York First Timers-What do we need to know

You know scrapple is made from the stuff they can't put in hot dogs, right? 

I honestly don't know how guys see the whole place in just 6-7 hours? Maybe if you are only looking for modern trains. I saw many guys walking extremely fast through the isles, had to move out of the way for them. Maybe that is how you do it? I personally spent 2 full days from open to close looking for post war trains.

 

Where can I buy woopie pies without going to Strasburg?

Rob

If you are not looking for very specific items, it is pretty easy to see the whole place in a day.  If on a serious hunt for very specific items, though, I can see how it would be difficult to cover the entire meet in only 3 days.

 

Personally, I buy mostly modern scale stuff, so I go a little faster past prewar and postwar stuff, although I do scan every table, since I never know when I might come across something I never knew I wanted.

 

Andy

I agree with Andy.  When I have gone there with a very specific list I found myself bypassing many tables and moving on to more promising ones.  I've completed shopping in one day this way so it can be done.

 

It's when I'm merely browsing to see what's there and just being nosey that I can easily spend my full 2 days there doing the aisles.

 

- walt

Andy has it correct - if you are looking lionel pre-/post-war stuff, I can see the impossibilities of doing it in 6 hours.  Even if you are are looking for a specific item, you can fly - if it is the "right" item.  I was specifically looking for a non-powered MTH diesel in UP paint scheme.  I flew by tables at light-speed - Purple boxes were pretty easy to spot in the sea of orange and/or tables of non-modern stuff.  Typically did 3-4 "laps", with a map, marking who had what and what the prices were.  The unlucky part is there were not a lot of these items.  If I were looking for a specific 6464 car, however, that would have made my search exponentially more difficult.

How about parts? Are they available, scattered or concentrated in one area? I still need to fix the couplers on 2 passenger cars...I Need the entire "arm" with a coupler on the end. Might save more time if I just purchase those online?

Unless its something very unusual, I don't look for parts at York. I'd rather order my parts and have them shipped. York time is too valuable to spend looking for parts.

 

There is one exception: a lot of parts dealers no longer indicate whether a part is original or reproduction. If I am looking for an orginal part that is also available as a reproduction, I prefer to buy it in person.

Varies depending on what era you are needing parts for.

 

There are Post War parts sellers scattered throughout, some in Orange, probably some people with stocks in the member halls as well (Red, White, Blue, Silver).

 

If you are looking for MTH parts, they have an area where they sell parts, but I can't say how much variety they bring.  It is a large booth, but there are also tons of parts over the years!   I don't think there are other vendors selling MTH parts, but I may be mistaken.

 

K-Line and others I don't know specifically that nothing is there, but your odds are far worse than if you're looking for PW.  Some of the dealers with PW parts may have a few items good for more modern, like MPC that had common or similar parts to PW used.

 

If I had parts I needed and knew what they were, I'd try to exhaust on-line options first to see if they can be obtained.  If not, then I 'd have a specific list and look at York. But that's just my opinion.

 

-Dave

 

Thanks guys...you confirmed what I thought......just not worth spending the time trying to track down parts for a modern MTH passenger car when I can find them online.

I agree! York really shines when it comes to finding stuff you never knew you needed. Looking for a part among a zillion tables is not my idea of fun.

PART'S, You have Jeff Kane in the silver hall and George Tebolt in the orange hall. I am sure there are other's.

Stan Orr is another parts guy.

 

Jerry

 

 

 

 

Jerry

 

I don't believe that Stanley Orr goes to York any more.

I think you are correct. 

 

I'm pretty sure I've recently seen his ad in either the back of CTT or OGR though.  I think he mostly (only?) does PW Lionel, though there might have been a few odd-ball items.  (I think I bought a reproduction helicopter from him once that was red and said Texaco on the side, or something like that.  It was not a traditional PW helicopter repro.)

 

-Dave

A lot of good advice here, having attended York over 25 years one item I didn't see mentioned here is to write down the table location your at if you see a item you may want so you can return later without searching (was it this isle or over there), you will save some time this way.  Good luck, slow down and have fun.

 

Jack

 

 

   

In some halls the chart shows table numbers, but the actual tables do not show them (at least anywhere you can easily see). Last year I was looking for a certain seller in the Red Hall, and from the chart, knew I had to count 6 tables from the end of row F.

The table numbers are under the table cloths.

Since it's not always practical to lift the table cloth to read the number, I've found little tricks to identify locations. 

