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

My train buddies and I will definitely be going. Looking more like we will go on Sunday, as the Weather Channel and Accuweather are both predicting a significant snowstorm for CT and MA for Friday night and Saturday, and both have Winter Storm Watches posted, although their projected amounts are still quite a bit different. For my area near the coast in CT, the Accuweather prediction is 10-15" and for the Springfield, MA area, it is 12-18". The predictions from the Weather Channel for those two locations are 6-10" and 4-9", respectively. Both weather services are predicting clear skies for Sunday.

Pat

Well, the mrs greenlighted the trip, didnt cancel the hotel room in West Springfield. We launch  @1:00pm tomorrow. I hope I can make the show Sat!

@irish rifle posted:

My train buddies and I will definitely be going. Looking more like we will go on Sunday, as the Weather Channel and Accuweather are both predicting a significant snowstorm for CT and MA for Friday night and Saturday, and both have Winter Storm Watches posted, although their projected amounts are still quite a bit different. For my area near the coast in CT, the Accuweather prediction is 10-15" and for the Springfield, MA area, it is 12-18". The predictions from the Weather Channel for those two locations are 6-10" and 4-9", respectively. Both weather services are predicting clear skies for Sunday.

Pat

Never go with the national news services when it comes to snow predictions.  Go local, as they know the areas and the quirks that effect the weather.  This storm keeps changing.  One day it's up, the next it's down.  Here is the latest for Springfield, Ma.   I'll be there tomorrow come high water or what have you.

If anyone spotifies Neil Young, please post some pictures.

Just cancelled my hotel reservation for Saturday night.   Not going to risk the drive down from Maine on Sat. morning.   12" to 18" + predicted here on the coast.  High winds and possible power outages.   I'll be snowblowing and ready with the generator all day Saturday.   I may make the trip down on Sunday?  If we still have power and I feel like dealing with the increased crowds!!

Looks like more than a dusting. Time for snow tires and four wheel drive.

Pete

The show will most likely be cancelled for Saturday as the state will likely shut down. Lots of snow and blizzard conditions.

I'm still going Saturday.   Latest from the society

The 2022 Show is on!  (Jan. 29th & 30th, 2022)                                                                                    * Update as of 1.28.2022 *   Latest weather report:  About 6 - 12 inches of snow expected.  Sunny on Sunday.  Saturday tickets will be honored on Sunday!  We are still recommending that all visitors wear masks inside all buildings. 

Good luck Gary. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.

Gerry

I heard that Tichy, Bar Mills, FOS Scale, Ron's Books, and ExactRail all cancelled last minute. I respect their decisions.

Will the website listing of vendors be updated today to list who are still confirmed to be there this weekend?

@gmorlitz posted:

Good luck Gary. Make sure you have a full tank of gas.

Gerry

I'm only a few miles from the show.  If these snow totals keep going up, I may delay to Sunday.  There's been several vendors that have canceled.  Nothing I really care about but I'm wondering what will happen if more don't come.   Today is set up day.  Plans are for my Son and I to do a video of the show so stay tuned.

Well the supermarket l work at has sent out a email to all the departments that we will be closed tomorrow. From the looks of things ill be going Sunday which is fine l can work on a few things tomorrow.

Live cam in of the Mallory building

If they really get between 6-12" of snow tomorrow, I hate to think what the parking lot (field) will look like at the end of the night when people get ready to leave. I imagine a lot of cars will be stuck in the snow.

Might be a good idea to take a shovel

Was going to drive up Saturday and spend sat night at a hotel, but it is a long drive for me and the weather prediction has gotten significantly worse, even where I live. Not worried about getting out of the exposition center, more about driving 3 hours in a raging snowstorm on hilly highways and roads with drivers that have a hard time even in good weather

I may try to get up early Sunday and drive up and still go, see how it all pans out.

Sadly this is the perfect storm, pun intended.  The virus of unknown origin and this weather.  Going to keep vendors and attendees away

Well my family snd I have srrived st our hotel in West Springfield, MA. Amherst Society posted on their website they will honor Sat bands for Sunday.

The trip had its moment of congestion from Leigh Valley to West Springfield, MA. I choked that up to peolle leaving work early to avoid snow as flurries did come down in certain areas.

Very unfortunate Gary, I too cancelled my hotel reservation for tomorrow evening. Looking at 18"-24" here in Rhode Island.

Gov in RI has ordered all vehicles off the road tomorrow. On the positive side, Sunday is looking bright and cold. I'm sure many people will get there for Sunday, unfortunately I won't be one of them this year.

Paul

Saturday is not cancelled, you can use Saturday band on Sunday if you want.

looking at the live cams in all four buildings, they look sparsely populated with tables,  May take another year before everyone returns.

Heading over now from Albany, NY. Typically less than 90 minutes there. The drive home... I hope it won't be bad!

I don’t think I can make it in from Central Massachusetts. We are buried in snow here

Here is the view from my hotel window at 8:15am in West Springfield, MA. Expecting 6-12 inches locally

Looking east toward route 5.

They say the heaviest is going to be between 10 am and 4 pm.  Lots a blowing snow but it doesn’t look that bad.  Look for me and my son on the webcam

Just spotted Gary and his Son on the webcam.   9:22am in the BLC walking past the Kato booth.    Wish I was there.    Hopefully tomorrow?

You guys are troopers for sure!….hope y’all get to enjoy the show, and bring home some goodies!….stay safe!…

Pat

@Train Nut posted:

The show will most likely be cancelled for Saturday as the state will likely shut down. Lots of snow and blizzard conditions.

