Hobby Shops In North Carolina

The only hobby store close to where you are is the Train Loft in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Train Loft is the only store in North Carolina that is FULLY stocked! There is also the Little Choo Choo Shop in Spencer, North Carolina. They don't have as much stock as the Train Loft....................Rogerw.

[1]If you come back down Hwy 421 E. from Wilkesboro to I-77 and take the Charlotte exit and stay I-77 South to I-85 in Charlotte, then go North on I-85 to Spencer and Lil Choo Choo Shop and the N.C. Transportation Museum with Roundhouse,Locomotives,etc, located just across the street.[nearly 1-1/2 hour trip]. Great Ry. Book inventory. Layout. O stock has thinned out as Roger notes above.

[2] Take 421 East to Winston-Salem[50 min.]. As you approach Winston at Jonestown Road, bear left and take  Business 40,  [not I-40 to Greensboro on the right]. In about 1/2 mile on the right you will see the exit for Silas Creek Parkway. Go under the bridge and circle up northbound for 1/2 mil and look for a sign, "Country Club Dr" on the right. A short exit street will take you up to Country Club Dr. Take a right and in about 2-3 stoplights keep a look out for "Reruns" Shop in a Strip on the right. Turn in go around back[2nd floor of Reruns] and you are at the Train Loft, Jeff Konczal,Prop. Large O inventory and medium sized layout. [Jeff's wife operates Reruns]. Your best bet for trains and best timewise.

[3] Greensboro Electric trains. Get back on Business 40 South at Silas Creek Parkway in Winston and stay on it on through Kernersville until you hit I-40 again.Follow 1-40 to the east Wendover exit. Stay on Wendover about 4 miles and exit up a ramp to Westover Terrace. Take a right and Westover soon evolves as Aycock Street.Stay on Aycock [UNC-G Campus on your left], turn right onto Spring garden St  for about a mile and watch carefully on the right for the Shop in a little house. Layout, train repair,O and HO trains.[40 minutes from The Train Loft].

The last I heard Greensboro Electric Trains is "history."  So best to call and check before hand.

Good suggestion Ron, I haven't been over there in more than a year.

Greensboro Electric Trains closed for good sometime in August of this year (2013)...............rogerw.

Dewey,

Thanks for the detailed directions I will follow them.

WOW,Is that all there is? Only 1 store in North Carolina,I have been reading that there is all this train related stuff going on everywhere there,I really thought that there was more there, Seems like know one likes trains in North Carolina,If that is all there is I might be a very bored person when I am there.

My girlfriend is from there and I was thinking about moving there soon but after seeing what is there as far as hobby shops and or train stores go I might have to re-think my plan, She can come here.

How about train shows, My guess would be that there are very few if any?

Thanks everyone,I will wait and see if others respond

Fred

Fred, In the early 90's, there were at least 10 different stores located around this area. As the years went by and the economy tanked, a lot of stores went out of business. We normally have train shows in this area twice a year. There are a lot of O scale enthusiasts in the area, just not a lot of train (hobby) stores....................Rogerw.

Fred, there is more than one train store in North Carolina. There is a train store in Raleigh, Wilmington and Wendell, North Carolina...............Rogerw.

 That is not accurate information. Their table was right across from ours last month at the show in Charlotte and their phone number is still good and active.

Rob

There is also a train shop in Landis NC, Chucks Trains I believe.

The Trains shows are once a year June at the Metrolina Fair, Ground April in Hickory and the Yearly Lionel Warehouse sale in November. I think the fair grounds in Winston-Salem host a show in the spring and fall.

As for train store. Don't come to Charlotte looking for any unless you plan to visit a Hobbytown USA!

BUT is the store definitely still there????  A couple of months back a fellow stop at the Choo-Choo relating that story he stopped there, store was empty but repair side appeared to be there.  Don't have to have store to be selling at show.  One of the largest toy train stores from Charlotte also had tables at shows(in fact beside mine) for years after closing store front.

If you will please what is the phone number so we can try it?

Old Rob, Greensboro Electric Trains is closed (the storefront on spring garden street). He may still be selling trains on Ebay or at various trainshows............rogerw.

Fred, there are several train shows at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh every year. I had intended to go to the TCA train show today but the weather kept me at home. Here's a schedule: http://trainweb.org/nrmrc/shows.html

Prr Ronbh, just google Greensboro electric trains and call that number . I did and its good.

Rob

We have had a number of threads about Charlotte/NC and the lack of hobby shops while having a higher than average income, or so says the NC CoC.

We had some great ones while I lived there.....but they are all gone. Train Loft had lots of stuff on my last visit....but did not get a warm and fuzzy feel the times I visited so stopped going. Roanoke has LOTS better shops than most of NC has now.

Regional TCA just had a member reported successful Show in Raleigh. Easy access around the State on Interstate highways to reach semi-annual events in Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem.

