On Saturday, I was at the October Strasburg O Scale Show in Lancaster County, PA. It was a beautiful Fall day, not even a distant memory of the Summer Show’s HEAT.

This show was missing a number of the regular dealers. I was told, some had family commitments and some had health issues keeping them from the show. Still, Rich and John put on a great show with just a few less tables. The crowd was steady all day.

I did take care of some business at the show. Carl Jackson returned my Weaver G1 mechanism back to me with the drivers converted to Proto48. I gave him the mechanism at the Strasburg August show and he returned it finished at the October show, about two months later. I’m still waiting for my T-1 drivers from another machinist for over two years now. Not only was Carl quick with the conversion but it looks great also. I’ll have more to say and post about the G1 locomotive this Winter.

For the Reading fan, there was a pair of Reading N1’s built from the old IHB 0-8-0’s (see above photo). While there were neat models they did have some inaccuracies. Considering when they were built, they did look nice. There were also number of Reading switchers on the tables at the show.

All in all, a good selection of models to choose from and a nice show.

Well, I had an image for this post…. but it must have melted.

On Saturday, I was at the August Strasburg O Scale Show and it was HOT in Lancaster County, PA.

Now if you remember the April Show, they had a little snow in the morning. Well we could have used some of that in Saturday. Even with the heat, it was a good show as always. They had 100 tables sold for the show and the show was well attended.

For the Reading fan, there was an SGL G-3 in the room and a Weaver G-1. There was also a Weaver Crusader locomotive and cars in the room. Also a couple of Reading switchers on the tables at the show. There was lot of brass models for those into that and a fare amount of parts for different projects.

I did something different for me at this show. Rather then just by a car on the table, the seller was looking to trade his car for another. Turns out, I had an extra model of what he was looking for, a few minutes conversation later, he set this car to the side and we’ll exchange the cars at the next show. That should work out nicely.

I did pass along my Weaver G-1 mechanism to Carl Jackson, so he could convert it’s drivers to Proto48 for me. He was even thinking he might be able to get it back to me by the next Strasburg Show. That would be great!

Kind of wished I’d sent my T-1 drivers to Carl. It’s been over two years since they went out and no word about when they might be ready yet.

This was the view on the drive home. Not the best of weather to be out for a train show, but the April 2016 Strasburg Show was worth the adventure. The show was well attended. The foot traffic inside was steady all day and only slowed down just before the close of the show. I even was able to get a quote from John Dunn about the weather for a Strasburg Show.

In the Proto48 crowd we missed Jim Hawk and Carl Jackson at the show, they both regularly have tables at the show. But there were a number of new dealers at the show.

For Reading Modelers, I did see a number of locomotives at the beginning of the show. There was an SGL G3 with a set of passenger cars, a couple of Weaver G1’s and three tempting camelbacks on a table just across for where we were located. All but one of these steam locomotives found new homes during the show. Fran Pfiel also had a nicely decorated Custom Brass Alco switcher in the Reading Pullman Green.

Other things of interest, there were a number of the hard to find Pacific Limited brass box cars. I saw an Erie ’32 ARA box car, a NYC USRA Design 9’4″ IH door and a half with AB brakes and Gilroy doors, A P&LE USRA box car and a couple of PRR X23 box car. There were also a number of the not so hard to find Pacific Limited cars like the H21a’s and the X23 work cars.

I also saw some Parri cars on at least three different tables. What I remember were a WM fish belly hopper car an N&W triple hopper, a PRR H35 class hopper and a PRR G22 gondola.

There was also some of Norm’s Proto48 Flex track on one table and some High Sierra Models Proto48 turnout parts. Nice to see these also find new homes.

It was great to see and talk with the familiar faces at the show, I also noticed a number of new faces in the buying crowd which was very encouraging. All in all it was another nice show put on by John Dunn and Rich Yoder.

The October 2015 Strasburg O scale Show was this past weekend. They again had over a hundred tables sold inside the fire hall. This was another well attended show. The crowd wasn’t a mad rush at the opening of the doors, instead it was a steady crowd all morning long.

There were the usual vendors along with guys selling off excess stuff. In addition there was a new vendor in attendance, Scale City Designs  showing off their resin building kits and laser engraved signs. Their big news was that they had purchased Keil-Line Products. They mentioned that they are just getting started going through the inventory with the thought of putting it on their website.

For the Reading modeler there were a number of older models on the tables, including the pair of Car and Locomotive Works FM Trainmasters that were at the last show, a Weaver G-1 and a SGL G-3 with a set of eight passenger cars. Just as an FYI, the set of eight SGL Reading coaches were sold in the first five minutes of the doors opening, the two Trainmasters returned home with their seller.

The August 2015 Strasburg O scale Show was this past weekend. They had over a hundred tables sold inside the fire hall. They had another well attended show. The crowd was steady all morning.

While no new models were being announced during the show, Rich Yoder did continue to show his pre-production models of the Mather Box and Stock cars. In addition, he had three gondola models for sale on his table that have long been sold out. The three gondolas were, the Virginian Battleship Gondola, a Reading USRA gondola and a B&O USRA clone gondolas with containers. (photos at the bottom of this post) While the Reading gondola looked very nice, I past of the car because of the early paint scheme on the car.

Jim Cantner was there from Indianapolis, Indiana, both with a number of models on his table and promoting the 2015 O Scale National which will be held in Indy this September. He showed me photos of a template he is working on that goes between the ties of a double track main line and spaces both an inner and outer track radii spacing both sets of ties at the same time. It was made out of Aluminum and he hopes to further develop it into a full product later this year. Since we all remember Jim’s turnout templates from a number of years ago (I know I have a number of them here) this will be something to look forward to.

