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Also of note, there seems to be no website for the 2024 National Train Show. The link only takes you to the 2023 show webpage.
I wonder if the doubling of hotel and restaurant prices in the past 4 years has had an impact on attendance, both in terms of manufacturers and modelers? The only reasons I can think of for such a radical downsizing is that there wasn't enough space being reserved for booths, or advance ticket sales aren't going well. I know I am not traveling much. I've only been to one- 2012 in Grand Rapids. Hour and a half from here (I was working in the UP in those years, but spent my vacation time here). The Grand Rapids show had all of the usual suspects- many booths and lots of tables. Modular layouts. Good representation, no issues finding N scale, talked to a lot of smaller manufacturers. The space was bigger than the show, as I remember it, even then. I'm planning (as much as I plan anything since I turned 70) to go to Novi next year. My wife goes to a 'fiber festival' every year, so I am due for a train show.
If this was in my town, I'd go just for the shopping and to talk to the manufacturers. I had a bad experience with the NMRA when I joined in my mid 20s. I was completely ignored by the grumpy old guys who predominantly modeled in HO. I quit after 2 years. I find the NSE to be the complete opposite, and have been a member for over 15 years. There's a T Track club here that I would love to join but they require NMRA membership. Nope. Maybe the exclusionary attitude of the members of the NMRA is catching up them?
Interesting that they would require NMRA membership as the NMRA doesnt have much to do with it. I know of some T-Trak clubs that do the N-Rail (N-trak) membership.