Your Local Hobby Shop (LHS)

@redjimmy1955 posted:

Just curious...over in Sykesville Maryland there used to be a great train store (yeah 10 yrs ago) called Purkeys Toy Trains. Does anyone know why they closed or perhaps moved?

I went there once with a friend and bought an MTH steel arch bridge and maybe some other stuff, it was a neat store with a varied inventory. As to why he closed, I have no idea (I will call my friend and ask him).

Another nice store (now closed) was Moose Caboose on Liberty Rd, also in Sykesville although they may not have been in operation at the same time. I did a lot of business with Moose as pricing was very competitive and the owner/staff were very friendly. Oddly, whenever I would call, I never knew with whom I was talking to as the young man who worked there sounded just like the owner, at least on the phone!

My, how times have changed.  When I moved to Central PA in 1999, I was surrounded by train stores:

• Maxwell's (Harrisburg) - GONE
• Palmyra Train Shop (in Palmyra's train station) - GONE
• Barry's (Elizabethtown) - GONE
• Cool Trains (Salunga) - trying to recover from a fire earlier this year
• Hobbytown (Harrisburg) - GONE
• Draude's Derailment (Lebanon) - still there as far as I know
• The Station (New Cumberland) - still there as far as I know
• Strasburg Train Shop (Strasburg) - still there as far as I know

Now back in the Pittsburgh area, the choices are (as far as I know):

• Hobby Express (Cranberry Township)
• Grand Central Hobby (Cranberry Township)
• Mercer Junction (Mercer) - about an hour north
• Esther's (Millvale) - mostly HO & N

George

George, Is Grand Central Hobby the place that also sells baseball cards on Rt 19 near the West View Savings Bank?

@Mark Boyce posted:

George, Is Grand Central Hobby the place that also sells baseball cards on Rt 19 near the West View Savings Bank?

Yes.  It is mostly a sports memorabilia store, but does have a few widely spaced out model trains.  My guess is that they have about 10% of the total train stuff (locomotives, rolling stock, buildings, electronics, scratch-building supplies, etc.) of Hobby Express.  According to their website, they value neatness and being able to find things.     Hobby Express values being crammed full to the ceiling with stuff (in an 8,400 sq ft space) and having what you want.

George

@G3750 posted:

Yes.  It is mostly a sports memorabilia store, but does have a few widely spaced out model trains.  My guess is that they have about 10% of the total train stuff (locomotives, rolling stock, buildings, electronics, scratch-building supplies, etc.) of Hobby Express.  According to their website, they value neatness and being able to find things.     Hobby Express values being crammed full to the ceiling with stuff (in an 8,400 sq ft space) and having what you want.

George

George, Thank you.  Yes, about 10% of what Hobby Express has was my assessment from the one time I was at Grand Central Hobby.  I am, as my brother once put it, a Neat-Nik.  However, I will take a shop crammed full any day over neatness in a hobby shop.  

@G3750 posted:

My, how times have changed.  When I moved to Central PA in 1999, I was surrounded by train stores:

• Strasburg Train Shop (Strasburg) - still there as far as I know

 

I remember when I was younger, there was a second hobby shop in Strasburg. Originally it was located on the SRC's property above their current gift shop. Later it was relocated to the outlets on Rt. 30 and closed within the past 5-6 years. 

@Scrambler81 posted:

Stores in Jersey just opened this week. Closest to me is Alloway, and it is about an hour from here. It is a very small store, so I understand they will be limiting entry. 
 Much closer to home is a small toy store, and they have really struggled through this. After enduring the lockdown, fierce storms early this month fried the transformer outside the store, which in turn blew out their entire electrical system, and caused a fire. This is a long way of saying that instead of buying new stuff, I have been trying to send a little cash towards the various fundraisers to help Farpoint Toys. 
 Still, I can’t wait to get back to train stores and shows, I really miss it. Bought a couple things on line early, but that just isn’t as much fun.

Went to Alloway yesterday and was there for over an hour talking, socializing and buying. Placed a big order. Trying my best to support the small stores. Be glad when they (Alloway) can start classes again. Always had a nice time with everyone. Miss all that!

Lost my primary LHS in December (Cleveland's Trading Post Train Shop, although the brand and heritage was purchased by another store/shop about 30 miles away). With impeccable timing, I decided to expand my horizons and get into MTH Rail King and adopted another LHS that's almost 100% MTH. I fear for their future with last week's announcement.

