Hello Forum Members,
I'm heading to Rochester NY from Boston for college tours in the beginning of August with my son, are there any hobby/train stores in the area to check out.
Thank you for any suggestions.
George
The Judge
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Despatch Junction in East Rochester, not far from 490, which runs from the Thruway to downtown Rochester is the biggest and best in the area, by most accounts. Trains only. Large selection of postwar and modern O gauge, as well as N, HO, Large Scale, etc. Right smack dab on the Conrail mainline (original building, which burned down was an old freight station).
Also Dan's Crafts and Things (all hobbies). Just off 590N in the northern part of the city. Great Italian bakery nearby if you want a cannoli. Savoia.
http://www.danscraftsandthings...SmFqSXkaAqCOEALw_wcB
If you are into R/C, plastic models, slot cars there is Performance Hobbies in Webster, just off 104.
Slot cars is Fantasy Raceways in Greece (only open in evenings, I believe).
Strong Museum has a collection of older Lionel downtown. NY Museum of Transportation in Rush, to the south of the city worth a visit.
About 35 miles east of the city is Gardner the Train Doctor, aka Gargraves trackage. Great folks and forum sponsor. They have a smaller store but their inventory of Lionel will be the most current of the stores in town. Check their website or email them for something you may be interested in.
https://www.gardnerthetraindoctor.com
Pete
Thank you for the suggestions will try to fit some of the shops in
Rochester also has a pair of railroad museums just south of town worth visiting. They are a few miles apart but connected by track and on the weekends they usually have train rides between the two. BTW these are only a few miles south of RIT should this be on your list.
Pete
Second Despatch Junction and the NY Museum of Transportation! Depending upon your interest and such, Gargraves/The Train Doctor is just over an hour away in North Rose, NY.
We are going to RIT and University of Rochester my son also wants to visit Buffalo Road Imports in Clarence, believe it's an hour west of Rochester. We will try to fit some of those in, maybe a stop at the Baseball Hall of Fame in the way home. Thanks again
There was a good shop in Clarence. Don't recall the name.
There is also a good flea market / antiques show on Sundays in Clarence.
I think it runs every Sunday, with some special weekends when there is an outdoor component.
I have purchased trains, tools, and antique toys there.
It's been a few years, don't know whether they are still there.
About 35 miles east of the city is Gardner the Train Doctor
I was there once or twice in 1974-75. The shop was in the basement of a private home, and was run by an elderly woman. I believe she was the widow of Mr. Gardner. I purchased some KMT and Lionel boxcars. She also got some GG-1 drive wheels for me. They were not the right ones, but I took them anyway. I still have them in the little yellow paper bag they were in when she gave them to me.
The train shop in Clarence, Seneca Junction, is no more as the owner passed a few years ago. Great shop for post war though. There is a store just down the road in Clarence that specializes in vehicles though. Many rare hard to find item$.
http://www.buffaloroadimports.com
Clarence is about an hour away west of Rochester via I-90 and NY RT 5.
Pete
That was it, "Seneca Junction".
It's been a while since I've been in the Buffalo area.
I don't think any of the train shops I visited regularly are there any longer.
Here is a link for the Clarence Flea / Antique market.
Also, while taking my family to see the Kazoo factory in Eden (Buffalo), we passed by a shop that sold nothing but Lionel. We stopped on the way back. I think it was in the city of Buffalo itself, not certain. (The Kazoo factory is worth a visit)
If you make it to Buffalo, another neat place is the Hershel carousel museum.
Hershel made other amusement park rides, including trains. Our local family amusement park had many Hershel rides.
When I was there, it was long ago, when they were just getting started. They had one carousel and a display room with this and that. I think they have grown quite a bit since then.
C W Burfle posted:That was it, "Seneca Junction".
It's been a while since I've been in the Buffalo area.
I don't think any of the train shops I visited regularly are there any longer.
Here is a link for the Clarence Flea / Antique market.
Also, while taking my family to see the Kazoo factory in Eden (Buffalo), we passed by a shop that sold nothing but Lionel. We stopped on the way back. I think it was in the city of Buffalo itself, not certain. (The Kazoo factory is worth a visit)
If you make it to Buffalo, another neat place is the Hershel carousel museum.
Hershel made other amusement park rides, including trains. Our local family amusement park had many Hershel rides.
When I was there, it was long ago, when they were just getting started. They had one carousel and a display room with this and that. I think they have grown quite a bit since then.
If you were in Eden you likely passed through Hamburg. Artcraft trains was likely your stop. They have since moved to another location about a mile or so away in an old train station, still in Hamburg. As is true everywhere train shops are dropping off the wayside. Most all of the bigger ones are gone from Buffalo and Rochester or the ones left have downsized.
Pete
Thanks for all ideas only so much time for hobby shops in this trip
Do any of the locals know if the Rochester Police Athletic League still has the 4 seasonal Lionel layouts?
Bill
WftTrains posted:Do any of the locals know if the Rochester Police Athletic League still has the 4 seasonal Lionel layouts?
Bill
Yes. A dedicated group has been doing considerable restortion in the past few years.
https://www.edgertonmodelrailroadclub.com
Pete
I have another strong recommendation for Despatch Junction (DJ) in East Rochester. Stan has some nice items there. Plus, great location and building.
Assuming you will be driving the NYS Thruway, get off in Victor and take 490 West to the East Rochester exit. After visiting DJ, it is an easy connection to both RIT and U of R.
And when you visit DJ, be sure to visit Leo’s Bakery that is directly across the street. They have delicious bakery and deli items - eat in ot take out.
Have a great trip and enjoy the college visits.
Definitely going to try to go to Despatch Junction, thanks for the bakery and deli tip
Assuming you're going to be taking the NYS Thruway (I90) west from the Boston area and you have a little extra time, you may want to get off at Exit 27, Amsterdam, NY and take NYS Rt. 30 north for about 7 miles through Amsterdam to Perth. Milepost Hobbies is in Perth on the right about 100 yards before the (only) traffic light. New and used HO and O plus lots of modeling supplies - closed Mondays. If you have a lot of extra time, I'm only 4 miles off of Exit 28 and you're welcome to visit my model railroad. My email is in my profile.
