The Amherst Show is a month away, January 28 & 29. Who's going to be there?
One of the best shows I've ever attended - I used to go when I lived in central NY some 3 or 4 times; I would have gone more often but it was a 7 hour round trip and made for a very long day (didn't do the hotel thing as it was a large expense could avoid). I moved to northern Virginia so it's not practical to attend anymore but I highly recommend it for those who can get there. The next Timonium show is in early Feb IIRC so thats the next show plan on attending.
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
I have been going since it was a one building, one day event. Live about twelve miles away. I use to belong to the Amherst railway society. Great organization.
Amazing, the buying and selling that happens before the show opens. Table owners.
Get there early enough, Memo's right across the street with many train enthusiast having breakfast.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
Don't forget to swing through Palmer and check out The Steaming Tender and Palmer Hobbies.
Modeling whatever I can make out of that stash of kits that takes up half my apartment's spare bedroom.
Steaming Tender is very nice.
If time, Union Station being restored nearby in Springfield and the CSX yard in West Springfield not far from the train show.
Couple local hobby shops will be at the train show.
Train show link with loads of info about the show.
http://www.amherstrail.org/ARS/
I'll be heading out with some friends. We make a three-day road trip out of it, and meet up with a couple of our buddies who winter in Florida and fly up for the show.
Last year's trip was well worth the effort for me, as I found and was able to purchase a particularly scarce steam locomotive I've wanted for some time.
The Steaming Tender has good food, and is well worth the trip. Just don't plan on heading right over after the show closes on Saturday night and getting a table with less than an hour's wait.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
I'll be there at the Loadman table, BLC section 2A, table G.
Bus ride ticket ordered, hope enough folks from Northern VT and NH sign up to fill the bus. Have been the last several years and really enjoy it. Having someone else drive makes the trip a lot easier, especially on the way home.
Maybe will see some of you there, will be wearing a RUTLAND hat and will stop at Citi Classics to say hi to Jim.
See you there,
Richard
Boothbay Railway Village will be at our usual spot in section 15 of the BLC, lots of good donations availabe
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
If things go as planned, we'll be there. We're right between Bowser and Tichy along the back wall...or maybe it's the front wall. Not really sure which is which since the Better Living Center has five walls. Regardless, if we make it, it will be twenty eight consecutive years for us.
Jim S
City Classics
The list of exhibitors and their locations:
http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/files/files/exhibitors.12.26.2016.alpha.pdf
I'd actually planned on going this year, for the first time.
But then I found out my office is inside the security perimeter for the presidential inauguration the week before, so I'm using my vacation days a week early instead of teleworking. Boo. Maybe next year.
Is Amhearst the same as the Springfield Show?
DAVID FORTNEYIs Amhearst the same as the Springfield Show?
DAVID FORTNEY Is Amhearst the same as the Springfield Show?
Yes, it is. It is held on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition. And technically it is in West Springfield, which is across the Connecticut River from Springfield.
chutton01And I plan to attend on Saturday, Jan 28 - and finally get one of those - detail your own Woodland Scenics mountains - from their scenicing workshops...(watch, they won't hold one this year).
This is a link to the show clinics page
http://www.railroadhobbyshow.com/clinics.php
I am sure you know it is West Springfield now. Big E fairgrounds. Different city.
Some years ago I use to hear some saying it took them over an hour to find the show because they heard Springfield show.
Some do say Amherst show.
Does not happen much now with so many using the Internet.
Google, big e fairgrounds west springfield ma
It will show up in Google Maps.
richg1998 . DAVID FORTNEY Is Amhearst the same as the Springfield Show? I am sure you know it is West Springfield now. Big E fairgrounds. Different city. Some years ago I use to hear some saying it took them over an hour to find the show because they heard Springfield show. Some do say Amherst show. Does not happen much now with so many using the Internet. Google, big e fairgrounds west springfield ma It will show up in Google Maps. Rich
.
