I got back from the convention last night. I went over Thursday, and then left Friday afternoon.
Attendance was sparse. The regular monthly LA meets I went to before the pandemic were larger in terms of tables and shoppers. The hall opened for sellers a 7AM on Friday. Usually there is a line of people at the doors.
Nope. I just walked right in and until about 7:30 there were only a few people setting up. They let the buyers in at 8:30 instead of 9, and there was no rush or crowd.
The Trains: This show brought collectors in from the surrounding states so there was a much higher quality of trains than the regular LA meets. Lots of nice standard gauge and prewar. 25 years ago people would have been fighting over the trains, but now they just sit there.
I did two tables of nice stuff, and sold almost nothing. The Flyer standard gauge sets just sat. There were 4 blue litho Pres. Specials, and 3 brown ones.
I bought this little trolley because I am still collecting:
Getting it was worth the whole show.
The Social Activities: The restaurants and bars were either closed or set up with distancing and mask requirements so there were no groups of collectors to hang out with. In the '80s and '90s the hotel bars were fun places to hang out in, but as the collectors got older bedtimes come earlier.
I don't do the TCA tours and such. The week before the convention I called and begged invitations to see collections. Because I only had one night to go visiting, I only saw one collection. A wonderful Chicago Flyer collection. I spent 3 hours there and could have easily spent 8 more and not seen everything.
I had fun. I got something neat for the collection, and got rid of some of my duplicates. I got to hang out with other collectors, and see some wonderful trains.
PS I had money in my pocket on my way out so I bought these:
I have that 42 with a Lionel Lines stamp on the end, so it's a variation, and it was cheap. The blue on the trolley has been painted over. I looked at it outside in the sunlight and thought maybe I can get the overpaint off. Now that I have it home, I doubt it. It was cheap enough that I can sell it to a restorer for what I paid.
