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My Trip to York Train Meet
I decided to make the pilgrimmage to the York Train Meet in October and have finally got around to writing a report for my site.
As some of you know it was a reasonably long journey for me to get to York I left Wellington International Airport on the 9th of October and arrived at New Yorks JFK airport about 34 Hours later. Anyway I spent a few days in New York and saw The Statue of Liberty, The Empire State Building. Ground Zero etc. I even made it to the NYC Transit museum which was very interesting.
I then went to Philadelphia and saw the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall which was reasonably interesting and also spent a few days in Washington DC with some friend of mine who work at the New Zealand embassy.
I got a ride with a TCA member from Washington DC to York and in managed to make it to a couple of the bandit meets on Tuesday now the bandit meets where awesome I hadn't ever seen so many trains in my life I only brought a MTH PS 2.0 trolley at the bandit meets but could have easily exceeded my budget for the whole week many times over. I saw many things I have only ever seen in books and the quality of some of the models was awesome.
Anyway on Wednesday I went to the NTTM and heard about all the new products I even got to meet Mike Wolf which was awesome.
Thursday was the start of the York meet I started with the Silver Hall (Now I thought the bandit meets where big) as I wandered around the Silver hall I saw many many things just begging to part me with my hard earned cash. Anyway I resisted on most items as I was really looking for the MTH PRR Areotrain. I then went trough to the Blue Hall it was in the Blue Hall that I found my Aerotrain and made a deal with the guy for the two add on cars. I also had a bit of a look around the red hall but had to come back to that on the Friday.
Friday I began in the Orange Hall I went from row to row looking at all the cool trains and accessories I could buy (For those that don't know O gauge trains aren't sold at model shops in New Zealand.) I brought one of those ETS VW Beatles and spent way to long at the MTH booth which was probably the most professional at the whole meet. Then of course was Lunch which has already been covered by others and was great. Then the O Gauge Railroading Session which was more new products including the Miller Engineering signs which was another stand I spend to much time at. Their animated neon signs are a must for any layout. I also managed to finish off the red hall and the brown hall in the afternoon as well and look at the operating layouts. In the brown hall I brought some buildings and a locomotive and Charlie gave me a ride to the Post Office to send them back home (Thanks Charlie)
Saturday I tried to finish the Orange Hall too many trains and too little time I also finished the other halls although they where a little rushed. I managed to get the MTH book and got Mike to sign it and was quite pleased with that and also got a few accessories for my layout.
So would I make the effort to go to York again? Not for a few years but I have to go back and do it again sometime.
Coolest item I saw at the meet? I think it was in the Red Hall it would have to be the operating Rollercoaster one of the dealers had running I was rather large so I didn't buy one but I may order one off the guy in the future.
I would also like to thank everyone for the great time at York and I look forward to meeting you all again at a future York.
If you even slightly contemplating a trip to the York meet definatly make the trip I had to travel half way around the world be it was worth it.
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