In the early 1960s, the group started a railroad themed "bring & buy" swap meet on the university campus. The swap meet was an instant success. Over the next few years, the group moved to increasingly larger floor space, added railroad and model railroad vendors to the meet, and built a small modular model railroad for display.

Then, fate intervened. In 1982, the university space the group normally used for the swap meet was not available because of building renovations. So the still fledgling group decided to take a risk (a $2500 risk) and move the swap meet to the New England Building at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, MA.

The show ended up being a huge success - more than covering the costs. And, that was the start of the Railroad Hobby Show as we know it.