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Post by gpritch on Nov 12, 2023 16:05:46 GMT
Had a great time at the show. Many familiar faces and people to chat with. Attendance was good, but seemed just a tad off. Sales did seem brisk. Enjoyed the layouts, always an added touch.
Bought a couple of items - a 21" Amtrak Transition Superliner and a Lionel SD-60 BN Odyssey Demonstrator (I think I have all of them now!)
Can't wait to Spring Thaw!
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Post by david1 on Nov 12, 2023 19:10:52 GMT
Had a great time yesterday at the show meeting so many friends. I picked up few parts but that was it. Picked up 6 port holes for my F units just in case I loose one or it falls out. There is one missing on my Santa fe b unit.
The show was very well attended in my opinion. Lots of good deals on alot of train items.
Can't wait for the spring fall show.
Saw Dave ( Rockymountain) at his tables, he said sales were brisk.
Dave
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Post by runamuckchuck on Nov 12, 2023 22:07:19 GMT
Had a great time at the show. Many familiar faces and people to chat with. Attendance was good, but seemed just a tad off. Sales did seem brisk. Enjoyed the layouts, always an added touch. Bought a couple of items - a 21" Amtrak Transition Superliner and a Lionel SD-60 BN Odyssey Demonstrator (I think I have all of them now!) Can't wait to Spring Thaw! Careful now, don't be wishing your life away!  But yes anticipation is certainly a motivating factor as we imagine the future and how we will enjoy it!
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Post by david1 on Nov 13, 2023 4:04:52 GMT
Wishing for another chance to see like minded people and friends is one of the greatest things in life. Beings I can no longer drive I have to rely on people I know to get anywhere. All my close relatives are now dead and also being alone now I rarely go out without asking someone. I can imagine that some of my friends sometimes think I'm a P.I.A and I understand that.
So if i wish that a train show is coming up it means more to me than anyone knows.
Dave
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 13, 2023 16:22:18 GMT
The Allentown ATMA train show always brings a broad range of folks out of the woodwork!!! Some visit with lots of money to spend on trains maintained in brand new, like-new or excellent condition... while others just enjoy strolling the aisles to rummage through tables of all kinds of train paraphernalia. It's truly a show not to be missed. Saturday's crowd had the usual surge of attendees... lots of train enthusiasts you'd typically expect to see at York too. Sunday was just the opposite... VERY slow... like watching paint dry. Thank God for Saturday!!!! 
One thing I will say though is Allentown ATMA is extremely well-managed. I didn't see a single empty table in the hall. NOT. ONE. There must be a good waiting list... and if a seller can't make it, his tables are quickly snatched up. Amazing. And with great reason, because this show has built up an excellent reputation over the decades.
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Post by trainman9 on Nov 14, 2023 19:23:22 GMT
Not sure what everyone here thinks of the show but in my opinion it is a shadow of its former self. I went to the 2023 first frost meet. This was the first time in many many years. Where was Charlie Ro, Nicholas Smith, Public Delivery Track and other large dealers. No where to be found. Charlie Ro used to have an entire wall selling trains and NS had a great deal of space as well. Like York this show is not what it used to be.
Having said that many may get a bargain or two or find something that you have been looking for but it is not the same, nor is anything worse, from ten years ago.
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Post by rockymountaineer on Nov 14, 2023 22:12:55 GMT
Not sure what everyone here thinks of the show but in my opinion it is a shadow of its former self. I went to the 2023 first frost meet. This was the first time in many many years. Where was Charlie Ro, Nicholas Smith, Public Delivery Track and other large dealers. No where to be found. Charlie Ro used to have an entire wall selling trains and NS had a great deal of space as well. Like York this show is not what it used to be. Having said that many may get a bargain or two or find something that you have been looking for but it is not the same, nor is anything worse, from ten years ago. Where have you been all this time??? I can't remember when Charles Ro Supply was last at Allentown ATMA. They stopped participating YEARS ago. When I last saw the late Charles Ro, Sr. at York, he flat-out admitted that after October York, he was more than happy to mind the retail shop during his peak Christmas Season in November/December... and reduce wear-and-tear on his staff physically -- not to mention save on travel, lodging and meal expenses.
