2023 Amherst / Springfield show report and pictures

MK Jan 31, 2023

  1. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Well, I finally was able to culled down some of my pictures. It was an amazing and great weekend given that the two past years were either shut down by Covid or majorly affected by a huge snow storm.

    Attendance was 11,922 on Saturday but Sunday was not announced at the end of the day. Given my gut feeling, it was probably the same if not more than Saturday's so we're talking close to 25,000 people.

    There were a lot of vendors, major and minor, and many many layouts of all scales. I was part of the combined T-Trak layout over at the Young building. I overheard someone saying more than 100 T-Trak modules combined to form a 32' x 32' letter "E". Five clubs participated to create this layout, all Digitrax DCC.

    Between shopping, running trains and Winterfest (separate N-Scale event), it was 24x7 dizzying N-scale trains...the way I like it!

    I've included all the pictures I took, including whimsical ones, like the menu pricing for food. One member had a (premium) beer and pretzel and it was $17. Another couple had two burgers with fries and a single drink. $35! Not only that, you had to wait in LONG lines to order.

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    There was a new (to me) outfit called Mini Prints. They specialize in 3D printing tiny figures and painting them. They also have service where they 3D scan your entire body in whatever pose you want and 3D print and paint it. I asked them about the cost but now I have forgotten. Old age! I would like to say $200 but that's a WAG. They do allow you to print 5x from the scan for the price.

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    The Big Boys were out in force of course so I didn't take any pictures as you can find them all over the internet from their respective manufacturers. Athearn did have a 13k gallon tanker with some really exquisite etched metal details. $30-$35 street price available around May.

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    N-Scale Architect had some nice new kits, the most impressive was the iron ore dock, complete with two full sheets of etched details! Pricing has not been determined yet.

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    There was a pretty big FreemoN setup at one of the longer buildings. I *think* it was over 100' x however many feet wide. That was pretty impressive as it felt like a model of true world railroading. I heard some of the modules came from as far as Vermont and these are not small modules!

    Another new outfits that I came across is Rock Island Hobby. They sell lights, signals, etc. What caught my eyes were the N-Scale cars with full head lights and tail lights with absolutely no bleed over! They were nicely painted and can take 12-19 volts DC, AC, DCC! Price???? $17 (MSRP) for FIVE! That's right FIVE!!!! They had some dealers there selling them and I was able to snatch a pack for...wait for it...street price of $14! They had many other things on their pricelist but I failed to give them my attention until late Sunday afternoon when things were hectic because of near closing time.

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    And lastly to toot my own horn :), I came in second for the Winterfest Photo Contest - Model (vs. Prototype) with this photo.

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    The rest of the pictures can be found here:

    2023 Amherst pictures
     
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  2. Martin Station

    Martin Station TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you! Great photos!! Although the last time I paid prices like that for food it was followed by these words: "PLAY BALL"!!!
    Your photo at the bottom is awesome, Congratulations !!!
    Ralph
     
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  3. nscalestation

    nscalestation TrainBoard Supporter

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    Yes, thank you so much for sharing your photos. I really miss train shows and am grateful to all those who give the rest of us the opportunity to make virtual visits to far those away shows.
     
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  4. Calzephyr

    Calzephyr TrainBoard Supporter

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    Thank you for the pictures.
     
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  5. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    LOL! There were plenty of comments to that effect for the food prices...."Is this a train show or the Super Bowl????" :ROFLMAO:
     
  6. JMaurer1

    JMaurer1 TrainBoard Member

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    I worry when I see the food prices are written in chalk (so its easy to change them whenever it is felt that they should be changed). I WISH we had a show anywhere near the size of this show on the left coast. We had a train show last weekend as well (more of a traveling hobby shop of sellers). Half the size as it was pre-covid and $15 admission so you could see about buying model trains at mail order and higher prices. Our club didn't participate this year due to the loss of members during covid (death and relocation) but our layout would have taken most of what was set aside for ALL the displays. Anyways, that's neither here nor there. Just wish we had more activity here (but then again the N Scale Convention is coming in Reno this summer). Rant [off].
     
  7. SecretWeapon

    SecretWeapon Passed away January 23, 2024 In Memoriam

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    here at the Jersey Shore, $15 for a burger is the norm. plus by the time you leave, lose your parking spot, drive to micky d's for a garbage burger, your ahead by staying.
     
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  8. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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  9. Burlington Bob

    Burlington Bob TrainBoard Member

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    Great pictures and congratulations on your picture! I was wondering, though, did you at least get a choice of body mount couplers with the food baskets at those prices?
     
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  10. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    They don't even give you a choice of road names! :ROFLMAO::LOL::):D:p
     
  11. badlandnp

    badlandnp TrainBoard Member

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    That is a huge show! But then you should be able to get custom RR themed sandwiches and fries!!
     
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  12. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    We may have met / talked while at the show, I spent some time in the RIH booth and a bit of time on the other side helping consumers with DC/DCC questions. There are a ton of new products in the works, hopefully you were able to grab one of the flyers with pictures in it. I plan on ordering a handful of the N scale lights to use on my layout in the near future.

    I thought these were amazing, they also come in HO scale I believe. We had a few requests for alternative vehicle designs (trucks, freight trucks, fire trucks, etc) as well while at the show. So keep your eyes out for new products coming in the future.

    All of the RIH lights support this range (might be up to 20v, I forget now). They all include current limit resistors.

    Attendance was 18,369 at the gate between both days. If we include vendors there was a total attendance of 21,869.

    Congrats, that looks like a really great scene! Thanks for sharing yours photos!

    I'd say Amherst was 2x-3x larger than any show we have seen in the Sacramento area, even the NMRA national show a few years ago was smaller than this one.
     
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  13. umtrr-author

    umtrr-author TrainBoard Member

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    Inflation has hit hard with respect to all manner of food prices. Even Ikea is up to $10 for their Swedish Meatball platter...

    On recent trips to "Joisey" it was hard to get out of a basic diner for less than $50 for two moderately hungry people.

    It was unfortunately another year of not being able to make it to Amherst. Maybe 2024, or maybe an N Scale Weekend instead. NNSC-Reno isn't in the plans.
     
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  14. cfritschle

    cfritschle TrainBoard Member

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    I think I finally found the "source" for the cars (with the help from a post on The RailWire). They appear to be from Evemodel. https://www.eve-modeler.com/products/ec150-8pcs-n-scale-1-160-head-lighted-model-car-12v

    And Evemodel "advertises" them as 1:160 and 1:150 scale!

    Carter
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2023
  15. Atani

    Atani TrainBoard Member

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    Not quite the same, the ones from Rock Island Hobby are usable with AC / DCC / DC power and not just DC power which these appear to be.

    However, there are a number of online hobby shops that have the real deal in-stock. If you have troubles finding them, drop me a message and I'll see what I can do to help (I work with Rock Island Hobby owners)
     
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