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Post by ChessieFan1978 on Aug 10, 2024 17:49:21 GMT -8
Sure seems like manufacturers don't release new models at the NMRA National Train Show like they used to. What was announced this year?
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Aug 10, 2024 20:58:41 GMT -8
I think the Tangent Greenville cars are technically show announcements, as was the Bachmann catalog. The Scaletrains AC44C6M may be from the show as well, since they posted about it here this weekend. I'd say that's a pretty decent mixture.
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Post by cemr5396 on Aug 11, 2024 8:18:01 GMT -8
we've known they were coming for a long time, but Prairie Shadows announced the road names for the first run of the PD5000.
Other than that and what's already been mentioned I don't know if anything else of note was announced.
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Post by valenciajim2 on Aug 11, 2024 12:14:23 GMT -8
I attended the National Train Show yesterday. I paid $25 for an advance ticket. The show was a bust with a couple of highlights. I arrived at 10:00 AM and left at 11:15 AM. Normally I would expect to spend spend several hours at the National Train Show.
Based on what I heard from several people with displays, apparently, it was originally going to be held at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center across the street from the hotel that housed the NMRA Convention, but in order to house it there, all of the display items had to be unloaded by the local Teamsters Union and each vendor/displaying group would have been required to pay $400/day to the Union. Because of the cost and concerns that the delicate items would not be properly handled, most vendors and other groups with displays pulled out. I have no first hand knowledge corroborating this, but the show moved from a convention center to a hotel ballroom.
By far, the best thing at the show was the Piko display. They had two of the DRG&W Krauss Moffei locomotives on display. IMHO, they were absolutely incredible. I have three of the SP versions and I think these are better. The Piko rep said that the locomotives were delivered to their US warehouse last Wednesday and will be shipped to dealers this coming week. He also said that the next version (which they expect to be their best seller) will be the DRG&W units with the "Southern Pacific" repaint.
Bachmann had some nice locomotives and rolling stock on display. Intermountain also had a nice display. The Coachyard had some of the nicest brass passenger equipment I have ever seen on display. They were absolutely gorgeous, but MSRP on each car was over $1,000.
The SP Historical Society had lots of interest materials for sale including three books and several reasonably priced Kadee and Rapido models.
There were a few vendors--prices were relatively high. I found three older Athearn Ready to Roll freight cars at relatively reasonable prices. The total cost was $45. An older couple was selling the merchandise. The elderly lady who was collecting the cash told me the price was $48. Using the calculator on my iPhone I showed her that the cost was only $45. After doing this twice, she finally agreed. I gave her three $20 bills and she gave me $14 in change. I counted the money in front of her and again, after the second count, she realized that she owed me an extra dollar. I don't think she was dishonest, she just seemed very overwhelmed.
Overall, the Train show was very disappointing compared with previous shows I have attended.
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Post by keystonefarm on Aug 11, 2024 14:21:29 GMT -8
The union issue is what happened to the Philadelphia NMRA show a few years back. Ridiculous demands on what can and can't be done by the participant's and costs more than most would want to pay. They wonder why their union is dying !! I think the days of the NMRA show being in big cities is about done due to the union/cost issue. These are not multi million dollar trade shows. --------
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Post by lvrr325 on Aug 11, 2024 14:43:13 GMT -8
I complain about shows where I have to pay $75 for a hotel to stay over. $400 a day for union guys to stand around? lol good luck
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Post by marknycfan on Aug 11, 2024 15:11:14 GMT -8
We get announcements every month, what do you expect?