At the end of the show Bob Heil (the Sunset 3rd Rail dealer) came up to me and asked if I thought a Reading K1 2-10-2 could get enough reservations to meet the production number for Sunset to produce the model. I tried to do everything I could to convince him that it could. Lets hope Sunset decides to announce it and see how many reservations it can get, I know I’ll reserve a pair of them. That would take two models off my “Projects To Build” list. So if you have an interest in Seeing Sunset 3rd Rail produce a Reading K1 2-10-2 let them know about it.

The April 2015 Strasburg O scale Show was this past weekend. They had 102 tables with 23 dealers and 42 regular guys selling out of their collections spread out inside the fire hall. They had their best ever attendance for the show. It’s really nice to see the show continue to grow.

No newly announced models to talk about. Not really sure why that is. Maybe being a week before the York TCA show or maybe just that there is not that much new in the O scale market at this time. We did have some new announcements at Chicago and that was just a month ago.

Other than that there were lots of models to choose from, some with real pricing which found new homes and some fine models with fantasy pricing which went back home with their original owners.

On Saturday, I attended the November Strasburg EOS Show. It was another fine show, will attended by both table holders and attendees. It’s nice to see this show continue to grow. I was able to move some more of my models that do not fit my current modeling direction.

Not that much new since the Cleveland show to report. Rich Yoder did have another display model on his table of another Mather boxcar. This was the smaller height car as seen in these photos below. The beginning of the Mather Reservation Page is now on his website.

Crowds were good at this years August Strasburg Train Show.

Mother nature provided a spectacular day for a train show and it turned out to be one of EOS’s best Strasburg train shows. They had 65 different dealers filling 105 tables full of O scale models and materials. They had 115 attendees (a new record for the show) walk through the doors looking at the merchandise.

Now what about the stuff on the tables? There was a nice selection of older brass models out of personal collections, as well as new brass models on a couple of the dealer tables. The parts and decal supply was enlarged over earlier shows with a couple of new returning dealers. We also had two magazines in attendance, The O Scale Resource and O Scale Trains.

One Bob Heil’s table he had a sample of the new Golden Gate PRR P70 FAR’s modernized coaches which looks very nice. He also had a model of a B&O Baggage car, with a sign asking who would like to see that model made in brass by Sunset. I’d like to see it made, but it would be another slip towards modeling the Trenton-Bound Brook line.

The Berkshire Car Shops also had a nice display of trolley cars and parts on the tables. I really like the Pacific Electric cars on their shelf. I have a soft spot for the Pacific Electric since my dad’s uncle worked for them.

Fran Pfeil’s table had a nice selection of models for sale.

The show again spilled out into the bays to the fire hall. This time with more rows.

Golden Gate’s sample of the PRR P70FAR on Bob Hiel’s table

Bob was asking if modelers would like a brass model of this B&O Baggage car prototype. I think it would do well.

2014 Strasburg O Scale Show – the small room

John Dunn and Rich Yoder hosted another great O Scale Show today in Strasburg, PA. No it’s not as big as Chicago, but you know almost everybody in the show. There were a few faces missing at this show but the attendance was very good. And the tables were down into the firetruck area again.

The bargains were there to be had, a number of folks had Intermountain kits at price that were two thirds what they are asking on ebay. There was a nice brass Perry PRR G22 that went early at the show. I saw big ticket brass models and lower priced models moving off the tables.

There were a couple of new models in the room. Bob Heil had the new Sunset PRR L1’s and he had a sample model of the new Sunset B&O P-7e on display. My trying to find new homes for models from my shelves kept me from taking many photographs today.

One of the key things for me today was diging up a lead on a former Reading Company employee that worked and photographed Reading steam in Schuylkill Haven, PA. More on that front as it develops.

Bruce Mohn’s little girl Sam was enjoying the day with her dad.

This show was anything but a dog today.

The crowd of dealers in the room just before the opening the doors to the public

John Dunn and Rich Yoder put on another fine show today in Strasburg, PA. The show sold out the 98 tables more than ever before. Attendance was also setting new marks with over 200 people both through the door and table holders.

Tables and modules this time extended into the area which had always been reserved for the fire-trucks. I had been told that if enough tables sold they would park the trucks outside the firehouse and this time they did. Hopefully it will continue to grow and all the trucks will need to be parked outside next time.

Good to see and talk with so many people at the show. I was also glad to see enough stuff leave my table that I think the rest will get posted on eBay over the Winter. I look forward to just being a helper for my friend’s table.

John and Rich had their meeting before the doors opened as they have in the past. There was no mention of the proposed O Scale East that had been talked about earlier this Year. I hope this does become a reality next year or the year after. But the lack of talk makes me think it might be even further into the future it at all.

Bob Lavezzi, speaking for the O scale Kings, also made it sound like the National next year will not happen in Montreal as was talked about earlier in the year. It’s not good that the National might not happen, but I know I had no intention of attending one in Montreal with international travel being what it is now.

The main hall at the show just after the doors opened.

Another image in the main hall.

Fran Pfeil behind the table selling parts from Sunnyside Models

Glen Guerra at his table with his line of kits for Mullet River Model Works on display

Tom Thorpe had some of Signature Switch turnouts on his tables

Modules that were set up at the show

The extra area where the fire truck used to be.