Amherst Train show Big E fair grounds Jan 29th and 30th West Springfield, Ma

I will get get there.....one day.....

It's a two day trip in each direction and what I will do is coordinate it with visiting children in DC, Philly and Manhattan.

One of our modular group members is going with the group from his other interest Richmond N-TRAK. They are taking Amtrak to New Haven, the ConnDOT to Springfield.....they have rented a car and a hotel.......

That's a great way to get there....and, would be fun with a group....... but,i f you buy a lot of stuff it's a pain to carry it back south on the train.....unlike our N gauge colleagues, who can likely fit a fortune of purchases in a regular grocery bag.......

Peter

Hello everyone.

There is a gentleman who sells custom flat cars with heavy equipment loads. I know that is vague, but does anyone know his name and/or contact info? Not sure what building I saw him in...

Thanks for any help.

Paul

I don’t see Charlie Ro listed as attending or I missed them listed.  

My suggestion for Madockawando is start in one of smaller buildings and save the Better Living Center for last, just my opinion.

I’m trying to attend the show on Sunday.

George

Railrunnin

Ralph’s Trains in the Mallary  Building for the custom flatcars

George

I would love to go, and am seriously considering it, and a major reason for that is to meet some of you folks in person.

I just checked the weather channel app on my smartphone, which said that 6 to 10 inches of snow is forecast for Friday and Saturday, and no snow on Sunday, in Springfiekd MA. Of course, that is now a long range forecast which could change, but worth keeping an eye on, during the week.

I, for one, will wear an N95 mask if I go to the show on Saturday or Sunday.

Arnold

There's a guy who sells nothing but Weaver in the Mallary building.  I hope he shows.  CharlesRO is mainstay of the show but I don't see them listed.  I've emailed them to see what's up.

They are saying storm Saturday will be a near miss subject to change.

The guy who sells custom flat car loads is in the Mallary building I think.  Next to Micro fasteners which I need to stop by as well.

@MrMuffin'sTrains has shown in the past and hope they do in the future.  Justrains used to attend but haven't since kirke passing.  Would love to see them both back.

@Madockawando posted:

@Frank Mulligan How much of the show is O Gauge?

I have to be fair and I believe at the time I was looking for Standard Gauge items.  Maybe there was one dealer with anything.

There were some demonstrations in regards to scenery that I found interesting.

Railrunnin

Check out the The Load Man in the BLC section 2a tables G&H for custom loads for flatcars. I have bought steel plate and I beam loads for the PS4 flatcars. He has O Scale loads too.

George

@The Judge posted:

Railrunnin

Ralph’s Trains in the Mallary  Building for the custom flatcars

George

Many thanks George and Gary!

Judge - thank you, I will check him out.

Paul

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

I would love to go, and am seriously considering it, and a major reason for that is to meet some of you folks in person.

I just checked the weather channel app on my smartphone, which said that 6 to 10 inches of snow is forecast for Friday and Saturday, and no snow on Sunday, in Springfiekd MA. Of course, that is now a long range forecast which could change, but worth keeping an eye on, during the week.

I, for one, will wear an N95 mask if I go to the show on Saturday or Sunday.

Arnold

I will be there Arnold, got my tickets and have a hotel reserved that can be cancelled up until Friday. Right now weather forecast looks like chance of snow but no big accumulations.

And just a word of warning. I have been to his table by 11:00AM on Saturday and some of his stuff (including what I wanted) was already sold out. Not all, mind you, but some. If you have something specific you want, I recommend emailing him in advance and making arrangements.

@superwarp1 posted:

There's a guy who sells nothing but Weaver in the Mallary building.  I hope he shows.  CharlesRO is mainstay of the show but I don't see them listed.  I've emailed them to see what's up.

Gary, I'm pretty sure the "Weaver" guy you're thinking of in the Mallary Building is Ray Cyr.  He used to go under the business name of "Bonnie's Baubles"...not sure if he still does.  I've bought a lot of Weaver stuff from him at this and other shows over the years!

Just confirmed by email CharlesRo will not be at the show.  Not sure why, virus of unknown origin or something else.  Hope it's a one off and they'll be back next year.  Big blow to the show.

The powers to be will have no problem filling their spot as there's a wait list to get into this show vendor wise but I'm sure it won't be O gauge.

I read somewhere on this forum in the past that since the death of Charles SR the current management/ ownership isn't doing shows anymore. Not sure if it's true or not.

Railrunnin

I found Ralph’s Trains business card

@Train Nut posted:

Been going every year for as long as i remember.  Not worth the risk this year...

Unfortunately, I would have LOVED to go, but as I've previously commented it's really not in the cards now, still too risky for me , and if you do go PLEASE at least wear a mask for yourself and all the rest of us.

Weekend storm may impact my show plans.   Current track and forecast calls for blizzard conditions Friday evening through Saturday.   8 to 12 inches for my location in Southern Maine.    If the track moves 50 miles west, it becomes sleet and rain.   100 miles east and it's out to sea and a complete miss.   Just have to wait a see what happens as the weekend gets closer.

Latest and greatest on the Weather for the weekend.  I certainty won't hold it against anybody not showing up Saturday if this storm hits.

I am waiting until Thursday to make a decision, fortunately i can cancel until the 28th (hotel room)......figures I decide to go and this happens...