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Post by ambluco on Aug 11, 2024 15:29:53 GMT -8
All convention centers have that union rule. Someone needed to plan better. It can be avoided. Picking a better hotel near easier display space is key. Someone must have been new at planning it.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Aug 11, 2024 16:12:36 GMT -8
All convention centers have that union rule. Someone needed to plan better. It can be avoided. Picking a better hotel near easier display space is key. Someone must have been new at planning it. I would think some of the Old Hats would guide the New Kid until he got things figured out. I know if I was suddenly in that position, that's what I'd want. Ed |
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Post by ambluco on Aug 11, 2024 16:23:47 GMT -8
Unfortunately, training and guidance is no longer a top priority in today’s workplace. You’d be surprised. All convention centers have that union rule. Someone needed to plan better. It can be avoided. Picking a better hotel near easier display space is key. Someone must have been new at planning it. I would think some of the Old Hats would guide the New Kid until he got things figured out. I know if I was suddenly in that position, that's what I'd want. Ed Unfortunately |
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Post by tom on Aug 12, 2024 3:22:39 GMT -8
It is also probably also due to the NMRA Convention itself is not the huge draw that it was in years past. If I were a manufacturer this would be low on my priority compared to Springfield or Collinsville.
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Post by edwardsutorik on Aug 12, 2024 5:14:43 GMT -8
Unfortunately, training and guidance is no longer a top priority in today’s workplace. You’d be surprised. My guess was dueling egos in a volunteer organization. Ed |
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Post by snootie3257 on Aug 12, 2024 5:31:27 GMT -8
Unfortunately, training and guidance is no longer a top priority in today’s workplace. You’d be surprised. My guess was dueling egos in a volunteer organization. Ed Now THAT wouldn’t surprise me at all either. Steve |
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Post by valenciajim2 on Aug 12, 2024 8:35:12 GMT -8
It is also probably also due to the NMRA Convention itself is not the huge draw that it was in years past. If I were a manufacturer this would be low on my priority compared to Springfield or Collinsville. The National Train Show, unlike the NMRA National Convention is open to the public and is held concurrently with the NMRA Convention. I would be interested in seeing how many people attended the NMRA Convention. I live 35 miles north of LA, so normally I would be interested in attending a national convention that is held locally. But the scheduled activities were not that compelling. When I compare this convention with the 2008 convention that was held in Amaheim, there is no comparison. The Anaheim Convention was well attended and the accompanying Train Show was held at the Anaheim Convention Center where thousands of people attended. |
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ST974
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Post by ST974 on Aug 12, 2024 10:31:54 GMT -8
Really any show other than locals, Amherst and Denver need to go the way of the dinosaur. The NMRA is on a heavy decline, the shows have been progressively worse including this one. They also have very inconvenient and sometimes unsafe picks for where to hold these every year. I walked in to a bunch of table top displays and vendors smaller than some swaps I've seen. The president seems to have shed a few pounds though, so good for him.
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Post by gevohogger on Aug 12, 2024 10:51:00 GMT -8
The NMRA is on a heavy decline, the shows have been progressively worse including this one. I'd kind of almost forgotten the NMRA was still doing its national conventions. How quaint! I'm resisting my first inclination to ask if there were any new vendors there selling railroad logo patches, red vests to put them on, and striped engineer hats. I went to one years ago (just because it was local) and I think I was the youngest guy there, by about forty years.
(Yes, I realize we're talking about the National Train Show, but the point remains)
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ST974
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Post by ST974 on Aug 12, 2024 11:52:57 GMT -8
The NMRA is on a heavy decline, the shows have been progressively worse including this one. I'd kind of almost forgotten the NMRA was still doing its national conventions. How quaint! I'm resisting my first inclination to ask if there were any new vendors there selling railroad logo patches, red vests to put them on, and striped engineer hats. I went to one years ago (just because it was local) and I think I was the youngest guy there, by about forty years.
(Yes, I realize we're talking about the National Train Show, but the point remains)
I didn't see any striped hats, but did see a few patches were for sale. As for age, the youngest was maybe early 50's and only a few. All gatherings I walked past and clinics had the late 50's group as the youngest in the room. Give it a dozen years or so and we're looking at a much different picture. The NMRA is making some attempts to reach the younger generation but very little. I've talked to some companies and people that run social media platforms and they find the NMRA isn't trying very hard maybe because the small staff is stretched too thin. |
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Post by jonklein611 on Aug 12, 2024 12:09:12 GMT -8
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Post by marknycfan on Aug 12, 2024 13:14:55 GMT -8
Just out of curiosity, just how are the NMRA officers appointed?
