I couldn't agree more! I'm sure their model train sales would have a huge increase if they had layouts setup in each of the Menards stores across the country. Just think about it ... most people who go to Menards are hands-on people and what kid (or adult) wouldn't want to get their hands on a nice train set with lots of optional rolling stock at an affordable price!!!
One thing about trains: It doesn't matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.
I have to be careful how I say things here. Based on where the trains were shelved at Christmas in the Warren store I have to believe the manager has no interest in toy trains.
"IT's GOOD TO BE THE KING",by Mel Brooks
Charter Member- Tardis Train Crew (TTC) - Detroit3railers- Detroit Historical society Glancy Modular trains- Charter member BTTS
Just a suggestion for future rolling stock - ore cars.
They are small and look good in multiples and so many potential railroads and companies.
With the hoppers at $19.99, it would even better if possible for the smaller ore cars to be at a less expensive price point.
My commute to/from work goes past a rock quarry and I often see a "rock train" sitting empty in the morning and the train is gone in the afternoon. I recently saw the train pulling out with the ore cars loaded and it would be neat to recreate on a smaller scale.
I was wondering why their new products were not being shown here then I remembered they can't.
S.J.
Menards helped me get back into the hobby. In 2005 my mom had a new in the box carport from Menards. She told me I could return it and use the credit for whatever I wanted. It was December so I got a $105 store credit and got a Wisconsin Central freight set on closeout by paying another $10 additional to my credit. After that my other trains came out of storage and I was building a two level bedroom layout. I have since bought about 10 cars and some misc. I sold all my Fastrack and am back to using tubular sectional and Gargraves. Since you sell some Menards only Lionel sets how about a diesel freight set of the now gone DM&E? Consist: SD40-2, SOO and C&NW PS2CD high side hoppers in green but not midnight green, tank car and a box car.
I see you sell "O" tubular track. I'd like to see 027 profile tubular curves track in 72", 96" and 120" diameter curves.
Also I see pastel kiddy sets with 4 wheel cars made from 70s sets. My favorite was the 4 wheel side dump car of which I'd like to see but NOT in a pastel color.
Modeling the "Fargo Area Rapid Transit" in O scale 3 rail.
1 more: please add side tabs to the cars couplers so I can manually uncouple them.
Boyd,
This is the type of story I love to hear. If we can rekindle a passion for model trains or even encourage someone to start in this great hobby, we have accomplished our job.
As far as the coupler tabs go, we will do some research and hopefully come up with a solution.
Thank you,Mark the Menards Train Guy
It's not only trains I go into Menards for. I'm often building something or getting cat litter and entering for the latest car givaway. A Lowes is just 1/2 mile away from your store in Oak Park Heights and I've never liked the feel of their store,, their lack of employees and corporate feel. Menards is just more comfortable to me. To me one of the greatest inventions is a 2x4 as I go buy some and T25 6 point screws, plywood and start building a shelf. No drawings, just measure and start building to keep it simple. I have thought of making a small simple running train layout to put up at the pizza place I work at. The main concern is trying to quiet it down with a cover and foam under the track. It would have to be built so kids are kept out of it.
Good Morning!
I just thought I would let everyone know about our current train promotion.
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IMPORTANT:You MUST add (1) Flatcar w/ Military Van (SKU# 279-3449) to your online shopping cart for every train item you wish to purchase. Flatcar price will be subtracted as part of the checkout process.
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Mark,
Last year I heard here on the forum about Menards stocking trains and was excited. The sources for trains are scarce in south central Ohio. I was excited to see a big name like Menards offering trains and train related products. From you link in this thread I looked at your site and particularly was captivated by your accessories. They are very nice! The closest Menards is in Chillicothe Ohio, about 52 miles away, but I’ll be checking them out when I can. Please send my thanks to your owners for providing these products.
Jim
Sturgeon-Phish Mark, Last year I heard here on the forum about Menards stocking trains and was excited. The sources for trains are scarce in south central Ohio. I was excited to see a big name like Menards offering trains and train related products. From you link in this thread I looked at your site and particularly was captivated by your accessories. They are very nice! The closest Menards is in Chillicothe Ohio, about 52 miles away, but I’ll be checking them out when I can. Please send my thanks to your owners for providing these products. Jim
Jim,
Thank you for your kind words!
