This year's Oklahoma City train show is Dec. 3rd and 4th. There's a few changes related to traffic control, just a quick look at the website will explain it. They're not major. Hope it's possible for you to be there. Bobby
Last year was the first time I ever went and it is a great show. I wish I could go again. Really big and a lot of train things there. I would say it will take 1-2 hours to see the whole floor.. Great train layouts, too. The Southwest US Quarter Horse Association was having it's convention, too and it was REALLY big. I never saw so many double-tired pickup trucks in my life. There were horse trailers there that cost more than my home.
Cool forescast - with a chance of sprinkles View attachment 41178 not the best weather for a decal vendor frown:
I will be there Saturday morning for sure. May end up staying Sat night and Amtrak-ing it back to FW.
Slightly OT for the train show, but there is an N scale "mini convention" Thursday and Friday before the show. I really enjoyed that last year. Hope someone will post a few pictures if possible.
I have to be in Okie City for a lab inspection, and it's between paydays, so this year is a wash. Just as well- I have to do prep paperwork before the inspection, plus I'm saving up for layout-specific materials.
Got there around 9:45a and stayed until about 1:45p. Pouring rain and thunderstorms when we arrived but the power stayed on and the hunt for good deals and cool layouts began. I don't have any pics from the show unfortunately. The layouts were great...large N-Trak and T-Trak setups and some great modules. Of course the standard complement of those "larger scale" layouts as well. I'll admit I didn't get to spend as much time on the layouts as I normally do. Not really sure why...I wasn't finding any killer deals or unique items like I typically do at OKC so maybe I just kept trying to beat a dead horse. Saw some good BNSF action on the T-Trak setup, which of course I liked. There was a neat MKT John Deere-led military train on one of the HO modules. My purchases were pretty anemic. I picked up one of the new Intermountain converted-reefers in BNSF which is a VERY nice model IMHO. It got panned on the forums but I think it looks good...only complaint is it seems a bit light. Along with that was one of the new Trainworx UPS drop trailers...these trailers are flat out impressive. I had some on order but just had to buy one more. I bought one of Kato's "Step-Down Coach/Baggage" sets after learning that the coach is actually in Phase III paint instead of an earlier scheme as reported at one point. This means they are pretty much perfect for the Heartland Flyer. And finally, I picked up an EOT conversion kit from Richmond Controls. I searched for quite a while for some kind of track cleaning car (Aztec, Centerline, etc) but came up empty. CMX was there as a manufacturer with their "Clean Machine" but interestingly didn't have any for sale and referred me to an adjacent dealer (a local OKC shop) that *also* didn't have any. After the show, one of our group mentioned an N layout at a local mall so we decided to stop by. Turns out, the layout had "grown up" into an HO setup! It was a nice set of modules though...some very good scenery, structures, and weathered rolling stock. I regret that I don't have specifics of the name of the group but they were out of Kansas I believe although one gentleman mentioned that they had many members in OK and TX as well. Anyway, the N modular layout that normally resides there was at the show and these HO guys setup in their absence. (at least I think that's how I understood the story) I do have some pics of that setup, and if I get time I'll try to post some later.
Doug A.: Thanks for the update. I'll look forward to your pictures if you get the chance to post them. I saw there might be freezing precipitation in Oklahoma City this Sunday morning.
Doug, the N scale layout is downstairs at the other end of the mall... wish they would get them two together. There is enough space for goodness sakes!
I spoke to two of my friends yesterday who went to the show. They said it was a great train show, as usual, and it POURED rain Saturday morning, Still have the quarter horse show on the same weekend, too. I have another friend who I have not spoken to yet. He and his wife took Amtrak from San Antonio to OKC for the show. I think that was somewhat of an ordeal.
I plowed through the rain and water on the roads and got there about 10 AM Saturday. Between the rain and the horse show, the parking lot was a mess. Lots to see there - thought it was a good show. I bought another box from Train Boxes Plus to help organize my rolling stock and other stuff. Then I bought a UP Light Mikado (BLI Paragon2) from a dealer. I wanted a small UP steamer to go with my Big Boys, Challengers and FEF-3. It looks good and runs good. The BLI steamer creeps along at much lower throttle settings than my Genesis steamers. Sound is pretty good also. Also talked with the editor of Cowcatcher magazine - I subscribe and we'd emailed before but never met face-to-face before.
Cool, Tim's a friend of mine...I originally was gonna help him man the Cowcatcher booth but plans changed. I must have missed the Train Boxes Plus guys...was gonna try to buy some inserts from them. Not sure if they sell them separately or not.
