Taking a brief weekend trip to the Alexandria area - visiting Mt. Vernon and grandkids - will have a day with nothing to do - I was wondering if anyone knows of any train shops and good local restaurants in the area?
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The Whistle Stop moved from Old Town and relocated to Quaker Lane near intersection of King St. Not much; the owner has some ho hum common postwar at ridiculous prices. Nothing to get excited about and very little inventory. Carries Ho, N and basic 027. He can order Mth and Lionel at full MSRP. I think you would be better off enjoying the historic 18th century charm of Old Town Alexandria and the Potomac waterfront. Pass on the train shop for a day. You aren't missing anything.
At the north end of the Old Town waterfront is the end of a spur that gets switched by Norfolk Southern infrequently. The line was mainly used for the about-to-be-closed electrical generating station further up the spur but one or two boxcars are occasionally spotted at the warehouses on either side of Union Street. Odds are not very good you'll catch any action but if you get lucky it is fun to watch.
The spur was originally the easternmost trackage of the Washington & Old Dominion RR and IIRC originally served piers for transloading cargo to and from ships on the Potomac River.
So, let me assume you have a car to get around. If so, and you are willing to drive 1hr, 15 min. north of Mt. Vernon, VA, there is Catoctin Mountain Trains in Thurmont, MD. It is a very nice local store with exceptionally nice proprietors (Paul and Marcia Johnson). Paul must have at least 150 trains on display and for sale. He has, it seems, 99% O Gauge. And he is very knowledgeable. Like a walking encyclopedia. And as nice as can be. Well, so is Marcia!
The store is within a few miles of Camp David, although that is not open to the public. If you really want to see a train shop, then I highly recommend that as your destination.
If you want to see Gettysburg, that is about another 25 minutes north of there. So you could do both in one day.
Enjoy your trip.
If you want trains in alexandria, just go sit at the train station, its always busy. The nearest hobby shops worth visiting are Sidetrack Hobbies in Leonardtown, MD, or the above mentioned Catoctin Mt. Trains. Both are about equidistant, in complete opposite directions.
When I lived down there, the Union Street Public House was good for fish & chips, I'm sure it still is. There's lots and lots of restaurants along King St. and the side streets, you should have no trouble finding something.
Head west about 6-7 miles to Trains ETC. He's just off I-95 south of the beltway. He has a lot of trains. He sets up in the Orange Hall every Oct.
Hobbies Etc. 251 West Lee Hwy.
Ste. 699 Warrenton, VA 20186
Phone: 540-347-9212
Fax: 540-347-3899
Email: hobbiesetc@trainsetc.com
Trains Etc. In Lorton (off I95) Johnsgg1 mentioned recently closed. They only have the Warrenton store now.
Unfortunately not too many options near Alexandria anymore.
Before moving to Pa. I lived in the Wash, DC area for over 30 years. I am sad to report that the only train store in the metro area is Lionel Buy & Sell located in Kensington, Md.
Well stocked especially postwar. Not much else around, used to be several others but now gone.
Union Street Pub in Old Town Alexandria is wonderful. Many selections of draft beer and excellent food.
Paul Edgar
Lest we forget Engine House Hobbies in semi beautiful Gaithersburg, The Toy Exchange in Wheaton, an all gauge store in Crofton whose name escapes me and a little further afield, Star Hobbies in Annapolis for some NOS obscure stuff.
Thanx so much for all the recommendations! Looking forward to visiting the area and LHS
Paul
Originally Posted by Harleylito:
Taking a brief weekend trip to the Alexandria area - visiting Mt. Vernon and grandkids - will have a day with nothing to do - I was wondering if anyone knows of any train shops and good local restaurants in the area?
For restaurants, head to Old Town Alexandria and you’ll find a dozen+ to choose from on the main drag (King Street). Stroll up and down King and you’ll see lots of great places from Irish pubs, to Italian, burger joints, to good seafood.
Enjoy!
Originally Posted by POTRZBE:
Lest we forget Engine House Hobbies in semi beautiful Gaithersburg, The Toy Exchange in Wheaton, an all gauge store in Crofton whose name escapes me and a little further afield, Star Hobbies in Annapolis for some NOS obscure stuff.
POTRZBE;
The store you're trying to remember is GPA Hobbies, on Route 3 South.
The point here was what's in Alexandria. Most of the stores mentioned in these posts are no where near Alexandria, although there were great stores mentioned. Say what you will about Lionel Buy & Sell, they still have more post war than most stores I have seen. And it is not creepy!
Paul Edgar
Originally Posted by Paul Edgar:
The point here was what's in Alexandria. Most of the stores mentioned in these posts are no where near Alexandria, although there were great stores mentioned. Say what you will about Lionel Buy & Sell, they still have more post war than most stores I have seen. And it is not creepy!
Paul Edgar
I've been in Lionel buy and sell numerous times. We've bought stuff there too. Frankly, however, it is not the nicest store -- it's a bit run down and cluttered. The one guy with the deep voice can be very helpful. The other guy -- the owner -- does his own thing and holds court with people. It's an odd dynamic but then again train stores can be odd. Frankly, however, it's not the best place for price or quantity. Then again, I am spoiled because I grew up and had ready access to Trainland / Trainworld, and then in my 20s had regular access to Nicholas Smith. I would like to take the trip to the Cactoctin Mountain store -- it looks worthwhile and worth the trip.
Is KMA Junction and the other, larger train store still open in Manassas?
Johnsgg1,
KMA Junction which is very small I believe is still open in Manassas. The other large store, Train Depot, moved to Chantilly. Both of which are still more than an hours ride from Alexandria.
Paul Edgar
I was born and grew up in Alexandria VA. Most of what I knew is gone. There were a few shops around Springfield Mall and Landmark Mall but both are gone. There was a place called Franks that was off Eisenhower. ABC Hobbies of Fort Hunt Rd. Trains Etc was near Mt Vernon. Seems they are all gone.
Also gone is the furrowed steamer PEPco used to use at their Alexandria power plant into the 1980s. The Southern roundhouse at Duke and Eisenhower. The Washington and Old Dominion ROW is a bike path. The Civil war era Orange and Alexandria tunnel near the waterfront is interesting to walk. The GW parkway to Mt Vernon was the interurban ROW of the Washington and Alexandria including the loop at Mt V. Alexandria used to be the home of Fruit Growers Express car builders. RF&P Potomac Yard is now mostly a mall. Long Bridge was the beginning of Pennsy but the wires came down into pot yard.
Also gone is the furrowed steamer PEPco used to use at their Alexandria power plant into the 1980s. The Southern roundhouse at Duke and Eisenhower. The Washington and Old Dominion ROW is a bike path. The Civil war era Orange and Alexandria tunnel near the waterfront is interesting to walk. The GW parkway to Mt Vernon was the interurban ROW of the Washington and Alexandria including the loop at Mt V. Alexandria used to be the home of Fruit Growers Express car builders. RF&P Potomac Yard is now mostly a mall. Long Bridge was the beginning of Pennsy but the wires came down into pot yard.
Auto correct killed my "fireless" and made it "furrowed". Even now it made it "foreleg". What I get for posting on a tiny phone.
