I am going to be heading to the FW trainshow in about a week and a half and have saved a bit to spend while there, but the problem is what should I get from the list below if I can only get one item? A. Accurail 50 ton coal hoppers (set of 12) B. A couple of Genesis Auto Articulateds C. Kato SD45 HO ATSF (pre-order) D. Proto E-8a/b (pre-order) E. Kato SD70mac (pre-order) F. Athearn Genesis SD75M H2 (pre-order) Just a few to think about. I run both steam and modern ATSF/BNSF and UP as well as a C&O H-8 Allegheny. Thanks [ 22. November 2002, 05:11: Message edited by: bnsf4354 ]
<font color="336633">Well it really is up to you, but if I was to go to a train fair, I would want to come back with something in my hand so i wouldnt use it to preorder items. Personally I would go for the hoppers, a set of 12 would look a lot for your money....... but in the end its up to you </font>
I think StickyMonk has the right idea. When I go to a train show, I like to take something home with me, too! As long as it's something I want. Of course, after living in Alaska for 6 years, I can count the number of train shows I attended on one hand (without using a couple fingers!). Now that I'm back South, I might be able to get to a couple more... I wouldn't worry about pre-orders for P2K E8s, unless the roadname you want is very popular. E8s are quite common on eBay and LHS shelves, so you can most likely get one of those anytime. The Kato SD45s, however, are far more likely to vanish before they even hit the shelves. You might want to pre-order one from your LHS, with a deposit to keep the owner happy, and your engine available! Most LHS are happy to offer layaway, so you can pay off your engine over a couple months. Just don't abuse this policy, or your LHS owner won't offer it. Pat [ 22. November 2002, 17:46: Message edited by: AKrrnut ]
As I say a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Go for the autoracks or coal cars. As for me I never have enough coal cars.
When I went to the Holiday Train Show in Ft. Worth a couple of weeks ago, I had a list in my head of what I wanted to get. When I left, I had four woodchip cars and five pulpwood flatcars. I'm also looking to get tankers to haul kaolin. No plans to get a paper mill, but all the traffic (as well as the siding for loading woodchips and pulpwood) will imply such an industry, which will be off the layout. I also had auto racks and buildings on my list, but I'm pleased to get the cars I did. Don't expect to get all the things on your list, but try to get a few. If you do this' you'll come out with a feeling of success.
My problem is I always go to a train show with a list of every thing I am looking for, and I come home with everything thats not on my list!!!!
Great minds shop alike! This seems to often be my problem. Something will always show up that grabs the eye. A "must have" item. Poof! There goes the budget! Oh well. When I arrive back at home, I can still say that I had fun! Boxcab E50
Truth be told, I've done that as well. This time around, though, I put the blinders on and stuck to my list. Of course, doing this meant i missed out on Athearn GP38-2s and SD40-2s in Frisco colors, as well as some nice-looking Alco RS1s at bargain-basement prices (had I hit Texas Lottery earlier, this wouldn't have been a problem, but oh well.......... ).
I just aquired a new upgraded drive Life-Like Proto-2000 BL-2 in Western Maryland! I have yet to get it tho, but the fellow that has it, has to get to it. I done some repair work for a fellow train club member to an O scale Lionel C-40-8 that cost him $40 in repairs and hes tickled pink with it being it hasn't run since last year and he took it to a few shops that couldsn't do anything with it. But I got it up and running again and he's going to trade me even up on this BL-2 he's got in HO scale. Being he was the owner of the local hobby shop in my area a few years ago. He collects O scale, and sold HO and N and some O scale in his old hobby shop! So it all works out! And hes going to be starting another shop since he moved to this area from living in Glen Burnie MD so... Can't wait for this all to happen, to get my new aquired BL-2 and his new shop!
Matt and I, and a friend, are going to a large train show on saturday. I am not really in need of anything, as I am thinning my stock after the layout rebuild. But I expect something will catch my eye Gotta come home with something
Well, went to the show and was surprised to find most of the items at or ABOVE retail!!! I was hoping to get some real bargains, but not to be this time. No coal cars, no 12 pack of hoppers, no UP dummy engines etc..... So what did I get? 1. Genesis SD75m ATSF 2. Atlas U25b ATSF 3. P2k PA1 ATSF All about $50 each--not too bad I guess, but I was after much more. They had Rivarossi Challengers for $269.00 each, but I can get them for $184.00 any day of the week . The prices weren't even close . I might have to save the entrance fee and just buy online from now on.
BNSF, I like the sound of the Riv Challengers for $184! Thats a good price! Unless your like me and wait it out. I haven't paid over $100 in a Rivarossi since I bought my first one! And then being the first ever Riv Mallet, I got it on sale for $189 back in 1998 so. ever since, I haven't paid over $100 for any of the rest I got which is a ton! I'm working on getting another Riv EL-5/Y6b from a local guy I know, for $60! so.... Will make my 6th B&O EL-5 once its done! If I don't take a wild trip and make it a B&O EL-3!
