anyone know if there will be a bandit meet at Wyndham Oct 2021?

Yes, I am going. I just bought my airline ticket, hotel and rental car today. Coming from California. After being locked up for more than a year, looking forward to see trains again!

Are there going to be bandit meets during the York Oct 2021 week? Trying to figure out what days I need to be there. Thanks!

@Bobby Cox posted:

Are there going to be bandit meets during the York Oct 2021 week? Trying to figure out what days I need to be there. Thanks!

Call the venues where they are held and ask if anyone has reserved space.

-Greg

I called Wyndam where they have the largest bandit meet. Agent said they will have the bandit meet there on Tuesday and Wednesday. Yea! I made my room reservation there.

@Lionelski posted:

I don't know if it is open yet, but the Harley Davidson factory tour in York is a fun visit, even if you don't ride.

I took that tour once and it was very interesting. Even though I am not into motorcycles I really enjoyed it. And it was free too!

Will all the halls be open or will there be some limitations.

I understand that members who are already registered and have a table registration will have a table but they may not be in the same location. Could that change as we get closer to the date.

@WaynePa posted:

Will all the halls be open or will there be some limitations.

I understand that members who are already registered and have a table registration will have a table but they may not be in the same location. Could that change as we get closer to the date.

Fyi...this was answered earlier in this thread.

-Greg

@John E K posted:

I met with Dan Danielson this morning and he confirmed the following for the October York Show:

- Registration will open online on or before July 17th. An announcement will be made through the TCA email list prior.

- They expect the tables to sell out. Aisles will be wider for adequate social distancing, causing the removal of around 170 tables.

- Member tables will be in the Black and Yellow Halls.

- Monday activity - Movie Night in the Blue Hall. Under Siege 2, Steven Seagal is the cook on a train in this one?

- Tuesday Night Reception 5:30p-7p. Hall TBD, finger food, etc.

- No activities on Wednesday.

- Show opens Noon on Thursday.

All information should be considered as subject to adjustment. Hope this helps your planning.

@WaynePa posted:

Will all the halls be open or will there be some limitations.

I understand that members who are already registered and have a table registration will have a table but they may not be in the same location. Could that change as we get closer to the date.

John posted this info a few pages back.

@MartyE posted:

John posted this info a few pages back.

I am a little confused by the line: "Member tables will be in the Black and Yellow Halls." I am thinking that this means in addition to the Blue and Silver Halls. Can anyone confirm that? Thanks.

Pat

Don't forget the white hall.   Yep, I'm guessing they are adding tables, the black hall is pretty small, but there's usually a layout there.

@Greg Houser posted:

Fyi...this was answered earlier in this thread.

-Greg

Tried to find it but no luck.

I was told the following: Orange hall only on Thursday with no tables booths only, silver and blue open with limited tables on Friday and Saturday.  

No other information on the other halls except they are listed on the registration form which was probably printed a long time ago.

Calm down!! Get your vaccination improve the numbers and things will come around!!!  State rulings are changing seems like daily, but going in right direction!!

I have to believe that the Member Halls will be open Thursday at well, including the Blue and Silver Halls, which are by far the largest Member Halls. And who knows how many tables will ultimately be allowed, if conditions continue to improve and social distancing requirements continue to be relaxed and in many cases eliminated. We shall see.

Pat

Hopefully, wider aisles are an idea that will stick going forward.  The aisles seem to get narrower each year.

I think that wider aisles will make it easier for folks to browse at their leisure, which should lead to more purchases.

Mallard, I agree, I like wider aisles that allow someone to stoop down to look at what a vendor has under the table and still let traffic including wheelchairs move easily.  I guess that becomes more important as we get older.

@Mark Boyce posted:

Mallard, I agree, I like wider aisles that allow someone to stoop down to look at what a vendor has under the table and still let traffic including wheelchairs move easily.  I guess that becomes more important as we get older.

It would also allow room to pass around the few attending wives that stand behind their husbands blocking the aisles

As well as room for people with backpacks (This is one thing, IMHO, that Eastern should ban from the halls).

Lastly room for the growing # of scooters - I can't tell you how many times my toes were run over with these

@Lionelski posted:

It would also allow room to pass around the few attending wives that stand behind their husbands blocking the aisles

As well as room for people with backpacks (This is one thing, IMHO, that Eastern should ban from the halls).

Lastly room for the growing # of scooters - I can't tell you how many times my toes were run over with these

I was trying to think of the word 'scooters' when I wrote wheelchairs instead.  Having just come off back fusion and knee replacement, I can better appreciate folks being able to participate with a scooter.  Unfortunately, I can also appreciate that the driver needs to be aware of where he is going and how much overhang he has.

@Nathan B posted:

As much as I want to, I won't be able to this year. I'm only limited to October York's due to our busy season every April at work. And I am currently saving up for a house. Hopefully either October 2022 or 2023 is when I'll be able to attend my first York.

Originally I was not planning on attending, but I'm changing my answer that my first York will be this year. I do know for a fact that I will be missing 2022, so 2023 will be my next one after this year's. But that long stretch will give me time to save some money.  Several of our module group members and I will make the journey. I hope to see and meet a bunch of you guys.

It won't be long before we will be talking trains and sipping coffee at the Round the Clock Diner in York:

LOL, Arnold

Arnold:

Yes indeed. Can't wait!

Pat

Now you're talking, Arnold!  4 more months.