If there is hardly anyone at the show on Saturday because of the weather, do you think the vendors will still be there on Sunday?

Arnold

@The Judge posted:

I don’t see Charlie Ro listed as attending or I missed them listed.  

My suggestion for Madockawando is start in one of smaller buildings and save the Better Living Center for last, just my opinion.

I’m trying to attend the show on Sunday.

George

They did appear on an earlier version of the dealer list but apparently cancelled out.

Pat

@Arnold D. Cribari posted:

If there is hardly anyone at the show on Saturday because of the weather, do you think the vendors will still be there on Sunday?

Arnold

Yes, Sunday will be well attended.  This has happen before, not often but a few in the 25 years I've gone.  I'll be there whether there's two inches or twenty. 

I checked with the Show organizers. Tickets for Saturday can be exchanged in the Better Living Center for Sunday tickets. Gives those of us who have a lengthy drive to Amherst a good option, if the snow on Saturday is bad. Weather on Sunday is supposed to be good.

Pat

Snow seems to happens 9 out of 10 times for this show. Always wished they'd move it to April. That would also alleviate the cold mile long walk i always end up with from the parking lot.  They always start a new row it seems as soon i drive in...LOL.

I requested both Saturday and Sunday off from work months ago for the show. After the past crazy two weeks at work need a break. Hoping to go both days weather pending for Saturday. My advise for anyone that's going for the first time is wear proper foot wear and bring plenty of cash.

Latest and greatest.  Subject to change but I'm hearing 6-12 inches Saturday.  20 degs with wind and blowing snow.  Not looking good.  All depends on the track of the storm.  Could be worse could be better.   To the east like Boston two feet, those to the West like Albany only a couple of inches.  Storm should be out of year by 7pm so cleanup for Sunday shouldn't be an issue.

Sunday is looking great though.

@CNJ #1601 posted:

Gary, I'm pretty sure the "Weaver" guy you're thinking of in the Mallary Building is Ray Cyr.  He used to go under the business name of "Bonnie's Baubles"...not sure if he still does.  I've bought a lot of Weaver stuff from him at this and other shows over the years!

Just going over the layout PDF.  You are correct the Weaver dude is there as Bonnie's Baubles,  Same spot in the Mallary building right behind Nausea hobbies.   I've have notice less vendors this year allowing for wider rows.  Still four buildings.   

I was planning to take the train up Thursday and head back Saturday afternoon, i’m wondering if with the snow they’ll shut down the railroad. It looks like Springfield is on the line that it could be snow or it could be rain.

This s going to be tough for me since I will be coming from Leominster MA. I might not make it out of my driveway on Saturday!

Forecast for Schenectady now snow flurries Springfield 3 to 5 its New England and winter start your four wheel drive and let's have a train show!

@dk122trains posted:

Forecast for Schenectady now snow flurries Springfield 3 to 5 its New England and winter start your four wheel drive and let's have a train show!

Forecast models are having it more out to sea.  So Don is right. Let the fun begin.

Keeping my fingers crossed it blows out to sea, would really love to go, I have until tomorrow night to decide and usually forecasts within 48 hours are pretty accurate.

@M J Breen posted:

I was planning to take the train up Thursday and head back Saturday afternoon, i’m wondering if with the snow they’ll shut down the railroad. It looks like Springfield is on the line that it could be snow or it could be rain.

I used to take shoreline east daily and they really wont shutdown unless its a true blizzard. In 2013 the area got a few feet of snow and they shut down. The conductor told me the springfield line was fun because they would punch thru the snow piled up at crossings.

@biscuitag97 posted:

I used to take shoreline east daily and they really wont shutdown unless its a true blizzard. In 2013 the area got a few feet of snow and they shut down. The conductor told me the springfield line was fun because they would punch thru the snow piled up at crossings.

Thanks - I’ll roll the dice and head up. If I get snowed in I’ll just have a few more liters at the Student Prince!

Latest on the show from the Amherst society

The 2022 Show is on!  (Jan. 29th & 30th, 2022)                                                                                    * Update as of 1.26.2022 *   In our 54 year history, we have never closed for weather.....so, please join us....especially with reports of it being sunny on Sunday as well as some reports of little accumulation on Saturday.  We are still recommending that all visitors wear masks inside all buildings.  Watch for further announcements as we get closer to the weekend.  Stay tuned!

Latest and greatest estimate.   2-5 inches which is nothing for us or the show.

The forecast in Springfield looks manageable; it's coastal New England that appears to be the target for this storm, which will still make travel difficult for those of us on the coast. I thought I might go, but unless the storm takes a hard right turn out to sea, I'm going to spend the day working in my train room. Be safe everyone and enjoy the show.

After going to this show for probably a dozen years or more, I finally gave up attending this show several years ago. Just became to jam packed with people. Ticket lines too long especially in the winter cold. Now the Covid threat is the ultimate reason to stay home, and build a model near the warmth of my wood stove.

Bob

Love to go again this year, but being on Boston's North Shore, it's not the snow in Springfield, but the snow in the east that will make it difficult. Between the weather and Covid, I will probably not make it.

Please everyone.....safe travels and protect yourselves while in crowds.

I will enjoy hearing about the fun!

Peter