Amherst Railway Society/ “Railroad Hobby Show” – News Release – 4/28/2007

Amherst Railway Society Recognizes Volunteers For Their Contributions Of Time At Their Railroad Hobby Show

Robert A. "Bob" Buck of Warren, MA receives Honorary Life Membership

West Springfield, MA, April 28, 2007 – Sudro Brown, ARS President and John Sacerdote, Show Director, recently honored all show volunteers that assist in the Amherst Railway Society’s Railroad Hobby Show.

The Amherst Railway Society’s annual Railroad Hobby Show – now touted as the largest dollar grossing show in the United States – saw more than 25,000 rail-fans and public at last year’s show.  Attendance has been on the rise for the past few years.  The annual show has been the mechanism for raising a great deal of the money given to deserving railroad related organizations each year.  The show has also become a promoter of the hobby through its offerings of “How to” clinics.

“There are dozens of volunteers that make this show the success that it is, said John Sacerdote, Show Director.  “It’s hours and hours of long preparation and set up and we use an event such as this to just say thanks to everyone.”  

Robert A. “Bob” Buck of Warren, MA was the evening’s guest of honor.  With William Venman acting as Master of Ceremonies, Bob was presented with an Honorary Life Membership in the Amherst Railway Society.  “Bob has been around since day one,” said Sudro Brown, current President of the Society.  “His contributions to this Hobby, to this organization, especially in its early years, are invaluable and are what gave us our solid foundation that now boasts over 500 members nationwide!”

Bob was also awarded the designation of Show Director Emeritus, in a special ceremony during the evening’s festivities.  “This show is as large as it is today, because of Bob Buck,” said Sacerdote, who is only the second director in the Railroad Hobby Show’s 25-plus year history.  “Bob’s long track record of success has given us the reputation for one of the top railroad shows in North America,” added Sacerdote.

Sudro Brown presented Bob with a special ID badge exclaiming Bob as the Show Director Emeritus.  Brown added, “This is only a small token of our appreciation for what Bob has done for the hobby, for the Amherst Railway Society, and for our Annual Show.”

Since 1991, the Amherst Railway Society of Massachusetts has been making grants to non-profit groups and organizations dedicated to preserving railroad history and restoring railroad equipment and structures.  For further information about the grants program and the Amherst Railway Society Railroad Hobby Show, contact John Sacerdote, Show Director at jsacerdote@recruitinglife.com or Sudro Brown, President, Amherst Railway Society at WCRY_1960@comcast.net.  Call the Show Office at 413.436.0242 or visit The Amherst Railway Society web site at http://www.amherstrail.org/.