|
|
Post by riogrande on Jun 24, 2012 8:07:30 GMT -8
I wanted to go to Timonium this weekend but my daugher is visiting from central NY - I flew her down on Thu so I'll have to wait for the next Greenberg show at the Dulles Expo center near Fairfax Virginia in August.
Anyone going to Timonium this weekend? I'd expect it to be a bit light being summer and all. I guess Mr. Zane hasn't discovered Atlas Rescue forum yet since he didn't announce this time. ER did though! =P
|
|
|
|
Post by curtmc on Jun 24, 2012 10:40:25 GMT -8
I went... Other than a few bargains from a book salesman who had just bought out a shop and an estate, I didn't find much there. Selection of newer items was poor, and stuff on my shopping list... nothing close...
Overall, Timo just isn't what it used to be...
Only real reason I went this time was to pick up a few locos I had advance ordered from a dealer... so UPS or USPS wouldn't damage them in shipment the way prior shipments had been. He forgot to bring them to the show. Oh well...
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jun 24, 2012 11:33:01 GMT -8
Expected it would be smaller being summer. As for used to be, seems alot isn't what it used to be but having never known the former Glory since I moved here Oct 2009, I'm enjoying what it is, which is better than many shows I've attended. Looking forward to fall since I missed this one. I still enjoy the treasure hunt as I try to back fill items.
|
|
|
|
Post by alco539 on Jun 24, 2012 12:48:43 GMT -8
I'm ashamed to admit, that I've lived in Maryland all my life, and I've never been to the train show in Timonium. My neighbor has gone many times, and I hope one day he'll ask me to go with him. He decided not to go this weekend, because he wants to save his money for the new B&O I-12 cabooses coming out. He models the B&O in HO from Relay to Point of Rocks (old main line is one mile from the house). His basement is 1000 SQFT and full of railroad! Anyway, one day I'll get there, besides I lived south of DC about 12 miles from the White House and never took the tour. When I "go to town", I like the Smithsonian museums more, can you say "Southern 1401". Regards Charley.
|
|
|
|
Post by keystonecrossings on Jun 24, 2012 14:31:48 GMT -8
The summer show is in a smaller building and is always smaller... the smallest of the four. In actuality, this show had more tables (close to 400) compared to last summer's. I could tell by the much tighter aisles!
By comparison, the other three shows have 700-900 tables and a lot more modular layouts.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jun 24, 2012 17:40:44 GMT -8
Many train shows have a very small amount of new items at them I find. With pre orders only and no extras, having them at a train show is hit or miss at best. Heck, having them at a train store is hit or miss at best. Heck, having a train store is hit or miss at best.  |
|
|
|
Post by Brakie on Jun 25, 2012 5:13:23 GMT -8
I'm ashamed to admit, that I've lived in Maryland all my life, and I've never been to the train show in Timonium.
---------------------------------------
That's sad..I live in Ohio and would love to attend that show..
I been thinking of taking holiday in Maryland so I can attend the show.
Of course with a 17 year old LaSabre I would need to rent a unlimited mileage car for a minimum of three days.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jun 25, 2012 17:06:11 GMT -8
Did MB Kliens offer their discount during the show?
They used to come to the shows but I think they stopped when the moved out of Baltimore.
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jun 26, 2012 4:49:23 GMT -8
Alco, no need to be ashamed. It's totally up to you but since the show is held quarterly, there are frequent opportunites if you ever get a wild hair! I had to miss it this time with things going on. The next show close to me is the Dulles Expo Greenberg show in Chantilly/Fairfax VA, and then after that probably the next "fall" Timonium show.
|
|
|
|
Post by drolsen on Jun 26, 2012 6:17:30 GMT -8
I grew up in Baltimore but never really made it to Timonium regularly until I moved to Northern VA after college (I recall going to Greenberg shows with my dad as a kid). I moved away for about 10 years but would occasionally time a trip back to visit family with one of the shows. I moved back to NoVA two years ago and have made it to a couple more since then. I've had a great time at every show I've been to and have always managed to find something interesting to buy or some new people to talk with. The summer shows are always smaller, so I prefer going to the January or March/April shows, but I have a good time in the summer too.
In my opinion, you shouldn't go to these shows too often though, because you will inevitably see the same dealers and the same products, which gets old quick. When I get back there once a year or less, I always see something new, and the experience is fun all over again. Just as an example, I went to a Timonium show and then a smaller one in Fredericksburg, VA a month or so later, and I saw some of the same dealers with the exact same items on their shelves (I even debated internally about some of the same prices I'd looked at and passed over at Timonium). I've seen the same thing when I've been to two successive Timonium shows.
