Hobby shops in Chattanooga?

Hi Lee,

My daughter goes to school there and so I get over there several times a year. The unfortunate answer, as it is for many towns these days, is there is nothing left worth mentioning (for model trains anyway). Legacy Station in Atlanta is probably the closest bet, but that is predominately 3-rail.

Len B posted:

Hi Lee,

My daughter goes to school there and so I get over there several times a year. The unfortunate answer, as it is for many towns these days, is there is nothing left worth mentioning (for model trains anyway). Legacy Station in Atlanta is probably the closest bet, but that is predominately 3-rail.

It's really bad here in Michigan. The closest hobby shop is 17 miles from my house and is on it's last leg. I don't think it will last another six months. All the rest of the hobby shops focus on RC cars and planes. There are some near Detroit, but its a three hour drive and there is one in Michigan City, IN which is about a hour depending if I take the expressway or the back roads. The one in Michigan City has some nice stock.

p51 posted:

I'll be in the classic railroad town for a night and morning this fall.

I'm NOT a 3 rail guy but am looking for any good train-related (and/or other type, but not rc stuff) hobby shops in the town...

At the CHOO CHOO Hotel, they have a very large layout in the back by the train displays. We saw it at the LCCA convention  a few years back.. Bob

cabinet Bob posted:

At the CHOO CHOO Hotel, they have a very large layout in the back by the train displays. We saw it at the LCCA convention  a few years back.. Bob

Good to know, I was going to ask that in a later post here, as I am indeed staying the night there. I saw the place when I was very young, before I was 10, and I've been wanting to stay the night there ever since. I'll be alone for the trip, so I don't have to worry about what anyone thinks about it.

I'll be landing in Atlanta that late afternoon and plan on hitting the Hobbytown in Kennesaw on the way up through there if I can. Does anyone know of any hobby shops that are directly along that route?

Later, I'll be in Huntsville, AL for a while, any good shops there?

Good point. Other train-related items in the area include the TVRR.  You might also look into this: http://csme-eprr.com. It's by appointment only and about an hour outside of the city.

Finally, a few good train-watching locations, if you are into that. I personally like the south end of Chickamauga Dam in the park because the area is safe and views of the trestle are unobstructed. Immediately south of there is Norfolk Southern's yard, but that area is a little iffy in my opinion.

I tried to post about the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum which was running real trains when I was there for a convention, also (Dunno where that post went?), and that the area has Chicamauga and assorted Civil War battlefields and history around it...

Lee

When you stop in Hobby Town look at the layout as you go in the front doors. That is our club layout we built for the store. They have a nice train dept back left side when you walk in.

I went to TVRM in 2012 and spent the day there. I got a cab ride, too. Sadly, 630 (former ET&WNC 207) wasn't running but had run the weekend before. 

I got a cab ride on that loco in 1981 when I was a kid. I'll have just enough time to look around downtown Chattanooga or to ride the TVRM again but not both. If they're not running 630 (or 4501), I doubt I'll go back to TVRM again this time. If either is running that day, I'll for sure go there. I need to be in Huntsville by the afternoon of the Saturday I'll be in Chattanooga, as I arrive in Atlanta the previous afternoon.

One thing I badly want to get is a photo from this location at Huntsville, but I have no idea of the freight schedules through there:

I know exactly where this spot is and have been there a couple of times, but have never caught a train there...

I was in Chattanooga this past June with family and friends. Had a great time in a great city and neighboring countryside. However the only hobby shop that I found was a store loaded with Sci-Fi items..... and I mean loaded. Bought some Star Wars  items that I've been looking for a long time, but no O trains...

wolffeone posted:

I was in Chattanooga this past June with family and friends. Had a great time in a great city and neighboring countryside. However the only hobby shop that I found was a store loaded with Sci-Fi items..... and I mean loaded. Bought some Star Wars  items that I've been looking for a long time, but no O trains...

Do you recall the name of the place? I am a sci-fi fan, too...