Program Meetings are held, unless otherwise noted, at 8:00 PM on the Third Thursday of the month at the Union Church in Waban, 14 Collins Road, Newton, MA. These feature programs with speakers knowledgeable about railroad operations, history and travel. Upcoming programs are listed below.
On the first Tuesday of each month we hold a more informal social gathering: FIRST TUESDAY. This is where we usually prepare a trip flyer or our monthly newsletter, the Callboy, for mailing. These sessions are also held at the Union Church in Waban, starting rather casually about 7:00 PM and are usually followed by an impromptu slide show or video program unless there is a Board meeting or the work session runs unusually late. Members and non-members alike are welcome.
For last minute updates or meeting cancellations in bad weather, please call our information line at 978-470-2066.
UPCOMING Third Thursday Monthly Program Meetings
(Held ON LINE VIA ZOOM VIDEO WEBINAR)
We are conducting Third Thursday program meetings remotely via Zoom video webinar for the foreseeable future. Meetings are also simultaneously live-streamed on the Mass Bay RRE Facebook page. Video of our Third Thursday programs is available for later viewing on Facebook or the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel.
You DO NOT have to be a Facebook user to access our live stream!
RECENT Third Thursday Program Meetings
Recent Third Thursday program meetings may be viewed at any time on the Mass Bay RRE Facebook page
or the Mass Bay RRE YouTube channel. For details of our recent Third Thursday programs that are available for viewing, go to the RECENT MEETINGS PAGE.
Thursday, September 16, 2021, 8 PM to 9:30 PM via Zoom & Facebook live stream:
John Sacerdote takes us
'Behind the Scenes at the ARS Railroad Hobby Show'
Every year, usually on the last weekend in January, the Amherst Railway Society holds its 'Railroad Hobby Show' at the Eastern States Exposition Fairgrounds in West Springfield Massachusetts. Far and away the largest train show in the east, the Show now occupies four buildings, encompassing nearly a half-million square feet. That's over 10 acres of trains! More than 22,500 railfans and public attended the Show each of the past five years. Anyone who has been to the show knows that it is BIG. Harder to appreciate is the enormous level of detailed planning required to make the show happen.
John Sacerdote has been the Show Director for Railroad Hobby Show for the last 16 years, and is only the second Director since the Show's inception in 1991. In this entertaining and revealing program, John takes us behind the scenes during the weekend of the show, and explains in detail all that goes on during the year to get ready for the show in January. He'll also share some amusing anecdotes about his experience as Show Director.
You won't want to miss this fascinating program! You'll never think of the Railroad Hobby Show in quite the same way after seeing how it's made!
To view John Sacerdote's program, click a link below
on September 16 at 8:00 PM.
NO ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY!
Thursday, October 21, 2021, 7:00 PM at the Pearl Street Restaurant, 53 Summer Street, Malden, MA:
Dinner in the Depot: 'Tracking the Light with Brian Solomon'
We're excited to welcome noted rail photographer and author, Trains Magazine columnist, and (now) Manager of Marketing & Events for the Conway Scenic Railroad Brian Solomon to Malden for what is sure to be a compelling program. Brian will be showing a selection of his railroad photos from throughout his career, and will also pass along a few tips for the budding rail photographer.
Cocktail hour 6:00 PM -- Buffet Dinner 7:00 PM
Program starts at 8:00 PM
Dinner reservations: Mass Bay RRE Members $40, Non-members $45
Reservations are limited to just 49 guests and are now available on-line or by phone at 978-470-2066.
Mass Bay RRE members will be given preference for reservations through Oct. 2!
For the safety of our guests, proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours of the event will be required for admission to 'Dinner in the Depot.' We strongly urge all guests, vaccinated or not, to wear a face mask at all times when not actively eating or drinking. Your Vaccination Card or a clear photo of your vaccination card will be checked when you arrive at the meeting room to confirm vaccination status. For guests providing a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours of the event, please bring printed proof of the negative test.
Final vaccination must have occurred by Thursday, October 7 to be eligible to enter on October 21. Covid Tests must be taken not more than 96 hours before the dinner (Oct. 17 or later).
Dinner reservations will NOT BE REFUNDED if these conditions are not met.
To speed your check-in at the restaurant, you can upload your proof of vaccination when you order on line (JPG or PDF only, 1 mb file limit). We suggest that you prepare the image of your vaccination card before starting to fill out the order form!
We are currently planning to stream Brian Solomon's program on Zoom and Facebook
To view the program on line, click a link below
on October 21 at 8:00 PM.
NO ADVANCE REGISTRATION IS NECESSARY!
(Zoom Webinar link will be available about 1 week before the program)
View in ZOOM WEBINAR
First Tuesday 'Members' Night' Meetings
(Held on the first Tuesday of odd-numbered months)
First Tuesday 'Members' Night' meetings are currently being conducted as a Zoom video webinar and will be live-streamed on our Facebook page, where they are also available for viewing later. The next 'Members' Night' will be Tuesday, November 2, 2021.
If you have photos that you'd like to show, please contact us!
To view the First Tuesday program LIVE, click a link below
on Nov. 2 at 8:00 PM.
(Zoom Webinar link will be available about 1 week before the program)
VIEW IN ZOOM WEBINAR
Meeting speakers always wanted! We are now developing our Winter and Spring 2022 programs. To offer or suggest a program, contact us at info@massbayrre.org or call us at 978-470-2066.
We are seeking volunteers for our Program Crew, to take responsibility for all aspects of our Third Thursday meetings, including refreshments, room set-up, audio-visual setup, etc. If you are interested in being part of the team, please contact us. No long-term commitment or special skills necessary - we need people who can be relied on the show up and make sure the program is ready to go at 8:00.
Meeting Location
(For now, somewhere in your house. Please wear pants!)
MBRRE Program Meetings are usually held at the Union Church at 14 Collins Road (corner of Beacon Street), Waban, MA, (near the Waban MBTA stop on the Green Line):
If you are arriving on the T, exit the station onto Beacon St.; the Church is adjacent to the Waban Station.
If you are driving, take Exit 21 East off Route 128 (I-95) onto Rte. 16 (Washington St.). At the first traffic light east of 128 fork right onto Beacon St. and go 0.9 mile. The Union Church is on the right just before Beacon Street jogs to the left over the Green Line. If the church lot is full you may park on the street or in the Waban Station parking lot. CLICK FOR MAP
Check the Callboy or the website to confirm date, time, and location of meetings.
Contact Us:
Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts, Inc.
P.O. Box 4245
Andover, MA 01810-0814, or
Information Line 978-470-2066
Email: info@massbayrre.org or visit our "Contact Us" page.
