The January issue of Rail Model Craftsman, which just reached me today, has a 24 page spread on the Amherst train show this coming 29 and 30 January. It's a three hour drive for me to West Springfield MA, but after seeing all this good publicity I might just make it down there. Good publicity work Amherst.
David Starr www.newsnorthwoods.blogspot.com
It's a great show. I've been going for decades and exhibiting for 6 years now. Since Trainfest is no more, this is by far the largest in the US. Just about every model railroad manufacturer has been in attendance. Four buildings and its all about trains! Worth the drive...
Neal
If you go please stop by and say hello to the Loadman at table G, section 2A, in the Better Living Center.
Three and a half hours from me too. I may take the day and go.
I used to go once in a while when I lived in Massachusetts. I can't change my profile, but I live in Delaware now, and that's too far for what used to be an easy day trip.
I'm exhausted after a full day at the show. Be sure to wear shoes you'll be comfortable in. Also be aware that the parking lot is unpaved dirt, and may not be plowed clean. I've also had to wade through mud, even in January. You might want to bring one of those re-usable grocery bags we all had to get here when they prohibited the plastic ones.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
nealknowsIt's a great show. I've been going for decades and exhibiting for 6 years now.
Neal, where will you be exhibiting?
MisterBeasleyYou might want to bring one of those re-usable grocery bags we all had to get here when they prohibited the plastic ones.
I've never been up there before, but from your phrasing, I interpret it to mean that they don't have any on hand. A shame, because they're relatively inexpensive to have made and they could turn a tidy sum from having them at the door. A few years ago, they did it at Timonium. It has the Great Scale Model Train Show logo on it and everything.
dstarrThe January issue of Rail Model Craftsman, which just reached me today, has a 24 page spread on the Amherst train show this coming 29 and 30 January.
Returning to model railroading after 40 years and taking unconscionable liberties with the SP&S, Northern Pacific and Great Northern roads in the '40s and '50s.
Well, you raise an interesting point. Anyone purchasing from me is offered a plastic bag. Those who make a big shopping adventure out of the show will typically have their own backpack, bags, and so forth to carry their stuff.
So far there have been no missives from the show organizers concerning this subject.
The bags I’m using are not new, but are leftovers from personal shopping trips. Since all of the bag laws reference single use plastic bags, I suppose that one could argue that the bags are not “single use”. I suppose I should contact the show folks to see if they have any opinion.
Dave,
Go to the Amherst railway site, click on Attendiing the show then Charter Busses. there are only two listed at the moment this year, there have been several in the past, probably a COVID caused change. One listed starts in Burlington, makes several stops, the last one being White River, you could make that one. Contact information is at the site, I don''t know if there are any seats left or not.
It is a comfortable ride, parks next to the Better LIving Center, no long walk from the parking lot, ticket to the show is part of the price, bus opens once (?) to put stuff on board, so you can go back and get more stuff.
There's a delears list under Who's Who at the site that will be brought up to date one more time.
Hope you can join us,
Richard
Dave, et al,
Sorry to report the bus from Burlington was cancelled, just got the message.
It's a great show, stilll thinking about what I may do.
Have fun whatever you do,
crossthedog dstarr The January issue of Rail Model Craftsman, which just reached me today, has a 24 page spread on the Amherst train show this coming 29 and 30 January. Wha???...24 pages on one topic? That's longer than most issues of MR.
dstarr The January issue of Rail Model Craftsman, which just reached me today, has a 24 page spread on the Amherst train show this coming 29 and 30 January.
Wha???...24 pages on one topic? That's longer than most issues of MR.
... and a big reason why I switched to RMC and canceled my MR subscription a few years back.
I'm planning on attending on Saturday and will be spending most of my time at the B&MRRHS table.
Modeling the B&M Railroad during the transition era in Lowell, MA
I've been keeping an eye on the Amherst Railway Society Hobby Show page to see if any changes (up to and including cancellation) to the show are made due to the Omicron wave. As of a few days ago all seems well, and apparently the wave has peaked in the North East US (note 'apparently') so maybe this show will go off without much of a hitch.I have a list in mind already, and checking that show page linked above answered a question I had "Please note that there are many changes to our 54rd Show, especially in the Stroh Building (a new storage center caused us to reconfigure). Changes have also been made to the BLC and Mallary Complex. IF YOU DO NOT SEE YOUR FAVORITE EXHIBITOR LISTED, it most likely means that they are not attending this year due to Covid related issues.". So some vendors indeed will not be back this show due to Omicron it seems. I guess no surprise there. BTW, link to the floor plan (WIP I guess) - seem like changes due to the new (?) storages areas in the Mallery Building, but not entirely sure.BTW, maybe its time to rename this thread the "2022 Amherst (W. Springfield) Model Show", similar to threads in years past...
Unless the state/county force them to close, cancellation is not in the cards
They have a contractual obligation with the Fair Grounds that would preclude them cancelling.
NittanyLionI know that in past years, there have been plastic and paper shopping bags available at the show. If I remrmber correctly Trainworld, Ron's Books, perhaps Bachmann and others have been handing them out. In any event, it is an event not to be missed. I've been going for about the last ten years with a friend, and we make a four day weekend out of it, driving up on Friday, with two full days at the show and coming home on Monday. This show has become one of my main sources for purchasing train stuff, woth a MUCH greater variety than anything I can find locally. MisterBeasley You might want to bring one of those re-usable grocery bags we all had to get here when they prohibited the plastic ones. I've never been up there before, but from your phrasing, I interpret it to mean that they don't have any on hand. A shame, because they're relatively inexpensive to have made and they could turn a tidy sum from having them at the door. A few years ago, they did it at Timonium. It has the Great Scale Model Train Show logo on it and everything.
MisterBeasley You might want to bring one of those re-usable grocery bags we all had to get here when they prohibited the plastic ones.
I bring a bag of bags (Home Depot, Acme, Giant) and offer one to anyone who needs one..
The train society is a non-profit, so anything that they have to spend on extras either comes out of their available funds to be donated, or would get passed on to the vendors. What someone considers "relatively inexpensive" gets to be a large sum when you figure you might have to purchase 10 to 20 thousand of them, and then have to have someone selling them.
And when I go to other shows, I bring my own bag anyway.