For the past three years, a fellow modeler and I have been displaying our modular based industrial switching layout depicting Galesburg Illinois in N. I have been modeling the CB&Q with my three modules and he has been modeling the Santa Fe with his five modules. I designed the modules after the prototype and can operate my three modules independently as just a Q or BN switching layout, however, the layout really shines when the both of us can meet at a show and combine the layouts into the big picture. Currently, I live in East Central Illinois and my Buddy lives in Southern Michigan. As such, most of our shows have been in Illinois, Wisconsin and Ohio. After July, my wife and I will be moving to my native home of New Hampshire and so the distance between the two of us and our modules will be greater. We will always do the Galesburg RR Days show as long as there is show there, after all it is where the modules are based from, and I will take vacation accordingly. While I plan to run my little slice of Illinois at a few shows in NH, we still want to meet up and run the whole layout. So, with that said, I'm looking for shows that take place between Southern Michigan and Central New Hampshire, ideally the states between. Granted, I realize I can do a search on line but I would rather get some real time data. Let me know of a show you think would be worth our while to set up at. Generally we want shows that are two day shows, not centered around toy or three rail and are annual. So far we only have two shows we plan to do next year, Galesburg and possibly the Altoona N Scale show. Let us know what you have in your area and thanks in advance!
To give a scope of what eight 18X48 inch modules look like together to form the City Job: Not sure why when using my iPad it imports images upside down but this still serves the purpose.
Shows that I know of and recommend are the Ohio N scale weekend in Columbus, OH which will be held this year on May 19 (set up) 20 & 21. Lodging may be a problem as there are two other events scheduled for the area that same weekend. Second one is the N Scale weekend in Altoona, Pa which will be August 18 (set up) 19 & 20. Both are exclusively N scale and feature lots of layouts. There is also a NMRA show in Kirtland, OH, (near Cleveland) at the Lakeland Community College usually held in March. Used to be a good show but I haven't been there in several years so I don't know its current status. There is also the NSE convention in Pittsburgh this year followed by the TCA convention a week or so later and in a different venue. Both are in June. There is also the Greenberg Train Show in Pittsburgh (Monroeville) on July 22-23. These are the ones I know.
Two shows in Western New York might meet your criteria: "Tiger Tracks" at the Rochester Institute of Technology, held in early to mid December, and the train show at the New York Fairgrounds in Syracuse which is usually held the first weekend in November. It would in my estimation be far easier to get into the RIT show than the Syracuse show. Having said that, I'd lean heavily toward the Ohio and Pennsylvania N Scale Weekends, even though I've not been to either one (yet...).
HI Iam a member of the salt city NTRAK club and we set up at nmra train show every yr. at ny fairgrounds. I do not see a problem with you being able to set up at our nov. show.
The Allentown, PA meet (in eastern PA) has been going on for at least 40 years: http://www.allentowntrainmeet.com/ The Jersey Central Chapter NRHS show at Mother Seton High School is another that's been sponsored for a long time: http://jcrhs.org/rrshow.html I moved away from this area many decades ago, but these likely remain good shows.
There's the N Scale Weekend held every year in Altoona, PA. This year it's being held on August 19th and 20th. http://www.n-scaleweekend.com/
Thanks everyone for the response. I have been trying to decide if we will continue going to the Ohio N Scale weekend. We are scheduled to be there again this year, our second year. Columbus is a drive from Central NH but it is all N and by then (2018) my shop should be up and running so that will help. We really wanted to do Altoona this year, but my buddy has a scheduling conflict so I'll go as a consumer this year to check it out. Thanks guys, I knew having a personal perspective was better than the old google search, keep me coming!
Altoona's a great show. Mike Phillips is in charge. Good guy to work with. The Atlantic City weekend is another good one. Greenburg in Edison & Somerset. NSE convention is in Pittsburgh this year.
It's actually this year as it hasn't passed yet. Admission is free. http://www.rutgers-atlantic.org/pdfs/model railroad.pdf
