Hobbyist in Northeast, Ohio

I live in Perry, OH- halfway between Cleveland and Erie.  I am a newcomer- started (back) in model railroading 1-1/2 years ago, this time in O Gauge.  Buy most of my stuff either at shows, online (e-Bay or Forum members) and through/ at Toy And Hobby HQ in Geneva, OH.

 

Mike

Hi Mike,

 Thanks for contributing, I am in Southington, Ohio about 45 minutes due South of Geneva on the lake, via State Route 45

Jeff

I imagine there are a good many of us O gaugers in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, myself included. I know at least twenty or more, some of whom are part of our Tuesday Train Gang group (informal) over in Western PA. A good number of guys and gals in the Greenville (PA) area, with a club in the rail museum up there. And certainly don't forget the Corner Field Model Railroad Museum and Hobby Store in Middlefield, OH. Look 'em up via a Google search.

And if you get over to Mercer, PA, be sure to stop in to see Dave Minarik at his Mercer Junction Train Shoppe. Go there on just about any Tuesday afternoon and you're apt to see me there as well. It's a short 45-minute drive for me.

In short: There likely is a very large concentration of O gauge hobbyists in the geographic area you mentioned. Probably one of the largest concentrations in the U.S., along with PA-NJ-NY areas.

Jefferson County Ohio here

I'm near East Rochester, a little crossroads about 20 miles east of Canton. 

Joe Shipbaugh

I live along & model the old NKP west of Cleveland.

Conneaut Lake PA (Crawford Co. PA) here!

How about the folks from Cornerfield Museum and Hobby?  Tom Sr, Tom Jr and the rest of the family have an awesome museum layout. Excellent hobbyist and promoters of the hobby! 

What about Stockyard Express? They're located in Oberlin, and they have quite the selection of MTH! They are just O Scale, and not a whole lot other than MTH, but still very impressive. Nice guys up there.

I'm in Avon Lake, Ohio (West side of Cleveland). I'm 27 years old and have been involved in the hobby my whole life. I've been posting YouTube videos of my layout progress for about 9 years now. I get nearly all of my trains/equipment/track/accessories from either Stockyard Express in Oberlin, OH or Uncle Ray's Trains in Sheffield Lake, OH. Menards has some cool stuff but I've yet to buy anything.

- Jason

Native of Broadview Hts. living in North Royalton since 1995. My dad had HO for us and later N gauge around the Christmas tree, but I got my postwar O Gauge fill from my uncle (Parma) and grandfather (Old Brooklyn) who had O and O27. I ended up inheriting my grandfather's collection and have added a lot of modern O27 / Traditional / Non-Scale items, probably too many. 

I hate shopping, but can always find time to visit the Trading Post Train Shop in Old Brooklyn. 

This thread is a great idea for more connection opportunities. After it runs its course, I may start a similar thread for my location. Arnold

I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away.  The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid.  Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.

Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout.  As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work.  He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout.  It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

raising4daughters posted:

Native of Broadview Hts. living in North Royalton since 1995. My dad had HO for us and later N gauge around the Christmas tree, but I got my postwar O Gauge fill from my uncle (Parma) and grandfather (Old Brooklyn) who had O and O27. I ended up inheriting my grandfather's collection and have added a lot of modern O27 / Traditional / Non-Scale items, probably too many. 

I hate shopping, but can always find time to visit the Trading Post Train Shop in Old Brooklyn. 

When I lived in NE Ohio, a visit to The Trading Post on Pearl Road in Cleveland was a weekly ritual! Great selection of O gauge trains in an old-fashioned train shop atmosphere which is very hard to find anymore  (been there since 1950).

I grew up in that area right along the Ohio River. I always thought the hobby was stronger in that area of the country and it's certainly what I miss about living there. Miss seeing the long trains cross over the rivers and trains working in the "used to be" steel mills. 

Dave

John Rowlen posted:

I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away.  The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid.  Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.

Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout.  As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work.  He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout.  It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

John,

What an awesome concept,"Valley of Bridges". Makes me think of that awesome city of Pittsburgh. I don't believe you can be in that city and look anywhere and not see a bridge. Keep us posted on your progress. Along with your dad, this site is a wonderful motivator.

Dave

I live in Cuyahoga Falls. Just north of Akron and maybe 30 miles south of Cleveland. I lucked out and have a Menards 2 miles from me now. My number one store to go too. Train related items I have yet to buy out of the store. All my buys have been through the website and shipped to the store free. Before they built the one close to me I was driving 35 miles south to shop at Menards...............Paul

Thanks to all that have replied, this is what I was looking for. Allan, the guys in the Greenville PA area have a great thing going, been friends with those guys for almost 20 years. Cornerfield Museum & Hobby have known them for years as well. I have always wanted to get something going like the Greenville Group does but in our area of course.

I live in Butler, Pennsylvania not far from the I-80 I-79 interchange!  I visit layouts in Norheast Ohio.  I went to the Elesh’s CornerField this summer and have a visit planned to a home layout.  I see there is a Menards in Warren Ohio about an hour away and plan to visit for the first time in a Menards.