We will be ramping up our in store selection in mid October for the holiday season. Unfortunately, we don't stock much during the offseason. We do however, have our full selection of train items online year round.
Hey Mark,
Can you give us any idea as to what we might see on your shelves come mid October for the holiday season?
... or maybe just a small hint?
Thank you!
SotaPop Hey Mark, Can you give us any idea as to what we might see on your shelves come mid October for the holiday season? ... or maybe just a small hint? Thank you!
SotaPop,
We will have a large selection of buildings (both O and HO) as well as a ton of train cars. As many buildings as possible will be displayed as each particular store allows.
I won't be overly specific about the rolling stock releases, I will tell you that there are a lot of new items coming in October. Keep an eye out!
-Mark the Menards Train Guy
I've seen ads for the F350 flatbed trucks stating they are 1:48 scale, then go to the store and see the stamping on the underside of the frame and it says 1:43 which is too big in my opinion when lots of my 027 cars are underscale.
Boyd I've seen ads for the F350 flatbed trucks stating they are 1:48 scale, then go to the store and see the stamping on the underside of the frame and it says 1:43 which is too big in my opinion when lots of my 027 cars are underscale.
You are correct; I believe the F150s and F350s are all 1:43. My guess is that this is a misprint on the package.
We have some additional F150 trucks headed to the stores in the next month or so that are clearly labeled 1:43. Sorry for the mistake!
Mark: A belated thanks to you and John for keeping O-gauge trains in the public eye AND affordable. I've been shopping at Menard's ever since they opened the first store in 2011, and was astounded to see O-gauge trains -- first, sets and buildings, and later, custom-run cars and track !
In the last 25 years we've had K-Line, Industrial Rail and RMY bite the dust after years of retailing more affordable trains. I keep having to remind myself that a) I'm not a kid any more, b) for today's kids, trains are NOT the COOLEST toy out there, and c) O-gauge trains are NOT even on the radar screen of most people IF they're thinking "trains" for the kids.
SOMEBODY has to keep Lionel's feet to the fire in offering new O-gauge (the BEST gauge!) trains to the public that don't cost a king's ransom. I like what the earlier guy said about selling off all his fastrack and switching over to your traditional tinplate "O". That's what we've done. Fastrack is THE most expensive track being sold today, and side-by-side comparisons with my grandson, harder to put sections together than with brand-new tinplate.
I have been trying to talk my son-in-law for years into moving to a house with a basement so we could build his son (my grandson) a layout. I've given up for now and we are building a modular floor layout for OUR house, using track from Menard's and "modules" constructed from your no. 1251900 5-ply birch plywood. A little pricier than I'd hoped, but it's really nice material to work with. We are excited to be very close to having trains running throughout our house, and very soon !!
Bill L.
Hey Mark - before my local Menards actually had the trains on the shelves last month, they had the tags on the shelves where the trains were suppose to go. I spent a little time looking at all the tags and one caught my eye - it was a tag for a "Red Owl" building. Any idea on when this item might show up on your shelves? I'm itchin' to get a look at this building - got a feeling it's going to be awesome!
Hey Mark - before my local Menards actually had the trains on the shelves last month, they had the tags on the shelves where the trains are suppose to go. I spent a little time looking at all the tags and one caught my eye - it was a tag for a "Red Owl" building. Any idea on when this item might show up on your shelves? I'm itchin' to get a look at this building - got a feeling it's going to be awesome!
SotaPop Hey Mark - before my local Menards actually had the trains on the shelves last month, they had the tags on the shelves where the trains are suppose to go. I spent a little time looking at all the tags and one caught my eye - it was a tag for a "Red Owl" building. Any idea on when this item might show up on your shelves? I'm itchin' to get a look at this building - got a feeling it's going to be awesome!
Brad,
Yes indeed, we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of the O gauge Red Owl store. The Hanjin fiasco really set us back since they were supposed to be here mid-October. I’m not at liberty to give any further details (forum policy) but I’m sure Bob Keller will do a great review once he gets his hands on one!
Thanks for asking! -Mark the Menards Train Guy
trestrainfan Just a suggestion for future rolling stock - ore cars. They are small and look good in multiples and so many potential railroads and companies. With the hoppers at $19.99, it would even better if possible for the smaller ore cars to be at a less expensive price point. My commute to/from work goes past a rock quarry and I often see a "rock train" sitting empty in the morning and the train is gone in the afternoon. I recently saw the train pulling out with the ore cars loaded and it would be neat to recreate on a smaller scale.
