My 5 Hints for a York Train Show Newbie

[@lthdean]

I have been coming from Illinois since 1990 and here are my 5 tips about York. 5: Drive out during the day especially for your time in the Pennsylvania mountains because there is ALWAYS construction on the Pennsy turnpike. 4. Stay in a good hotel and not a dump. Its worth the extra couple of bucks. Especially if they include breakfast. 3: Go to the pre-shows a couple of days before the TCA show for the experience and the chance to see and buy some trains that NEVER make to the fairgrounds. Park somewhere in the middle of the fairgrounds because there are 6 halls to visit. A central location allows you to get back to your car to drop stuff off and get something to drink and rest if you have to. 2: Do the Orange hall last because of the redundancy of the product there and focus on the members tables in the Blue/Silver/ Black & Red halls. You will find some really cool & rare trains from all ages (Pre-Post and Modern) in those halls and lastly No.1 BRING CASH. You can make the best deals with Cash because Cash is King and don't be afraid to negotiate the price.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Great advice, "Cash is king!" That's what I do and typically an exhibitor may knock a bit off the price if you're paying cash. Also, only the bigger professional exhibitors are likely to be set up for payments other than cash, the part-timers and hobbyists unloading part of their collections not so.

[@RaysTrains]

Thanks art! I had a great day with you and del what a fun time. Start thinking about that list for the spring meet😂😂

[@gregorytakacs-ez2rn]

This October was my first York show. Wow I was blown away and overwhelmed by everything. All of your tips are spot on. It was amazing to see so many standard and prewar O gauge. I managed to finally buy the item I wanted on the 2nd day. A Lionel 384 1930 steam locomotive. Overall it was a great experience and very educational.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

@@gregorytakacs-ez2rn glad I could help and glad you found what you wanted! The hunt is half the fun!

[@railchief74]

This was a great video Art. I really love the haul of merchandise that you found too

[@DelHudson1]

This was an interesting and helpful video concept. Glad I was able to help out and enjoyed spending time with you. The only thing I can add is, that if you see something you like early in the show, then buy it when you see it because it will be gone by the time you get back to it.

[@davidstevens9002]

I think this is good advice even for the veterans. I have been going since 1993 and I still live by these rules. Biggest one for me is sticking to the budget. Glad you had a great first York.

[@MygrandpasTrain]

I'm contemplating going next year. But that would be a loooooong drive for me. Thanks for sharing the tips!

[@alfonsolanzagorta5138]

Thanks Art! Great video. I will follow your tips next spring.

[@TheTrainboard]

Great tips, Art! Sorry we missed you! Hopefully, we'll cross paths next time.

[@GoldStandardTrains]

I loved walking around, talking to vendors, meeting other people from KZbin and IG. Watching some other people go crazy buying items was great to watch. I had a small want list but came home with slightly more(didn’t want an engine, came home with one). Go with cash and once it’s gone that’s it.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

Next time I want to meet up with you, love watching your videos and engines, such a great collection

[@Coreyt1976]

It was great meeting you. You made some good tips. Hopefully we’ll catch up again soon looking forward to seeing what you bought.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

Are you going to the Greenberg show in Edison in November? My two boys and I will be there at some point.

[@Coreyt1976]

@@ArtsModelTrains yes, I’ll be there. We’ll catch up.

[@mattstrainroom]

Good tips, Art. I'd also make note of one I've always shared - bring cash and bring more than you think you'll need. Cash is king, especially in the member halls but also in the dealer halls. Yes, some/most dealers can/will take a CC but shiny green $100 bills makes things happen. Plus, you can always redeposit the leftover in the bank when you get home. Just something I've learned over the years, I've been attending York on and off since about 2006, fortunately more "on" over the past few years.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

Yes great point about the cash, I brought what I thought was enough but definitely should have brought more

[@mattstrainroom]

@@ArtsModelTrains back in the "glory days", it was not uncommon for the ATMs on the fairgrounds to be out of money by the end of the day Thursday, if not sooner (or Friday, back before Thursday was a thing). Not sure if that is still common or not but something to keep in mind.

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Great advice about how "Cash is king!" I'd also add cash is instantly recognizable and ALWAYS welcome! You might not need it in the Orange Hall where I'm sure most of the major exhibitors are set up to handle credit purchases but when you get into the private sale TCA members only halls you're definately going to need cash! And those members only halls can be where some of the best deals are!

[@BrandonGreen-g6h]

Great job love your videos

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Great hint on the water Art! Man, I should have thought of that myself! During my visit to York in April I got dried out and had to drink like a duck! One hint I'd add is if you're a show visitor and with limited time available skip the dealer displays where they're selling articles of no use to you. Maybe take a few seconds to admire what's there but keep moving. And that's great advice on marking where an exhibitor is who's got something you'd like to go back for. As a personal rule I never get anything on my first pass at a train show unless I KNOW it's something no-one else is going to have. I look at who's got what and then go back to start making purchases. I had the same experience at York you did, I saw something I wanted and forgot where it was! I DID find it again though, it was one aisle over from where I thought it was. And I'll tell you, you are SO right about the festival atmosphere at York, or other train shows for that matter. It's what I enjoy about the shows most of all!

[@henryszubielski8601]

Very good tips Art.

[@keithneal3253]

Awesome tips. Very helpful. Never been, hope to go one day. Long way from TX. What’s your sense on the prices, were the dealers moving on price or not?

[@ArtsModelTrains]

Seemed like some places had new stock just a few bucks off normal prices, older stock most guys would negotiate so deals were there if you were good

[@DavidLevine]

I just attended by first York and would agree to all your observations/comments. 👍 Anything I saw I might want to buy that I didn't, I wrote down the item/location. Worked for the orange dealer hall as well as the member halls,

[@raysrails2164]

Some day it will be my first york . thanks for the tips .

[@wayneantoniazzi2706]

Let me add one tip of my own, wear a comfortable pair of walking shoes!

[@pearsooo6972]

Thank you

[@GoldStandardTrains]

Oh also, don’t be afraid to negotiate!!! Worse they say is no.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

Yeah great point!

[@JDStucks]

This was a great list! Wanted to say hello but you kept disappearing lol. Hope to meet you soon.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

Thanks, yeah i was like a kid in a candy store, definitely make sure if find you next show!

[@elleryparsons2433]

When Goin To A Train Show have A Blast don’t think of what’s goin on outside think of what’s Goin on in the Train show. Stay Till Closing. Wear Comfortable Footwear.and You have The Right to Become Traintarded as Well Trainshows Are Great places to Meet people. When Going you’ll be Getting a List of Trainshows of When the Next Shows Are Coming

[@hessxpress3016]

how do you access all the buildings. public was only limited to the one main building and purple/black for layouts

[@oldohioangler4525]

Anyone can attend one meet as a guest, register as a guest in the Silver hall. This allows you into all of the halls. However, if you want to attend again and go into all the halls, you are required to become a member of the TCA.

[@ArtsModelTrains]

+1 to above, join the TCA, it doesn't cost much for the year then you're all set

[@plunkervillerr1529]

Wear in N.Y.was this?

[@ArtsModelTrains]

York Pennsylvania is where the show is located

[@KP-oe8sk]

Well Maybe take a Picture of the Building number when you go in?Then all Pic's you do will be for that building.Then do building number 2 etc then you block each building to remind yourself where to back track too?If you need to re-look at a deal? Anyways nice Haul of stuff!!