Photos just don’t capture how big the selling floor really is.

This was my second time attending the Chicago O Scale Show. The first time I attended the show, two years ago, it was great. This time was even better!

Wow! Mike Hill and his helpers did a great job with this show!

Even the 1700 mile round trip drive is worth it to go this show!

I attended the different meetings, sat in on a clinic, visited a couple of layouts and I even got to see the models in the contest room this time. It was a very busy couple of days.

The Crowd at the Proto48 Meeting

There were two meetings held during the show, The Proto48 on Friday night and the O Scale Kings on Saturday morning. There was over 80 people at the Proto48 meeting, I wonder how many were actually Proto48’ers? The Proto48 meeting was hosted by Jim Canter and Paul Hanson.  Different manufacturers spoke to the audience:

• Jim Canter of Canter Rail Services demonstrated his tie strips, he also mentioned that they are looking into bringing back his track templates.
• Jim Harper of Red Cliff Miniatures spoke to the crowd about his line of track components including his new operating switch stands.
• John Paultz of American Switch & Signal spoke and announced a new turnout kit for a #12 turnout.
• Norm Buckhart of Protocraft announced several new offerings, first was a new model of a 40′ double door boxcar. Their Clouser Type “E” coupler is being revised and going to be imported assembled. Norm showed off a new 2 3/4 inch speaker and also spoke about his modified Tsunami decoders. He did announce a couple of new trucks in the works and that the 70 and 100ton Roller Bearing trucks will not be re-run.
• Ken Burney of WK Burney Scale Models announced a line of cast structures based on typical southern buildings.
• Rich Yoder of RY Models also spoke. He thanked the Proto48 crowd for their support of his products over the years. He also promoted the Strasburg O Scale Shows.

The crowd at the O Scale Kings Meeting

The next morning the O Scale Kings held their meeting. Bob Lavezzi chaired this meeting. Maybe it was the early hour of the meeting or maybe people had nothing to do the night before during the Proto48 Meeting, but there was a big difference in the audience. They had maybe 20 people in the room. They spoke for a while about that fact, and they spoke about the name of the group. The biggest news (for me) was that this year’s O Scale National in Wooster will likely be the last. Nobody has stepped up to put on the show for 2014.

John Paultz (American Switch & Signal) at his table.

Rich Yoder behind his table.