I went to the Long Beach version of the Worlds Greatest Hobby on Tour.  I got a couple of great deals on kits that fit in with my layout's druthers, and a frame for a 1930's Lionel loco (the find of the century).    

A particular observation I made, though, was that many of the vendors were selling at full retail price.  I even saw a few that were higher than retail.  Now, that, I cannot figure out, other than to say that the vendors have the retail and show experience, and must know that they can fool some folks with big eyes and fat wallets.  Caveat Emptor.

Sure it's been 5 years since the last WGH show in Denver.  But every year we have the Great Train Expo and also the Estes Park Rocky Mountain Show.

With those two shows each year you have essentially the same vendors and same modular layouts, TWICE a YEAR.

Now the WGH is supposed to be different, with Manufacturers showing off the newest products, better layouts and hopefully better vendors.

We got the same THREE HO scale modulars that are there every GTE, the same N scale that are there with every GTE and most of the same vendors that are present every year.

Sure Athearn was there, and a couple of the guys were nice, (the oldest one was rude) Digitrax didn't want to answer any questions (I guess they have heard the off switch plenty) MTH was a big display, but so. 

The only REAL difference between the other shows and this one was way more emphasis on the Thomas the Tank and rides the kids could enjoy.  Not something a 32 year old and his 60 year old dad would care for.

If this one the only show you have gone to in years, then yes it was pretty good. 

Josh

The idea of going to a show looking for bargains is new to me.  So far I have always gone to the shows to see layouts and talk to other modelers about their layouts etc

Like I said, there were no NEW layouts to see, the same ones for the past 8 years.

Josh

I think we all need to ask ourselves who the shows are for? I don't think we as model railroaders and the vendors at the shows will have the same answers. Furthermore, the promoters will have another answer as well.

We approach these shows from the point of view of the consumer of model railroad products and thus we may wish to get stuff cheap. That may well conflict with the approach of the vendors who are there to sell product and to make a profit on that product so that they can both stay in business and get some income out of it as well.

The promoter is there to make some income as well and to advertise model railroading to the public so that they can get more visitors. So if it takes making Thomas the Tank Engine a part of what is displayed it may well be worth doing. Besides Thomas attracts the kids (and some adults) and may push the idea that model railorading is both fun and educational.

I know, that's not why you went there and you want to see new stuff all of the time. But that doesn't happen primily because vendors these days announce the new stuff at places like the NMRA National convention, Hobby Industry Association meets and other place that are both well atttended by model railroaders but also by the model railroad magazines and the press. Vendors my be hobbyists but most of them are in it to move product and we need to realize that.

Irv

I doubt it especially if the layouts were modular. Sure you may not remember but I'll bet there were different configurations each year. Of course, the odds are that you may remember most of the scenes but odds are that these shows may be the only chance these clubs get together to run their layouts. That's what my club does these days since we no longer have our club room. Besides, many clubs get an honorarioum for being present and that may pay for both the show and serve to keep dues for the members at some rate that is affordable.

Besides, the clubs show up in order to make themselves noticeable for the purpose of possibly attracting new members who might not otherwise know of either their existence or even that there are other model railroaders in the same area or near them.

Irv

To a certain point I have to agree with you Josh.  I belong to one of those "same old modular layouts" except that three of us are also free-mo modelers.  Free-mo in Denver and Colorado has been struggling for a long time.  We asked permission of one of the oldest modular groups if we could join up with them to display our modules at shows.  This has wound up with us attending 4 shows in the last 6 months instead of only one a year at the Prototype Modelers meet.  Each set up that we do is attached to the "NMRA" standard loop type set up and each set up has been totally different.  I guess you didn't see that.  The only modification we had to do was use 40 inch legs insteqd of 50" legs and come up with an adapter to tie into the "NMRA" loop. 

This show was different.  Yes there were manufacturers.  The Woodland Sceneic people were totally gracious.  The Bowser people went out of there way to explain what they are trying to do.  I did not get a chance to talk to Athearn so no comment on them.  There were different vendors this time and less of the mom and pop types that have swap meet stuff.  That was dissapointing to me.  Almost all of the vendors carried the latest stuff fom what I saw.  Very few had drug out the old dusty stuff  that I might want so they did not interest me.  At least there merchandise was not shop worn from being displayed by "show hobby shops"  that travel the circuit from town to town and never lower the prices.

As far as attendance for the show, I really enjoyed it because there were young people with small children instead of the usual "old farts" like me who have done it all and seen it all and don't see it as something new.  I am very greatful to the show providers for bringing the Thomas ride to the show and letting the kids ride for free.  That really helps promote the hobby to those young parents instead of remembering how they waited in line and then had to pay for a carnival ride on a hand car for their chikdren.

It sounds to me like your interest lean more to the Prototype Modelers Meets where only "serious" modelers attend.  There is one in Denver now.  This year will be the fourth of fifth one.  It is small but it is getting better and bigger! 

to the modulars.  My dad and I stroll over and see "Colorado Rail Link" who is at every Great Train Expo, and a couple of the others and it;s like "Ok been there, done that."

No, for me I wanted to see Manufacturers showing off the latest and greatest and what they have in the pipeline.  Not Digitrax and their one folding table, Bowser with 3 locomotives and 5 freight cars, Con-Cor with 4 tables and like 5 trains.

Woodland Scenics was cool and crowded, MTH was the most crowded.

Getting deals on equipment was secondary for this show (usually ranks first for GTE or Estes Park) and there weren't very many.  It was actually very sickening to see vendors posting Athearn R-T-R rolling stock for $18+ and then see the moms, dads and little kids that quite possibly could be their first show.

If that was my first show and first interaction with the hobby and saw those prices I would avoid it like the plague.

I am not a protype modeler by any means (not anymore anyways, I was when I modeled HOn3) darn vivet counters...

Josh