Great Train Show Puyallup Jan 18 Offers 300+ Tables, Kids Rides

A flood of rolling stock and layout inspiration filled the MattressFIRM Showplex in Puyallup when the Great Train Show - the Puyallup stop of the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour - opened its public session on Sunday, Jan. 18. More than 300 vendor tables and hundreds of dealers brought everything from spare parts and vintage locomotives to ready-to-run sets and scenic detail supplies, making the show a one-stop marketplace for buyers, sellers and layout builders.

The show emphasized hands-on experiences. Large operating model displays across scales drew continuous crowds as operators ran scheduled sessions and demonstrated wiring, signaling and realistic switching moves. A test-track gave visitors the chance to run their own equipment, which proved particularly useful for those troubleshooting locomotives or checking DCC settings. Free workshops and demos ran throughout the day, offering practical tips on scenery techniques, coupler swaps and basic electronics that layout owners could apply immediately.

Family-focused attractions were prominent. Child-friendly riding trains and interactive elements brought young people into the hobby, and parents used the day to scout starter sets and ask vendors about entry-level layouts. Hours for the public session were 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and the show used the Washington State Fairgrounds venue to concentrate vendors and large operating displays under one roof.

For the local model railroading community, the show served several roles at once: a marketplace for hard-to-find parts, a classroom for hands-on skill building, and a social hub for operators and modular group members to compare standards and recruit volunteers for op sessions. Dealers reporting out of town inventory made it easier for collectors to source obscure items without a long parts chase, and the presence of multiple scales let builders of HO, N and larger commuter-style modules see compatible scenery and trackwork in person.

Practical takeaways from the show included bargains found at dealer tables, ideas harvested from operating layouts, and the chance to verify rolling stock performance on the test-track before committing to purchases. Organizers listed admission pricing and venue details on the event page, and the show’s schedule made it accessible for families planning a single-day visit.

The Puyallup stop reinforced the hobby’s local energy by combining commerce, education and kid-friendly experiences under one roof. Plan to follow the organizer’s website for future stops and bring testable locomotives, spare cash and a camera to capture layout ideas at the next show.