My LHS is a 45 minute drive and is one of the coolest train shops in the US. Arkansas Traveller Hobbies is located in Bald Knob, Arkansas and resides in the beautifully restored MOPAC Bald Knob station. Craig specializes in 3 rail and 2 rail "O" and it's piled to the ceiling. It has that "old time hobby shop" charm we crave. There are several operating layouts to see. The station is next to the UP (Ex-MOPAC) St. Louis to Little Rock,AR mainline so train watching is an extra bonus! There is also a small but extensive railroad museum. There are bargains galore and I never leave empty handed. Highly recommended! 

Ricky, We used to travel through Arkansas to visit in-laws in Fort Smith from 1986-95 when he retired and moved back to Pennsylvania.  Before our first daughter was born 1n 1991, we would take side trips and some were to hobby shops.  I have seen Arkansas Traveller advertised, but seeing on their Facebook page they opened in 1993, we never stopped there.  It looks like a great place to stop, and if we are ever in Arkansas again, I will make sure we visit.

A quick word for my LHS, Trains4U in Peterborough, UK. Good stocks of the usual Bachman and Hornby OO, Peco track, stocked Bachman On30 at one time.

Small demo layout / test track in several gauges, good stocks of scenic products, tools, small metal sections, plastic card; they also have a weathering and painting service (Matt Finishes) and do quite a lot of on-line sales AND sponsor the local club, all round good LHS

@Rockershovel posted:

A quick word for my LHS, Trains4U in Peterborough, UK. Good stocks of the usual Bachman and Hornby OO, Peco track, stocked Bachman On30 at one time.

Small demo layout / test track in several gauges, good stocks of scenic products, tools, small metal sections, plastic card; they also have a weathering and painting service (Matt Finishes) and do quite a lot of on-line sales AND sponsor the local club, all round good LHS

Wonderful, Rockershovel. And, I love the fact that this Forum enables us to connect with fellow hobbyists in different countries. Arnold

@Ricky Tanner posted:

My LHS is a 45 minute drive and is one of the coolest train shops in the US. Arkansas Traveller Hobbies is located in Bald Knob, Arkansas and resides in the beautifully restored MOPAC Bald Knob station. Craig specializes in 3 rail and 2 rail "O" and it's piled to the ceiling. It has that "old time hobby shop" charm we crave. There are several operating layouts to see. The station is next to the UP (Ex-MOPAC) St. Louis to Little Rock,AR mainline so train watching is an extra bonus! There is also a small but extensive railroad museum. There are bargains galore and I never leave empty handed. Highly recommended! 

Heard of them years ago, and they sound good. BUT ...... they need to get a website!!

This is a long shot but does anyone remember Choo Choo Charlie's on MacDade Blvd. in Ridley Pa? (It might have been in Secane, Pa). Not much of a shop but still a LHS none-the-less, it closed early 2000's.

@Prr7688 posted:

I remember when I was younger, there was a second hobby shop in Strasburg. Originally it was located on the SRC's property above their current gift shop. Later it was relocated to the outlets on Rt. 30 and closed within the past 5-6 years. 

You are absolutely correct.  I just can't remember the name.  I think they dealt in a number of used trains and railroad memorabilia as well.

That reminds me.  I forgot to mention another fallen flag - The Hidden Hangar.  While not a train store (they catered to (obviously) R/C aircraft as well as cars and boats), they had an extensive supply of scratch-building materials, paint, and hardware.

We were so blessed with the large number of train and hobby stores in the area.

George

@raising4daughters posted:

Lost my primary LHS in December (Cleveland's Trading Post Train Shop, although the brand and heritage was purchased by another store/shop about 30 miles away). With impeccable timing, I decided to expand my horizons and get into MTH Rail King and adopted another LHS that's almost 100% MTH. I fear for their future with last week's announcement.

Who purchased the Trading Post brand?  It was always my go to shop when I lived in Cleveland. A longtime friend of Jim B.

@Dave Warburton posted:

Who purchased the Trading Post brand?  It was always my go to shop when I lived in Cleveland. A longtime friend of Jim B.

