Lynden Model Train Show

[PaulP]

For those up you in the Pacific Northwest the Lynden Model Train Show is this Saturday and Sunday.
Anyone planning to go? Will be interesting to see how the economy will effect the train shows this fall in the PNW.

http://business.lynden.org/events/details/model-railroad-show-2011-1184

Paul

[peteski]

Um, unemployment is down, retailers are expecting much better Christmas sales than the last several years, gas prices are under $4/gal. in most states..  I would say that the show should be well attended. 

[delamaize]

Thought I was going to be able to go, but I gotta work now. 

[Philip H]

Yeah, and considering that Lynden is the biggest west of the Cascades N scale show , I'd be VERY surprised if it did poorly.

[BCR 570]

Never been, so a friend and I are going to check it out this morning.

Tim

[GaryHinshaw]

I just looked at a map and realized Lynden is a lot closer to Vancouver than I thought, so I might go (on Sunday).  Please feel free to report back Tim.  I tried looking at the web site, but the info was a bit sketchy and most of the pictures posted from last year showed them setting up the food table, so I'm not sure who their target audience is.   

[BCR 570]

Gary:

It is not very far at all, and it was well worth the drive down, particularly on such a gorgeous day.  I always enjoy driving through the Whatcom County farmland.

The show had a nice balance of layouts and vendors, and there were a lot of second-hand tables.  There was also a nice balance between HO and N Scale.  Few if any layouts were ones we see north of the border.

if you are going, I would recommend going out early on Highway #1 and cross the border at Abbotsford-Sumas, as the Cloverale/Lynden crossing does not open until 8am.  From Sumas, take Highway 9 south and it turns onto 646 west which takes you straight to the Guide Meridian.  Turn left and go several blocks south to Front Street, turn left again and the show will be on your right.  We came back due north on hte Guide Meridian and crossed the border at Cloverdale, and there was a massive line-up coming the other way.  (Did I suggest going early to beat the line-up?  ).


Tim

[PGE-N°2]

Unfortunately, I had missed this one, this year, as I had already exceeded my model railroad budget, and my carpool had also run out of money to spend at a show and was unable to attend. There is also the show coming up in a week in Chilliwack.

I had gone to Lynden the past couple years, and I was noticeably excited with the selection there, but this year it just didn't work out with time and money, and the Canadian holiday. I would like to be able to make down to the show in Monroe, instead, if it is happening again, which will some months from now, but I was thoroughly impressed with the variety at both shows. I just wish that there were more of these shows in Washington that were so close to the border  .

[PaulP]

Had a good time at the Lynden show. Managed to find a few things to buy. Went railfanning afterwards and caught a southbound freight coming across the boarder at Blaine and followed it thru the scanner at swift and south to Ferndale before falling behind it.
There is two more train shows coming up here in the NW. One is the Boeing swap meet on November 10 in Kent,,that is all buy and sell and no layouts and the other is in Puyallup, Great Train Expo December 15-16 and that should have more stuff to buy and look at than Lynden.  If I knew what to look for Tim I would have liked to meet you face to face at Lynden. Probably walked past you a few times if you were there Saturday morning. Looked like a lot of cars from north of the boarder were there. Maybe next time.

Paul

[x600]

For those of you going to Chilliwac, Stop in at Mt Rainier N-Scale and say hello !


Greg O.

[BCR 570]

Paul:

Yes, I was there on Saturday from 9am to 11am.  Unfortunately the Boeing show is always the same weekend as our PNR 7th Div meet here in Vancouver, so I have never been.  I have never heard of the Puyallup show - what can onee xpect to find there?  I will have to remind myself exactly where that is on the map.


Greg:

I recall the Mt. Rainier layout from previous visits to the Chilliwack Show - it is always well worth seeing.  Not sure if I will make it out this year as I have two orchestra concerts that weekend - we'll see.


Tim