Trains - where to buy?

[emdmike]

Very loaded question, for every place someone loves, there will be a hater.  But for myself personally...anything new is usually Mr Muffins Trains or Mario's Trains and Menards.   Vintage is shows, ebay and other online venues/forums.  My main focus is late prewar and early postwar Lionel.  So most of my hunting is at shows and online sources.   If you have a good local shop, be sure to support him/her as well.  Mr Muffins is local to me, hence being one of the go to places.  He even hosts train shows in the streets of down town Atlanta, Indiana.   

[Flintlock76]

Hoo boy, could you be just a little more specific, as in where  to buy or what  to buy?

Where  could entail what part of the country you're in, what  would mean a matter of personal taste or what you can afford. 

There's plenty of folks here willing to help but a little more information would be helpful, so don't be shy!

And  aboard!

PS:  Since you're new to the Forum the moderator is going to "vet" you for a while to make sure you're one of the good guys, so be patient if your posts don't show up immediately.  

[Leverettrailfan]

Hoo boy! That's a loaded question 

Really, it depends on exactly what you want out of your trains, how much you want to spend, how far you're willing to travel, and how much work you want to do.

There's plenty of manufacturers you can purchase from directly either online or by catalog, and plenty of retailers (both online and at physcial 'brick and mortar' locations) to order from as well.
Generally, "the more money you spend, the fancier the item is". If you want all the whistles and bells, you're looking at the higher range items. That said, you don't have to spend your life savings in order to get something that'll give you hours of entertainment.

You can also buy both new and used equipment on online marketplaces such as eBay, or in person at train shows and flea markets. However, unless an item is brand new, you're probably going to need to either service it yourself, or pay someone else, to get it working as it should.

If you give more of your personal criterea, then people on the CTT forums can give you a better run down on what choices might get you closest to what you're looking for. Ie what are you going to use the trains for, what's more important, realism or durability, do you want something old school or something with all the latest modern features, and so forth.

Hope this helps
-Ellie

[dugish]

What's everyone's recommended place to buy the best quality trains?

Thanks in advance