The Railroad Hobby Show at the Eastern States Exposition this weekend is more than a playground for avid rail fans. “We do many things for kids at our show. It’s an investment in the hobby’s future, and many dealers must invest in their future or watch the video games industry take over,” said show director John Sacerdote, a member...
The Railroad Hobby Show at the Eastern States Exposition this weekend is more than a playground for avid rail fans.
“We do many things for kids at our show. It’s an investment in the hobby’s future, and many dealers must invest in their future or watch the video games industry take over,” said show director John Sacerdote, a member of the Amherst Railway Society, organizers of the popular annual event. “I’ve had several couple tell me that since attending one of our shows, their son has become absolutely enamored with trains.”
The show runs Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 or adults and free for ages 15 and under when accompanied by an adult.
The longtime popular train show – rolling into several building on the West Springfield fairgrounds on Saturday and Sunday – features real life railroads and scale model railroads, historical societies, travel agencies, art shows, flea market dealers, importers, manufacturers and photographers.
For some, the show is an opportunity to see model trains rolling along the tracks and to appreciate and “borrow” ideas while looking at the talented handiwork of modelers on layouts ranging from the tiny Z scale, which fits on a coffee table, to a monster 80-foot N-Trak system.
“We never know what the layouts are going to look like until the various groups exhibiting come in and set them up at the show. It’s a surprise to all of us,” said Sacerdote.
“This year’s show will feature the largest-assembled New England Free-Mo layout, as well as other newcomers who will be running different scales equivalent to American Flyer,” he added.
Returning popular layouts include the Amherst Belt Lines HO scale model railroad featuring an endless 650 feet of track on 96 modules big enough to run multiple trains, as well as the Southern New England O Scalers showing their huge O gauge railroad with over 100 freight cars and seven unit diesels.
For others, it’s an opportunity to dip into their pockets and add to their own model railroad empire or railroad memorabilia collections by purchasing model railroad equipment, new and antique railroad items, photos, slides, videos, books and other railroad paraphernalia.
“Many of the major manufacturers attending our show use the opportunity to roll out new products, such as a decal manufacturer who will be showing their new 3D printed decals. A lot of what you will see new is state-of-the-art,” said Sacerdote.
“We also have a flea market and antique dealers who bring along parts and items that serious collectors are in search of. It’s where collectors come to find the impossible, which more than often is not impossible at the show. We can truly boast that if you can’t find what you’re looking for here, it probably no longer exists,” he added.
And, for those who want to further their handiwork in creating their own model trains and layouts there will be all kinds of opportunities from the casual demonstration provided by exhibitors to hands-on clinics by experts where you can actually walk away with something you made.
“That offers a real sense of accomplishment, especially for kids,” said Sacerdote.The Railroad Hobby Show is a fund-raiser for the non-profit Amherst Railway Society. When the show expanded to two days in 1991, the society began using proceeds from the event to promote interest in railroads and railroading. Annual grants and donations have been made to various railroad museums, historical societies, restoration projects and scholarship funds.
“We’re very close to giving away $750,000 since we started in 1991, and when we hit $1 million two or three years down the road, we’re going to celebrate our accomplishment,” said Sacerdote.
Also, the Amherst Railway Society is once again supporting Baystate Children’s Hospital in Springfield with a raffle of a Polar Express-themed layout fabricated by a crew of Amherst Railway Society members with assistance by Cut It Out, Model Rectifier Corporation, and Pioneer Valley Hobbies. Over the past several years, the layout raffle has generated some $20,000 in funds for the hospital. Tickets are $1 and can be purchased at the Reception Center in the Mallary North Building.