Best Train Stores in Eastern PA, Northern NJ

[Buckeye Riveter]

Next week, we will load the car and head east to Bethlehem, PA for Thanksgiving with the in-laws and out-laws. 

On Friday and Saturday I will have a chance to visit some of the finer train stores in the area or layout open houses.

Any suggestions from the locals as to where I should visit?  (Please note, I have been to Steamtown.)

 

[luther_stanton]

Buckeye,

Strasburg is not that far.  Nice tourist train, PRR museum is across the street.  Also in the area is the Toy Train Museum and Choo Choo Barn.  I believe there is also at least one train shop in Strasburg (http://www.strasburgrailroad.com)

I think it is no more than 90 minutes from Bethlehem, PA.  I made the trip three years ago, so I do not remember the exact drive time.

You can also head north to Scanton (Steamtown) for Grzyboski's Train Store (http://www.gryzboskitrains.com).

There is also a tourist train in New Hope, PA (http://www.newhoperailroad.com/).

Philidelphia is about an hour away - Nicholas Smith Trains (www.nstrains.com).

Enjoy your trip!

- Luther

[Joe Hohmann]

If you do nothing else, go to Strasburg. The RR, PA Railroad Museum, Choo-Choo Barn (a first class, large, very animated layout), and the TCA Toy Train Museum are within "walking distance" of each other. The train shop next to the Choo-Choo Barn has a good selection, but prices are not real low. I buy a lot of my scenic supplies there. One shop at the Strasburg RR has a huge selection of RR books and video. Joe

[92hatchattack]

Saturday thanksgiving weekend i am heading to Strasburg as well.  Taking my two year old son to see his first steamer. Hes is completly train crzzy....  Cant wait to see his eyes light up!

[tmcc man]

Buckeye, all of the information that Luther Stanton gave you shoiuld satisfy your needs to find anything "train" related while spending time with your family. If you decide to go to Nicholas Smith Trains, or the New Hope Railroad, send me an email, because I go to both places often, and maybe we could meet each other at either or both locations. 

[laz 57]

BUCKEYE,
There is a good train store just outside of ALLENTOWN. I think its called TRAINS LANES and PLANES. My wife took me to it so I'll have to get her to give you directions. Nice store but you won't get any deals, everything is at list price but they do have a big selection. They also have two big 8 lane racing tracks set up.

If you are going to STRAUSSBURG, get in touch with JELECTRIC and he will show you around ELIZABETHTOWN. I will be up my MOMs in HAZLETON over the holiday getting ready for deer season. JOHN can take you to a few shops there. My favorite place BARRYs TRAIN SHOP and tell BARRY you know me and he will give you a great deal on anything. He can also take you to COOLTRAINS in Salunga and if he wants can take you up to PAMYRA just north of ETOWN to THE TRAIN SHOP there. All these places are within 12 miles of ETOWN.
Hope this helps you?
laz57

[Pennvalley]

Roadside American is about a 50min drive west on route 78.  http://www.roadsideamericainc.com/

[alentown]

Yes, Trains and Lanes is in Easton, PA.  Take Rt. 33 just one exit north of Rt. 22 . Directions from there are a bit tricky so you might call them. It's only a few minutes from Bethlehem.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. 

Does anyone know anything about that huge layout somewhere in Northern NJ ?

[Anonymous]

Buckeye
their is the Blue MOUNTAIN rail road in Reading
PENNA. ALSO Trains and Lanes in the Allentown area of Penna. also Englers trains shop in Allentown area . ben

[Pennvalley]

Thanks for all the great suggestions. 

Does anyone know anything about that huge layout somewhere in Northern NJ ?

I believe it's HO. http://www.northlandz.com/

[bibeaud]

You can also try Hobby Hangout in Easton PA. It is on William Penn Highway. There is an exit for William Penn on Route 22.

[mitchelr]

If you decide to make a stop in Gettysburg. Carver's Toyland has a huge selection of old trains.  Not cheap, but a huge selcetion.

Mitch

[Buckeye Riveter]

Has anyone heard if the TOYS for TOTS display will be running in the Allentown-Bethlehem area this year?

[dwiemer]

Buckeye, My favorite trainstore is in Northern New Jersey, The Train Station, in Mountain Lakes.  It is fairly close to the PA boarder too.  As to the train Layout in North Jersey, you may be thinking if the New York Model Engineers layout it Carlstadt, NJ.  This was once in NYC and I believe it is the oldest still functioning club in the country.  They do have some open house dates, but you could probably get in regardless.. Tell them you are from Ohio and they may feel sorry for you

Anyway, they have a website, but my computer with all that information is down right now.  You may also be able to look up a phone number.  They have a fantastic scale layout that is huge.  They hand layed all the track too.  I hope this helps.

Dennis

[Buckeye Riveter]

Tell them you are from Ohio and they may feel sorry for you

Thanks Dennis, but I have found that if I tell them I'm from Ohio and I'm  in the process of moving to North Carolina, they not only let me in free but buy me lunch and give me a new coat and hat.   I'll check out Mountain Lakes to see how close it is to Bethlehem, PA.

Thanks again guys.  Sure would like to know about the Toys for Tots display.  I was once featured in CTT.

[phillyreading]

Buckeye their is the Blue MOUNTAIN rail road in Reading PENNA. ALSO Trains and Lanes in the Allentown area of Penna. also Englers trains shop in Allentown area . ben

The last time I was to Reading PA, about three years ago, the Blue Mountain & Reading Railroad had stopped all passenger service. Any way the cities it ran to were Hamburg & Temple(north of Reading by four miles).

Around Reading is a small city names Leesport & it has the Reading Company Historical Society and some train items on display at Center Street in Leesport off of highway 61. Turn at the traffic ligfht in town toward the river.  Also a small hobby shop at the intersection with a traffic light in Leesport in the old school building that is now a shopping center.  A small hobby shop north of Reading on highway 61 near the intersection for Cross-Keys bridge, the hobby shop will be on the right hand side.

Another place of interest near Hamburg is the small town of Jim Thorpe on highway 61 just north of Hamburg on the left side of hwy. 61, about a mile or so in are some old Reading diesel locomotives from the 60's or 70's that still operate and haul frieght locally.

Lee F.

 

[Buckeye Riveter]

Thanks, Lee. 

Looking forward to seeing new and different items.  

[laz 57]

Have fun BUCKEYE!

laz57

[jonadel]

I would suggest the museum at Strassburg also, it's simply amazing. I'd return in a heartbeat plus the Choo Choo barn is fun and the layout is worth the time.

Jon

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know if Engler's in Allentown went out of business?  I've been trying to call the last few days but the numbers have been disconnected.

 

Eddie