I have been in the hobby 40 years and have meet a lot of train people from this area, there used to be so many train shops within a 50-60 miles radius of my location. Sadly most of them are gone today. Always great to meet fellow enthusiasts & find a new Hobby Shop!!

I'm in Eastlake, around 20 min west of Mike Wyatt. Been in the hobby since my deceased great grandpa and some uncle's set up a Christmas layout every year when our family lived in Texas. I just dug all those trains out of the garage attic last week which found some amazing stuff in good condition. The only Menards I've been to was in Angola, Indiana on my way to the S.S. Badger in Michigan which they didn't have any trains for sale unfortunately.

Hope u guys don't mind. I live in South East Michigan, I have to travel to Oberlin Ohio and points farther to all your area to see good Train stores.Even into the PA . 

Seven Hills, about 5 miles south of downtown Cleveland. 

JJAMES Cleveland Ohio here! Have to mention Trading Post Train shop ...Great crew there. I would love to see some pics of your new layout! 

I'm in Bay Village, western suburb of Cleveland.

I am in Richfield Ohio, about 20 miles due south of downtown Cleveland.  There's a new Menards just across the valley from me but I've yet to visit.

Lou N

John Rowlen posted:

I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away.  The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid.  Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.

Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout.  As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work.  He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout.  It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

Ah yes; Silver at Trading Post.  Mr Cambie Silverthorn.  Got a lot of trains there too.  I remember his 65 T-bird convertible with the Trading Post sign on the back.  

I miss your dad and my weekly visits to his Studio.  I still have the Lackawanna FM, the 746, and the GG1 he helped me find on my youthful budget.

Lou N

I'm in Milan. About an hour west of Cleveland.

Seems like Ohio is another Mecca for O Gauge like Pennsylvania is.

We are next door neighbors!  :-)

Originally from Canton, Ohio and it will always be home! My intro to train shops was Schaffner's, and later on it was Trains &Things up in N. Canton, and Glen's Train Shop up in Akron. Pretty sure all are gone now, but they were all pretty cool in their own regard.

I will put a plug in for the Massillon Train Club, I've been able to visit a couple times on trips home to visit my parents, and they have a great layout and are a friendly bunch. 

 

Glen's Train Shop became Aaron's City Trains but it is now closed.

Took me a few minutes to remember Engelharts in Massillon.  They had pretty nice display layouts.

Aaron's was a nice shop - It was a completely different experience than Glen's in the same space. Made it there a few times and did some pre-orders with them when they were open.

It's been discussed on the forum before but Glen's was a one of a kind experience. I will never forget Robert's uncanny ability to know where nearly everything was in all those piles of brown shipping boxes all over the store. 

John Rowlen posted:

I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away.  The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid.  Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.

Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout.  As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work.  He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout.  It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.

Sincerely, John Rowlen

I've been waiting for a Menards! I'm in Parma as well! And thank God for Trading Post!

Mike,

 That sounds like a plan to me!! I don't know of any private layouts near my location but I would be more than willing to "open" mine up. The Menard's is about 15 minutes from where I live. Of course Cornerfield Trains & Museum is not far, Mercer Junction in PA is worth your time if you have not been there yet? Great train store, well stocked and a great owner!!

There is a Eat n Park in front of Menard's and a Perkins directly across the street.

Jeff

paul 2 posted:

I live in Cuyahoga Falls. Just north of Akron and maybe 30 miles south of Cleveland. I lucked out and have a Menards 2 miles from me now. My number one store to go too. Train related items I have yet to buy out of the store. All my buys have been through the website and shipped to the store free. Before they built the one close to me I was driving 35 miles south to shop at Menards...............Paul

Hey neighbor, I'm in Stow. Everytime I'm in there I always swing through, my oldest boy wanted to buy my wife the Starbucks store for our new layout! Have you been to Rail and Road hobby in North Hill yet? He's only there on Saturday but he's got some neat stuff.

I've met @rockstars1989 very good people, gave my boys some turnouts for our layout. :-)

 

Mike,

That sounds like a great idea!  I live an hour away, as I said above when I mentioned the Warren Menards.  I am semi-retired, right now not working, but when I do work, I am usually off Thursday and Friday.  I agree Saturday or Sunday will probably catch the most people.  I go to church on Sundays, but can be there by noon.  This Thursday and Friday I'm booked moving my parents into a new personal care home, but I'm sure that is too soon to get the most folks lined up.

Keep in mind Saturday and Sunday, Nov 10, 11 is the Greenberg Show in Monroeville, Pennsylvania.  I don't know how many of the eastern-most folks go, but I will go that Saturday.

Let me throw my location in here as well (Willoughby Hills).  Rumor is they have started building the Menards in Mentor after talking about it for 2 years so now I won't have to drive over to Warren to pick up stuff.  Of course if my "good friend" Paul would just pick up my orders at the one 2 miles from his home and bring it to our Tuesday night meetings that would help until the one in Mentor is complete.  

I would agree that Northeast Ohio is a real great place to live if your into 3 rail model railroading.  I know we have had some hobby shops close up but there are many active groups here and some of the nicest guys/ladies you could meet.  

Bryan, I'll bet Paul would charge you a significant handling fee!  

I had to look up Willoughby Hills.  I see you are up near the Lake near Kirtland.  Handy for those shows!!