mopac
Full Member
Posts: 141
|
Post by mopac on Oct 24, 2024 2:51:44 GMT
'those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end'.
Wasn't that the theme song from (All in the Family)
That's a show they will never be able to produce one like it again.
|
|
|
|
Post by gpritch on Oct 24, 2024 3:06:56 GMT
Are we really down to comparing the food vendors at York to the Farmer's market at Allentown?!?! There is no comparison there. Allentown wins hands down in the onsite food dept. Period.
|
|
|
|
Post by dlagrua on Oct 24, 2024 4:13:05 GMT
Food is one of the main reasons why Allentown ATMA meet is the best. You can enjoy browsing for O gauge train items at the Agricultural Halls but if you don't find anything that you want or need, your shopping can continue. Such being the case just a walk across the fairgrounds to the huge Allentown Farmers Market puts you in touch with vendors of Amish, traditional and international foods. As the market is over 1/4 mile long, I bring bring home bags of fresh and prepared foods. IMO, the consolation prize makes all visits to the Allentown train meet worthwhile and double the fun. Where else can you buy trains and groceries in the same location and I get to take my wife who is not a big train fan.
|
|
|
|
Post by david1 on Oct 24, 2024 5:58:32 GMT
For 40+ years I have attended every York show except this past one. So yes it is like a reunion every 6 months. I see alot of people who run from aisle to aisle looking for that special train. I don't do that anymore because of many reasons, not really looking for anything special, too darn old to be running to each aisle. I now take a leisurely walk or if I'm using a scooter a slow drive around the show and stopping to say hi and maybe a discussion about the issues of the day.
Its all about the memories of the train shows I have been to and the friends I have made.
Dave
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmeep on Oct 24, 2024 7:00:21 GMT
I have been going to York for over 40 years. It's been a tradition in
my family. Several members are TCA members. Originally we went with our
Dads. Now WE are the GRANDADS! Time flies when you are having fun! This
year I went with my cousin and his son (each are TCA regular members)
and in the past his son took HIS TWO SONS! (family members at the present)
and they are working on THEIR collections!
Trains have been a tradition in our family dating back to the 1910's and
continuing to today. (and several of the ORIGINAL family trains are still
in our family and being used as designed). And each succeeding generation
has inherited the previous' trains and added to their collections.
We don't "buy to sell". We buy to preserve and enjoy.
Having said all of that, here are my observations on York as it is today.
PRO CON
More like the "old" York with a Fewer of the older collections as
swap meet and more friendly. they are being liquidated due to aging out.
Better, wider aisles allowing a Recently, table owners have taken to sitting
freer flow of traffic while still out in the aisles rather than behind their
allowing one to stop and look at tables, thus clogging the aisles.
tables.
More variety of trains for sale. Some table owners are still asking sky-high
This, again, seems to be due to the prices. Even though there is more of the same
aging out of owners. Sad, but part items for sale at more affordable prices. Why?
of the Circle of Life.
Bigger tables since COVID. And more The bad habit of covering the tables during
individual sellers/traders. Impressed Hall Trading Hours is creeping back up. Same
that some actually were trading! with people not being at their tables. This
is frustrating when you want to do purchases.
Food service in the Orange Hall has Miss the food trailers where you could grab
expanded greatly and food is good! a quick hot dog and drink on the fly between
And MORE SEATING! And inside. halls.
More seating in the halls to rest Can't really find a negative about this one!
and socialize without clogging the Great idea!
aisles.
The TCA Services Desk is wonderful Again, can't really find a negative on this!
and the people are trained and do a Keep up the great work! You are appreciated
polite, helpful, efficient job! more than you know!
The PA announcements are better and I miss the "you have been towed" announcements
not as frequent and annoying as in after being paged 4 times! LOL! LOL! They were
the past. kind of fun to hear! Broke up the monotony.
Same for the "your wife is looking for you". LOL!
Good to see UPS and FEDEX desks at Could be in a couple more locations for better
York. Convenient! access, like at the other big halls, not just
at Blue/Silver.
Prices are really good again! If I Sadly, the economy is in the dumpster right now
were younger and starting out, this so folks don't seem to have the discretionary
would be an affordable experience. income they used to have. Hope things get better.
