Recommended LHS in Vegas

[da1]

Hello all.

We will soon be on retreat in Las Vegas.  What would be the one LHS I should visit before expending all my wife's good will and patience?  (I model transition era in HO scale.)

Thx in advance.  D.

[mbinsewi]

Not from there, but the Model Railroader magazine has 3 listed in their Leading Model Retailers section:

Hobbytown, 4590 W. Sahara Ave.  702-889-9554. 

Train Exchange, 6008 Boulder Hwy.  702-456-8766

Westside Trains, 2960 S. Durango.  702-254-9475.  This shop is highlighted in yellow, and I beleive that means they have a full ad in MR magazine.

I took these right from the May issue.

Good luck, and have fun!

Mike.

[da1]

Thx Mike.

Can anyone recommend one shop?  Perhaps a private local enterprise vs. national chain...?  Lots of stock...?  Someplace a serious hobbiest could lose themselves for an hour or two?

D

[PennCentral99]

da1

Can anyone recommend one shop?  Perhaps a private local enterprise vs. national chain...?  Lots of stock...?  Someplace a serious hobbiest could lose themselves for an hour or two?

D

Sorry, but you won't find any of that in Las Vegas

But I would recommend a few hours spent south of Las Vegas in Boulder City at the Nevada Southern Railway Museum.

There, you will not only find rolling stock and locos of years past, but history regarding the role of railroads in the construction of the Hoover Dam.

Terry

[mbinsewi]

Terry's suggestion sounds interesting.  Westside and Train Exchange are local shops, and not a big chain store, from what I see on a search of the two.

There must be other places you can check out for info, like the local chamber of commerce, etc.

Good luck!

Mike.

[RR_Mel]

The last time I was in Vegas there were three model railroad shops left in Vegas, if you’re flying in and staying on the Strip two of them aren’t worth taxi fare.  The good one closed about 15 years ago. 

 

The Train Engineer on Chandler (close to the Strip), Westside Trains and Train Exchange . . . . $$$ by taxi from the Strip.

 

My wife and I were regulars in Vegas (by car from Bakersfield) until my health got to me.  I would hit all three stores up until 2006.

 

As far as lots of stock, forget about that anywhere around Las Vegas and central California.  There are some large stocking shops in LA and San Diego.

 

 

Mel

 

Modeling the early to mid 1950s SP in HO scale since 1951

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[rrebell]

PennCentral99

 

 

da1

Can anyone recommend one shop?  Perhaps a private local enterprise vs. national chain...?  Lots of stock...?  Someplace a serious hobbiest could lose themselves for an hour or two?

D

 

 

 

Sorry, but you won't find any of that in Las Vegas

But I would recommend a few hours spent south of Las Vegas in Boulder City at the Nevada Southern Railway Museum.

There, you will not only find rolling stock and locos of years past, but history regarding the role of railroads in the construction of the Hoover Dam.

Terry

 

Love that place, came on a slow day and got a private tour of the back lots. They are trying to hook up with a nearby casino for a private rail excursion line.

[rrebell]

Seems they got it done, casinos have money.

[PennCentral99]

rrebell

Love that place, came on a slow day and got a private tour of the back lots. They are trying to hook up with a nearby casino for a private rail excursion line.

 

They have train rides from Boulder City to the Rairoad Pass Hotel & Casino. Also, they have made some major improvements to the highway around the casino, including re-establishing the Union Pacific Rail line by building a bridge over the new highway (the old line was ripped up where it crossed the highway and was deadend for years).

Apparently, there must be some money involved; otherwise, why would UP re-establish rail service? Rumor has it the want to expand the tourist train lines and attract more people, and provide some rail service to some of the industries. The bridge they built across the highway is beautiful and I'm sure it'll get used.

Terry

[bearman]

If you do it, and you are driving, be careful...the traffic in Las Vegas is murderous, probably one reason for the higher cab fares.

[da1]

Thanks all.

We will target Boulder City as a day-trip destination.

D

[AhhChooChoo]

If you're there on the 2nd or 4th Saturday of the month, make sure to check out the 1/8 scale live steamers.  The ride is free!

[PennCentral99]

this appeared in the local media today:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/restored-rail-line-reconnects-southern-nevada-cities/

[luvadj]

Having lived in Vegas in the '90's, I highly recommend The Train Exchange on Boulder Hwy....A Lionel dealer and repair shop, but carries a good selection of HO and N gauge.

[PennCentral99]

Having lived in Vegas in the '90's, I highly recommend The Train Exchange on Boulder Hwy....A Lionel dealer and repair shop, but carries a good selection of HO and N gauge.

Not to be negative, but to be realistic........

I currently live in Vegas (and have since 1995), times have changed in the last 20+ years. His shop is not what it used to be. He's a nice guy and I've never had an issue. But he hasn't kept up with current times and advances......he does not carry any DCC and he is trying to sell his business; therefore, when he restocks, it's limited. He does not have the stock he used to, I can take 2 laps around his shop in less than 30 minutes.

I would hate to see someone coming in from other places and be disappointed with the visit. I'm not saying "don't go there", but it's not the hobby shop it used to be.

Terry

[rrebell]

PennCentral99

this appeared in the local media today:

https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/local-las-vegas/restored-rail-line-reconnects-southern-nevada-cities/

 

They gave me the inside a couple years ago, but at that time, nothing was in stone. Glad it came to be, at least phase one anyway. If it brings the casino enough, they may build phase two.