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I have been to a bunch of train shows that were less than spectacular. So I'm having trouble believing that this show is so big? It was posted that it was hard to see everything in one day?

 We drove to a Ohio show and thought it would have stuff for sale. We found out talking to Mike Wolf from MTH that it was more of a show to show off new products for the manufacturers. It was fun and a good show overall. It was just, not what we were expecting.

Our 3-Rail Scale club, The Connecticut Society of Ferroequninologists and Model Railway Engineers, has been attending this show with our 32x18' modular layout   For the last 39 years--and we love every minute of it.  Wherever you live, attending this show will be worth your while!  Come see us at Column HH31 in the Better Living Center Building .

Gentlemen,

   Just be glad you are free to attend both of these fantastic train shows, next time you see a guy like Mike G at a Trains show, thank him for his service, and for the freedom he helped provide so you can participate in this great hobby.  Without guys like Mike G there would be no Trains Shows for any of us.

It does not matter which of the shows is bigger or better, enjoy them both, if you can.  I lived in CT for a while and attended the Big E Train Show in Springfield as often as possible, I loved it.  Unfortunately I have not been to York in many many years.

PCRR/Dave  

Last edited by Pine Creek Railroad

We use to go every year...a dozen or more years in a row. It got bigger and bigger each year. It had become almost overwhelming and we found the massive crowds and parking far away and trudging through the cold to stand in a ticket line had finally become too much for us. It made the show less appealing and we eventually stopped going. Nevertheless it is THE BIG TRAIN SHOW . 

Comparing york to the Amherst show is like comparing left field to right. Kind of pointless.  

The big E is the only show I do theses days.   I don’t have to drive 7 hours (only twenty minutes) or spend hundred of dollars getting there, staying there, or getting back from there.  With several ogauge retailers there, including Mr. Muffins for the first.   I’ll have plenty of potential purchases.

Yes Eddie there’s not much post war like york but post war is not my thing.  I get to see all the clinics if I want.  Talk to the people who work at my favorite tourist lines, get updates on the goings on at steamtown and B&M 3713.  Get a calendar from the NYCRRHS, see friends I haven’t seen in awhile, talk bicycles with Steve at the Ross booth,  on an on.

and did I forget all the layouts to view?

Last edited by superwarp1

In my opinion, the Amherst Railway Society Big-E Show has become the best and largest model railroad show in the Northeast, if not the entire US. People and vendors from Maine to New Jersey are well-represented at this show. In recent years, there also has been a noticeable increase in vendors from throughout the US. Mr. Muffin's Trains will be there this year. The Amherst show includes all scales and gauges, and offers the opportunity to see what's happening in every phase of model railroading. I've been attending since 1998 - both days almost every year - and look forward to enjoying it two weekends from now.

MELGAR

Last edited by MELGAR

Amherst is without a doubt one of the best shows in the country.  However, it’s dofficult to compare it to York. In my opinion they really Serve different markets. Amherst has many, many layouts and clubs of all scales, as well as manufacturer displays and real railroads and museum booths. These tend to pull in lots of children and families, unlike York. York is mostly focused on the vendors, and those are dominantly three rail o gauge, s gauge and std gauge. Vendors at Amherst are mainly dealing in the smaller scales, anlthogh there is some large scale and o gauge/scale.  Both are impressive experiences, but how useful they are to you is dependent on your specific areas of interest.  For my friends who are into HO scale, Amherst is their favorite show and York would be a low priority.  For my friend into s gauge, York and the pre shows were a dream.  For me, I have use for both.   

Last edited by Glenn Fresch

As someone who drives that way daily (On I91 from Amherst to Hartford), my response would depend on whether you coming from the east or west.

From the East, take MassPike exit 6, get on I-291. Merge onto I 91 south until the Route 5 - South End Bridge exit for Agawam/West Springfield. Take Route 5 north 1 exit, go around the rotary 3/4 and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E. - Note this is different than in previous years, since in rebuilding the I-291/91 interchange you cannot exit on the Memorial Bridge from I-291.

From the West, get off MassPike Exit 4. Take I-91 south one exit to Route 5 Riverdale Road. Follow Route 5 south to the Memorial Drive Exit and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E.

Lad

Lad Nagurney posted:

As someone who drives that way daily (On I91 from Amherst to Hartford), my response would depend on whether you coming from the east or west.

From the East, take MassPike exit 6, get on I-291. Merge onto I 91 south until the Route 5 - South End Bridge exit for Agawam/West Springfield. Take Route 5 north 1 exit, go around the rotary 3/4 and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E. - Note this is different than in previous years, since in rebuilding the I-291/91 interchange you cannot exit on the Memorial Bridge from I-291.

From the West, get off MassPike Exit 4. Take I-91 south one exit to Route 5 Riverdale Road. Follow Route 5 south to the Memorial Drive Exit and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E.

Lad

Glad you commented on the way to go.  I avoid that area like the plague and have no clue what's open and whats not.

Lad Nagurney posted:

As someone who drives that way daily (On I91 from Amherst to Hartford), my response would depend on whether you coming from the east or west.

