Hello, I will be in NYC in a couple months.Looking at visiting a train shop or 2.I model 3 Rail scale modern era, Any advice on which ones to check out.
Thanks, Mike
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Trainworld/Trainland-one is on Long Island (Lynbrook) and one in Brooklyn. Look up their web site for addresses.
JohnF
Mike,
Others may disagree, but take a look at the Red Caboose in Manhattan. I went there last year after a 20 year hiatus and Allan the owner could not have been nicer. He had Bruce Greenberg's Lionel Trains 1900-1942, Volume II: O and OO Gauges for $49 (not that a needed a third copy...but this was pristine!). I've seen it at train shows going for $100 to $120.
https://www.nytimes.com/slides...n-hobbyist-shop.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/1...ins-in-the-dust.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/0...stomers-dwindle.html
Afterwards, the restaurant directly next door, the Cock and Bull, a proper British pub, has excellent Fish & Chips, too. 
Tom
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Tom, thank you for sharing the info on the Red Caboose! What a treasure trove. The news video was actually well done and not too cringe-making. Good info.
John
MNCW posted:Mike,
Others may disagree, but take a look at the Red Caboose in Manhattan. I went there last year after a 20 year hiatus and Allan the owner could not have been nicer. He had Bruce Greenberg's Lionel Trains 1900-1942, Volume II: O and OO Gauges for $49 (not that a needed a third copy...but this was pristine!). I've seen it at train shows going for $100 to $120.
https://www.nytimes.com/slides...n-hobbyist-shop.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/1...ins-in-the-dust.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2003/0...stomers-dwindle.html
Afterwards, the restaurant directly next door, the Cock and Bull, a proper British pub, has excellent Fish & Chips, too.
Tom
Wow... I stayed 2 blocks from here last week and never knew it existed.
The Red Caboose is in the location that was once the Model Railroad Equipment Corp. (Ma Websters).
C W Burfle posted:The Red Caboose is in the location that was once the Model Railroad Equipment Corp. (Ma Websters).
Back in the late 80's when both existed, Red Caboose was the one across the street up on the 4th(?) floor with the incredibly narrow elevator, right?
-Dave
Yes, I remember dragging my wife there and then the elevator opened right up and you were immediately in the store!
Tom
Yes, at one time, that block of 45th Street had four train stores, according to Allan. I only remember three (from the mid-1970s): Model Railroad Equipment Corp. (later Train Shop Ltd.) on one side of the street and the Red Caboose and The Roundhouse II (a second-floor store) almost directly across on the other side. All three were wonderful for a wide-eyed kid.
Anyone remember what the fourth store on that block was?
Also in the mid-1970s, Manhattan was still home to Madison Hardware and America’s Hobby Center, both of which advertised regularly in model train magazines, plus Polk’s Hobby and perhaps other smaller shops I have forgotten. Oh, yes, and Woolworths sold trains, too, year-round.
So a stop at the Red Caboose (in the old Model Railroad Equipment Corp. space) is a necessity if you’re going to be on the island.
Have to add Polks to the list of Hobby Shops that are gone. Polks was multiple floors.
C W Burfle posted:Have to add Polks to the list of Hobby Shops that are gone. Polks was multiple floors.
Yep. Mentioned that one already. Polk’s was pretty big. But it seems like there was another shop in Manhattan that was around in the mid-1970s and earlier.
You guys are living on augmented memories concerning the Red Caboose. How he still stays in business and pays that rent is beyond me.
His prices on old outdated equipment are over msrp! For the few times I was there, IMHO i think its more of a "front" than a store.
When he was across the street on the [4th] ? floor, I remember him chasing anyone that brought in a bag from across the street OR he saw you coming from across the street and made assumptions that you shopped there.
Now he is it for model trains in Manhattan. And there is something to be said as to why his "shop" is in a basement.
For O Gauge, don't waste your time. Go to Trainworld in Brooklyn:
- They are right off the subway.
- Forum Sponsor
- A LOT more friendlier
- bigger selection
- More reasonable prices
- newer stock
751 McDonald Ave.
Brooklyn, New York 11218 USA
Subway:
New York City Transit Authority Subway:
F Train towards Coney Island. Get off on Ditmas Avenue Station. Come down the stairs, cross Ditmas Avenue. Trainworld 751 McDonald Ave.
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Unfortunately, the Red Caboose is all that's left on the island of Manhattan. Manhattan Train and Hobby was on the 2nd floor of the building across the street from Red Caboose, but that went out of business more than decade ago, and there was an HO/N shop that closed several years ago called Gotham Trains on the 8th floor of building on 37th street near Penn Station that shared space with a printing business (the same person owned both).
If you're willing to take a short drive, visit Ridgefield Hobby in Ridgefield, NJ, about 30-40 mins from midtown. See ridgefieldhobby.com for location.