These shows have definitely changed a bit as the market and volume of products has changed. Nowadays, you see several large dealers that all have similar displays of recently-released products (which up until recently was usually a big display of new ExactRail models). I go there to poke through the books, older (5-10 yr old) models that guys are selling to thin out their collections, and research material like photos, ORERs, and other things. I usually go with limited expectations - I might be looking for one or two specific items, but other things that I wanted but wasn't searching for always seem to show up. I also look for things like tools that I want to put my hands on and test out before buying - I can generally figure out what a model looks like that I plan to mail order, but tools and other items are usually lacking in description and photos online.
Anyway, I think you can definitely get burnt out on these shows, so I try to just go to them occasionally. I'd also strongly recommend the railroadiana show in Gaithersburg too if you have a chance. Not a huge show, but probably one of the best of its kind. Almost talked myself into a full size B&O CPL when I went last year...
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jun 26, 2012 8:13:43 GMT -8
Dave,
Thats how I felt about the Syracuse train show at the NYS Fair Grounds every November. I went nearly every year from 1994 or so until I moved to NoVA in fall of 2009 and during the latter years it always seemed like the same ol same ol. It was a BIG show occupying two very large exhibition halls but the dealer items were not as good as Timonium and layouts not as good over all. There was a ton of junque and just plain junk there, and not a lot of newer release stuff so that show really did get stale in the latter years. As for T, since moving here I have already visited there probabably 8 to 10 times and so far it is fun every time. I do hear your point about getting burned out so in a way, missing the summer show is maybe a good thing.
|
|
|
|
Post by alco539 on Jun 26, 2012 14:24:40 GMT -8
Thanks Dave and riogrande for your understanding. I meant it as a joke, and was waiting for the comments. I actually responded last night, but after posting, deleted it. I don't take anything personal these days, sh** life is too short. Since I've been out of the hobby for 30+ years, even the shows have changed. "Back in the day" every year, I use to go to the TCA meets in York, PA. Not much N-scale at those, but some. Also, I seem to remember that the original Greenberg show was in Timonium (fair grounds) too. So I'm sure I "predate" the Timonium show as it is known today. When I started in N scale in 1969, I lived in southern MD, a hundred miles from York, so I've made my share of trips. Besides, I feel I can get almost anything I need on the net (ebay) or at the LHS (owner goes to the show) and avoid the crowds. Don't take this the wrong way, I wish all train shows well, but maybe a lot of people feel the same way. Since you folks are from the WashMet area. You know that commuting to work everyday into and around Washington, DC for 32 years (including 15 years on the old Woodrow Wilson Bridge), takes it's toll on a person. On the weekends, "I go no-where", LOL. I'll get to one, sometime! You all take care, Charley.
PS; The Baltimore Beltway (I-695) and I-83 are just as bad, even on the weekends, Via Con Dios!
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jun 27, 2012 15:46:02 GMT -8
The Baltimore Beltway has an average speed of 40 mph.
Either 0 or 80 whenever I have been on it............which is as rare a possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by alco539 on Jun 28, 2012 3:53:17 GMT -8
Amen brother!
I was communting from Mount Airy, Md to Northern, VA (RT 50 and I-495), about 45 miles one way, one hour at 0400, two at 0600. Which is still better than from southern MD to the same place across the "old" Woodrow Wilson bridge, 2-3 hour commute not uncommon. I had a chance to change work locations to Hunt Valley (Cockeysville, MD) almost across the street from MB Klein. Too bad I wasn't back into trains then. I'd at least still be in MD the whole trip, seemed like a smart thing to do. Took a test run on a Sunday to scope things out, I-70 to I-695 (Balto beltway), I-83 N, took two hours. I was told it's worse on a weekday. I stayed in N VA until 2007, then moved to Silver Springs, MD, a 23 mile commute, still one hour, all back roads. Well, this has gone way off topic, so before I get the boot, let me say this. Timonium is in my future, but if I never get there, as Walther Cronkite use to say "that's the way it is". Regards Charley.
|
|
|
|
Post by wicked fun on Jul 2, 2012 6:02:27 GMT -8
Did MB Kliens offer their discount during the show? They used to come to the shows but I think they stopped when the moved out of Baltimore. They stopped coming when they got kicked out of the show for drawing show patrons away from the show and to their store. The got lazy and didn't want to bring any product to the show. It was easier for them to have an employee sit in a chair in front of their tables and hand out a discount flyer for anyone who came to the store that weekend. Not a good way to maintain a good relationship with the show managers. Wicked Fun |
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jul 2, 2012 8:25:55 GMT -8
Mmm... I can see whay wicked.
