The Train Room in Hagerstown, MD

I'm down in Southern MD. Hagerstown is a hike from my location. But, I've heard Train Room is the place to go if you like Lionel.

It's a pretty awesome place.  He had one of almost everything that Lionel has ever made.  Also, his shop is very well stocked!!!  I wish I lived closer.  I am about three hours away.  I know I will be going by again.

I’ve seen their name but have never been there. I can be in Hagerstown in an hour so will have to make the trip sometime. Maybe this Fall? Can combine it with a stop at Catoctin Mountain Trains.

A separate trip to Catoctin Mountain Trains is worth it.  From where you are it is no more than 50 minutes.  Trust me, I know.  :-) 

Combining a trip to H-town and Thurmont is kind of like a 3-legged journey - once you get to Frederick it's 20 miles to Catoctin and 20 miles to H-town.  And to go from Catoctin to H-town, you pretty much will have to go back to Frederick and then go to the other place.

Paul owns Catoctin Mtn Trains and is very nice.  Has good inventory selection, etc.  He does carry Lionel and can get anything not in stock, but I would opine that there is more of an emphasis on MTH.  I would, however, stop by even if you have a bihgger interest in Lionel because he really is good at understanding things and providing help/ideas when asked.

Hope that helps.

John,

My interests lie in Atlas O and MTH. Do you recommend Catoctin or Engine House Hobbines in Gaithersburg?

Paul

Paul,

I’d go with Catoctin, especially for their large supply of MTH products.  I used to frequent Engine House Hobbies under the former owners but really don’t go there anymore (despite the fact that’s it very close to me). A fine train store I’m sure, but I’ve opted to take my business elsewhere.  I’m pretty much exclusively tinplate now so I do a lot of buying online.

Frankly, my “local” favorite is Sidetrack Hobbies although they are a few hours away. I have relatives in Southern Maryland and always make it a point to stop in when I’m down that way.

Thanks to all for the information on The Train Room. Definitely need to get up there.

EDIT:   And I just realized that you're in Waldorf so Sidetrack is probably a place well known to you.

Ken doesn't have Atlas at EHH but can get it. Paul at Catoctin Mountain is my go-to guy even though Catoctin Mountain is about 45 minutes further down the road. I know guys that drive 2+ hours one way just to go to him. He has mostly MTH and some Atlas. Top notch dealer. The best in the area IMO. Paul is in the store Thursday - Sunday I believe and his right hand man takes over on Monday I believe. 

Catoctin Mountain is the best in my book. I purchase all my engines and most of my other items from him unless I need it NOW and will stop at one of the other local stores (Engine House). 

EDIT:   And I just realized that you're in Waldorf so Sidetrack is probably a place well known to you.

Yes Sir. I'm in Waldorf. I've heard about Sidetrack, but I thought it was mostly a Lionel shop. I will definitely pay them a visit if they carry MTH & some Atlas stuff.

Paul

And I’ll also add that Paul at Catoctin is a real gentleman and a class act. The first time I stopped in there, I was treated like a regular customer rather than the complete stranger I was. 

SJC,

Thanks for the tip on Catoctin Mountains. Agreed that it will be a hike from Waldorf. But, it will be worth the trip especially with the family.

Paul

Side Track Hobbies in Leonardtown MD is great for MTH, Lionel and Tin Plate.  He has one of the largest selections I have seen up and down the east coast.

Likewise. I knew he had a store in Thurmont for years but never visited. I first visited two years ago (I spent a year at Mt. St. Mary's just up the road) after my college freshman orientation and was treated like a regular on that first visit. I visited a bit more often than my wallet wanted that year of college and still visit regularly. In the past two years, I've gotten about 8 engines from him and countless other items. Sadly, two engines were duds but taken care of. 

Twice I had an issue with an engine and Paul took care of me. Unfortunately once I got my money back and the other one, I told Paul I was coming in that day with it and we would refund/repair/whatever. I came in with the engine, a brand new Railking Scale F3 ABA set, and Paul and a replacement, fully tested, lubed, and ready to go on the counter for me to take back home with me.  

I always feel at home there. Good folks. 

www.cmtrains.com

Side Track Hobbies is a 90 minute drive for me so me and a couple of my friends will make a day of it and stop for lunch on the way back at Beck's (the diner with the 1950 Mercury on the roof).  Al and Libby Rudman (STH) always seem to have those odd-ball, hard-to-find items.

I am going to have to check Paul's place out sometime soon!

Paul,

Sidetrack has lots of Lionel, but plenty of MTH, too. And they carry a good amount of new Lionel Corporation Tinplate (LCT) stuff which is what I buy.  They’re likely not the only train store that does this, but one nice thing with Sidetrack is you can get on their mailing list and take advantage of some decent sales a few times per year. And some of them are “private sales” before the general public gets their turn.

The Train Room has an incredible collection of Lionel in their musuem room. Their collection goes well beyond trains, including science kits, phonographs, Lion-eds wooden toys, and military. Its been a while, but I think they have electronics, such as laboratory geiger counters too. They even have one of the U-drive boats. It is the only one I have ever seen.

I think he has a couple of factory layouts, but they pale in comparison to some of the rarities.

