Press Release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the 104th “Great Batavia Train Sale” along with the “Batavia Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet” on Sunday, April 14, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the Richard C. Call Arena, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for under 18 years old, and free for children under 13 years old.

The popular train show typically attracts 1,200 to 1,500 model railroad enthusiasts and railfans from across Western and Central NY, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. There are over 100 vendors occupying 250 tables offering merchandise ranging from antique railroad artifacts to the most modern digitally controlled model trains. This bi-annual show has steadily grown to become one of the premiere events of its kind in Western New York.

The train club hosts two shows each year, a Spring show, and a Fall show. A free Open House is held, typically, on the first Saturday of December at the Club’s facilities in Oakfield where club members maintain operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO & N scale.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield (above the M&T Bank), and is open Tuesdays from 7 - 9 p.m. Business meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook. Visitors are welcome (Stair access only).

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers announces that their Spring 2024 edition of the Great Batavia Train Show will be held at the Richard C. Call Arena in Batavia. 

The large venue on the campus of Genesee Community College offers unmatched convenience for attendees and vendors. The show is scheduled for Sunday, April 14, 2024. Details follow:

• Date: Sunday, April 14, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Location: Richard C. Call Arena at Genesee Community College, Batavia
• Admission: $6 for adults, $3 under 18, free for children under 13.

The train show will feature model train vendors, free parking, and a snack bar.

For 50 years the Great Batavia Train Show has been one of the premier hobby events in Western New York. The Richard C. Call arena at Genesee Community College is a perfect train show venue providing excellent lighting in a comfortable, state-of-the-art facility. All forms of model railroad and train-related merchandise will be available. Over 100 vendors will be offering all scales of model trains and historic railroad items. 

Modeling demonstrations, and a limited number of portable layouts, will be part of the fun. Free parking, on-site concession stand, and plenty of seating add to the experience.

For more information please contact the Train Show Chairman Mike Pyszczek. He can be reached at 585-768-4579, bataviatrainshow@gmail.com, or GSME, P.O. Box 75, Oakfield.

Press release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the club's 21st Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the club's facilities located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield, N.Y. 14125 (above the M&T Bank). The "FREE" event runs from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Stairway access only.

The club's facilities feature operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO, and N. Club members will be available to answer your model railroading questions. This is a great family-oriented event filled with photo ops and fun for kids of all ages.

"The Christmas holidays seem to bring back those childhood memories of a model train and miniature village around the Christmas tree," said club president Mike Bakos. "Our members are busy keeping the tradition of trains and the holidays alive. We invite you to visit and enjoy one of Genesee County's best-kept secrets."

This year's Open House will be one of the many events featured as part of Oakfield’s Christmas in the Village celebration, along with many other family-oriented activities taking place in the village throughout the day.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield, N.Y. (above the M&T Bank) and is open Tuesdays from 7 until 9 p.m.. Business meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook.

Press release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the 102nd “Great Batavia Train Show & Sale” along with the “Batavia Railroad Prototype Modelers Meet” on Sunday, March 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Richard C. Call Arena, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.

Admission: $6 (Adults), $3 (under 18 yrs.), Free (under 13 yrs.)

The popular train show typically attracts 1,200 to 1,500 model railroad enthusiasts and railfans from across Western and Central NY, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. There are over 100 vendors occupying 250 tables offering merchandise ranging from antique railroad artifacts to the most modern digitally controlled model trains.

The GSME began hosting Train Shows in the early 70s at the Holland Land Office Museum. The bi-annual show has steadily grown to become one of the premiere events of its kind in Western New York.

The train club hosts two shows each year, a Spring show and a Fall show. A free Open House is held, typically, on the first Saturday of December at the Club’s facilities in Oakfield, where club members maintain operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO & N scale.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield, N.Y. (above the M&T Bank) and is open Tuesdays from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. Business meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook. Visitors welcomed. (Stair access only.)

File photo by Howard Owens.

Press release:

Batavia Train Show Scheduled for March 26.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers announces that their Spring 2023 edition of the GREAT BATAVIA TRAIN SHOW will be held at the Richard C. Call Arena in Batavia. The large venue on the campus of Genesee Community College offers unmatched convenience for attendees and vendors. The show is scheduled for Sunday, March 26. Details follow:

• Show Name:  The Great Batavia Train Show
• Date: Sunday, March 26, 2023
• Location: Richard C. Call Arena at Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
• Admission: $6 adults, $3 under 18, free for children under 13.
• Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Features: Model train vendors, free parking, snack bar

Additional Train Show Information:
For over 50 years, the Great Batavia Train Show has been one of the premier hobby events in Western New York. Our move to the Richard C. Call Arena has allowed us to grow the event in a state-of-the-art facility. All forms of model railroad and train-related merchandise will be available. Items offered include all scales of model trains, historic railroad items, books, DVDs and toys. Free parking.

About the organizing group:
The Genesee Society of Model Engineers Inc. was founded in Batavia, NY, and actively promotes the hobby of model railroading in the Western New York area. We celebrated our 50^th anniversary in 2019. This not-for-profit organization is headquartered at 50 Main St. in Oakfield, NY. In our facility above the M&T Bank, our membership maintains four operating model train displays.   An open house is offered free to the public each December, and visitors are welcome on Tuesday evenings.

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens

With the onslaught of technology and video games these days, Michael Pyszczea was happy this weekend to introduce a longtime tradition that he’s known from decades ago.