Greensboro is mostly focused on HO with the active Carolina Model Railroader's complex at the restored 1927 Depot. But O-gauge thrives in Greensboro basements,attics and spare bedrooms.

Age and health have forced closure of Greensboro's Inside Track, Chuck Anderson of Pittsburgh's, old line store on Friendly Ave and one of my very early suppliers, The Covered Wagon 30 year attendees of the NYC Toy FAIR closed for health issues in the eastern suburbs, a very high volume 10% discounter of trains, vehicles and dolls. And now I hear Greensboro Electric Trains is down.

Take a deeper look, in particular at Wilkes County Fred, I think you will find interesting opportunities and challenges in North Carolina.  O-gauge in N.C. is far more than just retail outlets, We welcome you! 

Below are a few I found listed, Not sure your direction of travel.

Hayes Hobby House

809 Elm Street

Fayetteville, NC 28303-4151
(910) 485-2337

The Antique Barn and Hobby Shop
2810 Forest Hills Road SW
Wilson, North Carolina 27893-9295
Phone: (252) 237-6778

The Hobby House

1211 Ashville Hwy

Hendersonville, North Carolina  28791

Phone:  828-692-6683

The Train Loft

4007B Country Club Road

Winston-Salem North Carolina 27104

1-877-760-9817

Tom's Train Station

The Shops at South Hills
1239 Buck Jones Road
Raleigh, NC 27606

Train Buddy™ Products
1200 Jenkins Rd, Bldg B
Wake Forest, NC  27587-9066

Dewey

Was going to ask if the Covered Wagon was still in business. Remember they had a really good selection there the few times I was there. Sad to hear they have closed along with the Inside Track.

Lon

Fred,  there are two good shows each year near the Asheville Regional Airport hosted by two different clubs (HO & N) but there is usually a decent amount of O available. We have a nice club The Smoky Mountain Model Railroaders west of Asheville and we have a large Fastrack layout that we display at both shows and other venues in the area.

The Hickory show mentioned above is a good one for this area.

Train Shops are few and far between however as it is a tough business these days. To the south in Atlanta area you have several good outlets - Legacy Station, Trainz, and another one I think in north Atlanta.

Western NC is a beautiful and you can't beat the weather here because of the elevation - cool in summer and not too cold in winter with a full 4 seasons!

Thanks guy's, Now we are talking,Looking really good,I am going to copy this post and save it,

Not sure when I will be coming down there but with in the next month or so maybe two, I will be coming down so we can try and fine a place to live in  that area of Wilkesboro,North Wilkesboro or another area, Maybe even near Greensboro.

Not sure if I am going to sell my house here and buy one there or keep my

house and let my daughter live here, than we will just rent down there?

Very hard to move everything, Expensive too.I am retired so kind of on a budget also,But I can leave any time.

Thanks everyone for responding

Dewey,Thanks for the Welcome!Much appreciated

Fred

Oh, Fred, there's one more thing you need to know about North Carolina...the weather can be crazy.

Billshoff,

That is really cool thanks, My problem is not North Carolina, But getting there, The weather could be pretty bad driving there now, I am in Butler, New Jersey so at least a 8-9 hour drive it is 600 miles to where I have to go,I have been there a couple of times before,But not this time of the year so the weather on the way down could get pretty bad I think, Not sure what the weather is now heading there but might be bad drving thru Virginia, it takes about 4 hours + just to get through the state seems like you never leave, I might not be heading down until maybe January so the weather would be even worst, I have to figure out how to check the weather all the way down there.

Thanks

Fred 

I-81 in a snowstorm is a lesson you only need once.

I stopped at the Train Loft in Winston Salem during our Thanksgiving trip. He probably has 1000 train cars on the shelves. Maybe 1000 is slightly exaggerated, but is probably at least 902 of them.  Engine count is just a few.  There are a lot of accessories, buildings, and other items.  I believe he was, probably still is a MTH mega station.  It would take you at least an hour or two to go through all stuff.

Hobby House in Hendersonville is small/medium shop, however I would not drive there for just for a visit.   If you were visiting Hendersonville or Asheville, then it may be worth popping in.  The Biltmore house at Christmas is beautiful and worth the trip.  

Tom's Train Station in Cary has a pretty big selection of O gauge including some Vision and TMCC steam and a lot of Legacy and such.  Good people but the store is often a zoo this time of year, becuase they also carry a ton of Thomas and friends stuff, too.

I hear what you are saying, So how would you fine the weather conditions for a trip down there. I checked about flying there, I did that once before about 10 years ago, Now price to fly in January is $356.00 round trip(that is expensive since I could go to florida for $99.00)I might still drive, I was a truck driver for 35yrs. and I like driving in show because I can,Ice that is another story. But I have to get there some how?

Thanks Dewey

Fred

Lee,Thanks,I like a zoo,Tom's train station,That is in Cary NC?That is another one,This is getting really good now,Plenty of train related stuff to do,

Maybe I could met some new friends there also!

