For most of the Railroad Hobby Show's existence, the home of this annual event has been the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds located in West Springfield, MA. During the fall, this venue is home to The Big E - New England's annual fair which hosted numerous railroad and model railroad exhibitors over its 100 year history. The Railroad Hobby Show currently occupies four buildings on the complex - the Better Living Center, Young Building, Stroh Building, and the Mallary Complex, however the show began it's existence at the UMass-Amherst campus in Amherst, MA. Below find out more information about the venues for the Railroad Hobby Show and railroad exhibits at the Eastern States Exposition.
UMass-Amherst Campus
The Railroad Hobby Show can trace its roots to the UMass-Amherst campus. From 1968 through 1974, the event was called "Modeler's Night" and held at various locations around the campus including Goessman Hall, Skinner Auditorium, Engineering East, the second floor of Memorial Hall before settling in the Commonwealth Room at the Student Union. The event was growing quickly and became "Modeler's Day" with expanded hours and additional space used in the ballroom of the Student Union starting in 1979. By the early 1980s, the show needed a new home and found a new venue a quick drive south on I-91 in West Springfield, MA.
Eastern States Exposition
Built in 1916, the Eastern States Exposition was connected to railroads from its inception when a railroad spur was constructed to the Coliseum Building and a "Dairy Train" transported some of the first exhibitors to the grounds for the 1916 National Dairy Show. Railroads, as well as model railroads, were setup as exhibits for many years at the annual Eastern States Exposition before the spur was removed and the Railroad Hobby Show began using the grounds in 1982. Most of the buildings and locations around the property have some railroading connection. Below is a list of the venues around the Eastern States Exposition featuring railroad exhibits.
Better Living Center
Originally named the Industrial Arts Building, the Better Living Center was constructed in 1921. The first railroad related exhibit was displayed inside the building as part of the 1927 Eastern States Exposition and was a display from the New Haven Railroad of a model railroad featuring the latest in railroad signal technology and the Cedar Hill hump yard located in New Haven, CT.
Young Building
By 1995, demand from potential vendors and exhibitors was growing and the show expanded into the Young Building - located across New England Avenue from the Better Living Center. The show's hours were expanded in 1998 to 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to continue to accommodate the growing crowds.
Stroh Building
Just in time for the 2000 Big Millenium Railroad Hobby Show, the show expanded again to the Stroh Building located just to the west of the Young Building.
Mallary Complex
In 2008, the show expanded again to include the front section of the Mallary Complex. Over the next decade, the show would slowly use more and more space inside this building. By the late 2010s, the entire floor area of the building was being used for the event.
New England Center
When the Railroad Hobby Show moved from the campus of UMass-Amherst to the Eastern States Exposition grounds in 1982, the show was originally held in the New England Center building on the exposition grounds. The show was held in this building for four year's until moving to the Better Living Center in 1986.
New England Avenue
Located in between the Better Living Center and the Young Building and Stroh Building, New England Avenue has become the home of the steam locomotive displays during the Railroad Hobby Show in the late 2010s and early 2020s.
East Road Spur
As part of the construction of the Eastern States Exposition grounds, a rail spur was constructed from Memorial Avenue to the Coliseum building adjacent to today's Young Building and Stroh Building. Over time, a road was built next tot he rail spur in this area called East Road and the railroad spur was eventually referred to as the East Road Spur to denote the location of railroad equipment display's during the annual Eastern States Exposition event. Railroad's such as the Boston & Albany, New Haven Railroad, Boston & Maine, and Amtrak displayed equipment on the spur between the 1910s and 1970s when the spur was removed.
Vermont Building
The Vermont Building featured a working model railroad display with scenes from around the state in the center of the building in the 1950s and 1960s. In the 2010s and 2020s, a model of Amtrak's Vermonter can be seen on display above the building's welcome booth.
Connecticut Building
The Connecticut Building featured a working model railroad display in the 1930's and 1950's featuring AC Gilbert's American Flyer trains which were manufactured in New Haven, CT. In more recent years, the Essex Steam Train has been an exhibitor promoting their scenic railroad operation.
Massachusetts Building
An unconfirmed rumor is that the Edaville Railroad displayed equipment in front of the Massachusetts building during The Big E in 1990.
Rhode Island Building
During the 2021 Big E, the Rail Explorers' rail bikes were on display adjacent to the Rhode Island Building.
