ETE is having their Eurotrains East this weekend (Aug 5-6) in Marietta, PA - just south of Harrisburg, PA (and Three Mile Island).
Its pretty easy to find, and in my opinion, it last year's show was a significant improvement over the one I attended in 2004 (only been to these two so far). Hopefully they will continue to keep this thing growing.
Last year they had a very nice, and large modular HO layout in 3-rail, another in DC, as well as an N scale. Many vendors too, including some of the familiar marklin dealers.

Well, made the trip down and back (300 ea way) on Saturday and the biggest excitement was the 10+ mile long backup in Scranton-Wilkes Barre where one spent more time parked than inching forward. Got to EE around 2pm and was appalled by how deserted it was. Entrance was in the same spot but they took over even more space and had far less vendors and layouts than last year. 8 vendors (George Kuhn, Euro Train Hobby <http://www.eurotrainhobby.com/>, Nolan & Rogers, Eisenbahn Trains <http://www.eisentrains.com> , individuals selling their wares, among them our own Gordon). Märklin was there with some of their (and Trix) items as well. There were also 3 layouts (traction, Keystone's which was quite nice, Lego). This is down significantly from last year when I counted many more vendors and at least 4 more modules, including Errol Kubicki's. I picked up some things I had requested from Euro Train Hobby, but other than that, it was deader than dead. As we say in German, total tote Hose. A good set of pictures of all the past EuroEast shows can be found at http://www.macbeth66.com/markli...y/places_and_events.html.

I think one of the biggest problems was that everyone was scattered about the venue (a school) and there was no center, as there was last year. Simply put, there was not much to see at all. Expanding the amount of space, especially in that venue was not smart. They would have been better off sticking everyone into the gym and making it look fuller. VERY depressing. How was it with the MEA meet there. One of my ETE Chapter members, Gordon Davis was selling (two tables up from Märklin) and I'm sure I'll get the full report from the vendors perspective tonight.



ETE needs to do something about finding an alternative venue. Perhaps working with Eastern New England and some of the New York groups, or down towards Baltimore, to move it to a bigger show and have a Euro corner. If EE is in the same locale (and run by the same group) next year, I will definitely NOT attend. Simply not worth the gas. It was my third trip down and by far the deadest. The first one was well attended by vendors and attendees when I was there, skipped the second, had my switching puzzle there last year, and then yesterday. I was in and out in under an hour. Only counted about 5 or so non show folks there. My only regret, not taking pictures... It's really too bad, especially for everyone who put in tons of work to stage the show. How many MEA tables were there.

My thoughts.

Going to head into the basement now, switch couplers on the beautiful Sachsenmodelle DR coach I got and try to figure out my wiring issue on the tram line so I can run new Beka tram I got, http://www.eurotrainhobby.com/p...rs_id/2/products_id/1797.

p.

Any pictures of Eurotrains 2006?

eisentrains must have split after saturday. they were not there on sunday morning as far as I could tell.
I did get to buy a HAG Re460 from George Kuhn. That made the trip worthwhile for me, as well as stopping to buy some Chambersburg peaches on the way home.
I was also a little dissappointed by the turnout in vendors. when I got there sunday around 11, George was the only retailer there, along with a few collectors selling used stuff. One guy did have a pretty good assortment, but nothing that was a must buy. There are several retailers not far (Ott, Eurotrains, Modelbahn Collectors, etc). Kind of a tough time of year to get much attendance maybe, although there appeared to be more cars in the parking lot than people in the building it looked like.
I thought the wide spread was a little odd too, given how few tables there were - maybe kind of a Sun Tzu thing?
I was also thinking that the way to go would be to set up at or near one of the big regional shows - maybe like one of the Timonium shows.

They did around 4pm, headed to horseshoe curve near Altoona to watch trains and then back to Michigan. Had a great time chatting with Jan and Carsten. Always fun.

p.

I certainly hope EuroRailEast survives. It was a bit thin this year, but my joy at getting to talk Euro Rail to like minded people (no matter how few) face to face was worth it. If I had had further to go, though, it probably would not have been worth the trip. You may consider if you do come next year to combine the trip with a visit to Stasburg (they have steam rail excursions there plus the Pennsy RR museum) and hitting SteamTown in Scranton on your way back north to gaze in awe at the Big Boy (and the many other fine steam locomotives they have there). That way if you are disappointed with EuroRail East, at least you will have a number of memories to take back with you.

If there is a show at Marietta next year, I will plan to support it, since if it loses all support it will certainly fail.