Does Anybody Remember The Great Peter Bianco?

As a New York City guy, I would take the F train out to Trainworld on occasion and marvel at the amazing selection of postwar and modern trains. Though the staff could be pretty brusque, I always thought he really cared about customers.  In my book he was a prince.  

Hi Bob!

I have come to know his son, and now his grandson, but I'm sorry to say that I never met, nor had any dealings with him.  I can understand, based on the two Bianco generations that I have had dealings with why you might miss Peter. 

By the way, it is great to see that you are still with us.  We go back a long way.

yes Jim a long way. the ogr site is very tame now. not like it was in the old days. maybe I will put up one Hohenwald post for old times sake

by the way Ringling Brothers retired all of their elephants so maybe some landed up at Hohenwald?

Bob C.

Yes I dealt with Peter and was to his store many times. He was a real gentleman and was truly interested in his customers. I miss him.

I bought many items from him back in the 1980's. Always first class and attentive to his customers.

at York he would hit the  halls and leave checks to reserve any items he wanted. then he  would go back later to collect the goods. he was a sharp businessman.

I think I will email Trainworld and invite them to read in on this post so I hope it stays good

as for service I always talked directly with Peter and got well taken care of at all times

Bob C.

Yes I remember him well . He sold me my set of Madison cars back @1982-3  .. When He described them over the phone he  told me they where beautiful! and they where! Still have them ! plus his catalog with prices ! postwar items and his photo copy of that years Lionel catalog! The prices today are lower if you are wondering! . he's one of the reasons I stayed in tis hobby since @1980.. a Gentleman and took time to have a conversation with me over the phone ! When I saw a picture of him I realized why I like him he looked like a New Ken guy!    (my home town...)   and that's a good thing!

These are all very kind words.  I appreciate you all sharing your memories of my grandfather.  My best memories of my grandfather were when I would go to York with him and my father.  Been to everyone since I was in 3rd grade.  I was very fortunate I got to learn from him and spend time with him on all those York trips.

Ken Bianco Jr. 

Good to see your post Bob!

Thank you GG1MAN

Bob C.

Wow Peter Bianco, a name from the past. I purchased many things from him. I remember when I was in college (no money then) getting the new issue of Railroad Model Craftsman and intently reading the Trainworld ads and making wish lists.

yes. quite a nostalgic memory. as I said before I was doing a lot of business with Peter even before there was a Trainworld. I also think that his wife was involved at some point back then.

Bob C.

Whether i was with Right of Way or Train America Studios we always had the ice cream stand in the yellow hall so we were always by Train World.  It was just great to have a smoke break with Peter and listen to his stories. I learned alot about alot of things. 

Lou N

Ken Bianco, Jr.

Very nice of you to join in on this post with your comments and pictures of your Grandfather!

Best regards,

Frank

I bought my first F-3's from him, personally. In 1979 or 1980 I was 10 and my father took me to Ave M. We got a bagel next door and I bought my Pennsy F-3's which I still have...All those postwar and prewar trains on the walls on both sides..And Kenny is a real nice guy!

yes. This input from Ken is very much appreciated. I love the photos he sent.

you know I would like to copy this post and send it to Trainworld but I have no printer available to do so. I am wondering if one of the members could do this for us. it would be appreciated.

thank you

Bob C.

I remember those booklets. When I first started dealing with Peter he had only long lists with no pictures which he would send to you if requested. I used those lists as pricing guides also. As I recall he had no store at the time. This was in 1972 or so.

Bob C.

I recall in the 70s , we bought trains from Pete's list. Often he would show an item in several grades with pricing . He had quite a selection available in those days. You always got a nice item at a nice price. Today the boys have the two stores. Being a Long Islander, I have visited the Lynbrook store on the Sunrise Highway many times over the years . Before it was Trainland, there was a store there known as Mulraney's. I can remember that one from three decades earlier . Trainland is a fun place to visit . Always a great selection and the folks are just great, always a great "hello, how are you doing?"  Don't miss it folks.