OH while in Manhattan, don't forget to goto "Gullivers Gate"
and see the Transit Museum annex at Grand Central Terminal.
prrhorseshoecurve posted:OH while in Manhattan, don't forget to goto "Gullivers Gate"
and see the Transit Museum annex at Grand Central Terminal.
And if you are interested in subways, and don’t mind a schlep to my old stomping grounds, the main campus of the NY Transit Museum is in an abandoned station on Schermerhorn Street in downtown Brooklyn. They have examples of many old train cars as well as other exhibits. Here is a link to their website.
Hands down TRAINWORLD in Brooklyn. If you go to the Red Caboose, dont touch the cat.
Ignore the rants about Red Caboose. Some people lose all perspective when someone from out of town asks such a question.
You’re in Manhattan, stop in for a visit, if only to catch a glimpse of the last bastion of a bygone era. You’re not deciding on a shop you are going to regularly deal with as one of the locals. You’re just visiting. Big difference, in my mind. And plenty to see for a train enthusiast.
But if you’re up to the ride into Brooklyn, Trainworld is certainly worth the visit. It, too, harkens back to days gone by. (Brooklyn had a half dozen hobby shops in the mid-1970s, but the Bianco family’s store is also the only one left in town.)
Plus, I miss the subway trains and Els — more than 20 years now since my last ride. You might enjoy that experience, too.
Jim R. posted:Ignore the rants about Red Caboose. Some people lose all perspective when someone from out of town asks such a question.
Your kidding right? Why give a bad impression and visit the Red Caboose
Trainworld is the only place worth visiting
I always heard that Madison Hardware is the premier train shop in Manhattan.
Just saying... 
Dave Warburton posted:I always heard that Madison Hardware is the premier train shop in Manhattan.
Just saying...
One of my old haunts. Went to college down the street, worked 4 blocks away for 34 years. Unfortunately, it closed in the early 90’s.
I once met the legendary Carmen Webster at her 45th St. emporium in the early '70's. Also met the even more legendary Louis Hertz at Polk's on 5th Avenue as a teen. Ah, memories!
Tinplate Art posted:I once met the legendary Carmine Webster at her 45th St. emporium many years ago! Also met the even more legenday Louis Hertz at Polk's on 5th Avenue. Ah, memories!
Yes, Louis Hertz lived not too far away in Westchester County (Scarsdale), NY.
Tom
SORRY for misspelling Carmen's name! The famous opera by Bizet is my all-time favorite, and I should have spelled it correctly! Mea culpa!
bluelinec4 posted:Jim R. posted:Ignore the rants about Red Caboose. Some people lose all perspective when someone from out of town asks such a question.
Your kidding right? Why give a bad impression and visit the Red Caboose
Trainworld is the only place worth visiting
Funny, I heard and read the same complaints about Madison Hardware in its heyday.
I was trying to be kind, but it’s clear some forum members can’t resist getting their own attitudes in the way.
For those who don’t want to shop there, fine. But the guy has been in business for, what, a half century? And people are still navigating the space filled with lots of merchandise? So maybe it’s worth a visit since he is doing something right to survive in a high-rent district?
Like I said, ignore the rants, or at least take them with a grain of salt. You’ll be in town for quite a few weeks. Why not check it out. And maybe report your own experiences.
Well said Jim.
Tom
prrhorseshoecurve posted:
........And there is something to be said as to why his "shop" is in a basement.
Ahhh.. but there will always be really something special about that particular basement.
No matter who occupies it now, it will forever be a special place to me where I would go for all my railroading supplies whether I was in Lionel O or HO or 2-rail O in the days I lived and grew up in NYC over 65 years ago. Carmen Webster's Model Railroad Equipment Corporation was the best of the old train stores IMO.
The fact that the basement shop is still a train store to this day is amazing to me.
Jim
Jim R. posted:bluelinec4 posted:Jim R. posted:Ignore the rants about Red Caboose. Some people lose all perspective when someone from out of town asks such a question.
Your kidding right? Why give a bad impression and visit the Red Caboose
Trainworld is the only place worth visiting
Funny, I heard and read the same complaints about Madison Hardware in its heyday.
I was trying to be kind, but it’s clear some forum members can’t resist getting their own attitudes in the way.
For those who don’t want to shop there, fine. But the guy has been in business for, what, a half century? And people are still navigating the space filled with lots of merchandise? So maybe it’s worth a visit since he is doing something right to survive in a high-rent district?
Like I said, ignore the rants, or at least take them with a grain of salt. You’ll be in town for quite a few weeks. Why not check it out. And maybe report your own experiences.
It’s a front for laundering Tommy and ghosts money.
Jim Policastro posted
Ahhh.. but there will always be really something special about that particular basement.
No matter who occupies it now, it will forever be a special place to me where I would go for all my railroading supplies whether I was in Lionel O or HO or 2-rail O in the days I lived and grew up in NYC over 65 years ago. Carmen Webster's Model Railroad Equipment Corporation was the best of the old train stores IMO.