The ore cars they could make would be limited if they could not use the old AHM/Atlas O scale molds and the former k-Line molds.
Menard's would have to ask the factory workers in China to produce an Ore Car not yet made in O scale / O gauge.
The rib-sided old fashined ore cars for railroads like the SOO LINE, CNW Chicago & North Western, SSAM/WC ex-CNW, LS&I Lake Superior & Ishpeming.
The modern ribbed two-bay ore cars for the Burlington Northern and other railroads.
Andrew
Watch my videos on-line at https://www.youtube.com/user/AndrewNeilFalconer
Regardless of the soon-to-come review on your Red Owl store ... I really like mine!!!
There's lots of great stuff coming out lately! I will echo Firelock's comment in the Watkins City Block blog regarding any future motive power in the works. So........??
Hello Mark!
I'd forgotten about this thread, so now I can ask you directly. Is Menard's going to take the plunge and get into motive power? Check my comment on Bob Keller's review of your Watkins City Block.
Of course, if you want to keep silent on this for various good reasons I'll understand. "Wink-wink, nod-nod."
Wayne
Firelock76 Hello Mark! I'd forgotten about this thread, so now I can ask you directly. Is Menard's going to take the plunge and get into motive power? Check my comment on Bob Keller's review of your Watkins City Block. Of course, if you want to keep silent on this for various good reasons I'll understand. "Wink-wink, nod-nod." Wayne
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Hi Everyone,
It's hard to predict whether or not we will be able to make an engine in the future. There is a lot of research and developement that will need to take place. Personally, I think if we can make a well-built engine that is affordable, we would have a real winner on our hands.
For now, we can only hope. Sorry!-Mark the Menards Train Guy
Thanks for the response Mark!
A bit of advice: Find out where the tooling is for the Williams, RMT, and possibly K-Line product lines are. There's your start to motive power. As an article in "CTT" once said, "Toy train companys come and go, but tooling is forever."
Find a basic diesel or steamer, keep the "gee-whiz" electronics out, it'll keep the cost down and some people DO still prefer to run conventional, it's a lot easier that way and there's less to go worng. Dip your toes in the water and see what happens. If it takes off, great! If it doesn't, well than you can say "we tried" and let it go at that.
There always seemed to be a pretty strong market for the Wiliams product line at every train show I've been to, it's hard for me to believe it's not still out there.
Yes, thanks Mark. You beat me to it, Firelock! I was pretty much thinking the same as you. The pre-Bachmann Williams locomotives could (and still can) be bought for around $200.00. I agree conventional would be the way to go, to keep the pricing in line with the rolling stock. Even though the F3,GP7-9 and NW2's have been done 1000 times over, one of them probably wouldn't be a bad starting point for consideration. Almost every railroad owned one or all of those models, so the paint schemes and eras are almost endless. My only request would be no stamped handrails!! :)
Hi Mark,
I just wanted to put my two cents in on a potential future Menards locomotive. I agree with Firelock too and would vote for simple without electronics ... designed to be ran in conventional mode.
I would love to see a Menards US Army locomotive and caboose combination to go with all of the awesome Menards US Army rolling stock.
Just my thoughts.
Thank you,
Brad from Minneapolis
Hi, Mark, Nice to see you here!
Sorry I'm late to this party, working as much as I do and with weekends off to work on my recent purchase house, it's hard to get into the forums. I do frequent the Coffee Pot, however.
RT started trouble the last few weeks whne he stated he was getting a Mystry Box. Being a sucker for surprises, I got one and you can't beat the value.
Your buildings are superior and budget friendly. Love the price point on the rolling stock. I saw quite the assortment at the Greenburgs Edison show in March. It is great that you're keeping the tubular going.
I will ask for one thing. I have been a collector of Hot Wheels for some time and there was an offering of 1:48 scale muscle cars (I'm a Mopar guy). If you and Menards could offer cars of this caliber for less than $4, I'd totally be on board. I'm not interested in spending $20+ dollars on vehicles, that's just sick.
Hopefully, you'll get some stores out here in the NorthEast (like Jersey, hint, hint).
Thanks for making great products us poor people can afford!!
I am the monster in your head...And I thought you'd learn by now, It seems you haven't yet.I am the venom in your skin --- Breaking Benjamin
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