Catoctin Mountain Train Hobbies is closing

Sad to learn another shop is going away. The economy is improving, huh? Just check the quantity of O scale/gauge items for sale on eBay - about 100,000 plus - far more than what was offered a few years ago, and the train shops that have closed. We used to have two in Reno, both gone now, and Bruce's in Sacramento, also gone. Nearest train shops are in Las Vegas, 440 miles south, or in the SF bay area, 250 miles southwest, or Yuba City, about 125 miles west.

Paul and Marcia Johnson have made it clear in recent years that they are tired. The store has been for sale for some time and some interest was shown but no buyers. Paul and Marcia announced  to customers in the store beginning in September/October 2014 that March 31 will be it and a note in their annual Christmas cards that they mail to customers confirmed that March 31 will be the last day in business after nearly 25 years. Paul will continue to go to York and do shows. 

 

For those that have never been to the Johnson's store - make it a point to go before they close. Inventory is going quick but it is one gem of a store we are losing. Regardless of the store, Paul and Marcia are wonderful people and the service is second to none. You can shop and buy stuff anywhere but you'll have a hard time finding a store that offers better service and discounted prices to all. 

 

Another note - their repair guys, who do excellent work will still do repairs for Lionel and MTH. Contact Paul to get their contact information. 

 

I will miss them greatly - they were the best of the best. 

I never made it to Mr. Johnson's store but I can tell you he always treated me with kindness. He will be missed. The one thing that never needs repaired, is father time. It just keep ticking.

Yes, but only about 25,000 of the 100,000 are up for "auction", the rest are buy-I-now, many of which are offered by hobby shops.

 

Jim

I have never been to Catoctin Mountain Train & Hobby.

    From their YT Video, looks like a nice train shop. Take a look........

We all need at least one good LHS, I have one near my home and others close by.

One of these two are a OGR Forum & Magazine Sponsor • Brasseur Electric Trains, they also have a large presents on the web.

 

The global internet and mail order outlets killed the overpriced hobby shops a long time ago.

With volume sales of C Ro, TrainLand, ebay and others, we always had options on pricing that couldn’t be beat.

 I see his point,not that ALL brick and mortar shops won't compete with internet based operations,some just simply can't because of the amount of volume that the WWW brings attention to rather than walk-in's or word of mouth.

 

 I hate to see this also,but it's becoming increasingly  hard for some of the more traditional shops to compete.

 

It's sad to see them close after do many years in business. I wish them the best in the next chapter of their life.

-Greg

One of the truly "locals" for me as I'm barely an hour away. Was never a big customer of theirs but bought a few items on several visits.

 

As others have noted, Paul & Co. really are "gems" and possibly the friendliest train folks I've run into.  Makes you think that they'd be a success at anything they did.

 

Best of luck to them in the future.

It's not just prices, but selection/inventory as well as a host of other things.  It's hard for a small business to carry the kind of inventory that the big guys can.  The ones that try have to keep the overhead down some other way.  We all appreciate good people, good service,  and sometimes the good prices, but it seems to catch up with most shops these days.  Anyone remember Jason's Trains (I know some here do...)?  Super nice guy, good service, and great prices.   The internet didn't kill him; the were other factors and it ended kind of ugly.  There's just not a lot of wiggle room if you're going to try to compete with the big dogs, and it doesn't take much to get things sideways.  Internet sales may not have been the reason CM left the business, but I'd be willing to wager it's a big reason why no one bought it.  

 

Who among us is ready to jump headlong into a retail train business?  Open a shop, stock the shelves, and hire good people?  Then deal with cranky customers, vendor QC issues, thin margins, and rising labor and shipping costs on the back end?  The owners I know are Saints - I can't believe they do what they do given the business model they must endure and the insanity they have to deal with on a regular basis.  I'm passionate about my hobbies, but I wouldn't be for long if I were in the business, given what I have seen.  

