With all the recent posts about train stores closing, I was looking for advise on a train store, east coast that is a MUST to Visit. And spend some money. Recommendations please
thanks
joe
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Nicholas Smith Trains in Broomall PA. So much stock in the store, hard to even walk. Knowledgeable staff and great prices.
Grzyboski's trains in the Poconos. Small store (as compared to Nicholas Smith) but friendly staff and also good prices.
Stockyard Express in Oberlin, OH. Massive store with two layouts and LOTS of trains. All O Scale (some S).
Most of my trains are from Stockyard Express over the nearly 30 years I have gone there. Not only a survivor but a thriving large successful shop.
I have to recommend Trains N Things in Ewing, NJ (there is also a Trains N Things in Vineland, NJ which I've never been to). It's a small privately owned shop with friendly, knowledgable staff. Tony, the owner, has been in business since before I started buying Lionel back in the early '90s.
I can only barely remember the old school hobby shops that existed at the end of the original Lionel or the beginning of the MPC era, but to me Tony's place has that look and feel.
I am lucky to have this shop 10 minutes from my house. If you are in the area, come check it out!
Tony
Tom's Trains in Ardsley, NY. All O Gauge and a boatload of Lionel products stacked floor to celling. A nice operating layout. -> http://tomstrainsny.com/about-us/
Mercer Junction. I have stopped there on my last two trips to Florida. I have yet to meet Dave, but his wife couldn't be nicer. It has a great layout and lots to spend money on.
Be sure to eat at the Iron Bridge while you are there!
The Train Room, in Hagerstown Maryland is one store that is a must see for anybody interested in Prewar and Postwar Lionel trains. They have a museum attached to the store (small admission fee). There are some incredibly rare Lionel items there. Everything is very nicely displayed. It's been written up a couple of times in various magazines catering to the "O" gauge community.
Hobby Express, Cranberry Twp., just off the I-79 interchange with the Pa. Turnpike. Go in the bac and there are glass cases full of Lionel & MTH engines, trolley, lots of cars plus scenery material. He will deal on prices. ask for Harry if you want to deal or Beth Ann his daughter. They carry track too, plus RC cars, planes and drones.
Pat's Trains in Wheeling WV. Basically an a house converted into a train store. Customer service second to none and custom run MTH items to boot.
C W Burfle posted:The Train Room, in Hagerstown Maryland is one store that is a must see for anybody interested in Prewar and Postwar Lionel trains.
I'm glad you posted this as it is a reminder to me (again) to get to the Train Room. Despite it being < one hour drive for me I have yet to visit.
Will get up there soon on one of these winter Saturdays.
National Railroad Worx in Mahwah, NJ is the place to visit especially to see everybody favorite forum sponsor WickedWanda. Also scoot up to Philly and got to Nicholas Smith Trains. That place is crazy full of trains. Going to MB Klein in MD is kind of a waste of time. Its a pretty anti-climatic store as they turn over inventory so everything in there is pretty much made in the last 2 years.
I wish I had the $$ and the opportunity to visit all the train stores near me and places I go to.
Would appreciate a little more detail on direction...such as town and state they are located in, on some of these.
Clearly you have internet access, I suggest you google these places and formulate a plan on visiting them as it does no good to have someone else do it for you. The OP requested places out east, all these are out east he didn't ask for a travel guide to them. I could also say Charlie Ro in Boston and Trainworld in New York but I have not been to those yet
My goal one day is to do a great eastcoast road trip where I can hit up Stacey at National Railroad Worx, visit NJ highrailers, Nassau Hobby, and Alex M's open house.
National Railroad Worx in Mahwah, NJ. I haven't been there personally, but have dealt with WickedWanda on several occasions and the deals are amazing! Moreover, they are having a warehouse sale Jan. 13-15th. I wish I live close to there. Here's the website:
Wow thanks for all the replies. Gave me a lot of choices gonna try to go to national train worxs. Then later in feb get to Nicholas smith near philly.
Alloway Trains & Things:
http://www.allowaytrainsnthings.com/
Formerly located in Vineland NJ, now relocated in Alloway NJ.
Bob and Viki Dyer are great people and are very knowledgeable and passionate about the hobby.
Trainland in Lynbrook LI and Trainworld in Brooklyn NY. Nassau Hobby in Freeport NY and Willis Hobby in Mineola NY.
Worth the trip from anywhere.
Sorry, it is frustrating for us poor little waifs shivering on the windblown prairie begging for trains, with nary a consequential train shop in any of the three...uh, four. .. not so nearby cities. The rest of us want to know where the Seven Cities of Ci'bola are so we can bring a pan and a pick, and dig for trains, too.
