Hello Detroit / We lost Wild Bill’s Trains / Where are you going?

Hey, any of you Detroit/Michigan natives....about how long of a drive would you say it is from Ann Arbor to Brasseur's?

Funny, I just received a emal from Trains that they have purchased the Wild Bill's inventory.

mike.caruso posted:

Hey, any of you Detroit/Michigan natives....about how long of a drive would you say it is from Ann Arbor to Brasseur's?

Hi Mike / You have to catch U.S. 23 North, to I-75 should be about the same time. On game day, give it up and stay home.

Gary

I just went to Lionels website / find a dealer, and typed in Detroit, Mich. and got a whole slew of train stores nearby.....don't know how up-to-date it is, though.

suzukovich posted:

Funny, I just received a emal from Trains that they have purchased the Wild Bill's inventory.

True, click link below to related post: "Wild Bill's Train inventory liquidated

https://ogrforum.com/t...inventory-liquidated

Penn-Pacific posted:

I just went to Lionels website / find a dealer, and typed in Detroit, Mich. and got a whole slew of train stores nearby.....don't know how up-to-date it is, though.

Hi Penn-Pacific - Yes we have a whole slew of Lionel Dealers. This list is from the Lionel Web Page, but if you break this list down to what shops sell, Atlas, MTH and Lionel and also do service on Atlas, MTH and Lionel, they start to fall off the chart. The ones highlighted in yellow, I use for Model Railroading and RC Model Aircraft.  These are all fine shops, but Wild Bill's Trains was 100% O Gauge.  The two shops on the above driving map comes close to the main objective, sales, service and parts, for Atlas, MTH and Lionel. Thanks for checking this out.

WHISTLE STOP HOBBY 21714 HARPER AVENUE / SAINT CLAIR SHORES, MI 48080

VAN DYKE POOLS & TOYS 27825 RYAN ROAD, SUITE 2 /WARREN, MI 48092

YOUNG'S CHRISTMAS FANTASY 27825 RYAN ROAD / WARREN, MI 48092

DOLL HOSPITAL 3947 WEST 12 MILE / BERKLEY, MI 48072

P & D HOBBY SHOP 31280 GROESBECK / FRASER, MI 48026

KECK HARDWARE & HOBBY CENTER 2132 WEST ROAD / TRENTON, MI 48183

MY HOBBY PLACE & TOYS 33201 PLYMOUTH ROAD / LIVONIA, MI 48150

EMPIRE TRAINS 3278 ROCHESTER ROAD / TROY, MI 48083

GREAT LAKES HOBBY & TRAIN 43089 VAN DYKE AVENUE / STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48314

TONY'S MOWER SHOP & TRAINS 40970 FIVE MILE / LIVONIA, MI 48170

PLYMOUTH TRAIN SHOP 583 WEST ANN ARBOR TRAIL / PLYMOUTH, MI 48170

Gary - Cheers from The Detroit and Mackinac Railway

KECK HARDWARE & HOBBY CENTER 2132 WEST ROAD / TRENTON, MI 48183 this is the new spot for me.

Unfortunately for me every one of these places are a three hour from Southwest Michigan. There are five here. One is threatening to close his store. three don't really have anything for train people, not even a full isle of stock and the fourth I haven't had the chance to check out yet because it's 60 miles from me.

Bert is now working at:

GREAT LAKES HOBBY & TRAIN: 43089 VAN DYKE AVENUE / STERLING HEIGHTS, MI 48314

If you gave Bert at Wild Bill's Trains a Lionel, Atlas or MTH order to build.  These orders will now be processed by Great Lakes Hobby & Train. 

Note: Great Lakes Hobby & Train is a Authorized Dealer for Atlas and Lionel, and both Atlas and Lionel are OGR Forum Sponsors and sponsors in the O Gauge Railroading Magazine. See April / May 2016 • Run 284. Atlas page 30 and Lionel pages 8 & 72. 

To Learn more about Great Lakes Hobby & Train. Click the Atlas and Lionel Advertisement. In the OGR Forum Ad Banner. Under dealers.

Gary

I shop at Rider's Hobby Shop in Flint, MI.  FWIW.

Actually this gives a great opportunity For Great Lakes Hobbies to become more of a train store. With Bert working there it sure is a great start. 

Ask for Tom or Bert, they are super people and can help you with all your railroad needs. I have been Tom's and Berts customer for over 17 years.

J Daddy posted:

Actually this gives a great opportunity For Great Lakes Hobbies to become more of a train store. With Bert working there it sure is a great start. 

Ask for Tom or Bert, they are super people and can help you with all your railroad needs. I have been Tom's and Berts customer for over 17 years.

YES • THE MOTOR CITY IS ON ONE MORE COME BACK.... Rock-N-Roll.

I am afraid that train has clearly left the station, and Bert is the Conductor. Look forward to seeing him at the new station.

This is a good analogy, however Elmer's health was faded in the last 5 years really put a damper on his ability to expand Wild Bills. He was not able to really stock allot of new products with the existing stock that was not moving. 

With Tom's eager beaver attitude and Bert's love of trains, this could be something big... 

Now if Tom could hire a MTH and Lionel certified repair technician .... with ERR and PS3 upgrade capabilities... the shop would rock!

PLYMOUTH TRAIN SHOP 583 WEST ANN ARBOR TRAIL / PLYMOUTH, MI 48170

He has moved....

I live near Keck Hardware and stop in for hobby supplies occasionally.  They do have a good supply of hobby paints, glues, metals, tubing, etc.  The train supplies are limited and it is mostly self-serve because the hobby guy is never there when I have dropped in.

Dennis

March 5th., 2016 • My last purchase at Wild Bill's Trains / I may have to get a frame and put it on a wall in the "Train Room - Man Cave". I had a RailKing 7-Up Boxcar in my hand and put it back, I only pay cash, no more green backs. See receipt below.

Gary

Does Brasseur Electric Trains stock many O gauge trains, or, is it mostly parts?  As to restaurants, I think I would also consider Frankenmuth, MI, if I made the trek to Saginaw -- and, would plan only one meal for that day.... :-)

CLICK HERE to go to the OGR Dealer page.

Search on zip code 48080.

You'll see 13 places to buy trains within 100 miles of Detroit.

Gary,

I stopped at Empire Trains in Troy, and, it has the largest collection of Postwar trains I've ever seen at the store.  In fact, some of the glass shelves in the cases in back have the trains in rows rather then the usual "off angle" display which allows a view of each selection from the side.  There were 3, No. 60 Lionville Trolleys alone.  The shelves across from the cases are also brimming with trains.  Quite a bit of vintage Flyer Trains too.

The soon to be opened Nona's Grille about a block north isn't quite opened yet, but there are plenty of nearby restaurant choices on Rochester Rd. nearby, including Picano's, that wonderful Italian restaurant.