Nicholas Smith Trains Worth A Stop?

Nicholas Smith has one of the biggest selections of merchandise anywhere.  Upstairs contains both new and used, by the hundreds.  And downstairs, in the toy store, is a large selection of brand new K-Line. 

Phil

Yes, stop in and say hello to Chris! Say Hi from Charlie also.

Paradise.  A mini-York, but at full retail.

I love Nicholas Smith. The store is worth a hundred mile drive let alone a side trip from the Jefferson.

Down stairs is the toy department, they have a ton of great kid items but don't let that fool ya, they have all types of hobby products as well as K-Line and slot cars.

Up stairs is one of the largest toy train show rooms in the country. Z, N, HO, O, O-scale, G you name it they got it. If that is not enough they have a used train for sale display that is larger then most hobby shops.

From 95 go west on the Blue route 476 and get off at West Chester Pike. Make a left and they are a 1/2 mile west on your right. You can't miss the poll sign with a black steam engine on top.

As stated above, it's a mini York.

Oh yea, don't forget to stop into the Thunderbird Diner that is on the other side of the parking lot. It's been there since the 1940's and the food is great. Nice bunch of people as well.

I know you are going to love it, tell them Mario from South Philly says Hi.

Worth a visit!!

Yes, it is well worth a visit. Great selection, and helpfu friendly staff. Joey is one of the guys who works upstairs. He has black hair and glasses. I think he pretty much runs it when Chris ain't there.

Yes, absolutely. If there's a nook or cranny in the store, they've stuffed a train in it. Its like a kid in a candy store kind of feeling. Be aware that you can walk out of there very deep in the hole if you're not careful, but its definitely worth the trip.

Oh and make sure you ask if you don't see it displayed.  They have tons of things in the back and another offsite warehouse.  Have your Lionel numbers with you as they have a hard time finding stuff without them they have so much.  I visit them everything other weekend.  Just last weekend I got a Lionel intermodal crane from 1989 sealed in box.  They just can't display it all outfront.  Bring lots of money or plastic!  Chris isn't around as much in Summer.  Joey is the guy to talk to.  He's a young guy knows his stuff.

Well worth the trip, tell um Dave sent ya.

Agreed: worth going to. Mark

Your gonna need more than "a little time"  

Enjoy

Joe S  

PS

The last time I stopped they were braking-up random Lionel PWC/Conventional Classic set and selling the cars for CHEAP.

It was better than York.

Absolutely worth the trip.  I'll be heading there next weekend to do a little shopping for my birthday.

One of the last bastions of Toy Trains packed all the way up to the ceiling.  Most stores display engines and rolling stock so you can see the side.  Chris has these glass cases where trains are stored nose to rear.  (O Gauge overload, O Gauge overload). He has way too many trains.

Remember the closing scene of "Raiders of the Lost Arc"?  Something like Chris' warehousing.

You can ask for an oddball item from XYZ catalog and Chris can thread his way thru the warehouse, go down an aisle reach up or down to a particular shelf and produce most anything you want.

Pure candy land. tt

Great place! I'm lucky to live only 15 minutes from it. They also have a full selection of Arttista figures...and we all can use a few more of those.

I have ordered many items from them that I couldn't find elsewhere (i.e. the Lionel Great Northern Mikado) and their pricing is usually great too.  I visited and had a hard time leaving... There was so much to take in it was just unbelievable.  Enjoy.

Ben

For those who haven't been there in a while, the old G-scale layout that was in the center of the 2nd floor (i.e., the one behind plexiglass windows) is gone, gone, gone!!!  In its place now is the much-needed MORE aisles and shelf space to display more of their unbelievable train inventory.  

David

That's right David, I forgot about that, they where working on it when I was there a few weeks ago. I guess it's time to get over there to do a little shopping. That is the only reason why I don't subscribe to CTT any longer, it's gives me an excuse to go see Chris.

I never met Joey before. I heard that he was the guy that put everything on computer inventory for Chris, boy, what a job that must of been.

But you can see the difference, when I was there Lin was able to locate what I was looking for in seconds.

Mario, I highly recommend it.  It's amazing what you can buy when you actually SEE the merchandise on a shelf.  Last Thursday afternoon I stopped in, and it was the first time I visited the store with stock on display in the location of the former G-scale layout.

And I couldn't believe what I found!!!  Staring back at me was a boxed MTH UP Heritage baggage car.  At first, I thought... "Why on earth would MTH have a lone baggage car packaged in the big yellow UP Heritage boxes?"  So I reached for it, and was amazed to find (i.e., like a little kid at Christmas time) that it was the UP baggage car with the American flag graphic painted across almost the entire length of the car!!!  I've been looking for that car for MONTHS now, and the MTH product finder has it nowhere to be found.  And I've asked around, only to have dealers shake their heads as if they only wished they had more of those to sell.  I pretty much had given up on finding it anymore -- so much so that I forgot about it.    And then... WHAM... there it is staring back at me... and with a 10% sale on MTH rolling stock as a bonus!!! 

You just never know what's sitting in the back rooms of train stores across the country.    Technology can be a wonderful thing, but every now and then it's more fun just checking things out in person. 

David

Boy, I'm glad I asked.

Someone pointed me to Nic Smith to find an out of stock item. Sure enough, they had it. But, I thought I was dealing with a warehouse type place, not a store. I had "Joey's" name because he provided me the excellent communication during the purchase.

I will definately be making a beeline to Nic Smith as soon as I drop my Mom off at Thomas Jefferson. Being able to get a nice, big breakfast at a friendly diner next door is icing on the cake!

Jim