How far from York are all these shops (and are they open York week, as I have

encountered shops in the area that are not, and some regularly close Mondays after being open the weekend)?  After I have circled the open shows in the morning early in the week, I have one shop I visit, found another just north of Lancaster, that had something I was then looking for last trip, but like to explore and see something different, having hit most of the sights like Strasburg, Amish country, Gettysburg, etc. multiple times.  Are all of these shops listed in the back of OGR and could be

hit in a half circle south from York, preferably, but not necessarily, all in one day's

afternoon. (more than one shop I used to visit west on U.S. 30 have closed)

Well, I know New Oxford's shop is closed, not sure about the little European Store next door.

From York to Thurmont (US 15/US 30 as the crow flies) would be an hour or so. Hagerstown is either I-81 (The hard long way) or down to Frederick and west on I-70 across two mountain ridges.

I recall the shop in Thurmont well. I thought to visit for a few minutes and ended up staying hours. It is a good shop.

And add another 2 hours or so to get down to Sidetrack Hobbies in So. Maryland. The other thing is they (Sidetrack) may very well be closed during York meets. They always have a good-size booth at York and wouldn’t surprise me if they close up shop for the duration.

Re:  Catoctin Mountain Trains & Hobbies: 

A posting earlier today asked me which stroe would be better: (Engine House Hobbies in Gaithersburg) or Catoctin Mountain Trains (in Thurmont).  I would really recommend both.  Here's why: Ken's shop is smaller, but he has a lot of MTH and HO.  He has a good sized layout and will be glad to turn it on.  He also has a 1:1 scale right outside his window - CSX line.  Paul has a larger store, it's a nice trip to Thurmont and he is majority MTH.  But has others as well, or can get it.  Actually Ken or Paul can probably get anything for you, but if making a special trip, keep in mind it may not be there when you are there.  Paul has a decent layout too and can demonstrate digital systems and different scale trains too.  I like both places for different reasons.   And for the person that asked about Ken's shop in Gaithersburg (sorry, I do not recall who it was), I would also recommend trying Train Depot in Mt. Airy.  You can draw your own conclusions about each - I just think it is good to see what everyone has and then you can decide which one suits you best. 

Catoctin Mtn Trains:  www.cmtrains.com   Paul keeps the schedule current on the website and everytime I have been there he has been there.

Engine House Hobbies:  http://www.enginehousehobbies.net/  Ken keeps the schedule current too.

The Train Depot (Mt. Airy):  Tues - Fri 11 - 5 pm, Sat 10 - 5 pm (I can't find a web site).  They are on Main Street in downtown Mt. Airy. 

Hey John, that person is me. Lol! I'm new to Maryland so I'm getting up to speed on the LHS. I'm from Southern California, where train stores are a dime a dozen and usually carry all brands. I realize that Maryland is MTH country, which is cool because half of my engines are MTH PS1-PS3. But, I also love Atlas master line. So, it would be great to find a LHS that has both and can service both. The info you provided me is really great. I will visit all three this Summer. On a final note, I mail ordered Weaver cars from Ken before and he is really good guy!

Paul

Paul.

I just thought of one more Maryland train store. In fact, I believe they carry quite a bit of Atlas product, along with Lionel and MTH (and others).

They are M.B Klein’s, which is an long-time Baltimore store that has been in business since 1913!  (not a typo).

Here’s a link to the web site which has to be one of the most well-designed and maintained in the hobby.  In fact, it works on a real-time basis so you always know up to the minute what they have in stock.

http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/

Paul,

Also do consider joining the National Capital Trackers, building a module and participating in shows across the area. 

www.trackers2010.org 

Paul:

Johnstrains is correct - you do need ot go to MB Klein as well.  They are heavy on HO/N, but do have alot of O Guage.  If its not out on the floor, you may have to use their onsite computer to see if it is in the back.  Prices are very good.  Inventory is real time.  Interestingly, if it is on the floor, it is not in the computer system.  They told me once it comes out they take it off the internet database - which is real time as johnstrains points out.  So, we have at least 4 or 5 day trips for you.  1 to Leonardtown.  2 to Hagerstown  3. to Mt. Airy / Thurmont  4. to Gaithersburg  5. to MB Klein in Cockeysville.

Recently purchased several Ross Switches from Catoctin Mtn Trains.  Just great people to deal with and definitely have my loyalty.

A word about Mt Airy.

If the Store has NOT moved, I will explain to you how to find it.

Take the one road downtown. When you are in the center of Mt Airy, you will find yourself in between two ridges on that street. I don't know if the tracks are paved over but if going northbound, you see hobby shop as the end building on the left with a low long brick ex train station on your right on a hillside.

If you find yourself climbing northbound out of town through a series of built up "S"'es you went too far.

Next to the hobby shop should be a bit of parking, maybe 5 cars might fit.

I have bought from all the dealers here except for Kleins. The best selection has to be Side Track Hobbies. The best place to go just to see trains is the Train Room in Hagerstown-his model train museum is a must see. The Train Depot is a rather small store compared to the others listed in this thread, still if you are driving through the area you might as well stop. You guys left out J&B Trains in Smithsburg, it is out of the way a bit, but it is a nice shop.

Several years ago I was going to J&B to purchase the Third Rail Mercury. I had stashed away about $550.00 hidden in my wallet. After I made about three actual business calls in Virginia I realized my wallet was missing....well I retraced my route and never found it. When I got back home my wife said "it was a good thing you didn't have any money with you." If she only knew. It was another few months before I tried that again..this time coming back with the engine.

Scott Smith