Hello.
ive been hard at work and upset to find the lack of websites that actually sell o scale trains. I know that o scale trains are becoming unpopular, but it's annoying to not be able to find the specific engine you are looking for. So I was curious, what's the best website to look on. Where can I look where I know I'll find what I'm looking for.
Are you looking for new or used?
For used try trainz.com. For new try all the major dealers that adverise in "CTT" like Charles Ro and Grzybowski's. (I hope I spelled the latter one right!)
Bear in mind what you're looking for also depends on availability.
Just to make sure we're on the same page, are you looking for O Gauge trains in general or O Gauge scale trains, that is the ones built to the correct 1/48 scale size?
TrainWorld
Trainz
Grzyboski's
Hobbylinc
Charles Ro
West Side Trains
East Side Trains
Nicholas Smith
T and K Hobby
M. B. Klein
Menards
Lionel.com
Just to name a few.
Same me, different spelling!
I wish the various online sources would list whether an item is traditional or scale-sized.
Even the packaging doesn't give that information, and it's not always easy to tell when looking at a boxed-and-bagged item in a store. Couldn't Lionel just put a "T" or an "S" on the beginning or end of their item numbers?
MTsteamfanI wish the various online sources would list whether an item is traditional or scale-sized.
I suspect the on-line sellers are expecting a certain level of familiarity by the shoppers with the various product lines, that is you've read the catalogs and you know what you're looking for. Maybe they're expecting just a little too much? I don't know.
One hint for you. If you're on trainz.com and looking at MTH products if the boxes shown are purple, they're scale sized trains. If the boxes are yellow those are the RailKing semi-scale models. trainz.com always shows the boxes if they have them.
Lionel's boxes are all orange, so you can't tell just by looking. But look at it this way, if it's "big bucks" it's probably scale, especially if it's a steam engine.
Really, you've got to do your research with the on-line catalogs available, it's the only way to know just what you're looking at.
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