Mainline Enterprise - Problems

[Buckeye Riveter]

I usually post on the CTT forum, but this spring/summer I have been planning to build a small garden railroad. On February 15th, I ordered the roadbed system from Mainline Enterprises. As of today, almost 3 months later, I have not received the order. I have talked to the owner about 30 days ago who claimed he was laid up in the hospital and has a huge backlog of orders. During the last three weeks I have been calling and receiving only the voice mail recorder. I have sent several emails with no response.

Does anyone on this forum know what is going on with Mainline Enterprises? [?][?][?][?]

Thanks for any help.

[vsmith]

Sorry to hear your having trouble with your order, this tends to happen with small garage business's. One small delay causes a huge log jam.

Mainline is usually always at the Big Train Show at the Queen Mary each year, maybe we can get some answers then if a sales rep shows up if you cant get any info before then.

[Anonymous]

Unlees you have serious site problems, why not build your own out of the normal materials; their are many chaps on this forum whho will point you in the right direction I am sure.


Ian Kawana Island Tropical Railway.

[Buckeye Riveter]

VSMITH
Thanks for the info. If you would be so kind to inquire about them at the Queen Mary show, I certainly would appreciate your help. (No need to inquire, I finally reached Mainline by phone.)

Landor
Mainline invoiced me and I paid their invoice in full. Two choices: Return money or send product. It money is returned, I'll build it myself using the money to buy the lumber, etc.

May 21, 2004

Well finally after repeated attempts to contact Mainline by phone and email, I reached Mainline on Friday, May 14, 2004 and asked them why I didn't have my order. After some fumbling through paper, they discovered that it had not been shipped and promised to get it out. According to the UPS web site, Mainline did send it out on May 17, 2004, the next Monday, and today it arrived packed and nothing broken, sratched, dented, etc. and I should be all smiles [:)] , but.................................

Two large pieces were missing. Of course I have called....no answer, but I left a voice mail. I emailed the invoice to Mainline to show the missing pieces. I offered to photograph the pieces I received and email it to them on the message I left on the voice mail.

Is it always this hard to deal with suppliers for Garden Railroads?

[Jim Duda]

Buck - I'm VERY curious what you think of the roadbed and is it what you expected? I hope the missing pieces show up quickly, my friend! Do the curved pieces fit the track EXACTLY? Are you going to paint it with a brown primer or just leave it white?

JD

[Buckeye Riveter]

JIm - The roadbed material and workmanship are top notch. I believe I will paint it gray, however a new problem has developed.

Yesterday, as I began to lay out the pieces in the allocated location (garden area) one of the curves did not fit. It was too large. I headed back inside and checked and double checked my layout design dimensions. I began to backtrack to where I placed my order with Mainline. Low and behold, when Mainline did the take off of my track plan, their takeoff used 8'0" diameter and my design drawings and parts listing that was sent to them for the takeoff indicates clearly I am using 5'0" diameter LGB track. (They even called me one time to confirm I was using LGB track.)

I called them and they said they would check on it. Now they owe me the 2 parts of roadbed that were not shipped plus 17 curved sections that were sent incorrectly. Remember, I ordered all of this on February 15th and the layout is based upon LGB Standard Parts, nothing custom or special curves. The layout is just a single loop of track, no switches.

Pluses:
Quality Product

Minuses:
Timeliness in Shipping
No answer to voice mail or emails
Missing pieces
Incorrect pieces

[Anonymous]

Bucheye

This is all a problem to do with using discreet sections of track and whereas its easy enough, to start it lacks versatility and the more you get into it and the more variations you need the harder it all seems. Why not use a flexitrack type thing, it might seem hard to use but it isn't believe me, if I can do it anyone can.

Ian Kawana etc.

[Buckeye Riveter]

Ian,
I must beg to differ; this is not a problem of me using specific sections of track based upon the dimensions and specifications of LGB in the design my layout. I am not going to do a variation or am I worried about the versatility in my small space and if I do want to make future changes, the CADD program that was used to design the garden railroad will be used for any modifications that I desire. (BTW, it is hard to beat RR-TRACK, Version 4 for designing track plans and drawings.) Since I also have a pretty complex double dog bone O-Gage layout with several switches and bridges, I have had considerable experience with sectional track. When I did HO scale railroading many years ago, I used flextrack. I prefer good sectional track teamed up with a good track planning CADD program which I use extensively to design the plans and drawings for my layouts.

The problem is a company not performing to normal business expectations.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye Riveteer
I'm having a similar prolem with Mainline Enterprise - Order placed at York, PA LS Train shoe about April 5th. Have yet to see anything although Paypal has distributed the money to them. Do you have contact telephone numbers for them?

Thanks gpkbmkmd

[sftop]

I am also having trouble with my order, a large one at that. Talked to Rocky who said he just got out of the hospital today and is ok. He promised me stuff by May15th which I have not recieved. He hasn't followed up on my several requests for tracking info on a partial order he supposedly sent. He seems sincere, but I'm really starting to question his reliability and ability to deliver. My check sent direct was cashed in 3 days. Seems like I'm getting the runaround...small business issues aside.

[Anonymous]

WISE UP PEOPLE DON'T BUY FROM THIS GUY ,HE'S ONLY HURTING HIM SELF.[B)]--------[censored]???????????

