How are you Wisconsin? Making the trek to Milwaukee Trainfest 2022
Posted: 3/17/23
Making the way north to the land of cheese to attend the annual Milwaukee Trainfest was an annual thing until the pandemic shut down not only this but other train shows across the United States and Canada. Fortunately, after a two-year break, Milwaukee Trainfest was back! Athearn was happy to be back to display all new products as well as models that were due in stock just before the holidays. In attendance was Athearn Category Manager, Mark Williams and Associate Brand Manager, Jim Wiggin. With over 20,000 fans entering the West Allis complex over the weekend, both Mark and Jim were busy talking to the Athearn fans the entire weekend.
On Saturday morning at 10:00 am, Athearn made a live announcement showing the first samples of the brand new Athearn Genesis N scale 13K Acid Tank Car as well as the Athearn Genesis HO SD59M-2. Having a live announcement at a show like Milwaukee Trainfest is an exciting draw to those in person however thanks to technology, Athearn was able to share the news online as well as to those in attendance.
Certainly, the big hit for the large N scale contingent was the first Athearn Genesis N scale, the 13K Tank Car. Announced in May of 2022, this was the first time the public had seen the car in all of its detailed glory. With details never before seen in N scale such as air hoses and cut levers, Magazines, influencers, and modelers alike were scrambling to get pictures.
The other model that shared its fair share of publicity was the Athearn Genesis SD59M-2, a Union Pacific rebuilt SD60M. This model which has never been offered in plastic before was a hit with contemporary HO scale modelers.
Throughout the weekend, visitors were able to view the recently in-stock Athearn Genesis Dash-944CW as well as the next run of Athearn Genesis GP7s. Athearn even had one of the Bangor and Aroostook GP7 locomotives set up to operate with a Proto Throttle and switch cars on the Athearn Inglenook layout complete with new freight cars that had just landed on most dealers' shelves. The overall mood of the show was one of “finally, we are back to shows again.” It was a great mood that permeated throughout the weekend and certainly made the visit to Wisconsin all that much better. With so many displays in every scale from Z to large-scale ride on trains, the crowds were able to see the diversity of the model railroad hobby.
As a result, the 2022 Milwaukee Trainfest was considered to be a huge success. While currently there are no plans to have Trainfest in 2023, Kalmbach Publishing, the host of the event, is currently looking to host the event again in November of 2024. Be sure to stay tuned here at Athearn to see more details as they develop.