Yes, "House of Mulraney" I got the 1958 Lionel catalog there. :-) The HO train layout in the front window. Perhaps only at Christmas time?

Wow that's a name that goes back to the early days. I must have been 25 years old when I first met Pete. He was a regular at many of the local area train shows in the late 70's . Pete always displayed a pretty large assortment of things and I recall only good moments with the man. IIRC his original store may have been in Queens NY on Cross Bay Blvd near Queens Blvd. Not sure about that one though as this is ancient history.  It is sad that Pete Bianco left us at a young age as he contributed much to the hobby. He was a pioneer and a visionary in the resurrected Lionel hobby and established one of the largest retailers on the East Coast.

yes. I once visited the store in Queens. a nice small operation at that time. But well stocked.

Bob C.

    I met Peter in the early 1980's. He had his store on Ave. M in Brooklyn and had purchased Trainland in Lynbrook, Long Island a few years earlier. I also met him at a local train show on Long Island.

   It seemed to me that Peter had perfect timing. He had purchased the two train stores just when us baby boomers had begun our first jobs and could now afford the trains we could only hope for back in the 1950's-1960's. It  also just happened to be a time when Lionel had been resurrected by General Mills. (A perfect storm?)

  I remember when the Trainland store was actually an auction house called House of Mullraney, with auction items to the right when you walked in, and trains to the left of the store. I also remember stopping into this store with my paper route money and buying two Lionel 6464 box cars, back in the late 1950's or early 1960's.

  In later years I dealt with Ken Bianco and more recently with Ken, Jr. They are carrying on the tradition they inherited from Peter- friendly, knowledgeable service. I am fortunate to have met Peter. I am also fortunate to live one town away from his wonderful Trainland!

John Knapp

"What's the numbah honey?"

In the early 1970's, I was in N gauge, living in Ohio.  Reading the want ads in Model Railroader I noticed an ad selling some postwar Lionel.  Just a milk car and a couple others, and later a #665 steamer by a fellow named Peter Bianco.  Wow, I thought.  I had no idea people actually kept and were selling used Lionel.  No longer having any of my original Lionel items, I thought it would be neat to be able to pick up some items.  Spoke to Peter on the phone to ask about the things he was selling.  Nice, friendly responses.

Those purchases led to a few more and let to looking locally for used Lionel trains (you cannot have just one!) The rest is history.  By 1975, the N gauge layout disappeared and the first, non-youth, Lionel layout was begun.

Back when you used to send for list I purchased a number 97 Coal Loader from Pete   I was 13 years old  When he saw we both lived in Brooklyn he included a note that read  "Hi Ben  Since we are nearly neighbors why don't you stop by the house some time"    Well I took him up on his offer but he was very surprised to see a 1 year old kid that had to have his father drive him to the house    Was very friendly with Pete and visited the house many times.   Spent most of my paychecks at the Ave M store

Wow, this brings back memories. I remember being 10 or 11 years old and going to the Ave M store with my Dad and meeting Pete. He treated me very well and I bought an MPC steamer and Marx light tower on my  first visit, was the early 70's I believe. Growing up on Long Island I know Trainland even better and remember the old layout with the big mountain. Over the years I have also bought a ton of LGB and Piko G gauge. Actually my latest purchase, just arrived, is on the floor next to me, a Piko G German coach. Always great memories and always a first stop when I am in NY. Finally, Ken Jr. your videos are great!

All the best,

Miketg

I met Peter at his store on Ave M in the earlier 80's.    Was always friendly and took the time to answer questions.   I still have trains I bought from him directly.   He was a giant in the business.   He is still missed.  

I first met Peter in the late 1960's.  He was selling used trains out of his home in Brooklyn.   As I recall, he owned a beauty shop, and obtained many a used set of trains from clients whose children had 'outgrown' them.  Evidently, many women could not resist trading an 'abandoned' set of old trains rusting away in storage for a brand new imported Italian wig  I don't recall buying anything from Peter, but he did tell me about an organization that held meetings at which their members sold toy trains.  Thus, it was because of him that I eventually joined the TCA