I'll leave an update to my trying to get physically ready for a hoped for trip to York in October.  Thursday I visited the back surgeon for my first follow-up, I got my staples out, they were happy with the x-rays, and happy with how I am progressing post surgery 3 weeks ago.  Tomorrow, I start PT.  I see on the lengthy description of what they want PT to work on with me, that bending and twisting is still 4 months out.  It will be a slow process, but I'll do exactly what the therapists and doctors say to get ready for the long term and not think short term.  Still, I hope to have some coffee with you at Round the Clock, Arnold.

Mark:

Best of luck for a speedy recovery!

Pat

Mark, I'm very much looking forward to meeting you at the Round the Clock Diner.  Besides trains and the Forum, we have something else in common: back issues.

I have had a bulging disc in my lower back since my early 30s. My days of acute pain seem to be over, but I still have some relatively mild chronic discomfort. Among other things, it affects my golf game: my drives that used to be as long as 280 yards are now about 230 yards.

Once your back is stable and your doctor and physical therapist (PT) give you the green light, stretching exercises should help you. I will demonstrate to you the stretching exercises that a PT recommended to me 30 years ago.

I have previously mentioned on the Forum about one of my stretching exercises that was not recommended by a health professional: getting on my hands and knees and crawling under the train table to fix a derailment. LOL, Arnold

Thank you Pat and Arnold!!  Though I don’t play golf, I can see where back problems would definitely hurt a golf swing!  I’m glad you are feeling better!  You are right about stretching over and under a layout is an exercise the PT folks wouldn’t give us.  😄 I’m going back to the place we went to for our knee replacements.  It’s a small clinic, but those folks are good.  They make for lively conversation while all of us are struggling with our exercises too.

I think that Mark should schedule a meet-and-greet at a prearranged time and location at the meet, where we can all sign a card for him and he can sign everyone's scars from knee and back surgery.

@Mallard4468 posted:

I think that Mark should schedule a meet-and-greet at a prearranged time and location at the meet, where we can all sign a card for him and he can sign everyone's scars from knee and back surgery.

😆😆  Yes we are old enough to all have scars!!

@jd-train posted:

My first York experience was April 2019 and I had a great time.  Here is a link to the thread of my impressions of the meet, if anyone else is thinking about going for their first time.

Just renewed my TCA membership a few minutes ago, and I plan on attending again this upcoming October.  Last time I only went one day and didn't have the opportunity to meet and mingle with any of the forum members.  Trying to figure out what activities are planned for this year and I may make it a two day event so that I can meet some of you.

I do find myself going through O-gauge 'withdrawl' as we moved into an apartment last month while waiting for our new home in southern Delaware to be built.  I probably won't buy much as I have very few holes to fill in my collection, but want to soak up the atmosphere!

Jim

Jim, I strongly recommend that you include in your trip to York visits to the Choo Choo Barn (fabulous LHS with a great operating O Gauge layout), the Pennsylvania Railroad Train Museum,  the TCA Museum, and the tourist steam train ride through Amish country. All of these things are in the York and Strasbourg area.

You may even get lucky like me and have the beautiful young Amish girls smile at you. Arnold

@Mark Boyce posted:

😆😆  Yes we are old enough to all have scars!!

Mark,…I’ll be at York too,…hope to see y’all too if not at the Round the Clock Diner, somewhere on the fairgrounds,….wishing  the Gentleman O gauger a speedy recovery,….you’ll be doing the jitterbug in no time!!..

Pat

Well, after some careful thought, and in consideration of my advancing age, and knees that don’t advance as easily as they used to, I reached the conclusion that the one day round trip wasn’t such a great idea. I booked Wednesday night at the La Quinta, so I figure I’ll head out Wednesday afternoon, get a good nights rest, and, assuming I wake up on time, I’ll probably even make breakfast!!! And scrapple and pumpkin anything are big no-no’s That will give me more time to browse before heading home in the late afternoon.

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

Jim, I strongly recommend that you include in your trip to York visits to the Choo Choo Barn (fabulous LHS with a great operating O Gauge layout), the Pennsylvania Railroad Train Museum,  the TCA Museum, and the tourist steam train ride through Amish country. All of these things are in the York and Strasbourg area.

You may even get lucky like me and have the beautiful young Amish girls smile at you. Arnold

I probably won't do it as part of a York meet trip, but it is a great idea!

I would love to see both the Pennsylvania Railroad Train Museum and the TCA Museum AND we are temporarily living only 30 minutes east of both.

Jim

@Apples55 posted:

Well, after some careful thought, and in consideration of my advancing age, and knees that don’t advance as easily as they used to, I reached the conclusion that the one day round trip wasn’t such a great idea. I booked Wednesday night at the La Quinta, so I figure I’ll head out Wednesday afternoon, get a good nights rest, and, assuming I wake up on time, I’ll probably even make breakfast!!! And scrapple and pumpkin anything are big no-no’s That will give me more time to browse before heading home in the late afternoon.

Smart man, Paul!  I don’t know how far you have to travel, but one day trips over 3 hours away are out for me anymore.  I hope to see you there.

We made our flight reservations last night. Southwest is having a 50% off sale for fall travel. Sale ends tonight.

We’ll be arriving Tuesday afternoon of York week and heading back the following Monday morning. Things to do, people to see and trains to buy!!

Next up is to get our hotels and car rental. We’ll be staying in York, Philly and Baltimore during our trip.

I found the York Meet webpage. They have a "primer" for new attendees but it looks like it was last updated in 2017. Does anyone know if there are plans to update it? Or if there are other sources of preparatory material?

I am hoping to go to it for the first time. Wife has already signed off and will not be coming. I want to have a good idea what to expect so I can plan my time.

Thanks, Frank

Clem Clement's tutorial on York is arguably the biblical primer. Here it is...

http://tcaetrain.org/2d-articl...Fall2019/index.shtml