October Newsletter

Track or Treat

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Springfield Union Station

Springfield, Massachusetts


The Track of Treat train ride is back - Springfield to Hartford, and return. Saturday, October 19.


Costumes, please - kids, adults - everybody! (...not too scary) Plus, there are going to be nice Halloween treats in both Hartford and Springfield.


250 tickets this year, and you can buy them on line HERE.


Important: passengers must be the main concourse of Springfield Union Station no later than 9:30 am for check-in.


Full event DETAILS

In This Issue


Track or Treat train ride - October 19

October Calendar

Picnic Recap

October Presentation - CP Rail in Vermont

Belt Lines @ Boxboro

Railroad Hobby Show - update

Amherst at the BIG E Agricultural Fair

Garden Railroad - Phase II

Essex Photo Event

Vernon Train Show - November 10

Railroad Hobby Show - tickets

This Month


October 5 - ABEL @ Boxboro

October 6 - ABEL @ Boxboro

October 9 - October Presentation

October 12 - Work Day

October 16 - Board of Directors

October 19 - Track or Treat

October 19 - Work Day

October 26 - Work Day


November 2 - ABEL @ Syracuse

November 3 - ABEL @ Syracuse


Full Calendar

Picnic Recap

On September 7, approximately 100 Amherst members and guests spent a day in Palmer running trains, comparing modeling ideas, telling railroad stories, and enjoying a lot of nice picnic treats.


The picnic was a big - Thank You - to everyone in the organization that contributes time and effort to make the Amherst Railway Society the success story that it is.


The completed first phase of the G-scale garden railroad was on full display, and the HO-scale modular display layout was set up and running indoors.


A fun day all around.


photos:

Joe Albano (right), Phil Johnson ( below)

October Presentation - Wednesday, October 9 - 7:00pm

CP Rail in Vermont

Neil Schofield

Prototype modelers pay close attention to detail, usually a locomotive, or structure, or a piece of rolling stock. Neil Schofield has applied prototype-level detail to an entire HO-scale railroad.


On Wednesday, October 9, Neil will describe his model of CP Rail operations on the Newport & Lyndonville Subdivisions between Orleans and Richford, Vermont in the 1980s. Structures, locomotives, and rolling stock meticulously replicate the prototype, and the overall feel of Vermont’s northeast kingdom.


Neil's operating sessions generally follow timetables used by CP Rail in the 1980s.


In addition, Neil will compare his modeling efforts to actual CP Rail photos and operations in Vermont.


This presentation is open to the public.

Belt Lines @ Boxboro - October 5 & 6

On Saturday and Sunday, October 5 & 6, 2024, the Amherst Belt Lines will have a modular model railroad running at RailFair 2024 in Boxboro, Massachusetts.


If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact the Belt Lines coordinators at: amherstbeltlines@amherstrail.org


Details

Railroad Hobby Show - update

Amherst at the BIG E Agricultural Fair

The BIG E is New England’s “state fair.” The last two weeks of September at Eastern States Exposition are filled with agricultural exhibits, competitions, entertainment, and a long list of diverse food choices.


And, the Amherst Railway Society was there – but this time as an exhibitor. Yes, Eastern States is also home to the January Railroad Hobby Show, sponsored by Amherst.


This year, the Amherst exhibit included a train simulator which gave players a chance to run trains from the engineer’s view, as well as operate throttle, brake, horn, and light controls.


The simulator has been a big hit – for visitors of all ages.


In addition to the simulator, the Amherst exhibit provided education about the model railroad hobby and promoted upcoming train shows.


Special thanks to Matt Betzner for putting together the hardware and software needed to run the simulator.

Garden Railroad - Phase II

Getting our hands dirty… literally

With the raised center section of track complete, work is underway on the surrounding sections of the garden railroad. Track sections are laid out, additional soil is being added to support the track, and fall plantings will be added soon.


If you‘re a gardener, this is the fun phase of building the railroad - picking plants, arranging them, and creating scenes that visitors will enjoy for years to come.


Interested in helping build out the Amherst Garden Railroad? - contact Joe Biagioni at: Biagioni@charter.net.

Essex Photo Event

photo: Kevin Madore

The Valley Railroad in Essex, Connecticut is hosting a two-day steam photography event on October 8 & 9, 2024.


The railroad’s two steam locomotives will be featured, and a night photo shoot is scheduled for the evening of October 8.


Details


Vernon Train Show - November 10, 2024

Railroad Hobby Show - January 25 & 26, 2025 - tickets

Advance tickets sales for the 2025 Railroad Hobby Show are now available.


Single day ticket: $18.00

Two-day Ticket: $30.00


Children 15 and under are Free when accompanied by an adult.


Online ticket sales - HERE

Bachman Trains is an Allied Member of the Amherst Railway Society

Rapido is an Allied Member of the Amherst Railway Society

Scale Trains is an Allied Member of the Amherst Railway Society

Spring Creek Model Trains is an Allied Member of the Amherst Railway Society

Trainz.com is an Allied Member of the Amherst Railway Society

The Eight & Sand newsletter is a regular publication of the Amherst Railway Society. To submit information for publication, contact Gregory Maas at: webmaster@amherstrail.org.

Amherst Railway Society

1130 South Main Street

Palmer, Massachusetts 01069


The Amherst Railway Society is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation