I was thinking about going.  I live in eastern Kansas but work in southeast Colorado, and was in Colorado this weekend.  It is a 3 1/2 hour drive to Denver.  I have attended several train shows in Denver and Colorado Springs.  All have been a big disapointment.  I thought the WGH show might be worth the trip, but the high dealer prices at the other shows and the $10 admission price plus parking.  I guess not.  When I go to Denver, there is always Caboose Hobbies.

I live in NYC. If I want to go a train show like WGH, I need to buy an airplane ticket to get to it because they don't do any shows like that in this city or even on Long Island. Why? Because the price of the venues are outrageously expensive and that is before you add in the cost of the union labor you need to arrange for if you want anything electrical. Yes you need to hire an electrician to even plug in a lamp. I won't even go into the cost of hotel rooms or food. That;s why you will never see a train show in this city and it's also why you won't see any on Long Island as well.

I guess the unions in this part of the country would rather keep their members unemployed and the owners of the various conventional facilities see their spaces unused. And people wonder why the economy is in the tank.

Irv

I am not hot under the collar, just a bit frustrated and a little shaky at the moment with good reason.

I had scare on Thursday followed by an angiogram. THat was no fun, but in the cheme of things we all complain about stuff that really isn't that important. What is important is to find out that I've got yhe heart and arteries of a 30 year old but the rest of me is 61!

I've been kept away from basement since THursday mourning and it looks like I have to stay away until this Wednesday as well.

I'ld love to be doing something else but we are not in charge no mater how much we think we are.

Irv

Irv,

I hope things are alright on your end.  Angiogram!  That does not sound good...

Take care of yourself.

On Topic:

I was reading comments about this show on another forum and it's funny how different people react differently.  From those comments you would not know the two threads were discussiong the same show.  These other peeps enjoyed the show despite there being only a few deals to be had.

Blue I think I know where Irv is coming from. I've attended 14 shows on the east coast in the past 3 years. Depending on what day you go and what town or city your in the show can vary a of in quality as well as quantity of both products as well as people attending.

I've been to Greenburg shows and the Greatest show on earth just a hundred miles apart and then they switched locations a couple months later and I was totally disappointed with both in the smaller town as the bigger vendors and Manufactures didn't show but in the larger town the big vendors were there with rows of products and the strange thing is the small town shows had just as many people attending if not more then the big city did but the vendors & manufactuers didn't think they would get the sales in small town USA so why bother showing up.

The Vendors and Manufactuers need to realize that small town shows draw More country model railroaders then the cites do in fact I saw larger crowds at the small town shows than I did in the bigger city shows. Now I'm not talking about Lodi California compared to Los Angeles but some of these shows can be disappointing simply because the vendors and manufactuers don't feel it's worth their time and I want to say sorry guys but their WRONG the population of model railroaders is growing in these small town shows and the vendors the model railroad Manufactuers need to be there for the whole show.

One other thing the Module Groups need to doctor up some of their old modules and dress them up!!! Yes I realize transporting these from show to show can cause some ware and tear but, come on guys your out there showing off the hobby and your clubs and showing up with beet up cracked and in need of repair modules isn't helping the hobby let's do some repairs at the shows let the people see how its done.

Not all the Modules are in poor shape most are in really good shape and the have some really cleaver Ideas like the Drive in movies with the TV set built into the side of a mountain with it showing the great train robbery in its entirety and a mar-key with the shows listed as to whats playing and then really showing them throughout the day. Then there are the "N" scale airport with the old DC-7 ready for take off setting on the runway with the props spinning full on.

For the most part the shows are really good but they need the venders and the industries Manufactures to make them better by showing up when they say they are going to. Mainly so modelers that don't have hobby shops all across their city to buy the products the venders and manufactures have to offer.

Anyway I know what Irv is saying as I've experenced the same thing and paying $10.00 and then getting inside and finding a $3.00 show is a little disapointing. Especally when 3000 people are wandering around wondering where the good stuff is and why there are so many empty tables.

Dan

Anyway I know what Irv is saying as I've experenced the same thing and paying $10.00 and then getting inside and finding a $3.00 show is a little disapointing. Especally when 3000 people are wandering around wondering where the good stuff is and why there are so many empty tables.

Dan

Hmm, I'm confused Dan.  I thought Irv was questioning what the OP and firts comments had to complain about.  I didn't think Irv was complaining...?

Maybe I misread what he meant though?

Some places have priced themselves out of the market due to cost of doing shows which most manufacturers and vendors don't feel will make selling anything worthwhile. Add to that the fact that many model railroaders may not exist of prefer to stay hidden due the costs of making their operations public. New York City fits that description perfectly since those of us who live here have a predatory government whoch in its need for more and more cash in order to offer fewer and fewer services to the publicactively looks to write parking tickets, nuisance laws on the prowl for any new source of income regardless of where or how they get tends to force people and businesses to move elsewhere.

So that's an exlanation why yu will never see a NMRA or other model railroad convention here.

My other comment was a complaint about those who complain about the shows they go to yet don't offer any solutions to those who run them. The shows, to those who run them, aren't there for charity purposes. These shows are the source of their income and if they can't make a buck or two doing them they will stop. But most cities or towns aren't much different tnan NYC. They see the showsm nbot as sources of employment or attractions that will bring visitors in and that those visitors will spend some of the money they have there to buy all sorts stuff. It's short term thinking of the worst kind since the business of any city is to bring jobs, sales and anything that will boost income for the individuals who live there but none of the idiots who are elected to office seem to realize that and wehat s worse, we the voters tend to forget that when we get in the voting booth.

But enough politics. Model railroading was never meant to be an individual hooby. Just as really railroads require many employees to get things done so do our model railroads. So how do we promote our hobby and make others realize this isn't just a hobby full of grown men playing with trains? We have to make it attractve to others and the only way to do that is let our presence be known and invite our friends and neighbors to see what we are creating in out basements.

Irv

I did get some good deals and saw others that I passed on due to having run out of money!  That was not my main reason for going however.  The World's Greatest Hobby Show is one of the places where I can talk to the manfacturers representatives and also see examples of what is coming "down the pike."  I think that many of the manufacturers make decisions on what models to offer based at least partly on comments and feedback from the modeling public at these shows.  I don't model anything in the current era, but the detail on Athearn's newest locomotive prototypes was astounding!  I could not believe the detail they are putting into cab interiors!

Fellows ,

The one local show that seems interesting is the annual Roseville california show . I go for deals on buildings , built or un built . Plasitc is preferrable for me. Parts is parts . Built up buildings at the right price are sought after as well. The CD hotel on my layout was bought as is for $22 .A very nice building with drapes in windows and a nice ornamental facade . I don't know who manufactured it but I believe it to be a hydrocal casting . Quite a deal really.

Freight cars can be had at quite reasonable prices . Add metal wheels and couplers of your choice. I wonder at retailers who come to shows and ask full boat prices , I can go to the hobby shop at my leisure and buy this stuff at full retail any time . No pressure to buy .If the bricks and mortar are gone { support your hobby shop ! }  On line is an option , Although I do like to see what I am buying  . In sum , I go to look for out of print items , deals on distressed items , the estate and or vertical layout clearance things .