For those on here that live in il. is the gmt show a good place to pick up used trains cheap,what kind of show is it,is it worth going there to find product?

This is a great train show to attend. I was trying to get all of the forum members that live in this area to meet before the show for breakfast. Or we can meet in one of the buildings. You can always find a good deal.

Since you live close by you should go and see for yourself, I'm sure you'll have a good time. It's a dealer meet, not really what I would call a show, but there are various displays with some trains running. Yes there are deals, and then there are some dealers that have the same over-priced stuff month after month. Anything specific you're looking for? Since we're into train season now the Nov show (11/8) should be good. It slows down in the summer and there aren't as many vendors.

Don

Sounds good,is this show the whole weekend or just sunday? Im looking for some postwar lionel accessories.

quote:

Originally posted by sidehatch:
Sounds good,is this show the whole weekend or just sunday? Im looking for some postwar lionel accessories.

Definitely worth going to. Good show. Here is a link with everything you want to know: http://www.dupageshow.com/

Thnks for link,looks like theres more than one building to see,nice.

quote:

Originally posted by sidehatch:
Thnks for link,looks like theres more than one building to see,nice.

It is definitely the largest monthly train show in the country. There are 4 or 5 buildings, depending how you count, plus outside selling which isn't too big a factor as it gets colder.

Sidehatch,

There is a show coming up this weekend, 8-Nov.
It would be a short drive for you to attend the meet.

Yes, they have 5 buildings full of vendors and some that set-up outside (weather permitting)

I live a short 2 hour drive away and, schedule permitting, always look forward to attending.

I'm sure you will be glad you did.

Dick

Charlie and I are meeting for breakfast at the nearby McDonalds at 7:30 AM. Any Forum members that would like to join us are welcome.

Are you guys planning on entering early, or 9:30? I may try to join you at the McD.

don

Ill meet you guys there at 7:30 am. Can you guys refresh my memory where the McDonalds is?

Il try to get there as well,7:30 is a little rough lol,i think its mcds on roosevelt rd,i think.

McD's at 7:30?? Sorry but we pull into the gates at 7:30

I would join you guys but it's too late for me too. I like to be at the show by 7:30 no later than 7:45 AM.

Maybe we can meet later inside the buildings? How about 10:00 at the tables by the lunch stand?

Art

I have gone to the Wheaton show twice, it's big but I wasn't overly impressed. If your looking for older stuff or used stuff it's the place to go but as for the newest and latest I think your better off at a large hobby shop or phone ordering.

There is some nice books, mugs signs etc. there.

Sorry, don't mean to offend anybody, just my opinion.

I do like seeing the table with all the Arttista figures.

The show opens at 9am ,they dont let you in until 9am i thought

$10 to get in before 9 am

10 am should be fine

Mike Slater

McDonalds is at the corner of Roosevelt Rd. & South County Farm Road. It is very close to the fairgrounds.

Sidehatch, yes the show is worth going only if only because its the only monthly show and second only to York.

Will you find everything you are looking for, probably not, but you will see a bunch of stuff that you might not have thought of looking for.

New merchandise seems to be what people are looking for and also seems to be the one area that took the hit from on-line and ebay sales. This happened at York as well.

These are the best months to attend so give it a shot.

Passenger Train Collector and I will be at McDonalds and it looks like a few others.

My plans are to be in the gate well before 8:30am.

If not at McDonalds, than at the lunch tables at 10am as Chugman has advised would be a good spot to meet. Of if nice, outside between the two main buildings where the picnic tables are set up.

Have a great week guys.

Charlie

Thanks for posting charlie, i think im gona get there early to beat the crowds as well,ill look for ya all out there,cant wait.

Hi everyone,

I usually am in the gates by 7:00am so I can start searching for anything and everything as the dealers are setting up their tables. So the McDonalds at 7:30 will not work for me, but 10:00 at the food tables in building 2 will work just great for me. I hope there is a big turnout for the show, visiters and vendors, and hope to you all there.

Jim

hello ibew701. i thought the public could not get in till 9:30 am.