 

The most basic is just between which 2 aisles (if you just write the letter, then you have to worry about which side, at least you only have to look to your left and right if you know between which two letters an item is at), followed by location along the aisle (ie, :"towards main entry to hall", or maybe "20 feet past the AC unit on the ceiling", etc.). 

 

There are also at least 2-3 breaks in the longer aisles so you can get over to another one without walking the whole aisle you are currently in (but, please follow the arrows, when they are present! ).  These breaks can help you identify locations as well(if there's 2 breaks, call it sections 1 through 3, etc).

 

You will also notice that there are sometimes relatively easily identified tables that are easier to find.  Some people have a focus or theme to what they bring.  You may see a whole table full of MTH diesels, or a table with a mix of Lionel modern era accessories with a bunch of Flyer accessories mixed in.  If you can identify a "theme" for a nearby table it will help you.  (obviously you cannot rely on a certain item, or it will be gone just as likely as if you went back for it yourself! )  Also some folks have interesting display methods, you will see some with quite elaborate shelving systems to show (or at least contain) more product than could fit on an empty table top.

 

-Dave

Just a couple of sudden thoughts and second thoughts:

 

*Advil (For aching feet, knees, hips, back, etc. if needed.)

*Cooler with drinks/snacks for refreshment between trips back & forth to the car.

*Hotel confirmation info

*Check book (for those table holders who don't take credit cards)

*Some cash on the side for gas for the trip home!

Another ? from a 1st timer.  Where is the parking?  The map of the grounds isn't very clear as to where we park.  Thanks for any info.

 Where is the parking? 

Literally everything that is not a building or a road within the fence of the Fairgrounds is parking. It's all around all of the halls.

 

The only exception might be the track in front of the Grandstands.

Thanks Barry.  This entire thread has been a tremendous help for this 1st timer.  Thanks for starting it Santa Fe VA.

Hey here's an opportunity - scrapple in a sausage casing.  It's perfect for the grill.

Scrapplebasa, YUM!

Sounds like a plan to me!

Your life will not be complete until you have a large cut of scrapple to eat.

I am on the hunt for local made whoopie pies! Don't want to have to drive over to Ronck or Strasburg to get one. Must be some in the lancaster area.

Rob

 

A large cut of scrapple will not only complete your life...it may end it.

Oldrob, Don't know about buying Whoopie Pies, I've been making them in all flavors of cake and filling since I was about 8 (about 50 years) and never had to buy any. I would think Country Kettle Village in Intercourse would have them, and of course the Bird-in-Hand Bakery does. For whoopie Pie afficianados:  Sept. 7 is the annual Whoopie Pie Festival  at the Hershey Farm Restaurant and Inn in Strasburg. There is also one in Dover-Foxcroft Maine - there's a rivalry betweent the 2 states as to where the Whoopie Pie originated. Here in New England, most sandwich shops, grocery stores, restaurants and one-stops have them at their checkout counters.

 

You can get them at the Lancaster Central Market, and if you are in the Ephrata area on a Friday night, you can get them at the Green Dragon.  I'm sure there are other farmers markets closer to York, but I don't have any first hand knowledge of any.

 

Andy

 

 

Make sure that you bring small bills and some change to tip the rest room attendants. They do a great job of keeping the facilities clean.

Rest room attendants work for tips. They don't get "paid" for staying there all day every day replenishing paper goods and cleaning up.

Dotty, please bring me one of your home made Woopie pies to Brian's outing. YUM YUM. Ed

If you see something on a table that really interests you and the price is right, don't pass it up, buy it. After appox. 90 Yorks I learned my lesson long ago, It probably won't be there when you go back.

 

Rich

What do you suggest is the best way to carry the items you purchase with you?

Suitcase, shopping bag, backpack, etc?

Never, under any circumstances, take advice from Scrappy on where to stay in York. You risk never being seen again.

Shopping bags would be best.  They may not allow suitcases in the halls.

 

Personally, I use the heavy-duty plastic bags that Lionel and MTH give out with their catalogs and take my purchases to my vehicle when the bags get full.

 

Andy

Whenever I purchased an item that was large or if the weather outside was bad enough that I didn't want to take it to my car, I would ask if I could leave it with the vendor or table holder until later.  Never had a problem.

 

Once I bought a large item on Thursday and it was held for me until I was leaving on Saturday.

As a 1st timer I'm also thinking plastic contractors bag.