[Buckeye Riveter]

Sftop,
I received your email and thought I would post my reply here at the forum. Everything arrived now about one and 1/2 weeks ago. The correct parts arrived. I carefully layed out the parts on the ground as the instructions stated and everything fit together just perfect. I purchased the 3/4" Schedule 40 PVC pipe at Home Depot and started pounding pipe. In less than 4 hours I had a train running. Home Deport sells a pvc pipe cutter that really helps and a small pvc saw that makes the trimming really fast.

The product is a real timesaver. It is of good quality and works as advertised. My track pieces fit just like they were supposed to fit. Leveling was the hardest job, but I believe I should have attached only one piece at a time to the previous pieces as I built my loop.

gpkbmkmd - The phone number for Mainline is 928-854-7398. The email address is: [e-mail]

I was calling at least once a week and sent numerous emails in order to finally get my roadbed. I truely believe he is having some sort of health problems. He mentioned to me that the orders that were coming in via PAYPAL has been overwhelming, which makes sense.

[sftop]

Thanks for the feedack-The problem is this guy promises and can't deliver. He's not being candid...say he shipped a partial order but won't give me tracking info to verify, At this point don't know if I should continue to wait or go with plan b. In any event I'll speak to the Better Business Bureau on Monday

[Jim Duda]

Buck - I saw your pic on the CTT forum. Have to say it still is my first choice but I'm gonna wait until he gets the supply problems sorted out. I've got a few months to go before it starts to cool down again in Texas. Glad to know you're up and trackin'. The fireflies are out down here and probably will be soon up there...it'll be great to see it run while the sun sets, won't it? Can't wait to sit in the cool of the evening and just watch it chase itself.

I'll be reading here and see how the rest of you guys make out with Mainline...

jd

[Buckeye Riveter]

Jim - I certainly wouldn't pay when you order, only when product received.

One item that I learned is that I believe every order is individually made. I don't believe there is a backlog of stock, but I may be wrong.

[sftop]

Finally did get my order on June 10th. Have installed the roadbed , painted it grey and installed about 300 ft of flex track. I was able to do about 100 ft/day, mostly working alone. One I got the hang of the railbender it was easy to do s curves and transitions. I was able to fit the track perfectly to the roadbed and the train ran well . The RR is a dual over under figure 8's with interchanges. Would not have been able to execute very easily without such a system. The grades are even and the track is level side to side .I would therefore give this product a strong endorsment., despite the initial supply problems. I await a small additional order to complete some yard stubs. Rocky called or e-mailed several times during installation to check my progress and offer assistance. If things are now back on track at Mailnline, I see good growth opportunity as more people get experince with this product.

[Anonymous]

[#welcome] Nice to see another Ohioain here in this forum. Has anyone ever tried G sacle junction here in Ohio? If you have what has been your experence with them? They are about an hour away from me.

[bryanfarris]

G Scale Junction I have visited, he has real good inventory.

[vsmith]

Just to update, Mainline Enterprises was a No-Show at the Big Train Show, I dont know whats going on, something medical was the only rumor I have heard.

[Buckeye Riveter]

QUOTE: Originally posted by carpenter matt

[#welcome] Nice to see another Ohioain here in this forum. Has anyone ever tried G sacle junction here in Ohio? If you have what has been your experence with them? They are about an hour away from me.

Since I only live about 20 minutes from G Scale Junction, it is easy for me to drive out into the country, and I mean country, to the retail store. I purchased all my track from him and found the owner very knowledgable about G Scale.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye riveter, Lucky you! I live 10 mininutes west of columbus. A few stores in columbus dable in G but most are ho and N geared stores. How do their prices compare to St aubins?

[Buckeye Riveter]

I think St. Aubins overall is a little cheaper, but I have had only one purchase from St. Aubins. The fastest way to G Scale junction is I-70 east to I-670 east to I-270 north, to SR 161 E, to US 62 North to Northridge Road. Then east to Lafayette (?) It's a dirt road back to G Scale Junction and he keeps UPS very busy.

I haven't found any real good stores in Columbus for G Scale. Davis Trains in Cincinnati is where I purchased a used engine. I'm still looking in Cleveland, Akron or Toledo for a good store.

BTW, to follow up about Mainline Enterprises, I received a nice email from Rocky. In the email he explained that he had just had surgery, (again ?) My roadbed is working perfectly.

[Anonymous]

Buckeye Riveter, Thanks for the info, i think it's time to take a drive.

[dalspot]

Rocky C (Chusano), Owner and creator of the Mainline Enterprizes Line of road bed and turntables has passed away at his home in Lake Havasu, Arizona. No other details are available at this time.

[vsmith]

Sad to hear, my condolansces to the family.[:(]

It was a cool product, I've heard nothing but praise from those who have installed it. I hope his family will be able to pass on the business to someone else. If for anything to remember his contribution to the hobby .

[Capt Bob Johnson]

Rocky & I had our differences, however, I think his products were on the mark and should be carried on. Business practice, no; product, yes! A result of our last venomous engagement led me to believe that he had taken on some silent partners whom I hope will continue and even improve on the Mainline system.

I'm sure he will be missed by his friends and family, and the train world will miss his innovation.