Corner Field Model Railroad Museum and Hobby Shop 

16720 Pioneer Road

Middlefield, OH 44062

http://www.cornerfieldmodelrai...dhobby.com/home.html

@Mark Boyce posted:

Corner Field Model Railroad Museum and Hobby Shop 

16720 Pioneer Road

Middlefield, OH 44062

http://www.cornerfieldmodelrai...dhobby.com/home.html

Ah, thank you, Mark. A new place since I left Ohio. I understand it is great!

The Trading Post can never truly be replaced, though. So much history there. 

@Dave Warburton posted:

Ah, thank you, Mark. A new place since I left Ohio. I understand it is great!

The Trading Post can never truly be replaced, though. So much history there. 

You're right, it can't truly be replaced because Jim was one of a kind, and that old place in Old Brooklyn was such a throwback (both of my parents grew up within a mile or two of Jim's place).  I think Jim's heirs and the folks at Corner Field came up with the absolute best alternative to complete closure and loss of the brand forever, and I've got my fingers they make it work.

@Dave Warburton posted:

Ah, thank you, Mark. A new place since I left Ohio. I understand it is great!

The Trading Post can never truly be replaced, though. So much history there. 

@raising4daughters posted:

You're right, it can't truly be replaced because Jim was one of a kind, and that old place in Old Brooklyn was such a throwback (both of my parents grew up within a mile or two of Jim's place).  I think Jim's heirs and the folks at Corner Field came up with the absolute best alternative to complete closure and loss of the brand forever, and I've got my fingers they make it work.

I never was in The Trading Post, living on the other side of the Ohio/Pennsylvania line  , but I'm sure Jim has a great guy.  Tom Elesh Sr told me so.  I think the Eleshs will do well with it, once we get to the place when they can safely open up again without fear of the virus.

@breezinup posted:

Heard of them years ago, and they sound good. BUT ...... they need to get a website!!

They used to have a website but the shop is run by only the owner and his wife with some close friends helping out. Craig has a incredibly massive inventory of trains. The inventory changes so quickly,it would take 1-2 people months working furiously to keep a website updated. It's well worth a side trip if you are passing through the area. He's aslo got a lot of two rail O scale and two rail brass too which you don't see that often in shops nowadays.

@Mark Boyce posted:

I never was in The Trading Post, living on the other side of the Ohio/Pennsylvania line  , but I'm sure Jim has a great guy.  Tom Elesh Sr told me so.  I think the Eleshs will do well with it, once we get to the place when they can safely open up again without fear of the virus.

I get over to the Erie/Meadville area pretty frequently. Any LHS recommendations along the I79 corridor?

I have to give a shout out to my LHS; Patricks Trains in Wheeling WV.  They have a huge selection of both Lionel and MTH Rolling stock and Engines, Atlas, all gauges, accessories, sets, scenic ex, switches, etc, and good prices.  You'll be blown away by the multiple conex's of rolling stock. He has a great on-line site at:  Patrickstrains.com    They do mail order as well and take cash, credit and have lay-a-way.  Located under the I470 blue bridge that crosses the Ohio River.  Ck em out. 

 A big shout out to GRANDPAS TRAINS - my local hobby shop in Warwick RI. Ray is the proprietor and the store has two operating layouts, lots of MTH / Lionel and old K-Line stock, and a good repair person (Kenny).

Ray is in his 80's and I enjoy shooting the breeze with him whenever I visit. I just love looking at my phone and seeing a message from Ray telling me "your trains are in".

Thanks for all you do Ray.

Paul

@raising4daughters posted:

I get over to the Erie/Meadville area pretty frequently. Any LHS recommendations along the I79 corridor?

Mercer Junction Train Shoppe in Mercer is the closest to Meadville I know.  It is right on the Court House Diamond https://mercerjunction.com/ Dave Minarik has a neat fully detailed O gauge layout in the shop, and he will let you run engines you are considering buying on the layout.  It is definitely worth the trip only a few miles south of Meadville.

I mentioned on the first page CT McCormick Hardware Store in Zelienople, a little farther south right off I-79 at 147 S. Main St.  http://www.cttrains.com/ Jeff caries on his dad's tradition of offering a great line of O gauge trains in his full service hardware store.  It is a step back in time, as is all of Downtown Zelienople.  He has a ton of stuff stored upstairs he will bring down if you don't see it in the store.  I find he offers great prices to order what he doesn't have in stock.

