Imperial Train Company is Closing (store walkaround video)

Dan, I am sorry the store is closing, but thank you for the heads up for the sale.  Nice video to give an idea of what is there. I’ll certainly give it some thought on how I can help reduce the inventory.

I would suggest that you buy a few tables and cart some of the inventory to the Allentown Spring Thaw Meet at the Allentown Fair Grounds on Feb 22 & 23rd  That is the prime PA show for bargains and has drawn up to 5,000 attendees. I always find the cheapest prices there.

Dang!  I enjoyed stopping in every now and then as the shop isn't far from my office. Ill be stopping by next week

Really enjoyed the soundtrack.  Never occurred to me it would go so well with trains.

Dennis LaGrua posted:

I would suggest that you buy a few tables and cart some of the inventory to the Allentown Spring Thaw Meet at the Allentown Fair Grounds on Feb 22 & 23rd  That is the prime PA show for bargains and has drawn up to 5,000 attendees. I always find the cheapest prices there.

Why would you think they are trying to sell at the "cheapest prices" ?

After all this was a business.

My daughter had been in Pittsburgh for the last 6 years. Each visit, I’ve said “next time”I’ll make time for Imperial.. too late. I’ll give you a call re: mth Christmas passenger, Steelers hot metal (she lives just off the hot metal bridge and her boyfriend is a HUGH Steelers fan), mth navy and maybe some other stuff. 

At around 1:20 into the video there are 3 PRR Steam. I do not see them on the website. The first one looks like a 4-6-0. Is it from MTH if not who. Can you quote a price for it here or through my e-mail. Would like to see if it is something I would be willing to drive 5 hrs one way to get.

Thank you, Forest

From the video it appears that Imperial is a well stocked shop.  Maybe they can set up a table or two at the Fort Pitt TCA meet on Jan. 26 in Cheswick - about 30 miles away or possibly just have an informational sales flyer/notice at the entry/exits.  Sad to see another shop closing.

Forest posted:

At around 1:20 into the video there are 3 PRR Steam. I do not see them on the website. The first one looks like a 4-6-0. Is it from MTH if not who. Can you quote a price for it here or through my e-mail. Would like to see if it is something I would be willing to drive 5 hrs one way to get.

Thank you, Forest

Contact information is given in the initial post.

That video with the smooth camera work and music was sort of hypnotic. Maybe you have a future in video production?

Keystone posted:

From the video it appears that Imperial is a well stocked shop.  Maybe they can set up a table or two at the Fort Pitt TCA meet on Jan. 26 in Cheswick - about 30 miles away or possibly just have an informational sales flyer/notice at the entry/exits.  Sad to see another shop closing.

i go to the Cheswick show and Imperial has been at them the last I went

"...after 15 years because the owner is moving to the South (the website will remain up)."

Well, heck - have him bring the store with him. I'll go shop there. (Of course, the "South" is a very big country, so...still, got to be closer than Pittsburgh.)

It's 15 minutes from my house so I stopped there this morning and picked up some Lionel Husky Stacks and an MTH Centerflow hopper. There is still plenty of stock.

The owner is moving to Texas.

I can tell you the website is not accurate. Went there to buy a specific engine, and they didn't have it. When I asked, they said, "nope don't have it".  About a week later the website was updated.... With this sale - I'd say get yer butt over there if you want something....

Will posted:

That video with the smooth camera work and music was sort of hypnotic. Maybe you have a future in video production?

I agree. It is soooo much better than the standard jerky videos that look like the camera operator has itching powder in their shorts and is being attacked by a swarm of bees.

Stuff is going out quick. Best bet is to call if you have something specific in mind. 

Brother, wife and I carried a few items out the door earlier today.  

If you guys don’t already, be sure to follow dan’s YouTube channel. He has a really great layout in a small space - I really like his downtown Pittsburgh scene. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/PghTrainFanatic

This was video was very helpful - I e-nailed Imperial trains last night, they held the requested items, I call Regis today and my order was placed!  He gave me some good prices and I got better than 35% off, but PA sales tax kicks in since we are both in Pennsylvania. 

I’ll miss this store - I had to fly often out of Pittsburgh airport and would enjoy stopping by there before or after flights. Thanks to PSR my career is currently sidetracked and my flying days are over, but I was glad to give Imperial my business one last time! 

I don’t think that’s Daniel’s YouTube page. At least it doesn’t match his signature’s link.  But still a good page!

Are they shipping items or do you have to pickup”in store”?

