Amherst Show in Springfield

I was just wondering if there is a forumite meeting planned ?  Its always nice to meet face to face and talk about what's been going on over the past year and what everyone is planning for the next.

I just printed out my tickets for two days. Hopefully someone from the OGR forum will recognize me!

Weather is looking not great, for both days.   Luckily I live 15 minutes away. 

Last I heard, the expected storm is holding off in Springfield until Saturday night, so travelling from the east shouldn't be too bad on Saturday. Also, east of Springfield they say it would likely be mostly rain or a wintry mix at worse and not much snow.

I am about an hour east of Springfield but I work in Chicopee so I'm use to traveling that way in all weather. The base very rarely shuts down for weather. I'm going to try to make it both days.

The wife and I will be there starting Friday to help set up the Mianne Booth Display. Please stop by and say Hi Saturday and Sunday!

Cape Cod Northern posted:

The wife and I will be there starting Friday to help set up the Mianne Booth Display. Please stop by and say Hi Saturday and Sunday!

Al, Ed and I will stop by, as usual.😁

Train Nut posted:

Weather is looking not great, for both days.   Luckily I live 15 minutes away. 

Exactly why, unfortunately, I won't be making the trip this year. With the possibility of snow on travel days, and the need to go to work, I'm just not willing to risk it. Maybe next year...

techman posted:

If you are into model railroading , it is a fun day , yes there is 0 gauge trains there , and i have found many trains in 0 that i was looking for ,and some that i have never seen .The operating layouts are fantastic , there are plenty of scenery items to pick up . They even have a live operation steam engine on the grounds for the last three years . I go on a bus trip from taunton ma every year $45.00 for bus  ride in deluxe motor  coach ,ticket are included , and the bus parks next to the door and you are given your tickets in the bus , great time 

                                                                techman

                                        

Can you give me the details on the Bus leaving from Taunton?   I’m in Swansea   

Checked the weather looks like rain Saturday afternoon through Sunday and no snow

West Springfield looks right rain.   But, I'm worried about the freezing rain/ mix / snow line that I may be heading into going north on my trip home to Maine.    The forecast has been changing every few hours.   Hopefully the low pressure cold front stays far enough north in Canada, so it stays rain in all of New England.       

Ahh yes mike, black ice happens! Caution and good decisions will keep one safe.

The five hour trip from Camden to west Springfield in the sunlight isnt that bad, but I encounter black ice on the way from work in my twenty minute commute, often these nights.

Be safe and have a good time.

a direct bus from Portland would make this easier!

MJ and I are looking forward to going on Saturday. She may drive most of the way as Lyme Disease is kicking my butt. Looking forward to scoping out a turntable, some scenery, and Mianne Benchwork.

Why don't we try to meet up for the annual picture @1:30 in front of Steves booth at Ross Custom Switches.  Young Building Section 88.

Safe travels everyone.

Paul

Mike McCutcheon posted:

West Springfield looks right rain.   But, I'm worried about the freezing rain/ mix / snow line that I may be heading into going north on my trip home to Maine.    The forecast has been changing every few hours.   Hopefully the low pressure cold front stays far enough north in Canada, so it stays rain in all of New England.       

Might want to head due east and up the coast - Mass Pike to 128/95 north, rather than cut across. A little longer depending on what part of Maine you're in, but a better chance of just rain.

Railrunnin posted:

MJ and I are looking forward to going on Saturday. She may drive most of the way as Lyme Disease is kicking my butt. Looking forward to scoping out a turntable, some scenery, and Mianne Benchwork.

Why don't we try to meet up for the annual picture @1:30 in front of Steves booth at Ross Custom Switches.  Young Building Section 88.

Safe travels everyone.

Paul

I feel for you.  Hope your Doc knows what he/she is doing and you beat Lyme. 

Just watched the weather.  Mix starting early afternoon, in the valley will have rain, the hills will have more snow.  

I like the 1:30 time for a group photo in front of Ross.  Sad OGR doesn't think this show is worth their time but it's not my business so more power to them.

OK. Ross, Young Building section 88 at 1:30 PM.

MELGAR

I will be exhibiting in the Young Building, Section 86, Tables B&C for the first time. Bit of a challenge for me as the table size is a smaller than York booth space. Just mean that I need a smaller van! I will be debuting a special shadowbox model for the show, the Birthplace of Basketball. The first of what I plan to be a running series, the model is our recreation of the building where basketball was invented that was torn down in the 1960's. Its home may have been in Springfield but the classic design can be on just about any layout. We'll be scoping out a building version of it also so please stop by to shake and howdy after visiting MTH and Ross Custom Switches at the adjacent sections.

I'll be there Saturday at noon, coming from Watertown, MA. I will probably walk right by all you guys without even knowing it, so Hi from me and good luck in your train shopping!! 

