Whitby Train Show this weekend

tetters

Rail Spiking Fool!
I cannot make this one. I will be at the x-mas show the following weekend on the Sunday and then going to the Scarborough MRR open house the last Sunday of November. So many things to do....so little time....
 

60103

Pooh Bah
I may make the Whitby show -- my sister and father live there -- if my little flu clears up.
Tetters: I've volunteered to work the Platelayers booth both days at the Xmas show. Drop by and watch me glue bits of cardboard together.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Thanks for your comments, David and Tetters. It would be great to catch up with either of you. I'm planning to go to the Whitby show tomorrow as early as I can, for only 2 hours (I have to head back to do jobs to do at home. :cry: )

I'm also planning to go to the Christmas Toronto Show and really want to spend some time at The Platelayers booth, the Hornby Dublo and Triang layouts, the Toronto Roundhouse TRHA, South Simcoe Railway booths & Narrow Gauge Madness booths, live steam layouts and anything similar. Guess you can tell I'm looking forward to this! :mrgreen:

I plan to take my 5-year-old train-crazy son to both shows, so I might be a bit distracted keeping an eye on him! He knows what trains he likes to look at (often the large 0-gauge ones) and doesn't always let me chat & look at what I want to see. :eek:

Thanks,
Rob
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I cannot make this one. I will be at the x-mas show the following weekend on the Sunday and then going to the Scarborough MRR open house the last Sunday of November. So many things to do....so little time....

Tell me about it -- I could go to a model train show or railway event for the next 4 weekends if I wanted. I still might try, although it's difficult to find the time. Rob
 

cntown

New Member
I went to the Brampton show and was very disappointed ,and even though I have never been to the Whitby show its too far of a drive(gas) for a smaller show especially with the Christmas show coming up the following weekend.I always find that this show brings in more out of town vendors and better selection and more price competition between vendors.Lately some of the shows I have been to they have been selling product for the same prices as a LHS would but without the service to back it up.With the economy as is it right now ,I have to watch my spending and just browse more often.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I went to the Brampton show and was very disappointed ,and even though I have never been to the Whitby show its too far of a drive(gas) for a smaller show especially with the Christmas show coming up the following weekend.I always find that this show brings in more out of town vendors and better selection and more price competition between vendors.Lately some of the shows I have been to they have been selling product for the same prices as a LHS would but without the service to back it up.With the economy as is it right now ,I have to watch my spending and just browse more often.

I know what you mean by having to watch your spending. Usually, when I'm at these shows, I'm looking either looking for real deals or rare items. Anything beyond that I might as well get at my LHS's.

I've never been to the Brampton show but have considered it. I usually have too many other things going on in early-October ... plus, Brampton is a bit of a drive for me. Being an East Yorker, Brampton is a bit of a hike but going to Whitby doesn't seem so far! What didn't you like about the Brampton show? Just curious, thanks.

Rob
 

cntown

New Member
The one thing about the Brampton show is it takes place the weekend after the fall fair,and if the weathers warm the smell and fly's can be over powering(if you get my drift).This year it seemed that the vendor's were in short supply and some didn't even show up.The layout's were good as usual but smaller crowds so it seemed like you were the only one there.Even when you talk to the Vendor's they're cutting back on the show's they attend.I have cut back the show's I attend to just 2 or 3 a year but like to drop into George's and Trains on Brant on a weekly basis,but mostly just to browse at what new stuff has just came in.I hope that next weekend's Christmas show will be a good one.You will know times are tough if they are set up in a smaller section from last year's show,also I see the admission price is now $12 to get in. I printed off the $2 off coupon from www.antiquetoys.ca website just to save .
 

60103

Pooh Bah
The Brampton show (which is organised by a group from Orangeville!) was subjected to a reorganisation over the last 2 years -- the club that used to run it disbanded or split up or something. The location suffers from being about/over 2 miles from the nearest housing, out in farm country with no bus service.
 

cntown

New Member
I thought something was amiss this year as the usual group outside selling food was not there.The replacements weren't very good,if my son wasn't clammering for a hotdog I wouldn't have spend a dime. David where was this held before this location?When I look back over the years it has slowly declined as a good show to an ok show. The one year they had the CN train for kids rides and the following year nothing.I know planning for the next year show has to almost start as this one ends which is always a challenge with any volunteer organization.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
Well, I went today (with both boys). Went a bit later and stayed later. Again, it was a great show -- lots of variety and even slightly bigger than previous years. I enjoyed chatting with the railway operators and venders more than looking at the layouts, I think! It was a great show and I took lots of pics. Rob
 

60103

Pooh Bah
Brampton show

CNTown:
The show was held for years in Orangeville Collegiate.
I think they started in a shopping mall. They went to the Orangeville convention centre (which noone in Oville knew of) and then to Brampton fairgrounds. I think the last 2 moves were due to rents.
 

RobertInOntario

Active Member
I mainly don't go to the Brampton show (each year) because it "conflicts" with my other hobby/pastime which is hiking & the outdoors.

October is one of the best times of year for hiking -- no bugs, not too hot or cold, lots of colour, no snow, etc. My family and I are often in Algonquin or on the Bruce Trail that weekend!

When the weather turns cold and wet (as in November), then I'm happy to head off to the indoor train shows.

Rob
 
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