Well, that is my objective report from the trenches. Lots of good and a little not so
good. Am really glad they now allow pictures and videos. This, combined with the internet
and youtube, is a GREAT way to advertise the hobby and get the word out! Should have been
done long ago. Some change is good. Had a great time as always. Hope it never ends!
|
|
|
|
Post by runamuckchuck on Oct 24, 2024 12:36:59 GMT
'those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end'. Wasn't that the theme song from (All in the Family) That's a show they will never be able to produce one like it again. Similar in theme but different lyrics/author.
|
|
|
|
Post by dennym57 on Oct 24, 2024 13:50:19 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by 4dogsinjersey on Oct 24, 2024 16:18:18 GMT
|
|
|
|
Post by trainman9 on Oct 24, 2024 17:41:40 GMT
Are we really down to comparing the food vendors at York to the Farmer's market at Allentown?!?! There is no comparison there. Allentown wins hands down in the onsite food dept. Period.
|
|
|
|
Post by trainman9 on Oct 24, 2024 17:44:49 GMT
Food is one of the main reasons why Allentown ATMA meet is the best. You can enjoy browsing for O gauge train items at the Agricultural Halls but if you don't find anything that you want or need, your shopping can continue. Such being the case just a walk across the fairgrounds to the huge Allentown Farmers Market puts you in touch with vendors of Amish, traditional and international foods. As the market is over 1/4 mile long, I bring bring home bags of fresh and prepared foods. IMO, the consolation prize makes all visits to the Allentown train meet worthwhile and double the fun. Where else can you buy trains and groceries in the same location and I get to take my wife who is not a big train fan.
|
|
|
|
Post by Traindiesel! on Oct 24, 2024 18:34:31 GMT
LOL! The number of food vendors attending the York Meet do not factor into what I look forward to when I’m there. Getting hungry gets in the way of shopping and socializing! But sometimes you gotta fuel up and just use the resources available. Better food comes after the doors close.
Prices were all over the place but I don’t begrudge what anyone wants to price their items. I stay alert beforehand of what average prices are, so I have in my mind what I want and don’t want to spend. I don’t have to buy anything if I don’t like the price. I’m at a point in the hobby where I’m not buying truckloads of trains anymore. I’m more selective now so I can allocate funds for items I really like rather than gathering as much as possible.
I saw lots of trains, bought some trains, connected with friends, met new friends, ate well, visited family and went to a hockey game. It was a great week in the Big Leagues!
|
|
|
|
Post by dlagrua on Oct 24, 2024 20:14:39 GMT
Food is one of the main reasons why Allentown ATMA meet is the best. You can enjoy browsing for O gauge train items at the Agricultural Halls but if you don't find anything that you want or need, your shopping can continue. Such being the case just a walk across the fairgrounds to the huge Allentown Farmers Market puts you in touch with vendors of Amish, traditional and international foods. As the market is over 1/4 mile long, I bring bring home bags of fresh and prepared foods. IMO, the consolation prize makes all visits to the Allentown train meet worthwhile and double the fun. Where else can you buy trains and groceries in the same location and I get to take my wife who is not a big train fan. The Allentown train meet and the Allentown farmers market are in two separate Buildings. Admission to the train meet is for one person only.
There is no admission to the Allentown farmers market. When we go my wife heads to the farmers market and I go to the train show. We meet back about two hours later and load the car. Shopping carts are provided for the farmers market. If you want to buy meat or dairy products bring along a cooler and keep it in your trunk parking is never a problem there as there are spaces for over 3000 cars
|
|
|
|
Post by frankmulligan on Oct 25, 2024 13:25:56 GMT
Unless things have changed be aware that the Allentown Farmer's market is CLOSED on SUNDAYS! If you are planning on going to the meet and want to go to the market then make sure you go on SATURDAY!
|
|
|
|
Post by trainman9 on Oct 25, 2024 13:44:42 GMT
Unless things have changed be aware that the Allentown Farmer's market is CLOSED on SUNDAYS! If you are planning on going to the meet and want to go to the market then make sure you go on SATURDAY!
We have the Lancaster County farmers market here in Wayne PA so I doubt if the Allentown one would be much different.
|
|
|
|
Post by rockymountaineer on Oct 25, 2024 16:38:47 GMT
Unless things have changed be aware that the Allentown Farmer's market is CLOSED on SUNDAYS! If you are planning on going to the meet and want to go to the market then make sure you go on SATURDAY!
We have the Lancaster County farmers market here in Wayne PA so I doubt if the Allentown one would be much different. The Allentown Farmers Market is quite large... and essentially occupies the entire area below the fairgrounds grandstand superstructure. It's quite an experience, if you've never been there. It's open every week Thursday-Saturday. Here's a link:
|
|
