I have dealt with Forum sponsor Pat from Patrick's Trains several times in the past. We have emailed and talked on the phone about purchases, but I had never made the trek to his shop until last week. Last Wednesday my wife and I Wheeled on down to Wheeling (as my dad always said), only an hour and 45-minute drive from here in Butler Heights.
I saw Pat was offering the new MTH 30-1711-1 B&O 0-6-0 PS-3, and emailed him the day before to see if he still had any in stock. He told me he would have one for me. Well, it was a beauty. Then Pat brought out a slightly used Premier 20-3282-1 B&O USRA 0-6-0 PS-2. Well, I looked it over, and liked it. Pat put it on his layout and ran it some. It had a slight bug he fixed for me. At home it looks great, sounds great, and smokes great! All for a few dollars less than the new RailKing. Well here it is on my Christmas in August layout.
We had a great visit with Pat, his wife, their bird George Junior, and another gentleman who visits the shop often. Pat told us the shop was a little disheveled at the time, because he is preparing to get a new layout soon where he can run all the scales he offers. I will have to make another trip at that time. One more reason I love Wild, Wonderful West Virginia!!
Thank you, Pat!!