If you want to travel as far as Cranberry Township (PA Rt 228 - Mars Exit) less than a mile off I-79, there is Hobby Express as George G3750 mentioned.   https://www.hobbyexpressinc.com/  They don't have a lot of trains on the Website, but they have a full line of O gauge, HO, N, Large scale trains.  Their showcase is full of great locomotives from Lionel, MTH, and some Atlas I think.  If you do go as far as south as Cranberry Township, you can hop on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to get back to Ohio quickly.

I can't find it here on the Forum, but I know someone up Erie way has mentioned The Train Shop 3310 Buffalo Rd, Erie, PA 16510 (814) 790-4887.  I have never been there.  I don't see a Website, and Google says it is Temporarily Closed.  I do not know if that is because Erie County was the only county in Western Pennsylvania to not move forward to the Green Phase of COVID-19 or not.  

I hope you can stop in one or some of these shops in the near future.

@TomSuperO posted:

I have to give a shout out to my LHS; Patricks Trains in Wheeling WV.  They have a huge selection of both Lionel and MTH Rolling stock and Engines, Atlas, all gauges, accessories, sets, scenic ex, switches, etc, and good prices.  You'll be blown away by the multiple conex's of rolling stock. He has a great on-line site at:  Patrickstrains.com    They do mail order as well and take cash, credit and have lay-a-way.  Located under the I470 blue bridge that crosses the Ohio River.  Ck em out. 

I have dealt with Pat over the phone and we stopped in once.  He does have a lot of trains crammed in his store and is a great guy to talk to.

TomSuperO - Too bad Pat's Trains doesn't ship to Canada.  Was all set to buy an engine from him a few years ago and everything went well until I gave him my address and as soon as I said Canada he courtly said"I don't ship to Canada" and that was the end of our conversation.  I believe he mentioned that he'd had a bad experience once shipping to Canada so he decided not to ship north of the border anymore. 

@Ricky Tanner posted:

They used to have a website but the shop is run by only the owner and his wife with some close friends helping out. Craig has a incredibly massive inventory of trains. The inventory changes so quickly,it would take 1-2 people months working furiously to keep a website updated. It's well worth a side trip if you are passing through the area. He's aslo got a lot of two rail O scale and two rail brass too which you don't see that often in shops nowadays.

Well, it's certainly up to them and how they need to run it. There are computer programs that can handle inventory, though, and there are plenty of small shops that have website inventory listings. Granted, it would be a lot of work to get it set up and get items listed to begin with. Sommerfelds is an example of a shop that used to have inventory listing, and then stopped. I don't shop there anymore, as a result. Obviously it's hard to shop at a place where they don't tell you what they have (unless you're willing to spend an enormous amount of time calling around).

It would seem that establishing a pathway to the outside world from Bald Knob, Arkansas, would be an essential element for effectively marketing his "incredibly massive inventory of trains." In fact, he has no website at all, inventory or not. Just having a site with some pictures and information to promote and advertise, even without an inventory listing, would be advantageous.

The Train Shop in Erie, Pa. (Wesleyville) has been closed temporarily, as the owner passed away 2 weeks  ago. I don't know if there is a successor, partner, or family member willing to take on the challenge to move forward. I do notice though, when driving by, that many cars are parked at the facility in recent days, so there is some type of movement going on, whether  gathering info on inventory or accessing the what could be's.  Otherwise, the closest train shop , specializing in O scale is in Mercer, PA .   The Train Shop never had a website.........

@Taconite Hauler posted:

The Train Shop in Erie, Pa. (Wesleyville) has been closed temporarily, as the owner passed away 2 weeks  ago. I don't know if there is a successor, partner, or family member willing to take on the challenge to move forward. I do notice though, when driving by, that many cars are parked at the facility in recent days, so there is some type of movement going on, whether  gathering info on inventory or accessing the what could be's.  Otherwise, the closest train shop , specializing in O scale is in Mercer, PA .   The Train Shop never had a website.........

Thank you for that information.

Support your local hobby shops they depend on us 

My approach is to give my LHS or a Forum Sponsor first crack at anything I may want. Both are important. A LHS, especially one with a nice operating layout, is great for promoting the hobby. Forum Sponsors support our beloved Forum as well as promote the hobby. Arnold

Unfortunately all the Hobby Shops here in Tampa are gone, there's a couple or three across the Bay in Pinellas County.