Sorry but its not cancelled 4 Sat! Great 4 attending though!

All pics by me! Im here!

Maybe they should re-think holding this in the dead of winter.

Wow! No Charles Ro..no Grysbotski's...

This show feels wierd...like "Walkin in Staten"

https://youtu.be/W62Vmju18Vw

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

Maybe they should re-think holding this in the dead of winter.

In there 56 years of hosting this show they have never had to cancel.  In the 25 years of me going I can only think of two other times it has snowed.  I don’t know about Boston, but we are going to get the low end of the weather mens predictions on this one.  Roads are passable.  Crowds are good.

But, with that said this show will be known as who didn’t attend over who did.  Lots of no shows.  So I’m hoping next years show will be more normal vendor wise.

even with the lack of vendors there were product to be had.  Someone had the MTH woodsided passenger cars MTH make.  500 bucks but I was out of money.  Trainz had product on had.  Ray the Weaver guy in the Mallary building had some stuff.  Purchase a few items from Ross.

Sadly I was done In Three hours .

I did have a nice conversation with Steve Ross and Andy Eldaman was with him.  After walked over to Lionel and had a nice conversation with Dave and Ryan, begging for this and that to be produce.  It was a nice couple of hours but the show is obvious reasons is not to its former glory

I’ll post a video tonight

@prrhorseshoecurve posted:

Wow! No Charles Ro..no Grysbotski's...

This show feels wierd...like "Walkin in Staten"

https://youtu.be/W62Vmju18Vw

I know Grzyboski’s was definitely planning on going - most of this week there was a message on their website that the store was going to be closed Friday and Saturday due to attending the show. I guess the weather reports gave them pause to reconsider!!!

@superwarp1 posted:

Someone had the MTH woodsided passenger cars MTH make.  500 bucks but I was out of money.  Trainz had product on had.  Ray the Weaver guy in the Mallary building had some stuff.  Purchase a few items from Ross.

Sadly I was done I. Three hours .

I did have a nice conversation with Steve Ross and Andy Eldaman was with him.  After walked over to Lionel and had a nice conversation with Dave and Ryan, begging for this and that to be produce.  It was a nice couple of hours but the show is obvious reasons is not to its former glory

$500 for a set of the MTH Woodsite passenger cars?  That sounds like the new Lionel pricing!  Was that one of the 3-car sets or the 5-car set?  I bought most of mine for around $50-60 a car, a price I could stomach.

I briefly considered coming up for this show, but I'm glad those plans were shelved.

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

$500 for a set of the MTH Woodsite passenger cars?  That sounds like the new Lionel pricing!  Was that one of the 3-car sets or the 5-car set?  I bought most of mine for around $50-60 a car, a price I could stomach.

I briefly considered coming up for this show, but I'm glad those plans were shelved.

Five car set, going price these days.  Actually glad I didn’t buy.

Can someone there take some pictures of the lionel booth to see what they are showing off.

Thanks

James

@superwarp1 posted:

In there 56 years of hosting this show they have never had to cancel.  In the 25 years of me going I can only think of two other times it has snowed.  I don’t know about Boston, but we are going to get the low end of the weather mens predictions on this one.  Roads are passable.  Crowds are good.

But, with that said this show will be known as who didn’t attend over who did.  Lots of no shows.  So I’m hoping next years show will be more normal vendor wise.

even with the lack of vendors there were product to be had.  Someone had the MTH woodsided passenger cars MTH make.  500 bucks but I was out of money.  Trainz had product on had.  Ray the Weaver guy in the Mallary building had some stuff.  Purchase a few items from Ross.

Sadly I was done In Three hours .

I did have a nice conversation with Steve Ross and Andy Eldaman was with him.  After walked over to Lionel and had a nice conversation with Dave and Ryan, begging for this and that to be produce.  It was a nice couple of hours but the show is obvious reasons is not to its former glory

I’ll post a video tonight

Gary......A group of the N gaugers of RANTRAK who are part of our parent club  (the RF&P or the Richmond Freelance & Prototype Railroaders) are there.....they took Amtrak to New Haven and then ConnDOT north......rented a car and are in a motel.....I will be interested in what they think.

Peter

@2012ford posted:

Can someone there take some pictures of the lionel booth to see what they are showing off.

Thanks

James

I took these pics cause...I waz there!

Bummer! Only WBB and Lionel were representing!

No MTH...

[Usually Ross behind MTH booth]

No Atlas O ...or even Atlas!

Atlas O usually behind this booth.

Gary,

Is it confirmed that Gryzboski is not there?

Seems like there would not be too much MTH stock to look at.

Ed

@gunrunnerjohn posted:

$500 for a set of the MTH Woodsite passenger cars?  That sounds like the new Lionel pricing!  Was that one of the 3-car sets or the 5-car set?  I bought most of mine for around $50-60 a car, a price I could stomach.

I briefly considered coming up for this show, but I'm glad those plans were shelved.

John:

As I recall, I paid $500 for a 5-car MTH Strasburg Woodside passenger set from Nicholas Smith. So $500 is a good price, given today's inflation and steep increase in price for the Lionel (former MTH) woodside cars. If that set is still there tomorrow, I may well buy it for a friend who is looking for one.

Pat

@Apples55 posted:

I know Grzyboski’s was definitely planning on going - most of this week there was a message on their website that the store was going to be closed Friday and Saturday due to attending the show. I guess the weather reports gave them pause to reconsider!!!

Grzyboski's was definitely going. Spoke to Teresa earlier this week. Weather probably caused them to change their plans.

Pat