Thanks

Fred

Thanks Dewey, I will have to fine out the weather for the states heading down, $356.00 to fly(kinka enpensive)

Fred

There is hobby shop just west of Pinehurst NC off of rt 211. It BPCS HOBBIES. Charlie

Fred, check Southwest Airlines into Raleigh-Durham (RDU). Flights are much cheaper than flying into Greensboro. If Southwest does have a flight to where I'm going then I don't go at all. They are THE Best.

billshoff, Thanks, I will check out Southwest Airlines, How far is Raleigh-Durham airport from North Wilkesboro, Greensboro airport is about 50mins from my girlfriends house, She would have to pick me up at the airport and she is not to good at finding things.

Thanks

Fred

I want to thank everyone who has responed here I really appreciate it, There seems like there is a lot to do.

I do have a question though, Seems like most of you guy's know the area in  North Wilkesboro, Can anyone tell me about that area, How is it compared to others, I have only been there once 10 years ago my girlfriend lived there but left and came up here to New Jersey and has been here for the last 10 years but missed everyone there and has decided to go back home so I might be moving there, So the reason for my question.

Thanks in advance for any info.

Fred

Fred

North Wilkesboro is located on four-lane US 421 along the Yadkin River in the N.C. foothills where the mountains begin. Just 6-7 miles west on U.S.421 is an 8% grade up to the Continental Divide which is the primary reason Southern Railway punted and terminated enroute from Greensboro/Winston west toward Boone, home of Applachian University.

[off to the northwest the N&W Ry entered N.C.toward Boone from Virginia along the east fork of New River but gave it up at Todd, N.C. It was left to little narrow gauge East Tennessee & Western N.C. RY {"Tweetsie"} to reach Boone from Johnson City,Tennessee in the west. In summary, there you have the railroad history of the area].

North Wikesboro and environs was once touted as the "Moonshine Capital", a well deserved claim but one often disputed by competitive, hairy-legged distillers near and far. More important,in the 1980s it was the HQ of Holly Farms Chicken[now Tyson] and remains a major brooder and processing center.

Northwestern Bank, now a part of Wells Fargo, and Lowe's Corporation were also headquartered there. Junior Johnson, native of nearby Rhonda was a famous NASCAR champion, and more famous white liquor producer and transporter. He achieved his early driving victories against federal and state law enforcement on the back roads of Western N.C.  Later after serving briefly as a ward of the state,a Junior served as a principal in Holly Farms, NASCAR Team owner and became wealthy legitimately.

If interested in boating or fishing the large Kerr Scott Lake is handy along with dozens of fly-fishing creeks. Of course North Carolina is golfing country and off to the west skiing on the 5,500--6,000' mountains. Wilkes Community College annually hosts the famous Doc Watson music festival which brings many celebrities and temporarily increases the Town's population many fold.

Perhaps your girl friend has mentioned the famous or infamous citizen Tom Dulin, object of the song ,"Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley".[as I recall, he was hung].

Of course the town has a Walmart Super Center,Kohls, Belks stores and every fast food joint and car dealer known to man. It also has some nice parks and recreation facilities.

Last, I have been through Miller's Creek on N.C. 16 enroute to West Jefferson but don't remember it. My dentist fly fishes there.

 Pop. 2,147  Nearest cities: Cricket, Hays and Rhonda[2 to 4 miles]

Here's a thought if flights are cheap to Florida. If you can get a deal on a hire car,  always appear to get a good deal on a car when we fly into Tampa (better than Orlando).

 Drive up from the south. I would think in theory the weather conditions would be better.

Depends what it's going to cost you in gas etc.

Of course once your in NC all bets are off. I have family there and have heard the stores of 4 seasons in a week or is that in a day!

Nick, Thanks, sounds good to me, Will have to check into that, Might work,Could be a plan.

Bill, I check and to Raleigh-Durham is cheaper but is over 2 hrs from my girl friends house,She would never find it.Greensboro is about an hour from her,She could find that LOL

Thanks

Fred

If your going to make the trip to Spencer you might as well drive a little further and swing by Lionel in Concord! Look me up when you get to the main lobby.

Safe Travels,

Mike Reagan

Lionel

Fred

I made the trip from New Jersey to N.C. via auto more than a dozen times and picked 81 over 95/85 as the route because I drove at night when they closed many toll gates on 95 resulting in long truck backups[not to mention Baltimore]. I-81 was still fairly new and raw then and I did experience two bad weather events over time. But I drove versus flying because of the flexibility and comfort my car provided over flying/renting in my situation. But that was over 30 years ago. 

Today your best most rapid route[s] appear to be Interstates 78,81,77, U.S. 421 and N.C. 16 to Millers Creek. [I-95 is still a major pain]. If you have the time and energy for about 12 hours driving I would check out the weather and hit the road. After arrival Girlfriend can take the wheel and chauffeur you about. [52 miles to the Train Loft, 80 miles to Mike Reagan's Lionel Center ].