The fact that the basement shop is still a train store to this day is amazing to me.
Jim
I first went there in about 1952 or '53. As I recall there was a large black and white poster of a PRR M1 on the wall as you went down the stairs. Plus I believe the class lights on it were lit. There was a German (?) fellow named Herman who handled many of the O scale sales of Max Gray.
I agree that although New York had a number of train stores there was nothing else that compared to Model Railroad Equipment Corporation if you were a scale modeler as opposed to a tinplate modeler.
bluelinec4 posted:Jim R. posted:bluelinec4 posted:Jim R. posted:Ignore the rants about Red Caboose. Some people lose all perspective when someone from out of town asks such a question.
Your kidding right? Why give a bad impression and visit the Red Caboose
Trainworld is the only place worth visiting
Funny, I heard and read the same complaints about Madison Hardware in its heyday.
I was trying to be kind, but it’s clear some forum members can’t resist getting their own attitudes in the way.
For those who don’t want to shop there, fine. But the guy has been in business for, what, a half century? And people are still navigating the space filled with lots of merchandise? So maybe it’s worth a visit since he is doing something right to survive in a high-rent district?
Like I said, ignore the rants, or at least take them with a grain of salt. You’ll be in town for quite a few weeks. Why not check it out. And maybe report your own experiences.
It’s a front for laundering Tommy and ghosts money.
Unless you have proof of that, he can now sue you for libel.
How does he afford the rent in that area of Manhattan. Maybe he owns the building.
There used to be a guy that went to York that had a store somewhere around 44th st between 5th and 6th ave. He looked like a homeless person. he would take wads of 50's & 100's out of his worn coat pockets to pay for trains.
bluelinec4 posted:It’s a front for laundering Tommy and ghosts money.
Ben,
I give up...what does that even mean? Tommy who? Any relevance to giving Mike, the original poster, advice on where to visit?
Tom
Mike: For your upcoming visit, you'll find what you want (and more) at Trainworld.
MNCW posted:bluelinec4 posted:It’s a front for laundering Tommy and ghosts money.
Ben,
I give up...what does that even mean? Tommy who? Any relevance to giving Mike, the original poster, advice on where to visit?
Tom
I gave my advice Trainworld is the only New York store worth visiting I guess your not a fan of Power. BTW I am from New York and sort of know the stores here
Regarding the negative remarks about Madison Hardware and the shop on 45th St.
I think it's best that we each form our own opinions.
I was a regular customer at Madison, and was always treated well. That is my memory.
When the basement shop was Model Railroad Equipment Corp. I also visited with some regularity. Back then, the age of the shop was palpable, and it was just a neat place to visit.
I've also been to the basement shop after the current owner took it over.
Nothing there for me.
I loved Madison Hardware when it was there When I was 13 I took the train to 23 street by myself to buy some trains I had a big 10.00 in my pocket. I started asking this guy behind the counter how much everything was. He asked how much I had and giggled a little I walked out with a 6464 Rock Island box car The guy behind the counter was Karl He treated me like a son over the next 5 or so years as I went to the store just about every saturday to hang out there and spend whatever money I got from working on trains. It was a unique place
Jim R. posted:bluelinec4 posted:Jim R. posted:bluelinec4 posted:Jim R. posted:Ignore the rants about Red Caboose. Some people lose all perspective when someone from out of town asks such a question.
Your kidding right? Why give a bad impression and visit the Red Caboose
Trainworld is the only place worth visiting
Funny, I heard and read the same complaints about Madison Hardware in its heyday.
I was trying to be kind, but it’s clear some forum members can’t resist getting their own attitudes in the way.
For those who don’t want to shop there, fine. But the guy has been in business for, what, a half century? And people are still navigating the space filled with lots of merchandise? So maybe it’s worth a visit since he is doing something right to survive in a high-rent district?
Like I said, ignore the rants, or at least take them with a grain of salt. You’ll be in town for quite a few weeks. Why not check it out. And maybe report your own experiences.
It’s a front for laundering Tommy and ghosts money.
Unless you have proof of that, he can now sue you for libel.
Its a joke!! Tommy and Ghost are fictitious characters from a TV show Sheesh
So... side question on the TrainWorld/TrainLand recommendations. (for those that have visited both locations)
I have to admit I have never been to TrainWorld in Brooklyn, but have been to TrainLand in Lynbrook many times over the years.
I was always of the impression that TrainWorld in Brooklyn has much less on display than TrainLand?
I know technically, only TrainWorld is within NYC, so if that's why people are recommending it as a train store to go see, I understand. But as to what you will actually see on display, I always thought TrainLand had a lot more out for show.
True or False?
-Dave
True
But you could get wacked in either location !
I visited red caboose last summer, outragoes prices. They were selling the dummy MTH NJT ALP-44 for over 500. Even their HO locos were $20 over what other dealers are selling for. The owner is extreemly nice as well as his cat too. They also have a nice selction of Gemini jets planes!
