Lionel repair and service center

I use @Jim Sandman here on the forum,  good work, reasonable prices. He's an authorized Lionel and MTH tech (Does MTH do that anymore?)

@New York Cental posted:

What is the best Lionel repair and service center, in your opinion?

I like Zinik Trains in Clearwater FLA. Great prices many parts in stock......and the store is just fun to be in.

@cbojanower posted:

I use @Jim Sandman here on the forum,  good work, reasonable prices. He's an authorized Lionel and MTH tech (Does MTH do that anymore?)

Believe it or not, you can still get parts from MTH.  Electronics has been a sore spot, but slowly changing.

@New York Cental posted:

What is the best Lionel repair and service center, in your opinion?

There are several folks on this forum that I would send my stuff too if I needed repair. One is right here on this thread.

GRJ, I know Mike R is doing parts. I just don't know if MTH still has a network oof factoery authorized techs the support still.

I know there are those who were there before Mike's retirement, but are the still supported by MTH anymore than some guy off the streets? Are the certifying new ones?

@RickO posted:

There are several folks on this forum that I would send my stuff too if I needed repair. One is right here on this thread.

Me too, and he’s an excellent technician! 😉 👍

@cbojanower posted:

GRJ, I know Mike R is doing parts. I just don't know if MTH still has a network oof factoery authorized techs the support still.

I know there are those who were there before Mike's retirement, but are the still supported by MTH anymore than some guy off the streets? Are the certifying new ones?

I don't know of any current tech training for MTH or Lionel.  There are obviously guys that went to the training years ago and are still in the game, but the field is thinning and no new bodies are taking their place. I think it's been at least ten years since Lionel had tech training, and four years since the last MTH class, I believe in 2019.

I don't think there's room in the MTH Garage Shop for any training classes in any case, barely enough room to park the three employee's cars.

I know of a few guys here, most have been mentioned.  GRJ, Jim Sandman, AlexM, and a couple more.  Not sure if Sid does repairs but he seems more than qualified.  I do a lot of my own repairs but I have consulted with all of the folks above except Sid on some issues and they all steered me in the right direction.

Unfortunately for us Lionel's policy of doing warranty repairs only is problematic in the sense that at some point my new "under warranty" engine becomes my "out of warranty" engine and if no one is getting trained on newer boards and systems that creates a problem.  I'd be happy if they'd just do some on-line training for the out of warranty stuff.

A big thank you to all for your replies.

@MartyE posted:

IUnfortunately for us Lionel's policy of doing warranty repairs only is problematic in the sense that at some point my new "under warranty" engine becomes my "out of warranty" engine and if no one is getting trained on newer boards and systems that creates a problem.  I'd be happy if they'd just do some on-line training for the out of warranty stuff.

Problems start by Big Orange doing only warranty repair work......after having all but eliminated local service stations.  This shouldn't be a surprise given that they stopped the training for this.  And that they don't stock enough parts, in many of our opinions.

Then the warranty runs out.

Then the parts run out.

Then our VL steamers become $2,000 paper weights or shelf queens.

GGG is an Authorized Technician and on the Forum. He has repaired my trains promptly and his prices are reasonable. I wholeheartedly recommend him. Arnold

I used GGG for repair at one time- recommend him.
Also, Jon Nestlerode in Pa and Cary Van Nuis from All Aboard Trains in Barnegat, NJ are 2 folks I recommend for MTH repair. Cary has 2 of my MTH engines in for repair right now.  

@Berkshire President posted:

Problems start by Big Orange doing only warranty repair work......after having all but eliminated local service stations.  This shouldn't be a surprise given that they stopped the training for this.  And that they don't stock enough parts, in many of our opinions.

Then the warranty runs out.

Then the parts run out.

Then our VL steamers become $2,000 paper weights or shelf queens.

I hear ya, but ...

If the future is so presently clear the time to sell them is now.  Then you don't have to worry about future service, or lack thereof.

At least you'll get a good portion of your $2,000 back.

There are currently a ton of things to worry about in the world.  Toy train service isn't one of them.  Stick with the repair folks on this forum and you'll be all set.

Mike

I've spent and would like to continue spending Big Bucks on this hobby.  Our main producer Lionel has serious issues with quality control.

Too many expensive items are produced sub par or packaged resulting in serious damage.

It's counter productive to be so dismissive ("....currently a ton of things to worry about....").

This is why the forum exist. Too address our concerns on a hobby where we have invested significant amounts of our hard earned money's.

It's a pain in the bleep to have these problems compounded by lack of reliable repair services.

Our hobby is there to give relief from "....things to worry about..."

Thanks for listening.

I think if you pick up an issue of either of the two major magazines, several advertisers in each issue state that they will do repairs and servicing.  Buy an issue of O Gauge Railroading and support the magazine, the forum and the advertisers .  Several individuals are also mentioned here who have long standing records of service to the hobby.  There's no shortage of shops or folks to provide service, although the number of shops is decreasing.

There are a number of excellent, independent repair shops available.....but unless you live near one, you'd have to ship the broken model train there and back.

Future lack of replacement parts is a bigger concern to me, though.