Hi,
I am in Baltimore’s northern suburbs, and don’t see much in terms of o scale shops or train shows. Klein’s is largely or exclusively online, and I went to a timonium train show and didn’t see much o for sale(there was a nice o layout though). I like seeing products in person and feel like I’m in an o scale desert. I hope I put this in the right forum. If not I apologize.
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The Great Scale Train Show is in Timonium in 2 weeks.....true, all scales will be there.....but, there is a respectable number of O Gauge retailers on the vendor list......the National Capital Trackers (among others)are setting up an O scale layout....I think it's worth a shot!
Peter
I represent Sunset Models / 3rd Rail at a number of shows including Chicago, Cleveland and Strasburg and I live in Baldwin, MD about a 20 minute drive from Timonium. I don't go to the Timonium show any longer because it is not worth it for Sunset / 3rd Rail.
It is fine if you are into HO or N gauge but not O scale or O gauge 3 rail. There was one shop, The Forest Hill Station, that carried O scale and O gauge equipment in the area but Charlie Getscher, the owner, died not long ago.
R. Heil - Sunset Models / 3rd Rail
If you don't mine a little traveling, there are two good train store in the Hagerstown, Md and Blue Ridge Summit, PA area. The Train Room in Hagerstown has a good O scale inventory, both Lionel and MTH. Mainline Hobby in Blue Ridge Summit is about 50/50 of HO/O scale. I use both stores for my supplies. There is another store in Winchester, VA, Mario's, that carries both Lionel and MTH. All are online; Mainline and Mario's has their inventory posted, but The Train Room doesn't. You could make a nice day trip to visit the The Train Room in Hagerstown, then head back east to Blue ride Summit, PA., to Mainline Hobby. All worth a visit.
@Csxcellent posted:....... a timonium train show and didn’t see much o for sale..........
Used to be an entire side of the cow palace full of 3 rail stuff........
Little 2 rail stuff, but it does show up now and again. What Timonium is good for however is all your scenery supplies for your layout and then one's workshop supplies.
If you want to go south into the O gauge desert called southern Maryland, you have Side Track Hobbies in Leonardtown. Check out their web site before you go.
@rheil posted:I represent Sunset Models / 3rd Rail at a number of shows including Chicago, Cleveland and Strasburg and I live in Baldwin, MD about a 20 minute drive from Timonium. I don't go to the Timonium show any longer because it is not worth it for Sunset / 3rd Rail.
It is fine if you are into HO or N gauge but not O scale or O gauge 3 rail. There was one shop, The Forest Hill Station, that carried O scale and O gauge equipment in the area but Charlie Getscher, the owner, died not long ago.
R. Heil - Sunset Models / 3rd Rail
I went there once to get a few pieces of fastrack. Charlie was very nice, but the Ma and pa station was a very small location with mostly new old stock. Sad to hear he passed. That was my take from the timonium show. I enjoyed looking at the layouts, but there was only one large o vendor. I did get a few new old stock boxcars for $10, which was nice
@Den K posted:If you don't mine a little traveling, there are two good train store in the Hagerstown, Md and Blue Ridge Summit, PA area. The Train Room in Hagerstown has a good O scale inventory, both Lionel and MTH. Mainline Hobby in Blue Ridge Summit is about 50/50 of HO/O scale. I use both stores for my supplies. There is another store in Winchester, VA, Mario's, that carries both Lionel and MTH. All are online; Mainline and Mario's has their inventory posted, but The Train Room doesn't. You could make a nice day trip to visit the The Train Room in Hagerstown, then head back east to Blue ride Summit, PA., to Mainline Hobby. All worth a visit.
I dealt with Mario’s online a few times, they are great. If I’m ever out towards Hagerstown, I’ll have to check those shops out.
@CAPPilot posted:If you want to go south into the O gauge desert called southern Maryland, you have Side Track Hobbies in Leonardtown. Check out their web site before you go.
I’ve seen their website, and if I’m ever in Southern md I’ll check it out.
@mwb posted:Used to be an entire side of the cow palace full of 3 rail stuff........
Little 2 rail stuff, but it does show up now and again. What Timonium is good for however is all your scenery supplies for your layout and then one's workshop supplies.
A few years ago, it was one major vendor with new stuff, and a bunch of vendors with mpc era stuff with really high prices. One vendor had a great deal on mpc-90s boxcars.
Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg, MD is great for Lionel and MTH repairs.
@CAPPilot posted:If you want to go south into the O gauge desert called southern Maryland, you have Side Track Hobbies in Leonardtown. Check out their web site before you go.
Side Track is the best! I have never been to their store, but I have dealt with Al for for the last few years. He and his team have the absolute best shipping in the industry. Shipping box in a box shipping has been the norm. And a bonus pen and a signed receipt. I’ve purchased many Lionel Corp tinplate engines, cars, track and accessories plus Lionel O. Al is the perfect gentleman and a fascinating guy to speak with. A longtime if not an original MTH dealer, he and his bride pretty much helped launch LGB in the USA following a visit to Germany, Visiting Al is a bucket list item right up there with visiting Disney World. I hope to meet Al before Mickey.
@Bruce Brown posted:Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg, MD is great for Lionel and MTH repairs.
Agreed! Engine House Hobbies still has lots of MTH and of course Lionel. They do also have some nice estate pieces as well for decent prices. I bought two Weaver boxcars for $20 each not long ago. I've had several of my engines ( MTH, Lionel, Atlas O, and Weaver ) repaired there by Louie, their repairman. He does exquisite work ... second to none!!
