Mercer Junction. And like everything else that I like, I wish it was only 15 minutes from my house.
Originally Posted by NCT:
We miss you! The perfect train store!
Couldn't agree more! I sure miss my trips to Thurmont!
My "new" local is also an O gauge store with some HO...nice owner, good repairs, and a great view of the CSX main line out the window.
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Despatch Junction in East Rochester NY (in former train station) had EVERYTHING ... except a sprinkler system. Unfortunately it burned to the ground in 2014. But they are rebuilding.
Originally Posted by Putnam Division:
This is what I/we lost in the Richmond metro area when Chesterfield Hobbies closed in 2013. Boy.....would I love to have it again!
1. a short distance away (it was less than a 10 minute drive)
2. knowledgeable and friendly staff
3. great costumer service
4. a small discount (I would trade a steep discount for a small one in return for service, any day)
5. a great atmosphere where people congregate on Fridays after work and Saturdays...you always see people you know and they know you (I call this the Cheers effect)
6. a skilled repair department
7. a decent selection of trains with the ability to order what you want/need
8. a good selection of paint, modeling and scratch-building supplies
Am I missing anything fellow Richmonders? I fear that Central Virginia will never see a store like this again......
Peter
Still looking for one in north Virginia, sure wish there was one in the Fredericksburg area.
My Local LHS
Has a 10' x 28' Operating Layout..... Store layouts are important.....
Stop by and see their layout.
Gary
• Cheers from The Detroit and Mackinac Railway - Click photo to enlarge.
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Had a shop about 15 minutes from my office, so I would get there during my lunch once a week for several years. It wasn't huge, but George knew a ton, and he would always help me out. I could call him when I was stuck in a wiring problem, or when I was looking at something at a train show and wanted advice. Sadly, he didn't survive the downturn.
I recently went to Nicholas Smith in Broomall, Pa, and just loved it. I couldn't believe the volume they had in there. Now, if only they could open a branch in Atlantic County, NJ, I'd be all set.
Was there Tuesday... Roundhouse South Port Orange Fl. Tony is very helpful and has a nice layout good service and guarantees used engines for a year!
A wall of prewar and postwar locomotives and cars.
Tom
Patrick's Trains would love to be your new dealer, give us a try!
Thanks
Pat
E-MAIL PATSTRAINS @AOL.COM
PATRICK'S TRAINS
142 29TH STREET
WHEELING WV 26003
304-232-0714
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Pat, do you bring the Dachshunds to the shop? That would certainly make for my ideal train store.
Patrick, Very Nice Pictures,of a Very Well Stocked Store, Looks Like a Very Nice Display Layout. Thank You for the pictures.....You are Really in the Train Business. I wish you had a store in the Nashville Tennessee area....WOW.
My biggest thing, & coincidently, my biggest pet peeve, is that I expect a LHS to act like a LHS. I want to see items of local interest that pertain to the area. I like all the Buffalo area railroads & local military related models, books, & magazines, so I want to see that stuff because I model what I know. When I walk into a place like Hobby Lobby, I look around, laugh, make a joke to my wife about what a "chick's store" it has become, & usually leave with nothing while she buys the place out on plastic flowers, baskets, & decoupage supplies. Every once in a while I'll use their cupon to get a model kit or something I need cheap, but that's about once every few YEARS. The LHSs here are dying, but I do my best to TRY & support them. Unfortunatly, as the times get harder for them, they stock less & less, & it becomes a viscous cycle of less selection, less local interest, & more of a reason to go online for a "deal". The one major LHS used to run a 10% off cupon in the phone book & it really got me into the store A LOT, but they stopped doing it & now only offer 10% off to students with ID, but it's only for school project related items, so that only goes so far with my son.
