Timonium Great Scale Model Train Show

Thanks, I guess.

Can't make this show. I will be where it is warm and sunny with lots of water to look at. I hope you and the show does well though.

For anyone who has not been to this show.........GO! Nuff said.

while at the show stop by karls kabuse for your brass needs, recent addition of over 120 items of rolling stock all new in original boxes/foam and many new engines. have a little in n,0, hon3 but mostly ho. see you there. karl

Gotta second that. I've seen it at a couple of GATS and it is an incredible layout.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Operating Traffic Lights Crossbucks Special Effects Lighting

How was the show? Anything 'new' announced?

Jim Bernier

Howard Zane wrote:

I think I pissed off a few people with the stroller, but thats not new! ;)

Saturday seemed pretty busy, picked up a couple of proto 2000 tank car kits for 6.99 ea. and a few branchline kits.

That was it for me.

Jim Bernier wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@nospam.hotmail.com:

Ya didn't piss off me with your stroller and I'm the co-promoter of this show. We redesigned the layout for wider aisles (11 feet) for just this reason plus the many handicapped. We love kids at this show. With out early exposure to our wonderful hobby where-in lies the future??? HZ

Most interesting to me was what was delivered- according to a couple people who attended, the Branchline (HO) heavyweight coaches were available from at least one dealer.

-fm Webmaster of the Pere Marquette Historical Society, at

Smart thinking, on both counts.

Narrow aisles at shows are a real problem. Many promoters underestimate what's needed. People get frustrated, and spend less time. (Hence, less money!) 11 feet sounds VERY generous!

I see lots of bored, frustrated kids at shows, too, but not at the ones that encourage them, and provide for them. The NRHS Chapter show at Syracuse, NY has lots for kids to do. ("Floor trains" to play with, spike driving, ride-on large scale train, etc.) Kids are happier, and exposed to trains. Parents are happier. Dealers are happier. Great for everyone.

On an unrealted note, I saw the pictures of your layout in MR. Very impressive! I particularly liked that one scene where there was a long, metal staircase coming down from a concrete retaining wall.

Peter King in NY

Unfortunantly with a 2 year old in tow I can't really slow down and take my time.

The layouts are fantastic, and my daughter loves them. Since we are now expecting twins this may be the last show for a while.

I promise I won't bring a double wide stroller! I did see one at the show, and I told my wife no way.... We have to get a 2 seater, but it will be front to back.

Great show Howard, blows the GATS shows out of the water.

Peter King wrote in news:O1iRb.1106$o snipped-for-privacy@newssvr31.news.prodigy.com:

There was a letter in the Bee this morning from a family complaining about the Sacramento GATS. Basically, he complained that there were only one or two pitifully small layout displays - sounded more like dioramas as the fellow described it - nothing for kids to do except keep their hands off like the signs said.

At the GATS show in Novi, MI, this past weekend, there was plenty for the kids to do. There were two ovals with sit on hand powered carts that the kids could operate. There was a playmat taped to the floor that toddlers could play on. There were at least 6 modular groups and one RC racetrack. I don't normally go to the meet because it is $5 for parking and $7 admission, but a friend of mine had his modules set up and I wanted to see them.

-- Please note; return email address has changed. It is now snipped-for-privacy@sbcglobal.net. Emails to Earthlink will be ignored.

The Gratiot Valley Railroad Club bi-annual train show and sale March 7, 2004, at the Macomb Community College Sports and Expo Center. Macomb County Michigan. Please visit our Web Site at:

I didn't go - we had friends to visit and no real impetus to go - so I don't really know what they had there, but from the fellow's description the local modular group (one of those Code 100 rail [yuck] outfits) wasn't there. No idea why.

I went on Saturday and arrived around 1:00pm. I'm an N scale modeller so if you detect an N scale bias that is why. The hall was crowded when I got there and a regular vendor I frequent said it had been crowded all morning. More so than in recent shows. There appeared to be a lot of new vendors (all scales) that I had never seen before. Micro Trains was there which is the first time I recall seeing them. The layouts at the show were the following as I can recall. If I miss someone I apologize for the omission. Bantrak (n) NVtrak (n) Washington Highrailers (O-27) Western Maryland Historical Society (HO)-They've made progress on the Hagerstown Yard There was an S scale modluar layout which is the first time I've seen them.The modules appeared to be well done. Howard Zane had a display layout there (HO) The floor G scale layout (very popular with the children) The large O scale modular layout from the local area was noticeably absent. One vendor that I noticed was not present was Al's Kustom Kars Unlike shows of the recent past I noticed a much larger number of spouses and children there. That's an observation not a criticism.

Scott inBalto

The kids at the Timonium show are much better behaved than those you see at other shows. I have a lot of stuff within reach that is extremely tempting - flashing lights, fire engines, etc but had very few problems.

Perhaps more of them come from mrr households and know when they can touch and when they can't.

Mike Tennent "IronPenguin" Operating Traffic Lights Crossbucks Special Effects Lighting

One of my friends was there. He said his kid really liked the Lego train....

Kennedy

Not so, Kelly! "Say honey, I'm going out to the store for a bit. You need anything?" (four hours later) "Marshmallow bars?? I thought you said boxcars." Heh-heh.

If your talking about the Four County group, something about a scheduling conflict with a member of the model railroad press. I guess we'll hear more in April when they return.

Chooch