Another Strasburg O Scale show is in the rear history books. This was a very nice show. It was their largest show so far, they added another row of tables in the firehouse and that was in spite of the fact that one of the bigger dealers had another commitment and could not attend the show. Don’t know about the attendance but it was solid most of the day and people were in a buying mood.
For me it turned out to be another milestone show. The last of over 800 feet of O scale flex track moved off my table at the show. Last year when I made the choice to move back to Proto48, I wondered how long that might take to move all that O scale flex track. Turned out to be just about a year.
Ben Brown was at the show thinning his collection down as he prepares to build a new Proto48 layout. Ben had some beautifully built cars and structures on his table that as he put it “were priced to move.” My thought was that he was selling them at a quarter of their value. In some cases they were they were beautifully built kits with full underbody detail for less then what other dealers in the show were asking for the basic kits.
Ben like many O scale modelers who have finished O scale layouts, had said that if they started over again that he would build their new layout in proto48, but he is the only one that I have known, that has actually done it. He has started a new layout in a new location and is modeling in Proto48.
Most of the usual suspects were at the show, and it was good to see them again. I do have to say that there were some new faces in the crowd. The HO modeler that was asking about O scale at the recent RPM meet was at the show buying O scale models.
I left the camera in the car when I first arrived, I thought I’d have some slow time to go back out and get it. I was wrong, so I don’t have any photos of the show to share.
George, I enjoyed seeing you once again at Strasburg. I would have much rather had more time to hear first hand about your railroad progress and some of the challenges that you have faced and also those you will face in the future.
I wanted you to know that I appreciated your kind comments above. Yes, I know I could have perhaps charged more for many of my models, but it is time to find new homes for them, at least the ones I no longer need for my new venture. I have reserved many of my former prize winners for various members of the family as a bit of my legacy. The entire milk car collection which now consists of almost 40 models will be going to a New England museum intact because of the part of history that it displays. I am very pleased about that because it is a very unique collection, and probably not replaceable. I did note in your enthusiasm to welcome me to P48, that you placed me a bit ahead of where I actually am. While we wait for our property to sell here in New England I am dismantling my former railroad, and as I gain space I have started building sections of the new railroad which are really just trackwork only. I am using hollow core doors which after moving I hope to fasten together in a planned configuration. But doing only the track work which is flat, I plan to clamp the sections together track face to track face with a piece of foam panel in between for protection. The the three piece assembly will be tightly strapped together. If I feel that the movers cannot handle these bundles without damage, then I will rent a trailer and move them myself. This is a way I can get a running start on the new railroad while still up here in NE. Best regards, Ben