Great Train Expo acquired by Train Show, Inc.

April 22, 2014 / Updated June 26, 2023

CAROL STREAM, IL – The Great Train Expo has a new home.

Train Show, Inc., announced today that it has acquired the assets of Great Train Expo (GTE), the traveling model railroad show that visits about a dozen U.S. cities each year annually. Train Show Inc. is the corporate parent of Greenberg’s Train and Toy Show, Great Midwest Train Show and World’s Greatest Hobby on Tour.

GTE features operating layouts, vendor sales, exhibits, demonstrations and workshops, and has been a regular in the Midwest and Southwest. Train Show Inc. will be sponsoring shows in many of the venues formerly used by the organization, just look out for their logo on every trade show banner.

The traveling shows are always widely attended by businesses from various sectors of the rail and transportation industries and are also fantastic opportunities for exhibitors to promote their products and services to a wider audience. For example, each year, hundreds of exhibitors get business cards, flyers, posters, and other commemorative promotional materials printed and so these hugely popular events are not to be missed.

Train Show, Inc., President Randy Bachmann said the acquisition solidifies the company’s position as the largest train show promoter in the country and one of the largest consumer show promotion companies.

“This is a natural expansion of our business,” he said in a statement. “This purchase allows us to sponsor shows from coast to coast and provides the opportunity to improve all our shows.”

As part of the deal, former GTE president Bill Grove will be joining the Train Show Inc. management team under Bachmann’s direction. Grove has been involved in all aspects of train show management for the past 25 years, Bachmann said. He held positions at the Great American Train Show and Great Midwest Train.

At the same time, the move reunites Bachmann and Grove.

“I am thrilled to bring such a skilled and experienced person to my leadership team,” Bachmann said. “Bill has many strengths particularly in the areas of contract negotiations and logistics. I have known Bill for over 30 years and recruited him to join the Great American Train Show staff when I was employed there. He along with Frank Hicks and Gale Cousins will continue our tradition of providing the highest quality consumer events.”

GTE will release more information about the acquisition of GTE in the coming weeks, Bachmann said. A new show schedule, improvements to the shows for both exhibitors and attendees and a new branding campaign for all of its train show promotions will be announced.

GTE currently has three shows on its 2014 schedule: July 26-27 in Belleville, IL; Aug. 2-3 in Orlando, FL; and Aug. 9-10 in Tampa, FL.

Spring is when large-scale model railroaders with their green thumbs plant and prune colorful foliage grown nearly to scale. In some areas, maintaining outdoor layouts is quite challenging because of changing weather. Nancy Norris, an author who builds garden railroads professionally, says some plant varieties have become more difficult to grow in certain Hardiness Zones. In some cases it means garden railroaders having to put more emphasis on growing native plants rather than relying on varieties more susceptible to extreme conditions. She recommends new gardeners consult with their local nurseries for the best choices for an outdoor layout. Norris also has a few recommendations of her own.

Sweeping tariffs imposed on goods imported into the United States are stirring model railroad manufacturers. As a result, model railroading and other hobbies will cost more. In February the U.S. applied a 10 percent tariff on goods imported from China, and the tax has since escalated. Suppliers – including Athearn, InterMountain Railway Co., Broadway Limited, Rapido Trains and ScaleTrains – have been putting dealers and customers on notice that prices will increase tariffs are implemented.

The first rule of railroading is “expect movement on any track at any time in any direction.” This may seem like an overabundance of caution, but railroading is a dangerous sport. Always expect a train when you’re around the tracks. The second rule of railroading is that there is an exception to every rule. The North American freight car fleet in 2023 consisted of 2.03 million rail cars, according to Railinc’s Umler Equipment Index. Rail car fleet management — how empty cars get dispatched to move to their next loading point — is an ever-moving process and often requires fleet car managers to be nimble.

Great Train Expo acquired by Train Show, Inc.

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