We visited a model train show today! We’ve seen signs for this biannual show for years now but today was the first time we went. While neither of us are into model trains it was cheap and we hoped it would be interesting. It was!
It was very busy! The demographic was (unsurprisingly) almost exclusively ‘old dudes’ and it was pleasing to see these guys as happy about their model trains as I would be in a game convention.
There were dozens of vendors selling all sorts of trains and track and electronic control parts and scenery. It was eye opening to see just how expensive some of it was:
And how old as well:
That’s a pre-war set that cost $1200 at the show and came with a page from a catalog that listed the original sale price: $21.50
So many trains…
Sooooo many trains!
But there were other items for sale as well, such as (very expensive!) dinnerware from various train lines:
And – to my delight – old postcards!
Many of the items for sale were made by Lionel, and a couple of vendors had unusual non-train Lionel items for sale such as this stereoscopic camera:
Oh and yes, there were a few actual train sets on display:
All in all it was a fun show to visit. Maybe I’ll go again one day 🙂