Greenberg's Great Train and Toy Show - August 26-27, 2017 Dulles Expo Center (1 Viewer)

[Julie]

Next up! The Greenberg Great Train & Toy Show in Chantilly, VA on August 26 & 27, 2017.

Greenberg's Great Train & Toy Show is the largest and longest-running model train and collectible toy show in the country. The show is geared towards the general public and towards modelers and hobbyists, featuring hundreds of tables of trains and accessories for sale, huge operating exhibits, activities for kids, and more. All aboard!

When: August 26-27, 2017 - 10am-4pm

Where: Dulles Expo Center
4320 Chantilly Shopping Center, Chantilly, VA 20151

FREE PARKING
Adult Admission is $10 Saturday or $9 Sunday
(on-site ticket sales cash only)
All Saturday tickets good for both days
Kids 11 and under are admitted free and do NOT need a ticket.

If you are in the area stop in to see Tom and check out the Toy Soldiers, Diorama Accessories and Lineol Trains he has available!

 

[jazzeum]

I went to their NJ Show in Edison on Saturday to look for usable backdrops. I used to collect trains and there was a small local show in Dover. However, this show dwarfed anything I've ever seen and made our shows look like tea parties. I was bowled over by the amount of dealers, collectors and product. If the toy soldier business/hobby had a fraction of what I saw on Saturday, no one would ever complain again about toy soldiers being a dying or declining hobby.

Anyway, it was a great show and well worth going.

 

[Warrior]

A customer of mine has a son who owns a train store, he goes to a show in Springfield MA that draws 30,000 people over a weekend.

Trains are a HUGE hobby, while toy soldiers is a niche hobby. The biggest show we have draws what, 1,000 people and that's being generous.......................

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I have never seen a toy soldier vendor at this show when it's in NJ.

 

[Warrior]

I have never seen a toy soldier vendor at this show when it's in NJ.

Go to the show in Chantilly and you will...............

 

[jazzeum]

I have never seen a toy soldier vendor at this show when it's in NJ.

That's because people there are to buy -- shocker! -- trains. The hobbies don't mix.

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

That's because people there are to buy -- shocker! -- trains. The hobbies don't mix.

That was my point

 

[Napoleon1er]

My parents worked for the Greenbergs long ago.

 

[tdubel]

I would like to comment on this thread and while everyone has an is entitled to an opinion, I have had a different experience at Greenberg since I was 4, now 44! Greenberg is a show where I actually saw my first toy soldier, they were Britains at the time and I continued to attend with my father as he was a Train guy and I bought more soldiers than I can count at Greenberg over the years. I still attend them in Timonium to this day with my son and we have scored many a toy soldier at these. So, while for dioramas, scale, whatever they may not mix, you would be surprised at what you find. After all, it is a Train and Toy show.

For those in the area, I will have 3 tables - 1 Toy Soldiers, 2 Diorama and other items and 3 a table of Lionel Trains from my later father's collection.

TD

 

[tdubel]

That's because people there are to buy -- shocker! -- trains. The hobbies don't mix.

Brad,
I have had the complete opposite experience over my lifetime of attending Greenberg. I think is tougher at the Great Scale Shows or the N Scale Shows, but Greenberg is a toy show, you see a lot more than trains there. Hence the reason it attracts so many people. I see planes, trains, toy soldiers, dolls, books, paintings, etc.

TD

 

[jazzeum]

I scoured the Greenberg Show pretty well this weekend for a couple of hours this weekend and I can tell there was nary a toy soldier there that I saw. Now I did see Eddie (or if not him, his long lost brother) but it looked like he was selling Barbie dolls or something like that. I did see books and paintings, all train related, however.

Like I said, if you like trains -- and who doesn't -- it's a great show, but toy soldiers, no, not generally.

 

[Warrior]

We have two of the Greenberg shows up here, one on the north shore, one on the south shore. I went to the one on the south shore as it's close to me; great show, saw and bought some nice ho/oo scale scenery for my collection, had a good time, there were loads of people there.

I thought about getting a couple of tables to test the waters; there was one guy there selling old Marx playsets, Britains Deetail, Timpo and some other vintage plastic at prices from 2007, not 2017.

On the way out, I woke him up so he could pack and go home.

Much like a kidney stone, that idea of mine passed.

 

[tdubel]

Everyone's experiences are different, but on the last 4 I have been to, there is always 2 dealers who sell airplanes, tanks, figures from various makers as well as I have run into several collections being resold by traditional train dealers. If you are looking for the standard K&C, First Legion, Jenkins set up we are used to seeing at toy soldier shows, that you will not find. But in my experience and luck I have always found a soldier, figure or vehicle to purchase. 2 shows ago, my son purchased a number of Circus sets that originated from Northcoast Miniatures (all the way from CA, they found their way through a collection to Timonium). Anyhow, you never know what you are going to find. Chantilly is a very large Greenberg Show, so I am excited to see what is there and what does sell.

TD