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Post by jeoffreythecat on Aug 12, 2024 13:33:02 GMT -8
Just out of curiosity, just how are the NMRA officers appointed? Thirty seconds of research revealed that they are elected to three-year terms: www.nmra.org/news |
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Post by marknycfan on Aug 12, 2024 13:39:08 GMT -8
I'm more curious of the qualifications & parameters of who is eligible. Just out of curiosity, just how are the NMRA officers appointed? Thirty seconds of research revealed that they are elected to three-year terms: www.nmra.org/news |
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Post by hudsonyard on Aug 12, 2024 15:07:43 GMT -8
I can safely say after 30 years in this hobby and many encounters with the dipshits that make up the local NMRA chapter I want absolutely zero to do with that organization. Give it another decade, all the boomers will have shuffled their mortal coil and with them goes the demographic that cares about merit badges and judged contests.
I've met Gordy when he operated at a friends layout, nice guy and an interesting modeler, I just couldn't be bothered to give a damn about his organization.
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Post by cpr4200 on Aug 12, 2024 16:43:22 GMT -8
Contests and merit badges aside, the NMRA Standards folks do a good job.
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Post by hovehicle on Aug 12, 2024 17:18:45 GMT -8
Trainfeast in Wisconsin is still a good show and there are a few announcements from that venue. It is on this year; it's on every 2 years now.
Vito L.
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Post by hudsonyard on Aug 12, 2024 17:22:19 GMT -8
Contests and merit badges aside, the NMRA Standards folks do a good job.
Yes cannot deny that, only the DCC standard hasn't been upgraded since I was in middle school and i'm in my mid-30s now.
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ST974
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Post by ST974 on Aug 13, 2024 4:53:03 GMT -8
Contests and merit badges aside, the NMRA Standards folks do a good job.
Yes cannot deny that, only the DCC standard hasn't been upgraded since I was in middle school and i'm in my mid-30s now.
Yeah what have the standards folks done recently? |
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Post by edwardsutorik on Aug 13, 2024 5:52:40 GMT -8
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ST974
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Post by ST974 on Aug 13, 2024 6:11:47 GMT -8
That will be one significant loss for the hobby if the NMRA doesn't succeed. Maybe as their budget dries up they can just have an all volunteer workforce . |
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Post by crblue on Aug 13, 2024 8:30:14 GMT -8
They're working on ratifying the LCC standard. Unfortunately all of the example code written by the authors of the protocol is using the GPL, so no company can use it in their products. The NMRA should encourage example code with a more business friendly license, but they aren't. Consequently, uptake is slow.
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Post by Mr. Trainiac on Aug 13, 2024 17:53:59 GMT -8
I think the fundamental flaw of the NMRA is that is has no value proposition. Why would I pay for a membership? What benefits does it provide the user? Contests and conventions are fun I guess, but paying for an NMRA membership doesn't necessarily give you a layout. Most clubs charge their own dues separate from NMRA. There are plenty of local train shows and free-mo meets that don't have any membership fees, so NMRA just seems like a bad value. The NMRA has an identity problem; it doesn't know what it wants to be. Is it's primary purpose for developing standards? Is it for organizing annual conventions? The people running it seem like skilled modelers, so it's not a lack of railroad talent. In the days of online forums and local independent clubs and modular meets, I don't think the NMRA has a plan to navigate the space and provide benefit to its members. If you read the membership benefits page, it's mostly just newsletters, guides, and a few discounts: www.nmra.org/membership-benefits. Most of that stuff I can get for free by joining an online discussion group like this one. At that point, my money is better spent on rolling stock than it is an NMRA membership. |
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