 

Good luck to these folks - I never heard anything but praise for them.  I understand and completely respect the fact that they were tired and ready to move on.  I hope their next step in life is positive, and wish them nothing but the best!  

I have shopped there several times, bought some items, and was always treated like family there. I am sorry to hear that they are closing, but I hope they enjoy their retirement. They will be missed, I am sure. 

Thanks, duly noted and changed!

eBay is a danger zone.  I have seen things selling there for more than the shops on the banner.  I aways check prices with the shops here.  I just wish we had more shops nearby.

So what exactly is the reason they're closing?  Is it because they're tired or is it because they can't/don't want to compete with the internet?  Or both?

 

If it's because they're tired, I wish them luck in their retirement.  We should respect their wishes to retire and not make more of this than it is.

This is from CMT: Twenty-five years ago we decided to go into business by opening a hobby store.  The shop evolved into more of a model train store.  Over these twenty-five years, we have come to know and appreciate many customers.  We want to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your business and friendship over these years. We have decided to retire and close the business the end of March 2015. Paul will continue to active in the hobby, collecting his trains, and set-up at train shows.  We hope to keep the blog active on when and where he will be attending train shows.

I was very sad to hear CMT was closing. Paul and Marcia are wonderful people. I live 3 hours away but have family in the area and we stop in every time we're in town. I've bought several things there in the past and even placed an order from them just last week. In fact, Paul alerted me to my LHS that's about 30 minutes from my house that I didn't even know about. I hope I can get there one more time before they close. While certainly understandable why they're closing, it's sad to lose such a great store run by such great people. 

Dear Forum,

 

Just wanted to let you know that Catoctin Mountain Trains is down to 9 days until Paul and Marcia put the closed sign up one final time. 

 

I am very pleased for both that they will be able to enjoy retirement and do a few things that having a business may have limited them in doing - natural when you have the responsibility of a store.

 

As noted in another post, Paul and Marcia still plan to do shows, so those of us who have know him all 25 years, or for only the last 3 years (like me), can enjoy seeing Paul and Marcia at York and at other local train shows.  

 

It is a little sad to see the store close, but that is for selfish reasons.  Paul and Marcia are the nicest folks.  They always made a huge deal whenever I would bring my youngest child to the store (from her first visit at age 5 to now at age 7).  She would always get a free York Peppermint Patty from Ms. Marcia.  Once in awhile she'd ask if she could get one for her sister too!  Of course Paul and Marcia said yes (and would not let me pay for them).  I always had excellent train advice from Paul.  He would get a feel for what my interests were and then could offer suggestions.  Never one to push his ideas or opinions.  He really understood the customer very well.  Over time I saw how well he worked with every customer - new ones and veteran ones.  They broke the mold on store proprietors when they made Paul (and Marcia).

 

The one thing that has always struck me about walking into Paul's store is on any given day, if there are 2 or 3 folks in there, they'd be up front chatting about something toy train related, and Paul would always ensure that the person who just walked into the store became part of the conversation as well.  I met many a customer at Paul and Marcia's store and it was always a learning experience. 

 

Paul and Marcia are probably the part I will miss the most.  Well, I did get some great deals on train purchases - so I will miss those too - but it's the people I will miss the most. 

 

I went to the store yesterday for my final visit.  I purchased an MTH Club Tank Car - I think a 2003 model (but it was brand new) and asked Paul and Marcia sign it for me.  It will go on display with all of my MTH York cars - right next to the one I had Mike Wolfe sign. 

 

Thank you Catoctin Mountain Trains & Hobbies.  Best wishes to Paul and Marcia Johnson for a happy retirement.

 

 

I was in the store Thursday. There is quite a bit of rolling stock still left.They plan on attending train shows to liquidate the remaining merchandise after they close. I have bought a few items from them when passing through the area. I hate to see the store close.

Scott Smith

Just a couple of pics I took a few months ago.

Sorry to hear. I have bought from them in the past.