Fabric artists - the Off the Rails Shop Hop is back.
On Saturday, January 24, three fabric stores in Northampton, Massachusetts will be open for Railroad Hobby Show attendees.
For additional information, contact Linda Daniels
The Railroad Hobby Show weekend is full of events - including hockey.
On both Friday and Saturday nights, January 23 & 24, the Springfield Thunderbirds are offering discounted tickets to show attendees.
Friday tickets are $20, and game time is 7:05. buy tickets here.
Saturday tickets are $21, and game time is 6:05. Buy tickets here.
Discounted tickets can only be purchased in advance and online, and are not available at the MassMutual Center box office.
The Raffle at the Railroad Hobby Show is a must-visit exhibit this year. Bid on $20,000 of railroad and model railroad donations in the following categories:
- locomotives
- signal systems
- train sets
- train tickets
- decoders
- dcc systems
- freight cars
- dcc controllers
- track/turnouts
- t-shirts
- books
- videos
- museum passes
- passenger cars
- lighting systems
Information Session & Reception
On Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 3:00 pm, WIMRR will sponsor an information session and reception in the Clinic Room in the Young Building. The Women In Model Railroading program will be explained, plus there will be an opportunity to meet women that are playing key roles in the railroad and model railroad industries.
WIMRR will host a reception following the information session. The reception will be a great time to carry on discussions started in the information session, and meet other women interested in model railroading.
Operating Session
But, what about actually running some trains? Yes, that is going to happen, too.
From 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, WIMRR is hosting an operating session on the Dry Hill Model Railroad. Marie Albano is a co-owner of Dry Hill, which is recognized as one of the premier model railroads in New England.
The operating session will give women (of all ages) a chance to learn more about model railroad operations, and just plain have a fun evening running trains.
The Brunch Express
So, what’s a train show with out a train ride?
Well, we thought the same thing. So this year, we are adding a train ride to the Railroad Hobby Show.
On Sunday morning, January 25, an Amherst chartered CTrail train will run from Springfield to Hartford, Connecticut. In Hartford, passengers will enjoy a buffet breakfast in the Great Hall of Hartford Union Station. After which, we re-board the train for the ride back to Springfield – just in time to enjoy a full day at the Railroad Hobby Show.
The train leaves Springfield at 7:00 am, although passengers should be in the concourse no later than 6:30 am for check-in. And, we will return to Springfield by approximately 9:15 am.
Tickets are $20.00 per person, and Springfield Union Station is offering free parking for the event.
We are calling the ride the Brunch Express, and tickets can be purchased HERE – while they last…
The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) will hold its Winter board meeting on Friday, January 23, 2026 in conjunction with the Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield, Massachusetts. NMRA board members from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States will be in attendance.
The NMRA will also have a booth at the Railroad Hobby Show the next two days - January 24 & 25. NMRA board members and department heads will be on hand to answer questions about the NMRA and promote the 2026 NMRA National Convention.