The show website actually gives you the GPS coordinates to get you to Gate 9 at the Big E. A special traffic note - I-91 in Springfield is undergoing major reconstruction. If you are coming from the east on the Mass Pike go to Exit 4 in West Springfield and then US-5 south to MA 147 west. Coming from the south on I-91, you should exit to US-5 north and then MA 147 west. The lady in your GPS may speak harshly to you, but you'll avoid a mess in downtown Springfield.
Good suggestion. Never thought of that as I travel the area and see this on the local news.
From the South on Rt91 is ok.
From the North on Rt91, I take Exit 4 in West Springfield and then Rt5 South.
A couple exits on 91 in Springfield have been closed for some time.
If some how you get channeled off of Rt291 to 91 South from Rt 90, look for Rt 57 exit cominng up fast. Both use to be two lanes but now one lane with Jersey barriers on each side. 91 changes to three lanes shortly before.
I will drive the 90, 91, 291 route with GPS and look at the results about a week before.
Maybe the below might help some not familiar with the area. You can alwys delete the App.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/sign_up_for_masslives_traffic_alerts.html
I'll be there all weekend. Will be my 20th show in a row !!! When not wandering around the buildings I'l be helping Maxman at the Loadman table. This show and the Timonium show the next weekend are a bright spot in an otherwise drab time of year. --- Ken
richg1998 Good suggestion. Never thought of that as I travel the area and see this on the local news. From the South on Rt91 is ok. From the North on Rt91, I take Exit 4 in West Springfield and then Rt5 South. A couple exits on 91 in Springfield have been closed for some time. If some how you get channeled off of Rt291 to 91 South from Rt 90, look for Rt 57 exit cominng up fast. Both use to be two lanes but now one lane with Jersey barriers on each side. 91 changes to three lanes shortly before. I will drive the 90, 91, 291 route with GPS and look at the results about a week before. Maybe the below might help some not familiar with the area. You can alwys delete the App. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2016/09/sign_up_for_masslives_traffic_alerts.html Rich
If you do take 291, you can also take the Dwight St. exit, take a left, then turn right on Harrison St. (by the parking garage). This will take you over the Memorial Bridge and into W. Springfield.
Alternatively, you can take the exit for 91N off 291, then get off immediately onto US20 West. This will also take you to W. Springfield where you can take Rt. 5.
I'm assuming that once you're in town and off the interstate there isn't a problem? Like if you're staying up on Route 5.
Jim
Rt 5 is just fine. I use it a lot. Might be a liitle slow around the Riverdale Shops becasue of shoppers if coming South on Rt 91 but not bad. Couple traffic lights.
Coming in from Ct on 91, North, clear sailing on Rt 5.
To new people, look for Big E signs.
richg1998Rt 5 is just fine. I use it a lot.
You need to give everybody a "rotary" warning. If they get on one of those they might spend the day going around in circles deciding where to get off
And those rotaries have been modified some. The one of concern is Memorial Drive to the Big E.
One lane you circle, one lane you turn off. Watch the arrows. Can be tough with lots of traffic when you come into it from Rt 5 South.
Keep an eye on the weather forcast too. The 3 or 4 times I went, it was wicked cold and snow. One of the trips, my relatively new Toyota RAV4 could not keep up with the ice forming on the windshield as I drove east on the NYS thruway (90). Still, it was worth the torture of the cold, snow and ice to attend.
I just did a GPS test and directed onto 291 from 90. Connect at 91 an quickly directed to Rt 20 West across the river into West Springfieled.
GPS was very clear.
I will be there. I used to go when I was single, but now my wife goes with me. Good times all around. I always go Saturday, and it is my favorite day of the year!
Modeling the D&H in 1984: http://dandhcoloniemain.blogspot.com/
There will be an extra special visitor to this year's show.
The Peppersass Cog Railway engine - the locomotive that built the world's first mountain-climbing cog railway, the Mount Washington Cog Railway (The Cog) in New Hampshire - is celebrating its 150th birthday this year.
Peppersass has left its home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to tour the US and generate awareness of The Cog and its 150th anniversary in 2019. Visitors will have an opportunity to get up close to see and learn about this wondrous and historic engineering marvel.
That is quite something to be touring the country. Last saw Peppersass, summer 2010 when the mountain had three clear days.