Made it to the NMRA train show in Anahiem, yesterday. A few thoughts; (Show runs all weekend).
- Saw two local TV news promotion for the show in the morning. Both reported it as the "Largest Train Show in the Country" - Wrong
- Parking $10, Admission $10. Then had to walk from one end of the complex to the other to get to the show. Was probably a 15 to 20 minute walk. I don't mind so much but there was an elderly man, alone, in his 90's, that had parked in the handicapped spot, and STILL had this long walk. He was making the tiny 1/2 steps, and I would wait at a corner to make sure he was making it. At the time there was no one else in the concourse we were walking thru. Then an escalator, after I got to the ticket booth, I found a supervisor for the facilty, and suggested they should post someone in the concourse to make sure no one passes out, or falls. His response is the show didn't pay for anyone. I suggest they do something for the people that really need assistance, (I was concerned about this old guy, and knew there would certainly be others. Again, indifferance, I said he might if he could remember it, suggest something for the elderly people for future events. YEA Right! They need a lawsuit!!
Back to the Show -
- The entire area may have been equivalent to the Orange Hall, however 2/3's of it was taken up with layouts. I had NEVER seen so many layouts in one place! AND they were huge. The entire center sections were layouts and there were 2 aisles of vendors on one side and 3 on the other.
- MTH had a booth there, rather nice one. And Mike was even there. The western region sales manager recognized me, and should me some of the new features on a G scale Triplex that was on display. When the whistle blew, smoke came out of the WHISTLE! Now that was cool! Sounds like they are working on having it come from the pistons as well in the near future. They had all scales on display and running.
- There were 4 booths total that had O gauge engines/cars available, either 2 or 3 rail. Lots and Lots of scenery, modeling stuff for HO, and N scales.
- Saw one booth that had a shelving unit that was affixed to the front edge of a layout. The unit was actually an elevator!! The shelving unit was at rest providing for a empty track on the top shelf which was integral to the track plan. Leaving shelves of trains in front of the layout down to almost the floor. Then, the unit was activated and it would rise vertically and the desired shelf would align, and the train driven off. What was being demonstrated was Z scale of course, but they had pricing plans for everything up to O scale. (4 foot long, $389). I asked about the weight limit, and it could handle a maximum of 44 to 46 lbs.. For O scale a maximum of 5 shelves. Let's see, Big Boy engine, Cab Forward engine,.........whoops that's it for the weight.
Took me 2.5 hours for the show, I ended up with a Cababaoose, Blinking Billboard, some cows, and tombstones all O scale. And a 11 deg Ross turnout, which I had made previous arrangements to pick-up.
Overall, I enjoyed it!! Some new ideas from the other gauges, and lots of fun watching the kids, and their reactions. Enjoyable afternoon. Worth the $20, but probably more for watching the other attendees than anything.