BTW, the next show in the DC area that I'm aware of is the Greenberg show near Dulle Airport at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly - late August. It used to come twice a year but the Dulles Expo center sold one of their buildings to Walmart - there is now a "smallmart" in one of the old buildings.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 2, 2012 16:41:04 GMT -8
Mmm... I can see whay wicked. BTW, the next show in the DC area that I'm aware of is the Greenberg show near Dulle Airport at the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly - late August. It used to come twice a year but the Dulles Expo center sold one of their buildings to Walmart - there is now a "smallmart" in one of the old buildings. That Expo has a bad reputation for lousy parking. Now there is a Wal Mart there??  |
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jul 2, 2012 18:43:11 GMT -8
I've never had any trouble at the Dulles Expo train show for parking, none at all and I"ve been 3 or 4 times since I moved here. Walmart occupies the north building now - the east is still used for shows.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 3, 2012 9:53:09 GMT -8
I've never had any trouble at the Dulles Expo train show for parking, none at all and I"ve been 3 or 4 times since I moved here. Walmart occupies the north building now - the east is still used for shows. Been to the winter gun show or RV show? I went once and after the hike from down the road in a blizzard decided once was enough........... |
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jul 3, 2012 13:46:28 GMT -8
Can't afford to put gas in an RV even if I could buy one. Still on my to do list to own in a real house, sad at age 53 I've never owned my own home. Last one was owned by my ex, and she made sure I got nothing when she kicked me out. Less than four years my legal shackles will be released and maybe I can think about home owner ship, and maybe a place to build a layout?
|
|
Hergy
Full Member
Posts: 117
|
Post by Hergy on Jul 7, 2012 9:03:59 GMT -8
I guess we as model RR had just as well get used to the low inventory at the shows. Last show I went to locally in June was really crappy, lots of junk and no bargains. I just got an email from Caboose Hobbies (my pusher of choice) advertising their 4th of July sale. 15% off on in stock items. I usually try to score on a Genisis model during these sales, but out of 414 items only 65 or 16% were in stock and not a single UP which I model. This is about as low as I've ever seen it. Caboose usually has a huge inventory, but with the RTR problems and the slipped dates on the Genisis line, not much to squander my money on. Oh, well I guess I'll save my money for the pre-orders I have.
|
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 8, 2012 7:05:58 GMT -8
I guess we as model RR had just as well get used to the low inventory at the shows. Last show I went to locally in June was really crappy, lots of junk and no bargains. I just got an email from Caboose Hobbies (my pusher of choice) advertising their 4th of July sale. 15% off on in stock items. I usually try to score on a Genisis model during these sales, but out of 414 items only 65 or 16% were in stock and not a single UP which I model. This is about as low as I've ever seen it. Caboose usually has a huge inventory, but with the RTR problems and the slipped dates on the Genisis line, not much to squander my money on. Oh, well I guess I'll save my money for the pre-orders I have. The hobby has moved into a made to pre order only business. Train stores will all be gone in 5 years as there is no reason to go to them anymore. Who knows where people will buy track or other layout items. Let alone new hobby entrants, if any, will start off at. |
|
|
|
Post by riogrande on Jul 8, 2012 9:09:02 GMT -8
The hobby has moved into a made to pre order only business. Train stores will all be gone in 5 years as there is no reason to go to them anymore. Who knows where people will buy track or other layout items. Let alone new hobby entrants, if any, will start off at. It has been pretty much a pre-order business for a long time - people have been complaining about this for years but complaining isn't going to stop the inevidable. People will buy track and other layout items more and more online/mail order and at train shows, which is pretty much what I've been doing since what, 1989 or 1990, ie the past 22 years or so. As for new folks in the hobby, I really wonder how much the LHS facilitates them - sure a few drive by and walk in but with the prices so much higher than other sources, it seems like it would discourage them as much has most of them have discouraged me. |
|
|
|
Post by atsfan on Jul 8, 2012 11:24:56 GMT -8
The hobby has moved into a made to pre order only business. Train stores will all be gone in 5 years as there is no reason to go to them anymore. Who knows where people will buy track or other layout items. Let alone new hobby entrants, if any, will start off at. It has been pretty much a pre-order business for a long time - people have been complaining about this for years but complaining isn't going to stop the inevidable. People will buy track and other layout items more and more online/mail order and at train shows, which is pretty much what I've been doing since what, 1989 or 1990, ie the past 22 years or so. As for new folks in the hobby, I really wonder how much the LHS facilitates them - sure a few drive by and walk in but with the prices so much higher than other sources, it seems like it would discourage them as much has most of them have discouraged me. I have found shipping costs for track to be.......  |
