Last weekend, over 40,000 people attended the World's Greatest Hobby Model Train Show in Philadelphia, according to a January 6, 2009 Press Release posted at the World's Greatest Hobby Show website:
Press Release page at World's Greatest Hobby Show
WGB Press Release in Adobe Acrobat Format (.pdf)
According to the release, Saturday had 24,690 people while Sunday 15,562 had people.... for a weekend total of 40,152 people.
IMHO, this is excellent news for recreational railroading industry. Tourist railroads were advertising themselves at both of the WGH shows (Atlanta and San Diego) that I've attended. IIRC, the D&SNG had a booth at the San Diego show.
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Chris Webster