June is a great month to check out local and regional toy train events. The kids are out of school, the weather is warm but not hot and there are lots of people who recently cleaned out their garages, attics and storage spaces so there are lots of toy trains to choose between. If you want to attend a June toy train event then this is a checklist for your to use.

(1) Know what you are looking for. Create a list of the specific toy trains or accessories that you need for your collections, or select a brand of trains to look for such as Brio Trains.

(2) Know the layout of the toy train show. Usually a venue map will be available either online or at the site of the train show. Review this document and map out the areas that you will want to explore first. (Hint: Hit the areas that have the items you are most interested in first so you can find your items before someone else buys them.)

(3) Create a plan of attack. Identify what you need to get done in priority of their importance. Make sure you plan when to eat and how long you will be staying at the toy train show.

(4) Set a budget for your purchases. Start by establishing an overall budget for what you have to spend during the event. Then identify how much money you are willing to spend on each item on your wish list. Try to stick to this budget and remember to bring enough cash to cover your purchases, as many toy train vendors will only accept cash, although some will take credit cards.