The sad thing about this show is that nothing new was available! I mean nothing recent! No SD60ms, no Broadway Limited 4-6-4s, no AutoMax, no Atlas B40s no Trinity Hoppers I could go on and on..... I don't quite understand the whole point of the thing if only old stuff that you can get for 30-40% less through the mail is available. Some Examples: Athearn dummies.....$32+ I pay $14 Athearn Power.........$59+ I pay $30 Kato.........................$149+ I pay $85 Atlas old versions.....$80+ I pay $40 The worst was the prices on the Rivs! $269 for a challenger Should be $184 $289 for a Big Boy Should be $199 $229 for a Hudson ----can you believe the guy said he could negotiate up to $20 off the price for a good deal! I told him is good deal was still over $60 higher than would I could get without a sale! Needless to say, I was really ticked about this kind of pricing behavior. I have heard that the Great American Train Show has been having problems with attracting people----I can see why. They might try to encourage their vendors to get more up to date with their products! Large scale and n-scale was more up to date, but HO was really weak unless you were willing to pay retail or higher for a unique or customized paint scheme. OK, have vented enough----I love this hobby and hate to see people get taken because of their ignorance and greed of vendors.
A couple thoughts about GATS and their prices: 1. They are now charging $30 per table for a weekend show. That's about twice the price they were charging just six years ago. Either hall rental prices have increased, or the new owners want to make a larger profit. I certainly can't afford to sell at their shows, and the dealers that do might just be marking their products higher to cover their expenses. 2. Attendence prices are now $7, vs. about $5 six years ago. Again, a steep increase, especially considering you can usually get into any other train show for about $2-3. There might just be fewer people attending GATS. Just my two cents worth... Pat
BNSF, I know I'll never pay that for any loco's what they were wanting... I wonder how much the vendors actually sold and made in income from that show!? with prices like that, and the cost to get in and all... I doubt that anyone made anything.... None the less I bet their wasn't many vendors to begin with! I don't pay over $40 for any diesel! And Steam I'll pay up to $150 (if I have the funds) the more exspensive loco's like the Riv Allegheny or the Broadway Limited stuff would be a special.... In other words, they would have to make something to really catch my eye! Such as the Riv H-8. But I still kinda squint at forking out $300. And yes I can nail a Riv Allegheny for an even steven $300! But I got better things to do with $300 right now so.... Till the day comes I have a lonely $300 in my pocket that I have nothing to spend it on and have anything needing fixed and all the bills paid, then I might have an Allegheny, till then, I'm working on my old Arbour Allegheny thats just like a Bowser loco! All cast zamak! And I'll have my fun building that to out pull the Riv!
John, I know what you mean---I have a certain number that I won't go over for most engines, especially diesels! The only things that I pay about full price for are Kato's because if you snooze you lose with them. I also paid about $80 for the Genesis SD70m with the flag---just had to get one of those!!! Now when it comes to steam I am a bit different. I paid a full tag for the Big Al H-8 and will be paying about full for the Class A coming in the spring---other than that all the articulated Rivs must be $180 or less in fact all my Rivs have been $150 or less brand new! I can't have fun with something I know I paid too much for. Value is everything to me! BTW......Still haven't taken the H-8 out of the box yet. I need a layout not a test track for that thing!!!! Hopefully, I will be able to use my friend's layout in his garage soon!!! I can't wait to see it pull the doors off the garage!!!
HA BNSF, I know the deal with diesels! I'm not to fond of paying over $50 for a diezul so... BUT I won't mind having an 80MAC but then thats outta my era! I mean I model the transition era so. E's and F's and all the latest steam possible! As said, I model the transition so. BUT I do love the one second generation diezul. The GP-30, I love how they look! As for the Riv, maybe one day, I'll have my hands on my friend Mikes at the shows that will keep me in line from going insane till I either one, get my arbour running and custom painted, or two by an Riv H-8! I will say, I ran mikes on the club layout and on my home layout and it drags 70 cars like nothing coupled to it! I swear it'll drag everything out of your yard, including the yard office and even the track and turnouts! For being a factory loco, the thing sure is strong! And with the Mashima flat can motor in it makes me wanna go find a few of them and dump them in my older AHM/Riv loco's just for the power rating to haul at good speeds and not overheat and even make those consists longer! But I'd hate to see the price of a Mashima from Rivarossi in cost! But love to get my hands on a few! I got a ex Riv Big Boy that I customized to a EM-1 B&O "7600" that I KNOW I could dump 2 of those motors in one! dual motored and hammer down! I'd be in steam heaven! And then between gear boxes of that loco add a bigger flywheel for the momentum! But I'll play around getting my Arbour cast H-8 running and custom painted till then! And have fun with that and the 2 industrial can motors from Mabachi thats going in him plus 2 flywheels! He needs the "Get up and go"
