Pats is the best train shop I've ever dealt with. The shop is packed full of inventory and I always find things that I've haven't seen before. I live about 1 hr 15min away and its always a worthwhile trip. You wont be disappointed. Wheeling's fun to visit as well. They have a great bike path, good restaurants (undo's, later alligator, coleman fish market), the Capital Music Hall with great shows and the wheeling symphony, river front festivals throughout the summer, and Oglebay park. Lots of history as well, read Zane Greys "Betty Zane" to learn about some local history from a famous western novelist whose grandfather happened to be Ebenezer Zane who founded Wheeling.
From the west, you don't need to go to the hilltop and back down. The four-level (no, really, four levels--470, WV 2, ramps and surface streets) intersection can be confusing, but it's not that bad. You just have to drive in a circle a few blocks wide.
Try this on Google Earth street view and you'll see what I mean. Take the first WV exit off 470. Get in the left lane and turn left (north.) There's a small exit lane that would put you back on 470. Ignore that and go to the main intersection. You can only go straight or left. Turn left (west) staying in the left lane. There's a side street headed south past the state patrol building. Take it. When you get to the Dairy Queen, turn left again. Pat's will be a couple of blocks up on the right, under the 470 bridge you just came from.
From the east, you can take the bottom of the hill exit on 470, turn right onto the connecting road and go to the intersection, then use the same directions.
Mark Boyce posted:rtr12 posted:Mark Boyce posted:RTR,
Pat has a small shop, but he has more packed in there than many of the big boys.
Sounds like a great place and Pat sounds like a really nice guy. I may have to add a train shop tour to the 'far East' to my bucket list. Lots of neat train shops out your way.
"Far East" LOL. I know it is to you, but we are west of the Appalachians. Philly is East! LOL
You are right. While raising the kids, now taking care of the elderly parents. I haven't had the chance to get to a lot of good shops myself. And York is only 4 1/2 hours East, but I have never been there either. I need to retire! LOL
I guess you would be the 'Near East' then. 
I would want to go on to visit the ones in the 'Far East' too. Like Nassau, Trainworld, Charles Ro etc. There are so many train shops out there and all the big ones. Just need to make sure my wife doesn't pack her rolling pin or skillet, maybe then I'd survive the trip??
Yes, by all means retire as soon as you can!! It is absolutely wonderful. Been trying all my life to figure out how to stay home and still get paid. This is it, and even better, they now use direct deposit! Don't even have to go to the mailbox or the bank. 
I've always wanted to stop at his shop. Unfortunately, the times I've been through the area have been late in the evening and they were not open.
willcline64 posted:Pats is the best train shop I've ever dealt with. The shop is packed full of inventory and I always find things that I've haven't seen before. I live about 1 hr 15min away and its always a worthwhile trip. You wont be disappointed. Wheeling's fun to visit as well. They have a great bike path, good restaurants (undo's, later alligator, coleman fish market), the Capital Music Hall with great shows and the wheeling symphony, river front festivals throughout the summer, and Oglebay park. Lots of history as well, read Zane Greys "Betty Zane" to learn about some local history from a famous western novelist whose grandfather happened to be Ebenezer Zane who founded Wheeling.
You are absolutely right, Bill! There is a lot to see in Wheeling! I have read Zane Grey's books, and others on Fort Henry, Ebenezer Grey, and frontiersman Lewis Wetzel.
Becky, Tom & Gabe Morgan posted:From the west, you don't need to go to the hilltop and back down. The four-level (no, really, four levels--470, WV 2, ramps and surface streets) intersection can be confusing, but it's not that bad. You just have to drive in a circle a few blocks wide.
Try this on Google Earth street view and you'll see what I mean. Take the first WV exit off 470. Get in the left lane and turn left (north.) There's a small exit lane that would put you back on 470. Ignore that and go to the main intersection. You can only go straight or left. Turn left (west) staying in the left lane. There's a side street headed south past the state patrol building. Take it. When you get to the Dairy Queen, turn left again. Pat's will be a couple of blocks up on the right, under the 470 bridge you just came from.
From the east, you can take the bottom of the hill exit on 470, turn right onto the connecting road and go to the intersection, then use the same directions.
I will have to try the bottom of the hill exit from the East next time.
Thank you!
Panther97 posted:I've always wanted to stop at his shop. Unfortunately, the times I've been through the area have been late in the evening and they were not open.
Yes, I have been through there, knowing I was going right over his shop, but couldn't stop. 