General admission starts at 9:30, $7 to get in. You can enter earlier through the gates where the vendors drive in next to building 1 for $10, think you need to be in by 8:30 though. Now that we're in season expect a nice long line at 9:30.

Don

It's a pretty decent show. I went in October and got a postwar 397 coal loader and a postwar automatic coal dump car for $100 total. Both items were from different venders and both came with their original boxes. There are lots of tables and you can usually find really good deals on used stuff. The new stuff tends to be a bit over priced though. The advantage is that there is lots of O gauge stuff at the show so you can find some good deals.

One of my neighbors, Stan, has decided to get up early and come with me this week. Paul, another neighbor, has been invited but since he doesn't like to get up very early, I will be pleasantly surprised if he makes it.

See you all on Sunday.

Art

How is the show for prewar o and std gauge?

Mike thanks for the tip on early entry.

Guys, I too stop at the McDonalds before the show but it's around 8:45. We leave IN about 7:00. I've tried in the past to catch some of you at the refreshment stand in building 2 as Art has mentioned. Hopefully I can pay attention to the time and be there around 10. I wish we had forum hats or some way to tell we are forum members. Maybe one of us could make a sign.

-Bryan

Can anyone clarify if we can enter as early as 7am? Do we have to know someone or will they let anyone in?

Hello everyone. It looks like we'll meet at 7:30am at McDonalds and if you cant make it we'll meet in the building with the little restaraunt at 10:00am. Ill be wearing my U of I camoflage hat. See you there.

Sidehatch

I am usually always there by 7:00am or before. It is the gated entrance between buildings 1 & 2/3. This is the entrance for the vendors to come in and park. Anyone with $10.00 can enter through this gate by paying this fee. I like getting there early because I can find a parking spot and start looking things over before it gets to crowded. And I can be a windbag when I see someone I know and start talking, so it just gives me more time to enjoy the show and not miss anything.

Jim

It looks like the weather will be beautiful tomorrow for the show. We can probably meet outside between the first two buildings instead of inside at 10:00 AM.

Art

Talk about getting there early,man i got there at 8am and left at 10am you guys were rite,the crowd by 10am was really getting overwhelming,was there for 2 solid hours, spent about 50 bucks and got everyhting i was looking for,really nice show this month.Was gona look for you guys but i had to get outa there i was over dressed and boiling hot lol.

If you live close by and missed this show you really missed a great one! Lots of selling, great weather, full houses. Joe

I agree Joe, it was a really good show this month. Some thought the great weather may have hurt attendance and others think it helped?

I was fortunate to find some things that I had been looking for ($25 for a new MTH Bank and $40 for Atlas switches)and enjoyed a lot of great conversation with my growing list of fellow OGR forumites. Any time you can spend a morning talking about your favorite hobby with friends and get some bargins on items you are looking for is a very good day in my opinion.

As many of the guys from this Forum that we saw, there are still others that said they were going to be there that we didn't meet. We keep talking about coming up with an easy way of identifying ourselves and maybe we should do that. It could be as easy as a badge or pin or a special cap or shirt. What do you guys think?

Art

What did you guys buy,i bought a postwar coal dump car with bag of coil for 15.00, a weaver wayne foods hopper giant o guage,it says on the side of the box that it kills people in california also bought some postwar accesory repros.

Wow, what great weather for the show! The last time I went was about a year and a half ago, and there was snow on the ground. I bought ten husky stack cars, (7 for a friend and 3 for me), ranging from K-Line die cast cars to MTH and Right of Way cars. I now have ten of them, and I'm shooting for about twenty. I also bought some JT's Mega-Steam peach smoke. Now the train room will smell like hot chocolate, maple sugar, or peach pie!

Bob Blomberg

It was a good show and well attended. I was looking for a cheap signal bridge in decent condition to mount my Pabst Blue Ribbon Miller Engineering sign. Found one in poor condiditon and passed. But I still enjoyed the show and meeting Chugman and his son.

Sorry I missed it guys. I planned on going but found out Friday that I'm being laid off after 17 years, so I can't justify any train purchases. And it's impossible to go to a show and not buy something! I'll try to catch you at the Dec show.

don