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Finding train shops

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  • Member since
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  • From: Harrisburg, PA
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Finding train shops
Posted by hbgatsf on Friday, July 28, 2023 2:34 PM

The other thread on Nashville train shops got me thinking.  When visiting an area what have you found to be the best way to find train shops worth visiting?  Assume you don't know anyone in the area to ask. 

Rick

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, July 28, 2023 2:49 PM

Honestly, when I was travelling everywhere in the USA a few years ago... This group on this forum pointed me in the right direction better than any other source.

Google is not as helpful as you would hope. You will end up at a lot of cottage warehouse industries that just do mail order or have eBay outlets. That can be a frustrating waste of time.

The listings in Model Railroader were a huge help also, but it was not the full list.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by tstage on Friday, July 28, 2023 2:50 PM

Ask here...and google "model trains+hobby shops" from my computer or phone.

Tom

https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling

Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.

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Posted by NittanyLion on Friday, July 28, 2023 3:54 PM

Heck, sometimes I find them randomly. Couple of weeks ago, I'm wandering around Geneva looking for a place to have dinner and found myself looking in the window of Molard-jouets S.A.

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Posted by kasskaboose on Friday, July 28, 2023 4:41 PM

Could search for "places to lose time and money." Idea

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Posted by richhotrain on Friday, July 28, 2023 5:27 PM

kasskaboose

Could search for "places to lose time and money." Idea 

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Rich

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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, July 28, 2023 7:57 PM

kasskaboose
Could search for "places to lose time and money."

I'll bet that will find you more wargaming stores than model train stores.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by dbduck on Saturday, July 29, 2023 11:06 PM

I think right here on the forms would be a good place to look/ask since the forum members are from all over, and would at least know where the shops are in their general vicinity.

simple message… "I will be vacationing/visiting, such and such area, are there any local, hobby stores, or railroad places of interest that I should check out"

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Posted by kasskaboose on Sunday, July 30, 2023 9:00 AM

dbduck

I think right here on the forms would be a good place to look/ask since the forum members are from all over, and would at least know where the shops are in their general vicinity.

simple message… "I will be vacationing/visiting, such and such area, are there any local, hobby stores, or railroad places of interest that I should check out"

 

 
Great idea. Another one is finding a local MR club and asking them.  Some clubs might even have a list of LHS, enjoyable train spots, etc.
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Posted by Autonerd on Sunday, July 30, 2023 6:23 PM

I do this quite a bit when I travel... I find that putting "model train store" into Google maps works pretty well. There will usually be photos with each entry, and looking at those helps me figure out whether it's a proper store or a home mail-order biz, and if the focus is something other than what I want (ie Lionel).

Aaron

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