Mark

I am sorry to hear of this fine store closing. I met Regis via the OGR Forum and he purchased a Lionel Operating Crane Car with boom car from me. I bought 8 or 9 scale piggy back trailer cars from his store. They are in my train room still new in the boxes and they are very nice. I planned on visiting his store as we now have a grandson going to the University of Pittsburgh. Thank you all for sharing this information. Happy Railroading 

I ended up with some really great pieces and a trunk load of new stuff.  How can you beat 35% off newly released BTO items!!!!

MWasko posted:

Are they shipping items or do you have to pickup”in store”?

Mark

It's in-store only

MikeH posted:

MWasko posted:

Are they shipping items or do you have to pickup”in store”?

Mark

It's in-store only

No they’ll ship. The items I bought today were over the phone and they ship out Monday. 

M J Breen posted:

If you guys don’t already, be sure to follow dan’s YouTube channel. He has a really great layout in a small space - I really like his downtown Pittsburgh scene. 

https://www.youtube.com/user/PghTrainFanatic

This was video was very helpful - I e-nailed Imperial trains last night, they held the requested items, I call Regis today and my order was placed!  He gave me some good prices and I got better than 35% off, but PA sales tax kicks in since we are both in Pennsylvania. 

I’ll miss this store - I had to fly often out of Pittsburgh airport and would enjoy stopping by there before or after flights. Thanks to PSR my career is currently sidetracked and my flying days are over, but I was glad to give Imperial my business one last time! 

That is Nicholas' page.  I ran into him at the store. 

What kinds of goodies did you guys take home today?

Regis,

I hope you have a very long, happy and healthy retirement. Best of luck.

At one time they had available several special runs of Montour Railroad items.  Montour Railroad (Bike trail) is West of Pittsburgh.   ??Recent Caboose, and flat car??.  

Wow! So sad to see the shop close. I remember Dad and I stopping at Imperial and the Iron Horse when I was a kid. I worked at Imperial in the Fall/Winters of 2013-2015. So many fun memories. I will need to stop out this week, to say goodbye and help clear some inventory. 

-Ryan 

Mike CT posted:

At one time they had available several special runs of Montour Railroad items.  Montour Railroad (Bike trail) is West of Pittsburgh.   ??Recent Caboose, and flat car??.  

 

We just did a run of reddish-brown and yellow bobber cabooses; most of them are gone. We have several #314 plate girder bridges in stock lettered for the Montour. Last year we did SW9 #76 after its repainting for the Bicentennial/rebuilding. There was an American crane car and flatcar with truck in the works with MTH; I'll ask Regis if those projects are still on for the next MTH run(s). The Atlas and MTH hoppers pop up occasionally; our shop manager seems to have a real nose for finding them. 

At least the website will remain up. 

Does the website reflect their current inventory? Are things still discounted?

Thanks,

Scott Smith

scott.smith posted:

Does the website reflect their current inventory? Are things still discounted?

Thanks,

Scott Smith

Hi Scott, 

I have not talked to the owner since I returned to college, but I expect that the website inventory still is being updated, since they only moved earlier this month. Some sections (e.g. Railking motive power) are more updated than other sections (e.g. Montour speciality items) based on my memory of what was in the store before my break ended. I can say with confidence that the discount at 35% was in-store only and stopped on February 8th; however, if you see a discount on the website, (on many items, there is a standard discount of 15%), that discount still applies. The goal was to start putting the remaining inventory on the site after the move, but that is at the owner's discretion. 

If you have a specific item in mind that the locator or website shows as in our inventory, send the owner an email; as far as I know, the listed email address is still good. If you have any issues, send me an email off-forum and I'll see if there's anything I can do. 

scott.smith posted:

Does the website reflect their current inventory? Are things still discounted?

Thanks,

Scott Smith

Hi Scott

Right now I would call or as Dan suggested probably better email because no one is there until Friday this week.  The current website is not accurate due to the sale and product moving fast.  Half of the inventory went out the last few weeks at a fast pace.  Currently Regis is in the process of packing for the move to Texas and is inventorying the entire contents before the move so that the website can catch up to the sales.  If you call or email he can let you know what's in inventory.  I have been assisting in the pack and we are hoping to have the store empty this weekend so I wouldn't delay.  As far as discounts, as far as I know Regis is still willing to deal so there is less to send to Texas but again you'll need to contact him because I won't speak for him.

scott.smith posted:

Does the website reflect their current inventory? Are things still discounted?

Thanks,

Scott Smith

Unfortunately it does not. I ordered a few MTH locomotives a few weeks ago and after several days I emailed to see what was up. Only then did I find out they were out of stock. Definitely call.