From the East, take MassPike exit 6, get on I-291. Merge onto I 91 south until the Route 5 - South End Bridge exit for Agawam/West Springfield. Take Route 5 north 1 exit, go around the rotary 3/4 and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E. - Note this is different than in previous years, since in rebuilding the I-291/91 interchange you cannot exit on the Memorial Bridge from I-291.

From the West, get off MassPike Exit 4. Take I-91 south one exit to Route 5 Riverdale Road. Follow Route 5 south to the Memorial Drive Exit and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E.

Lad

From the East, I was planning on getting off at MassPike Exit 6 and taking I-291 to the Dwight Street exit (before the I-91 exit) and then a right onto Harrison/Boland streets and straight across the Memorial Bridge to the rotary.

Are you saying that route is blocked/inaccessible now ?

Thanks.

Richie C. posted:
Lad Nagurney posted:

As someone who drives that way daily (On I91 from Amherst to Hartford), my response would depend on whether you coming from the east or west.

From the East, take MassPike exit 6, get on I-291. Merge onto I 91 south until the Route 5 - South End Bridge exit for Agawam/West Springfield. Take Route 5 north 1 exit, go around the rotary 3/4 and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E. - Note this is different than in previous years, since in rebuilding the I-291/91 interchange you cannot exit on the Memorial Bridge from I-291.

From the West, get off MassPike Exit 4. Take I-91 south one exit to Route 5 Riverdale Road. Follow Route 5 south to the Memorial Drive Exit and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E.

Lad

From the East, I was planning on getting off at MassPike Exit 6 and taking I-291 to the Dwight Street exit (before the I-91 exit) and then a right onto Harrison/Boland streets and straight across the Memorial Bridge to the rotary.

Are you saying that route is blocked/inaccessible now ?

Thanks.

Richie,

Your route is ok. For those who remember, as I-291 merges with I-91 south from the left, one could quickly (1/8 mile) go across 4 lanes of traffic to the right  and get off on the East Side of the Memorial Bridge. There were several accidents a week. When the viaduct work was done on I-91 over the past year, the barrier was extended so no longer can you go across the lanes and immediately exit.

Lad

Lad Nagurney posted:
Richie C. posted:
Lad Nagurney posted:

As someone who drives that way daily (On I91 from Amherst to Hartford), my response would depend on whether you coming from the east or west.

From the East, take MassPike exit 6, get on I-291. Merge onto I 91 south until the Route 5 - South End Bridge exit for Agawam/West Springfield. Take Route 5 north 1 exit, go around the rotary 3/4 and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E. - Note this is different than in previous years, since in rebuilding the I-291/91 interchange you cannot exit on the Memorial Bridge from I-291.

From the West, get off MassPike Exit 4. Take I-91 south one exit to Route 5 Riverdale Road. Follow Route 5 south to the Memorial Drive Exit and follow Memorial Drive to the Big E.

Lad

From the East, I was planning on getting off at MassPike Exit 6 and taking I-291 to the Dwight Street exit (before the I-91 exit) and then a right onto Harrison/Boland streets and straight across the Memorial Bridge to the rotary.

Are you saying that route is blocked/inaccessible now ?

Thanks.

Richie,

Your route is ok. For those who remember, as I-291 merges with I-91 south from the left, one could quickly (1/8 mile) go across 4 lanes of traffic to the right  and get off on the East Side of the Memorial Bridge. There were several accidents a week. When the viaduct work was done on I-91 over the past year, the barrier was extended so no longer can you go across the lanes and immediately exit.

Lad

Thanks, Lad - looking forward to the show and hope there's no snow.

mlaughlinnyc posted:
Railrunnin posted:

Hi Gary, if OGR does not attend we can always take over Steves booth at RCS

Looking forward to seeing everyone.

Paul

I would like to meet some of you guys.  What is meant by Steve's.....  ?  Or has anyone discovered if OGR will be there ?

 

After you stop by Ross Custom Switches come on over to see the Mohegan Pequot Model Railroad Club’s LCCA/ Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad. 

Oh yeah!  Bring OGR with you if you can. It has been too long since I have been able to say HI to Ed. 

~Kevin

I've never seen a genrally available test track there, but there are many modular railroad groups operating.  Look for one near where you find the engine you want to buy and ask them and the seller if you can take the loco to thier layout.  Most modular layouts just run trains around a loop at shows and have plenty of sidings where thye could easily test something.   Try the NMRA Hub division and the Ameherst society - both generally friendly groups.  Hub wanrts to attract members.

Railrunnin posted:
superwarp1 posted:

In the Better living center there was vendor who sells Hopper and gondola loads.   They have a wood base and are darn good.   For the likes of me I can't remember their name.   Anyone have a clue?

Gary, I don't have a specific answer, but the Big E website lists the vendors - maybe that will spark the name for you.

Paul

I’ve been looking at the list and nothing comes to mind. I’ll find them if they are there this year.

BTW, speaking of Amherst, can anyone recommend a good hotel in that area? We stayed at the Marriott Residence inn. Unfortunately, our first time there three years ago, we got this wonderful suite. However these last two years, and we booked this same room back in September, last minute like just days before check in, we have been denied obtaining the same room. My wife and I are convinced that unless the weather turns bad and no one shows up will be the only time  we will be able to obtain the same room. So we are looking for another hotel who will be more honest with their customers.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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