October Newsletter

F40 #1030 in Boston & Maine colors is the first of three heritage repaints for the MBTA. New York Central and New Haven heritage locomotives are due to arrive before the end of the year.

In This Issue

October Calendar

Track or Treat Halloween train rides - October 25 & 26

Monthly Meeting - Projects Night - October 8

Belt Lines @ Boxboro - October 4&5

Garden Railroad - update

Railroad Hobby Show update - Hotels

Upcoming Shows & Events

This Month

October 4 - ABEL @ Boxboro

October 5 - ABEL @ Boxboro

October 8 - Monthly Meeting

October 11 - Work Day

October 15 - Board of Directors

October 18 - Work Day

October 25 - Work Day

October 25 - Track or Treat

October 26 - Track or Treat

November 1 - ABEL @ Syracuse

November 2 - ABEL @ Syracuse

Full Calendar

Track or Treat - October 25 AND October 26

Yes - October 25 AND October 26 - two trains this year!

The train on Saturday, October 25, runs from Springfield to Hartford, and return.

The train on Sunday, October 26, runs from Hartford to Springfield, and return.

Full details on both trains - HERE.

Monthly Meeting - October 8 - 7:00 pm

photo: Kathy Millatt Modeling

Projects Night

Learning never stops. So, on Wednesday, October 8, join us for an evening of learning.

The meeting kicks off with a clinic on coloring rocks followed by a second workshop that will address battery installation in G-scale locomotives.

And, there's a possibility of a short bonus presentation, too.

This meeting is open to the public.

More information on Amherst meetings HERE.

Belt Lines @ Boxboro - October 4&5

The Amherst Belt Lines kicks off the 2025-2026 show season at RailFair 2025 in Boxborough, Massachusetts on October 4 & 5. This is a fun show with some good sized model railroads and many model railroad vendors.

The Belt Lines crew will set up the railroad on Friday, October 3.

If you would like to participate in this show, contact the Belt Lines coordinators at: AmherstBeltLines@amherstrail.org.

RailFair 2025 is sponsored by the Nashua Valley Railroad Association.

Garden Railroad - update - trains are running

Railroad Hobby Show - update - Hotels

Once again we are getting calls from exhibitors with questions about hotel rates for the 2026 Railroad Hobby Show. The calls are the result of promotions exhibitors are receiving promising discounted hotel pricing.

While most of these promotions are from legitimate organizations, the hotel rates they are offering are NOT the lower discounted rates that Amherst has negotiated with Springfield area hotels. The only place to find the lowest hotel rates for the January show is on the Railroad Hobby Show website - HERE.

If you have questions about hotel accommodations for the 2026 show, please contact John Sacerdote at: showdirector@amherstrail.org.

We will help you.

Upcoming Shows & Events

October 4 & 5, 2025

Railfair 2025

Boxborough, MA

nvrra.com

October 24 – 26, 2025

Trollyween – Seashore Trolley Museum

Kennebunkport, ME

trolleymuseum.org

October 26, 2025

Model Train Show

Community Center, Newtown, CT

newtownlions.org

More Shows and Events

October 11, 2025

Great Falls October Train Show

Great Falls Model Railroad Club, Auburn, ME

greatfallsmodelrrclub.org

October 25, 2025

Northern New England Train Show

Elks Lodge – Dover, NH

efmenter@aol.com – 603-362-4300

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

Virtual Railfan 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