What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[G3750]

We now cut away from our on-going soap opera to bore you with model railroading developments.

At York this afternoon, East Coast Enterprises delivered a mock-up of one of the bridge extensions to me for review. I have it temporarily test-fitted in place....
George

In your estimation, George, how's the TCA Meet @ York looking?
Murph

Yesterday was busy but not over-crowded. I'll get a much better read today.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

We now cut away from our on-going soap opera to bore you with model railroading developments.

At York this afternoon, East Coast Enterprises delivered a mock-up of one of the bridge extensions to me for review. I have it temporarily test-fitted in place....
George

In your estimation, George, how's the TCA Meet @ York looking?
Murph

Yesterday was busy but not over-crowded. I'll get a much better read today.

Balloons for the kiddies?

[healey36]

Hung out at York for four hours today...can't say it looked any more crowded than in the past few gyrations. Orange Hall maybe slightly more crowded, but not much. I'm thinking the "let's open the dealer halls to the public" was a bust. I thought maybe folks would take a half-day on Friday and hit it in the afternoon, but if anything the crowds seemed to thin around 1300 (late lunch?). Maybe tomorrow...

I will say one thing...if you're in the market for less-than-pristine tinplate it looks like the market has collapsed. Picked up a number of C-7 items for next to nothing.

Healey

[Rufus T. Firefly]

I'm thinking the "let's open the dealer halls to the public" was a bust.

Is the "public" even aware or ever really care? Was all the sturm & drang by the TCA members over this ending the world as well know it really just another chimera? Why would the "public" go to this on Friday anyway - taking a day off from work is for many a major luxury.

[healey36]

Wow, who's been grinding your axle-points today, lol?

Had no expectations, and they were met.

[G3750]

Update on my York report of yesterday.

• Overheard some table holders in the Blue Hall saying their business had been much improved over the past 2 Yorks.
• Seemed to me that Orange Hall traffic was up, particularly in the morning.
• Lots of traffic in the Red, White, Silver, and Blue halls.
• Prices were very good and people were willing to deal. I really did not intend to buy much (if anything) and I came away with a bunch of stuff.

Overall impression was that this was MUCH better than Spring 2016. I heard that there were lots of folks lined up to buy public wrist-bands, but did not personally witness that. My sense is that if the public has an impact on York, it will take place tomorrow.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

My sense is that if the public has an impact on York, it will take place tomorrow.

Thank you. That fits with my expectations.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Wow, who's been grinding your axle-points today, lol?

Their names are on my list, and I'm checking it twice and then I'm crossing them off.............

Had no expectations, and they were met.

That seems eminently healthy and wise.

[G3750]

Wow, who's been grinding your axle-points today, lol?

Their names are on my list, and I'm checking it twice and then I'm crossing them off.............

Had no expectations, and they were met.

That seems eminently healthy and wise.

Well, you might be happy to know that someone in Orange Hall was selling back issues of OST.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Wow, who's been grinding your axle-points today, lol?

Their names are on my list, and I'm checking it twice and then I'm crossing them off.............

Had no expectations, and they were met.

That seems eminently healthy and wise.

Well, you might be happy to know that someone in Orange Hall was selling back issues of OST.

Ummm....no. I probably can't compete with the prices being used there and that just makes it harder every day for me to sell off the ones have in stock.

[G3750]

Their names are on my list, and I'm checking it twice and then I'm crossing them off.............



That seems eminently healthy and wise.

Well, you might be happy to know that someone in Orange Hall was selling back issues of OST.

Ummm....no. I probably can't compete with the prices being used there and that just makes it harder every day for me to sell off the ones have in stock.

Oh, sorry. I was thinking in terms of exposure for the magazine, but I see what you're saying.

If I see them at the Fall meet, I'll step on their oxygen tube. OK?

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Well, you might be happy to know that someone in Orange Hall was selling back issues of OST.

Ummm....no. I probably can't compete with the prices being used there and that just makes it harder every day for me to sell off the ones have in stock.

Oh, sorry. I was thinking in terms of exposure for the magazine, but I see what you're saying.

If I see them at the Fall meet, I'll step on their oxygen tube. OK?

Now that's what we call being pro-active!

[healey36]

Update on my York report of yesterday.

• Overheard some table holders in the Blue Hall saying their business had been much improved over the past 2 Yorks.
• Seemed to me that Orange Hall traffic was up, particularly in the morning.
• Lots of traffic in the Red, White, Silver, and Blue halls.
• Prices were very good and people were willing to deal. I really did not intend to buy much (if anything) and I came away with a bunch of stuff.

Overall impression was that this was MUCH better than Spring 2016. I heard that there were lots of folks lined up to buy public wrist-bands, but did not personally witness that. My sense is that if the public has an impact on York, it will take place tomorrow.

George

I don't know, seemed about the same to me. A buddy working the Orange Hall Saturday said it was pretty light traffic-wise. Friday, as usual, was the big day apparently.

On Saturday a friend of mine and I had a booth at the NOVA-AMPS show in Farfax, Virginia. Sold close to $1,600 worth of plastic model kits and books in less than four hours.



I was surprised...quite a few younger folks entering models in the show and loading up on stuff in the vendor area.

Healey

[Rufus T. Firefly]

the NOVA-AMPS show

Where was that? Might have wandered in for a visit,

[jlong]

Hung out at York for four hours today...can't say it looked any more crowded than in the past few gyrations. Orange Hall maybe slightly more crowded, but not much. I'm thinking the "let's open the dealer halls to the public" was a bust. I thought maybe folks would take a half-day on Friday and hit it in the afternoon, but if anything the crowds seemed to thin around 1300 (late lunch?). Maybe tomorrow...

I will say one thing...if you're in the market for less-than-pristine tinplate it looks like the market has collapsed. Picked up a number of C-7 items for next to nothing.

Healey

I agree with you on all counts.

I can't see how a public day will benefit the TCA or Lionel and MTH for that matter in a big way as it would only attract people within a 200 mile radius of York. A dimple on the USA map. Not many people are going to drive or fly 1000 - 3000 miles and rent a room maybe just to see the MTH and Lionel booths along with a small segment of York. But, if that's what it takes to make Lionel and MTH happy enough to set up display layouts, then so be it. If TCA members want to see the hobby explode, then it's up to TCA members to invite neighbors over for beer and trains and pass out application forms. That's how it was done back in the 50's, 60's and 70's and it worked. Simple rocket science. Today it's sit at your computer, go on the OGR forum and put all the burden on York.

On prewar. I attended our local annual big show yesterday and there was a bit of less than pristine but nice prewar at nice prices just sitting there un-noticed. 20 years ago it would have flown off the tables for what dealers were asking. There was stuff you would rarely see at a local show 20 years ago. I picked up a very nice all original 248 set with original boxes and set box for the price of a Lionchief set.