Pyszczea and fellow club members had their 20th annual open house for the Genesee Society of Model Engineers in Oakfield.

As kids and their families checked out model train set-ups and the chugging vehicles along metal tracks, you could say the event was full steam ahead.

“This is about model railroading. Many of us grew up with train sets from our childhood, with Lionel around the tree. It’s not as prevalent … it’s out of focus. The cost of these things has  gone up, and sometimes kids would rather have video games,” he said. “This is just to share our enjoyment of trains, to allow a time for our family and our friends to come up here, and to bond with the community. And it really is for the kids. You go around and you see them going crazy over this.

“It’s something they can do and enjoy that doesn’t involve a joystick and a keyboard,” he said.

The club has been operating for 52 years, and has about 35 members, he said. Members may have relatives who work on a railroad, or are professionals in the field themselves, said Pyszczea, who is club treasurer.

Typical weeks would involve train enthusiasts gathering once or twice a week to construct layout, run and talk about trains, have a cup of coffee and socialize, he said.

But the open house offers special moments for others to partake in the hobby as well.

“This is how we grew up. You don’t see trains in department store windows any more. Some of (the visitors) are seeing model railroading, sometimes for the first time,” he said.

Top Photo: Colton Hilchey watches a train in action during Genesee Society of Model Engineers' open house Saturday in Oakfield; visitors enjoy checking out the various train layouts during the event. Photos by Howard Owens. 

Press release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the club's 20th Annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 3, at the club's facilities located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield, N.Y. 14125 (above the M&T Bank). The "FREE" event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Stairway access only.

The club's facilities feature operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO & N. Club members will be available to answer your model railroading questions. A great family-oriented event filled with photo-ops and fun for kids of all ages.

"The Christmas holidays seem to bring back those childhood memories of a model train and miniature village around the Christmas tree," says club President Mike Bakos. "Our members are busy keeping the tradition of trains and the holidays alive. We invite you to visit and enjoy one of Genesee County's best-kept secrets."

This year's Open House will be one of the many events featured as part of Oakfield’s Christmas in the Village celebration. The Open House is just one of many activities that will be taking place in Oakfield throughout the day.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield, N.Y. (above the M&T Bank) and is open Tuesdays from 7 until 9 p.m. Business meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook. 

Photo: File photo by Howard Owens

Press release:

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will host the 101st “Great Batavia Train Show” on Sunday, October 16th, 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., at the Richard C. Call Arena, Genesee Community College, 1 College Road, Batavia.

Admission: $6 (Adults), $3 (under 18 yrs.), Free (under 13 yrs.)

The train show typically attracts 1,200 to 1,500 model railroad enthusiasts and railfans from across Western and Central NY, Northwestern Pennsylvania, and Southern Ontario. There are over 100 vendors occupying 250 tables offering merchandise ranging from antique railroad artifacts to the most modern digitally controlled model trains.

The GSME began hosting Train Shows in the early 70s at the Holland Land Office Museum. From those humble beginnings the “Great Batavia Train Show” has progressively moved from the HLOM to the Alexander Fire Hall, Holiday/Sheraton Inn, Batavia Downs, and to its present home at GCC. Each move has allowed the show to continually grow in both size and popularity making it one of the premiere events of its kind in Western New York.

 The train club hosts two shows each year, a spring show in April and a Fall show in October. A free Open House is held, typically, on the first Saturday of December at the Club’s facilities in Oakfield where club members maintain operating layouts in O Gauge (Lionel), HO & N scale.

 The Genesee Society of Model Engineers is located at 50 Main Street (Rte. 63), Oakfield, N.Y. (above the M&T Bank) and is open Tuesdays from 7 to  9 p.m. Business meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month. Visit www.gsme.org. Like us on Facebook. Visitors welcomed. (Stair access only.)

Photos: File photos by Howard Owens from the 100th GSME show.

Press Release

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers announces that their Fall 2022 edition of the GREAT BATAVIA TRAIN SHOW will be held at the Richard C. Call Arena in Batavia, NY. The large venue on the campus of Genesee Community College offers unmatched convenience for attendees and vendors. The show is scheduled for Sunday, October 16, 2022.

Details follow:
• Show Name: The Great Batavia Train Show
• Date: Sunday, October 16, 2022
• Location: Richard C. Call Arena at Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY
• Admission: $6 adults, $3 under 18, free for children under 13.
• Hours: 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.
• Features: Model train vendors, free parking, snack bar

Additional Train Show Information:
For 50 years the Great Batavia Train Show has been one of the premier hobby events in Western New York. Our move to the Richard C. Call arena has allowed us to grow the event in a state-of-the-art facility. All forms of model railroad and train-related merchandise will be available. Items offered include all scales of model trains, historic railroad items, books, DVD’s and toys. Modeling demonstrations, and a limited number of portable layouts, will be part of the fun. Free parking.

About the organizing group:
The Genesee Society of Model Engineers Inc. was founded in Batavia NY, and actively promotes the hobby of model railroading in the Western New York area. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2019. This not-for-profit organization is headquartered at 50 Main St. in Oakfield, NY. In our facility above the M&T Bank, our membership maintains four operating model train displays. An open house is offered free to the public each December, and visitors are welcome on Tuesday evenings.

For 50 years, the Genesee Society of Model Engineers has hosted a twice-annual model train show in Batavia and after a hiatus for COVID, the train show returned to the Richard C. Call Arena at GCC for the organization's 100th event.

Photos by Howard Owens