We are at our 20th episode of the Hobby Shop Hop! I hope you enjoy this one from English's Railroad Supply!
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Back around 1995 I had a wonderful phone conversation with Lew English Sr. regarding an unusual GG1 I picked up at a Phoenix, AZ swap meet for $10. We talked trains for over an hour in general and he introduced me to the world of George Stock who was the manufacturer of the GG1 I acquired. A true gentleman who was patient with the questions of a very inquisitive 26-year-old and willing to share his wealth of knowledge with me about all things vintage HO GG1 down to the variations of the Penn Line tooling Bowser has acquired versus the Japanese copies that were offered by several manufacturers in the 1960's and early 1970's yet very different in the parts needed to restore them. It is one of many memories I cherish in this hobby. While the market for parts and kits of cast locomotives has come and gone, it is great to see that English Railroad Supply is still active and doing well in their market space.
Located in Montoursville, Pa., English MRRS is one of the most comprehensive all gauge train stores, be it scale or tinplate in the State of Pa. I have visited many, many stores east and west, north and south in the Keystone State and English's is my go- to place, for trains, accessories, repairs, books, landscape materials, magazines and good conversation. One can lose a sense of time just eyeballing all that there is to see. Richard Cox, Vern Trago and others will be at the ready to make your visit an enjoyable one. Well worth the trip from anywhere.
Looks like an interesting place with a lot of oddball stuff. Unfortunately I probably won't be driving by there anytime soon. I looked at their websites - no mention of Lionel or MTH items - seems like a missed opportunity to me.
@Mallard4468 posted:Looks like an interesting place with a lot of oddball stuff. Unfortunately I probably won't be driving by there anytime soon. I looked at their websites - no mention of Lionel or MTH items - seems like a missed opportunity to me.
They have both Lionel and MTH. They have been scaling back on O scale for the last ten years or so but still have all scales. I stop there on my way to York. Good for general modeling supplies, paint, wood, styrene, metals.
As a sidenote, the Lycoming County Historical Society in Williamsport has a lot of famed Lionel collector Larue Shempp. Mr Shempp was good friends with Joshua Cowen and was able to acquire many one off prototypes and rare pre and post war. Worth a stop.
Pete