@Putnam Division posted:The Great Scale Train Show is in Timonium in 2 weeks.....true, all scales will be there.....but, there is a respectable number of O Gauge retailers on the vendor list......the National Capital Trackers (among others)are setting up an O scale layout....I think it's worth a shot!
Peter
I intend to be at the Great Scale Train Show in TImonium next weekend Feb. 5 &6. Historically I've always found the February shows to be their best with numerous O vendors. I haven't attended since pre covid but before then always made it a point to go to most every one of their shows for over 10 years. I always found O items and got some great deals as well. I'm looking forward to attending next weekend!
I actually rented table space at the GSTS several times and always did well with sales.
The Greenberg Shows at Timonium always have left me wanting for more O. They are usually hit or miss ( most of the time miss IMHO ). I attend those shows sporadically.
@trumpettrain posted:Agreed! Engine House Hobbies still has lots of MTH and of course Lionel. They do also have some nice estate pieces as well for decent prices. I bought two Weaver boxcars for $20 each not long ago. I've had several of my engines ( MTH, Lionel, Atlas O, and Weaver ) repaired there by Louie, their repairman. He does exquisite work ... second to none!!
This is good to hear. I am close to Engine House but haven't been there in many years. I've been saving up a handful of (mostly) Postwar Lionel that are in need of what I think are relatively minor repairs and tune ups. Maybe an E-unit replacement? Sounds like you would recommend their repair services.
@johnstrains posted:This is good to hear. I am close to Engine House but haven't been there in many years. I've been saving up a handful of (mostly) Postwar Lionel that are in need of what I think are relatively minor repairs and tune ups. Maybe an E-unit replacement? Sounds like you would recommend their repair services.
John - Yes I absolutely recommend Louie the repairman at Engine House! He did a terrific job on two of my 1947 postwar Lionel steam locomotives within the last year. The both run and look terrific!
@trumpettrain posted:John - Yes I absolutely recommend Louie the repairman at Engine House! He did a terrific job on two of my 1947 postwar Lionel steam locomotives within the last year. The both run and look terrific!
That's great, Patrick. I may try to run over this weekend. I used to patronize Engine House years ago (old owner and location). Spent many a Saturday there, and a small fortune, when I first got back into O gauge. 
I've got a 671 Turbine and a few of my favorite PW Switchers that need some attention.
The Train Depot and Toy Exchange in Mt Airy are also great shops in Maryland. I have bought many an engine from Engine House Hobbies as well! Glad to see all these MD folks! 
The Timonium show is the weekend of the 5th right? I may try to attend.
@johnstrains posted:This is good to hear. I am close to Engine House but haven't been there in many years. I've been saving up a handful of (mostly) Postwar Lionel that are in need of what I think are relatively minor repairs and tune ups. Maybe an E-unit replacement? Sounds like you would recommend their repair services.
Yes, Lou is a gem!!! Sometimes he is able to do your repair on-the-spot, while you wait. He has worked on both my MTH and Lionel trains. I never felt ripped-off there and believe Lou is doing this for the love of trains rather than making any serious money. I think he is a retired Federal worker.
Someone already said this, but The Train Depot and Toy Exchange in Mt Airy are also great shops, they are like 5 miles apart from one another and worth the drive. My profile photo is of me standing on top of the Mt. Airy tunnel.
A drive of a hundred miles to a train store is nothing out here.
@WRW posted:Side Track is the best! I have never been to their store, but I have dealt with Al for for the last few years. He and his team have the absolute best shipping in the industry. Shipping box in a box shipping has been the norm. And a bonus pen and a signed receipt. I’ve purchased many Lionel Corp tinplate engines, cars, track and accessories plus Lionel O. Al is the perfect gentleman and a fascinating guy to speak with. A longtime if not an original MTH dealer, he and his bride pretty much helped launch LGB in the USA following a visit to Germany, Visiting Al is a bucket list item right up there with visiting Disney World. I hope to meet Al before Mickey.
SideTrack is an oasis out here in the desert of Southern Maryland! I’ve lived in Leonardtown since 2008 and have made countless trips to Al’s store. If it wasn’t for them I probably would not have been in the hobby!
While the Great Scale Model Train show is dominated by HO (just like the hobby), it is a big show, and there has always been plenty of 3R O gauge. Some of my best finds have been at that show. My other favorite shows are Allentown (Spring and Fall), Strasburg 2R scale shows, and, of course, TCA York, all within 2 1/2 hours of Baltimore.
It's a shame that MB Kleins in Timonium MD closed their retail store. They still do business as ModelTrainStuff.com. Another store close to Baltimore is Star Hobbies on Rt 50 right before the Bay Bridge. They have a decent selection of O gauge.
Bob
Its really sad that Kleins does not have their store open to customers anymore, just liked walking around the store looking at different things. Around Christmas time the store was buzzing with customers , trains running , it was great. Really miss those days.
When I got back into the hobby 30 years ago, MB Klein--in the heart of Baltimore--was the place to go for model trains even though it was an hour's drive from where I live. You may recall it was walking distance from the Hollywood Diner which was used in the 1982 movie "Diner" and several other films.
Agreed. When I worked near Baltimore many moons ago, Klein's on Gay Street was a regular stop. I spent many a "lunch hour" there wandering the aisles. Inevitably, always seemed to buy something even if it was just a Plasticville kit or a handful of magazines.
@Chris1985 posted:The Train Depot and Toy Exchange in Mt Airy are also great shops in Maryland. I have bought many an engine from Engine House Hobbies as well! Glad to see all these MD folks!
The Timonium show is the weekend of the 5th right? I may try to attend.
Agreed, great to see all the Marylanders.
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