Stores that still have a selection of MTH/Lionel Tinplate

Even Sidetrack is getting less and less. I’ve missed out on seceral things I thought I was interested in or I waited too long for the perfect sale.

It’s why I just bought a few things a couple of weeks back. I missed the O&B 255E so I made sure I got the O&B 263E and the Gerbers reefer.

Realizing that we would be entering a lean period as far as tinplate is concerned, and since I really do like the stuff, I ordered a 263E from Sidetrack a couple of weeks ago and also picked up another locomotive from them at the most recent York Meet. It may be a while--possibly even a long while--before we see any new tinplate being offered by MTH, so I wanted to make sure I had many/most of the items I really wanted. I'm also pretty well set with accessories. There's just something about tinplate trains that I truly enjoy, even though, aside from my very first Lionel train (which actually belonged to my older sister), I never had or paid much attention to tinplate in my early years.

Western Depot still has a good selection of tinplate.

The Train Room in Hagerstown, MD has older MTH tinplate.

I would like to find some dealers that had some of the MTH Tinplate Traditions and have the Ives offerings, like the Prosperity Special,or the # 3236 sets. I have the Cadet Blue and the Orange & Black 3236 sets, however I can't find the two red sets or the black and yellow set. I would love to have these sets in every color offered. 

Scott Smith

Forum sponsor Imperial Train Company up here in western PA has a fair amount of the O gauge tinplate (e.g. the red, white, and blue Hiawatha set from a few years ago) and some standard gauge stuff as well. It's best to call them to see what they have; they'll open tomorrow at 11. 

I just checked the MTH product locator and 11- products still show up.

Sidetrack Hobbies and Nicholas Smith Trains still have quite a bit of MTH tinplate, and usually offer a discount. I treated myself (It WAS my birthday!) to a MTH standard gauge #6 locomotive decorated for the PRR with both sets of matching cars yesterday, knowing I would regret it later if I did not.  Al Rudman at Sidetrack gave me a good price.