Hickory, N.C. Train Show in 2 weeks!!!

[jmlaboda]

11th Annual NC Railroad Expo will be held on Saturday, April 6th at the Hickory Metro Convention Center, from 9am-4pm, exit 125 of I-40.

We typically have around 250 tables of models, rrdiana, videos, shirts, and collectibles, along with 3-5 operating layouts.  We have had so much great response this year we had to get TWO show halls!!

Admission is only $5/adults, kids under 12 are free... Great food and free parking!!

All proceeds benefit the SE Narrow Gauge & Shortline Museum!!

Please spread the word!

For additional information click the link below...
http://www.tarheelpress.com/Trainshow/

[Ike the BN Freak]

Not sure if you noticed this or not Jerry, but on the N scale varnish group and mass email that was sent out, it says its an Expo & Exotic Dancer Convention.

[Specter3]

Well, what do you think the wives do while we play w trains?

[fredmoehrle]

Well, what do you think the wives do while we play w trains?

I don't know about you, but when my wife does that sort of thing, i forget about little trains!

[jmlaboda]

The guys from the Alexander Chapter N.R.H.S. have always proven to be crowd pleasers!!!  (Its been a long running joke with the sponsor.)

[jmlaboda]

One thing that has become quite a hit over the past several years is the large layout that is put together by the Central Carolina Nscalers.  Their Ntrak modules make for a truly fine display that often out runs the adjacent HO layout.  Always a great plug for N-scale!!!

[Bobster]

Greetings,

I've made the last several, always enjoyable!  God willing I plan on being at this one too.  Two halls, great.  I also like to take pictures of the layouts for ideas when I get home.   If any of you plan on vending I'm into N scale Rock Island, Santa Fe, and Wabash, not always common roads here.  Freight for the first 2, passenger for all 3.  My Wabash Cannon Ball is far along and I'm contemplating the Blue Bird, hint: bring Kato domes and a ConCor Dome observation for conversion purposes.  I need a Kato ATSF observation, RI trailer on flat car,  and Rock Island Golden State cars.  I'm also looking for a CSX or SP SD35 Atlas shell to replace a Jersey Central one.   

Thank you very much!
Bob

[Specter3]

Yes, we will be there with the Ntrak layout. If I make it in a decent time on saturday I will have examples of our club's onetrack style modules. I am building freemon style single track modules that stand at Ntrak height with the plan being to have my new interchange modules done by the Charlotte show. In the far future we(CCNS) would like to have an operating section consisting of our alt blue line on the modules that have it and the onetrak section. My interchange module set is going to look like this



Little different for ntrak but i think it will work out nicely. Come on out and visit. Im 6'2 with red hair so I am hard to miss.

[jmlaboda]

Well, its gonna be HUGE!!!

Nearly 300 tables for venders... 6 operating layouts... this year's show will be the biggest and best ever!!!

[Bobster]

Greetings all,

I enjoyed the show yesterday.  Anyone who says the hobby is dying would have been way wrong here, many families and lots of kids out there with us gray haired folks.

The running trains were quite impressive.  The Central Carolina group had multiple trains running at once on their huge layout.  There was a bullet train running as well as a Southern steam passenger train.  I was particularly impressed with the responsible operation by one of their members (I'm guessing age here) 9-10 year old daughter who was running a 60+ car train.  The Beaver Creek large scale layout with all those moving parts on the Shays was way cool.  One of the more impressive things I saw was my first T scale roundy-round and  straight layouts.  The engine wasn't much longer than a dime is wide.  It looks like his shell was a GP7 that was 3D printed.   The straight layout looked like an interurban going back and forth.  The gentlemen there had HO, N, and Z scale giants next to this.

Vendors...As always HO and O scales were well represented.   N scale was better this year, those who brought new and slightly used Rock island items got some of my money.  I planned to spend more but could not find everything I was after, I had fun hunting.  I also picked up an Intermountain Phoebe Snow 40 foot box car kit.  Looks challenging, lots of little pieces.  There was a shirt vendor there who did some outstanding design work on a Southern steamer on the front and the back of shirts.  I didn't get their name.  They may be at Spencer soon, I heard something about a short notice show at the North Carolina Transportation Museum.  Someone help me with this.

Thanks to all those who put on the show, I'll be back next year. 

Bobster

[jmlaboda]

It was indeed a great success with nearly 300 tables and nearly 1500 folks coming to the show.  Even as my daughter and I was leaving around 2 p.m. others were still coming in.  On the behalf of the Alexander Chapter, N.R.H.S. I wish to thank all, dealers and visitors... because of their effort the chapters' many projects will continue.  We have a 2-6-0 from the Virginia & Carolina that is undergoing cosmetic restoration and have several narrow gauge boxcars nearing completion... and we are fortunate enough to already have opportunity to expand the museum site, though just how quick this will happen still remains to be seen.  I will try to get some pix up soon of how things are coming along... some very rare pieces are in our possession and I look forward to seeing them finally placed on display for all to see!!!