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First off let me start off by saying that The Imperial Train Company has been my LHS for the past 7+ years if not more and then became the place I spent my Saturdays and some holiday time hanging out and helping.  Regis, the owner, along with Rich (store manager), Steve, and Daniel this past year, had become my staple on Saturday while we talked about the good, bad, and the hobby in general.  We packed orders, did light maintenance, general store related things, and had a lot of laughs for the past 4 years.  It was a lot of fun and to say I will miss it would be an understatement.

While the Brick and Mortar store has shutdown, the online store will absolutely continue! Regis has packed up the inventory and is heading to Texas to be closer to his children and grandchildren along with his wonderful wife Sylvia and pup Snowball.  We spent the last few weeks packing, inventorying, and cleaning out the store and I asked Regis if I could share some of the pictures here.

 

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Imperial Train Company outside of Pittsburgh.

 

Photo Feb 20, 8 16 41 AM

Regis Gill.  We found the Grand Opening banner while packing.

 

Photo Feb 20, 8 16 45 AM

Steve, Regis, Rich, and Marty.

 

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 The shop when it was in full swing!

 

 

Photo Feb 15, 4 40 26 PM

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We started with packing the engines.  Regis always had the shelves full of engines.  He always says people won't buy what they can't see and hear.  We always test ran engines.

 

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Loading the POD for the trip to Texas.

 

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Photo Feb 09, 9 26 33 AM

Myself, Rich, Steve, and Regis.  I'll miss the Saturdays.  It's not goodbye but See ya Later.

While I'll see Rich and Steve around, the commute to Texas will be a little harder but I definitely plan to visit Regis sometime in the future.  Thanks for the memories!  In the words of Captain James T Kirk. 

"It was fun!"

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Images (22)
  • Photo Mar 05, 3 20 25 PM
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  • Photo Feb 29, 6 09 59 PM
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  • Photo Sep 23, 3 11 00 AM
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  • Photo Sep 23, 12 06 56 AM
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  • Photo Feb 20, 8 16 41 AM
  • Photo Feb 20, 8 16 45 AM
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Last edited by MartyE
Original Post

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The pictures of emptiness are emotionally sad

Marty: is 'STEVE' Steve Wi...... (don't want to say his full name here but if it is the Steve that I'm thinking of the WI... should be enough of a clue.  The facial hair makes me wonder, plus I haven't seen him in 9+ years since I retired)?  I worked with Steve at Mellon, if that's him.  Talked trains with him often and he was my 'pick up guy' when I ordered stuff from the shop.

- walt

walt rapp posted:

The pictures of emptiness are emotionally sad

Marty: is 'STEVE' Steve Wi...... (don't want to say his full name here but if it is the Steve that I'm thinking of the WI... should be enough of a clue.  The facial hair makes me wonder, plus I haven't seen him in 9+ years since I retired)?  I worked with Steve at Mellon, if that's him.  Talked trains with him often and he was my 'pick up guy' when I ordered stuff from the shop.

- walt

Yes or as we call him "Saturday Steve".  

Good luck to Regis and his online store! Everyone loves a brick and mortar store, but in this day and age an strong online presence means anyone can shop there.

Compared to my local shops.Online vendors/ forum sponsors have been superior, in customer service, price, as well as availability.

Last edited by RickO

MartyE, thanks for sharing that nice tidbit of information about Regis and the Imperial Train Co., I hope to meet up with him in the future and also a big thanks for the great set of pictures.  That looked like a really nice hobby shop, maybe he will open a smaller version of the old one and I hope he moves up in the same area that we're planning on moving too.  It would be nice to meet him also .  Mowingman, Randy B and Jon1443, my house(Armpit of Texas, El Paso) is on the market and my wife is looking for a new house for us, hopefully in the Flower Mound Area (1st preference) and I'm ready to start on my 7th POD (8X8X16) very shortly).  I'm assuming the three of you live in the Dallas area somewhere and I hope it is close to the Flower Mound area, maybe when I get up there, we could all get together and talk trains.  I don't know anyone in the area except for family but once settled in, I'm planning a trip to the TWTrainworx place and see if they have any openings, as I'd really like to maybe be able to work for them.  If not, I'll see about going back to being a Locksmith.  I also plan on joining the club that is housed in Grapevine, they have a very nice layout in what I believe is an old baggage car,  I plan on joining them also, they few guys I had talked to last year were very nice so I'll hopefully be able to join up with them soon,.

Does anyone know how to get in touch with Imperial Trains at this time?  I know they are moving, but, from what I have read, their on-line store is still functioning.  I placed an order almost two weeks ago and the payment was excepted.  To date I have not had conformation of the order, I have not received the order, I have tried calling their number different times of the day and different days of the week with no answer or voice mail available, and they have not answered an E-Mail I have sent via their "Contact Us" field on their website.  I have enjoyed dealing with them in the past and gotten good service, but, under the circumstances, this is starting to worry me a little.  Any information I can get on contacting them would be helpful.

Thanks!

David

Note to all.  I just received a response from Imperial Trains on my current order.  Please see the previous post for details.  They will be completing the order as soon as their current situation allows.  All their stock is still in PODS and, with the current turmoil the world is in with this virus, they are having to wait for the units to get to Texas.  They have assured me that the order will be processed as soon as conditions allow.  So if you are like me and have an order pending, we just have to be patient.  It was just good to get a status update to be sure there were no issues.

David

Hi,

Like David B mentioned above I recently purchased some items from Imperial Trains and have not been contacted by them either. I just made the purchase about a week ago but have not heard anything. I have also emailed him and left messages on the website. I don’t mind waiting for the stuff but would like to make sure that I will be getting it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hi Isaac,

They finally got back to me informing me that the item I purchased was no longer in stock and that they would not charge my credit card. The problem is that I already purchased the the two b units from other train dealers thinking I was going to get the Lionel legacy Pennsylvania F A units from him. Now I have the 2 B units and no A units. Here’s why I’m really upset with them is that they still are listing the 2 A units on sale on their online website even though they don’t have them.

In my situation he told me that he didn’t have what I ordered so he canceled the transaction. My problem is that he still has it listed on sale on his online website and he should have taken it off. Anyone can purchase the same thing that I did on his site even though he doesn’t have it. I will not be purchasing anything from him unless he makes it right with me. 

@PH1975 posted:

Just wondering how anyone - who previously indicated they'd ordered something from Imperial Trains but not yet received it - made out?

(Incidentally, their website still indicates they're located in Imperial Pa. even though they've apparently moved to Texas)

The scrolling banner indicates they have moved and will officially be a web only business as of July 11th.  The web page is a bit confusing with the Pittsburgh info still there but they do indicate they are in the process of setting up at the new location.

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