Let me just say this... when you're bringing lots of stuff to York, IT IS WORK. Tables cost $$$. Vans/trucks cost $$$. And it's physical work. THIS IS NOT FUN BEING A SELLER AT THESE SHOWS. After Charles Ro Supply stopped attending, Nicholas Smith Trains took over Charlie's tables at ATMA for several years... and then they too eventually stopped attending -- both York and Allentown. These large businesses are doing just fine with their retail sales online and in their stores.
Public Delivery Track consolidated their operations to the West Coast, and they too haven't attended York (Brown Hall) or Allentown (immediately upon entering to your right) for quite some time now. Several years... well before COVID. Without an East Coast warehouse anymore, it makes no sense for a West Coast supplier to attend train shows here on the East Coast. The math just doesn't work.
As for Allentown ATMA, I've already commented how there wasn't one empty table in the entire Agriplex this time. Not one. So how can you say it's a shadow of its former self??? Times change... and you've got to change with it. Last November, I had a booth in the smaller hall. And the dealer entrance I used for setting up my booth Saturday morning gave me a view of the ENORMOUS LINE of people waiting for the doors to open at 8AM Saturday morning. The line literally wrapped around the front and side of the building... all the way to the rear near one of the dealer entrances. I had a different booth location this time... near the train races... so I didn't see what kind of line there was this time. But I can say that Saturday morning was quite crowded. Maybe not as much as last November... but clearly not in the "shadow of its former self" category.
Having said that... I will say Sunday was disappointing. But Sunday's attendance never stacks up to Saturday's crowd. There was a noticeable uptick in peeps during late morning after Church hours. But then a pretty quick fall-off after lunch, since the show ends at 3PM Sunday. All the vendors I talked too were saying the same thing about Sunday. But Saturday made peeps quite happy... both buyers and sellers, which makes it a win-win scenario.
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Post by 4dogsinjersey on Nov 14, 2023 23:17:53 GMT
Perhaps the family was Mennonite? I have seen Amish riding the East Broad Top, years ago. Not sure of the particular rules for each sect, but I bet they still like trains!
Tom
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Post by gpritch on Nov 14, 2023 23:45:40 GMT
Not sure what everyone here thinks of the show but in my opinion it is a shadow of its former self. I went to the 2023 first frost meet. This was the first time in many many years. Where was Charlie Ro, Nicholas Smith, Public Delivery Track and other large dealers. No where to be found. Charlie Ro used to have an entire wall selling trains and NS had a great deal of space as well. Like York this show is not what it used to be. Having said that many may get a bargain or two or find something that you have been looking for but it is not the same, nor is anything worse, from ten years ago. I have to disagree on this. The "big guys" might not have been there, but their space has been filled with many new vendors - both commercial and private. In my opinion, I feel this has brought more variety to the show. I think its still great and lots of fun.
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Post by trainman9 on Nov 15, 2023 14:01:55 GMT
It was probably at least ten years or more since I had attended this show. What I remember is a very large show attended by all the major dealers as well as many individual sellers. If you did not get there before 9:00 Am you could not get a parking spot anywhere near the entrance. If you did not purchase tickets in advance you had an extremely long wait in line.
I can appreciate everyone’s opinion about this show and respectfully ask you respect mine.
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Post by Bill on Nov 15, 2023 21:39:41 GMT
All shows, to me, were just a chance to enjoy my hobby/passion. Bigger show, more dealers, better selections, good parking, edible food, low prices, great shipping, etc just made it better, but it was still a show and I always enjoyed them. I miss being able to go. Friendly word from an ol' fart - enjoy while you can. |
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Post by dlagrua on Nov 15, 2023 23:29:08 GMT
I have to disagree on this. The "big guys" might not have been there, but their space has been filled with many new vendors - both commercial and private. In my opinion, I feel this has brought more variety to the show. I think its still great and lots of fun.
I will wholeheartedly agree with Dave. The show is still heavily attended and large as it has always been without the larger dealers. Each and every table is always full and if a dealer decides to no longer to attend (as some did at York), another is waiting to take that table. Actually the show is larger now than it was 10 years ago. It was originally a one hall show then the Agricultural Center expanded and ATMA became a two hall event. Its my favorite show and I hope to attend the "Spring Thaw" in late February. One year I recall driving home in a snowstorm but it was still a lot of fun.
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