Anything O Gauge (or train related) to do in Buffalo NY?

Its been a while since I've been in Buffalo. I used to stop by Kval Hobbies, and Niagara Hobby.

The folks at Kval were always very friendly.

Niagara Hobby has something for everybody, including crafts and doll houses.

It has been many years since I left Buffalo. May have forgotten a lot.

Kval is in Kenmore, north of Buffalo and mostly trains. Niagara Hobby is in Cheektowaga at Union Rd and Walden Ave. A full line hobby shop.

Other things to see and do; Thirty miles or so south of Buffalo is the Arcade and Attica RR. a steam excursion line with a 2-8-0 and vintage ex DL&W vintage open end coaches. A less than 2 hour train ride. In Hamburg is a PRR I1 (2-20-0) behind the station. Easy to see and photograph. In Sloan is an ex CPR mike that is unrestored. It is behind a commercial building and not easy to see or get to.

 Enjoy your stay in Western New York.

   George

     OGR

Near the city, its down to K-Val and Niagara. K-Val is actually in the city limits a few blocks from Kenmore Avenue but no matter. If you extend your range by 30 miles or so there is Aurora Hobby a few miles south of East Aurora and accessible by freeway. This is probably the best Train store in the area. Lots of MTH and staffed by knowledgeable folks. Call ahead though as summer hours vary.  Niagara is a full line hobby store with trains but also craft supplies including paint and scratch building items. D&L is located in Darien, NY just off NY 77. They have some new trains and also a lot of post war, older K-Line, vehicles, etc. Worth the effort if you have the time.

http://www.aurora-rails.com/

http://dnltoytrains.com/

Pete

There is also the New York Central Terminal to visit.  Sometimes on the weekends there are escorted tours.

Not a train, but there is Kazoo factory in the Buffalo area that is  open for tours.

Also  the Herschell Carrousel factory musuem

Herschell made Carrousels and amusement park rides, including trains.

When I was there many years ago, they were just starting, and did not have any of the trains.

http://www.edenkazoo.com/index.php

http://www.carrouselmuseum.org/

Check with CSX Al here on the forum. I believe he lives in Niagara Falls and can help you out as far as places to visit.

For an actual train, there is the "subway" that runs from the University at Buffalo Main Street Campus to the Arena that used to be Called the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.

Wikipedia link.

-Dave

If time is available you can visit both Al Zamorski (CSX-AL) who makes the new Millhouse Studio-Z Turntables and also Jim Robinson at Bridgeboss. Al lives in Niagara Falls right along the Niagara River. Jim lives on Grand Island which is between Buffalo and Niagara Falls.

thanks.

jim r from bridgeboss

8-25-12 LCCA Open House Special Event in North Tonawanda NY (Buffalo NY)

On Saturday, August 25, 2012 from 12:00-5:00 PM, the LCCA is going back to the Buffalo NY area for an open house barbecue special event and home layout tour at Frank Battaglia's (RM 15408) residence located in North Tonawanda, NY 14120.  The LCCA had a very successful and popular convention in Buffalo NY in 2008.  So we are proud to be back in the area for a day of fun and running Lionel Trains.  LCCA members and their families are invited to attend this fun summer event.  Bring your trains, and run them on Frank's impressive O-Gauge  layout.  A barbecue lunch and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided for a back yard barbecue.  The admission fee will be a modest $12/person to attend.   We will have an outdoor tent set up, so we will have this great event rain, snow or sunshine.  To reserve your spot, please RSVP to Frank Battaglia at 716 692-5282 or Al Kolis at 248 709-4137 or agkolis@comcast.net <mailto:agkolis@comcast.net>.  We hope to see you back in Buffalo!

Along Broadway is a very large classification yard and you can watch trains galore running every few minutes.  I like to stop at Buffalo Plastics on Broadway.  You can pick up great styrene scrap for pennies a pound.  While you are parked there, you can watch trains across the street.  All this is not far from Niagara Hobby.  Just go west on Union and make a  right onto Broadway.

Go to the Broadway Market and have a real Polish lunch at Perison's Lunch Counter.  I like the fried kluski and pierogi.  Broadway market it a little dumpy now, but the food is still terrific and cheap.

From there head downtown to see the historic Navy ships.  The Littlerock is a cruiser and next to that is the USS Sulivans destroyer.  Great little museum too. 

If you want to see a wonderful architectural site, Lackawanna has the Our Lady of Victory basilca.  This rival churches in Europe.  Nearby is the Buffalo Botanical gardens with a greenhouse from the turn of the century that is beautiful.

Back to Buffalo.  Stately houses align Delaware Avenue. This where Buffalo's business titans resided.

Buffalo Wings were invented at Frank & Teresa's Anchor Bar on Main Street.  Stop in for a cold Genesee Cream Ale and a plate of wings.  There is no substitute.

I like the habor area because of the lift bridges and the old grain mills along the Black Rock River.  Near on of the lift bridges you can pull into the parking lot and take great pictures of Buffalo's Fire Boat.

I am not sure if K-Val is still around.  When I lived in Buffalo Bob was already getting up there and I had the pleasure of shaking his Dad's hand on the occassion of his 100th birthday.  K-Val had a terrific HO layout and a Lionel toy layout.

If need some vehicles for your layout there is a die-cast toy store in Clarence, NY.  This is a suburb of Buffalo.  This guy has it all in terms of Solido, Ertl, Corgi, Brooklin and others.  He has some really cool collectibles too.

All the other suggestions are first rate too.  If you get to East Aurora, make a stop at Vidler's.  This is a real trip back to a time when you could go to a store like Kresge's.  Great little shop and kids love the place.  The basement has the most fun stuff that can find there way to the layout.

Man I am homesick for Buffalo.

Have fun,

Rob M

Here is their website. If they don't have it you don't need it!

http://www.constructionscalemo...om/shoppictures.aspx

Pete

Folks,

Thank you very much for all the info.  Looks like I have a lot to choose from.

Chris