With COVID restrictions in the air, the folks who put together New England's largest model railroad train show say this weekend's show is full steam ahead.

If you're like me and enjoy the hobby of model railroading, or looking for a fun family activity then the Amherst Railway Society Model Train Show is something you don't want to miss.

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This is the first National Train Show since the pandemic hit in 2020, and despite concerns that this show would once again have to go virtual when the Omicron variant started to spread in late December, officials running this show say that right now there continues to be no restrictions from the city or state that would pose a problem having the weekend show. The Amherst Railway Society is alerting visitors that they will be required to wear a mask while inside the buildings housing the show.

Every year late in January or early in February, the Amherst Railway Society holds its Railroad Hobby Show at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds (The home of the Big E) in West Springfield Massachusetts. More than 20,500 railfans and public attended the show the last few years when it was an in person event.

This year's show will be one of their largest ever with over a third of a million square feet of everything model railroading, new product announcements from manufacturers, Virtual RailFanning live streams, plus over 60 operating layouts, Flea Market Tables, and lots more.

The show will be held this Saturday, January 29 from 9 AM until 5 PM and Sunday, January 30 from 10 AM until 5 PM in the Better Living Center and the adjacent Young, Stroh and Mallary Buildings on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds, 1305 Memorial Avenue in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

You can get more information and tickets for the event by visiting railroadhobbyshow.com

Take it from me, model railroading is a lot of fun, and gives you a chance to unleash some of your creativity, learn some basic technical skills, and just be a kid again.

Here's a look at some video from the last in person Amherst Railway show from January 2020:

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