I recommend Hennings in Lansdale-also a forum sponsor, and Walkers Hardware in Totowa, NJ both very friendly, cozy, and knowledgeable. I will also give a nod to Jan's Big little RR shop in downtown Somerville, nj and the Model RR shop in Dunellen, NJ - the later being the Oldest RR shop in the country.
Oh how can I forget about Charles Ro and the Choo Choo Barn hobby shop!
Hmmm. Funny no mention of " The Train Station" in Mountain Lakes. I wonder why?
Mr. Muffins, FORUM SPONSOR, Atlanta, Indiana. Steve and Liz are great ambassadors for the hobby allowing access to people to run trains. New layout in progress because of recent move from Carmel, IN.
I went to Charles Rio after October York one year, not much in the showroom. I was kind of disappointed, seems like they are more into mail order or internet sales then store displays. It is the first store I check on the internet, due to there good pricing.
A trip to Cincinnati gets you
Dixie Union Station
http://www.dixieunionstation.com/
and a great indoor train layout (G scale) is EnterTrainment Junction. Super nice destination.
http://entertrainmentjunction.com/
These are both with in a few miles of each other.
Basil posted:National Railroad Worx in Mahwah, NJ. I haven't been there personally, but have dealt with WickedWanda on several occasions and the deals are amazing! Moreover, they are having a warehouse sale Jan. 13-15th. I wish I live close to there. Here's the website:
I didn't know they have a store front. have to check it out. 30 minutes from me
I 2nd Nicholas Smith Trains.
Chris
Patrick's Trains in Wheeling, WV. Small store but BIG inventory and more importantly, Pat is a great guy. He's got awesome custom runs from MTH!
JR Junction Train & Hobby in Syracuse N.Y.
If you are into "O", that's the place to go.
John H posted:Mercer Junction. I have stopped there on my last two trips to Florida. I have yet to meet Dave, but his wife couldn't be nicer. It has a great layout and lots to spend money on.
I second Mercer junction. While you're in the area stop at Harlansburg Station, www.harlansburgstation.com. Although not a train store per say they have some very interesting railroad related stuff. Hobby Express in Cranberry Twp. is a good example of a true hobby store. http://www.hobbyexpressinc.com/
Not to slight any of the others, but here are the ones at the top of my list (in no particular order), based on personal experience...
Nicholas Smith - huge selection, and has the "you never know what you'll find" vibe. Ditto for Patrick's Trains and TK on the other side of the Ohio.
Mercer Junction - what a modern train store should be - nice displays and a fantastic layout
Mr. Muffin's - The new location will be quite the destination as soon as the new layout is built.
johnstrains posted:C W Burfle posted:The Train Room, in Hagerstown Maryland is one store that is a must see for anybody interested in Prewar and Postwar Lionel trains.
I'm glad you posted this as it is a reminder to me (again) to get to the Train Room. Despite it being < one hour drive for me I have yet to visit.
Will get up there soon on one of these winter Saturdays.
Shoot, wish I had a decent store that close!
Dynamic Hobbies in Hemet, California. They have a nice O gauge layout with Legacy Control mainly, with O gauge, HO and N layouts next door. They sell HO, O and N as well as Cars, Planes and Boats.
Chas. Ro near Boston -- and Nassau Hobbies on Long Island.
Both have been mentioned - but deserve a second (at least) shout out.
Brady's Train Outlet in Greensburg, PA. Nice selection of MTH and Lionel trains.
Another vote for Charles Ro, just north of Boston. In Medford? (I get those contiguous "M" towns all scrambled up.) If you run in multiple scales, it can be fun to browse, and they do repairs as well. They also carry O Gauge Railroading magazine. What's not to like? :-)
Tomlinson Run Railroad
Those of us that live in the Western Pa area are totally spoiled with the following shops in no particular order:
Mercer Junction, Pat's Trains, Imperial Trains, Lens Train & Custom Diecast Cars, Brady's Train Outlet, CT McCormick Hardware
So many trains-so little money!
Nick
SDIV Tim posted:Dynamic Hobbies in Hemet, California. They have a nice O gauge layout with Legacy Control mainly, with O gauge, HO and N layouts next door. They sell HO, O and N as well as Cars, Planes and Boats.
My grandparents used to live in Hemet. Which part of town is the store located?
Any other stores in the San Diego-Riverside-Palm Springs areas?
I think the Underground Railroad Shoppe should be in that last list, also. I got a tour of the layout even though it was not open for display, and a discounted price because I mentioned reading his great articles.
Last summer I drove six hours to Atlanta, GA just to visit Legacy Station. It was worth every minute. It's one of the best I have ever been in. We have a local train store here in Pensacola, but it does not even come close.