Mike McCutcheon posted:

West Springfield looks right rain.   But, I'm worried about the freezing rain/ mix / snow line that I may be heading into going north on my trip home to Maine.    The forecast has been changing every few hours.   Hopefully the low pressure cold front stays far enough north in Canada, so it stays rain in all of New England.       

Mike, I'm glad you will be there to represent the rest of us from the great State of Maine--but please be safe. One of these years I'll get back to Springfield, but will have to pass this year regardless of the weather. 

John

Richie C. posted:

Mike McCutcheon posted:

West Springfield looks right rain.   But, I'm worried about the freezing rain/ mix / snow line that I may be heading into going north on my trip home to Maine.    The forecast has been changing every few hours.   Hopefully the low pressure cold front stays far enough north in Canada, so it stays rain in all of New England.       

Might want to head due east and up the coast - Mass Pike to 128/95 north, rather than cut across. A little longer depending on what part of Maine you're in, but a better chance of just rain.

It's looking like all rain right now.        I'll keep the I-90 option open just in case.   I'm not a big fan of I-495, but it's the most direct way.     When I travel to York, I take I-90 towards Albany and then down 87.   Just to avoid the CT / NYC metro traffic headache.   

Thanks.

I'll try to make the 1:30pm photo gathering at Ross.    Depends on which building I'm in around that time.

eddie g posted:

If you are into Prewar 1900 to 1942 or postwar 1945 to 1969 Lionel trains it's a waste of time if you are coming from a distance.

Very Limited audience. John

john dellagrotte posted:

eddie g posted:

If you are into Prewar 1900 to 1942 or postwar 1945 to 1969 Lionel trains it's a waste of time if you are coming from a distance.

Very Limited audience. John

I love the Amherst Springfield show.   I'm not into anything made before 1970.   Maybe this is why I can buzz through member halls at York in record time!   I just scan for those red and white boxes.  (Maybe some yellow boxes) 

Mike McCutcheon posted:

john dellagrotte posted:

eddie g posted:

If you are into Prewar 1900 to 1942 or postwar 1945 to 1969 Lionel trains it's a waste of time if you are coming from a distance.

Very Limited audience. John

I love the Amherst Springfield show.   I'm not into anything made before 1970.   Maybe this is why I can buzz through member halls at York in record time!   I just scan for those red and white boxes.  (Maybe some yellow boxes) 

Eddie says that every year but the Young building is full of that stuff, so it goes to wonder what Eddie is seeing.

anyway the weather is getting better, no snow, just rain.  Storm is going more north.

My wife and I are driving down tomorrow night and staying in Sturbridge (because who can argue at a Hampton Inn for less than $100?).  We'll try to hang around for the picture... weather depending.  We have some pretty high elevations in the Green Mountains to go over on the way home...

Jon

The Amherst Show Is the best show Period. I don't know how anyone could Knock it. Unlike York, its still at its peak. After the last April York I couldn't believe how much smaller it is getting. I  will only go in October from now on. Also Springfield has the Red Rose. Another great reason to go to the show. John

I love all the scenery, structures, figures and other decorative things available to possibly enhance my layout.

Weather is looking better, much more rain and less, if any, freezing rain or snow, so Melgar and I plan to go together on Saturday, arrive early, stay late, and attend the 1:30 get together. Arnold

Hope to bump into you and Melgar.

Mike23 posted:

I'll be there Saturday at noon, coming from Watertown, MA. I will probably walk right by all you guys without even knowing it, so Hi from me and good luck in your train shopping!! 

I'm a near neighbor - Belmont.  Are you a prewar-postwar collector ?  I work out of the North Shore Model Railroad Club exhibit.

Malcolm Laughlin

no Malcolm I'm not a collector. I run the trains my dad gave me in 56-58.  the 210 and 1599 set, the 681, 2026 couple scouts, and a 2353 I just picked up a year ago. I am starting to buy some cheap postwar these days though! However my grandparents lived on Winslow rd. Maybe we'll meet at the 1:30 photo op         

Very nice layout, Mike. I particularly like your baseball park. Arnold

Sorry gents, I;m not up to making the trip today to join everyone @1:30.  Hope everyone has a great time.

Paul & MJ

My son and I arrived 8:20am.   Got our wristbands.    Now waiting a few more minutes until the 9am opening.

There’s a Santa Convention at our hotel in Massachusetts... so that’s fun.

Jon  

Virtual Rail-fan is live streaming

It’s packed the Lionel displays were cool

Dotty showed up,  it was very nice to see her and she’s doing well

20centuryhudson posted:

It’s packed the Lionel displays were cool

Yes the Golden spoke Hybrid 4-4-0 are fantastic!

I can't wait to see the PRR version.

I spoke to Ryan re the aux tender that some were vocal about. Ryan stated the mowhawk tender they had was defective and had a lot of discrepancies in the details. Lionel will take another look at that tender and see if the details can be fixed. If not the scale Hudson tender is as close as Lionel can get to that specific tender.

From the Lionel display.