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on Jul 8, 2012 15:39:55 GMT -8
I guess we as model RR had just as well get used to the low inventory at the shows. Last show I went to locally in June was really crappy, lots of junk and no bargains. I just got an email from Caboose Hobbies (my pusher of choice) advertising their 4th of July sale. 15% off on in stock items. I usually try to score on a Genisis model during these sales, but out of 414 items only 65 or 16% were in stock and not a single UP which I model. This is about as low as I've ever seen it. Caboose usually has a huge inventory, but with the RTR problems and the slipped dates on the Genisis line, not much to squander my money on. Oh, well I guess I'll save my money for the pre-orders I have. I too have reservations about pre-orders since the product might not be what you really want when it finally gets in stock. My preference is to see an item and purchase it when it is available, but that is not possible for many items any longer without the pre-order status type of reservation. The slipped dates might be due to the large manufacturer in China that went bankrupt early this year or late last year. It was six to seven months before Athearn could recover their tooling at that plant. Most of the items were RTR but the SP MT4 was there also, which is in the Genesis line. I read recently they have now recovered the tooling but no indication yet if some of the tooling is missing. Tooling is very expensive and any lost items will drive up the prices even more. The days of inexpensive models from over run production seems to be over except for some Bachmann items. They seem to have the capacity at their plants to turn out production much like the other companies did many years ago. I was in Caboose Hobbies two weeks ago and probably will visit again this coming week as I am working a project in Denver during the week days. As much as I like that store, it is much different than my visits in the past ten years or so. I normally can find something to have Don send home by UPS, but lately it is only books. Larry |
|
|
|
Post by calzephyr on Jul 8, 2012 15:49:47 GMT -8
The hobby has moved into a made to pre order only business. Train stores will all be gone in 5 years as there is no reason to go to them anymore. Who knows where people will buy track or other layout items. Let alone new hobby entrants, if any, will start off at. It has been pretty much a pre-order business for a long time - people have been complaining about this for years but complaining isn't going to stop the inevidable. People will buy track and other layout items more and more online/mail order and at train shows, which is pretty much what I've been doing since what, 1989 or 1990, ie the past 22 years or so. As for new folks in the hobby, I really wonder how much the LHS facilitates them - sure a few drive by and walk in but with the prices so much higher than other sources, it seems like it would discourage them as much has most of them have discouraged me. The prices are higher in our LHS since the overhead is very high for most stores, at least in California. I don't mind paying more for items at the local store when they have them in stock, but that is always a problem to find the items I want. We have to realize the LHS is a business and has overhead. If they do not make a profit, they are gone in a short time. The discount stores all started many years ago and even our club used to combine orders and send them off to the east coast since the discounts were very large. AHM used to sell Rivarossi Big Boys for $25 each until 1974. After that they went up to $55 each in the mid 1976 era. I purchased a few of those for show, but they were never used since the large flanged wheels made them useless for most layouts. Larry |
|
|
|
Post by keystonecrossings on Jul 8, 2012 16:02:49 GMT -8
I was "part-time" in the business for many years. I closed at the end of 2010 because I didn't have time to participate in the hobby! Now I am building a new layout and enjoying it.
As for dealers... yes, the brick and mortar is on life support. There is no way an individual can get into this business today. The inventory is actually the easy part of the equation. Utilities aren't even so much of a problem. It's the real estate. A monthly payment -- whether it is a lease or a mortgage -- is what kills the independent LHS.
The only LHS's staying in business are the ones who paid off their mortgages in years past. When they come to retire, there are three options:
1. Close.
2. Continue within the family. This is the case with The Station in New Cumberland, PA.
3. Sell to some sucker who will take on the overheard of a mortgage and will be out of business in 3-5 years.
There's a fairly new shop in York, PA. Young guy. Good intentions. But I questioned his judgement in leasing space and opening a store. Two years later and customers are complaining online. And I hear he has now taken a job with Norfolk Southern, leaving non-model railroad members of his family to run the store. They've reduced retail hours to four hours a day; eight on Saturday. It just isn't viable!
Everything is going online. I thought Best Buy killed Circuit City. But this weekend I read that Best Buy is now laying off 2,400 people. These are commodity products. All commodity products will go online only over the next few years.
|
|
