At Sunset Station, near the Alamodome, they have begun restoring an old steamer. They had just started it when I visited there a couple of months ago. I believe it was a Mallet.Mikado. [Thanks for correcting me, Smitty; I had a senior moment, there!]
From downtown, you'll need some kind of transportation to get to the hobby stores. There are a couple listed on MapMuse.com but I didn't have wheels to get there when I accompanied my wife on her work conference. But do be sure to take in the Riverwalk and the Alamo!
You might want to visit the Texas Transportation Museum (I spent meny years there as a volunteer). Their website is as follows: http://www.txtransportationmuseum.org/
It is on Wetmore Rd right behind the airport. Saturdays and Sundays are about the best days to visit.
Lone Star Trains is really close to the museum as well, although I can't recall the address at the moment. They specialize in O (three rail), but have a decent selection of HO and N. The last time I was there they still had a nice selection of OOP kits, and quite a bit of used stuff for sale.
You may also want to visit the museum in New Braunfels (a short drive north on IH35). Their site is as follows: http://www.newbraunfelsrailroadmuseum.org/ . They have done a really nice job of restoring the I&GN depot there and have a couple of pieces of equipment on static display. There is also some nice railfanning spots in New Braunfels.
UPs (nee SP) Kirby Yard is in Kirby on the northeast side of town. FM78 runs the length of the yard, with fuel racks on the east and west end of the yard.
East Yard is interesting to visit, although it is in a really bad part of town. The former Espee shops are still standing (easy to spot with the group of sanding towers). I was told that the balloon track is gone, and the UP no longer provides intermodal support there any longer.
If I can think of anything else, I will post it here.
Edit: The locomotive at Sunset Station is a Mikado. There was talk about us getting in at the TTM, but the logistics would not allow. You may also get lucky and see some private cars at Sunset Station. They were normally "parked" at the east end of the depot.
I second the motion for taking in the Alamo and the Riverwalk. I only had a day to spend there last year but I came away very impressed with the city. It may be the cleanest big city I was ever in. Naturally, when one thinks of San Antonio, one thinks of the Alamo. It was fascinating. I was rather surprised at how small the facade of the chapel really is. That facade is everyone's image of the Alamo but it was just one small building in the corner of the Alamo complex. I spent the morning at the Alamo and took in the Riverwalk in the afternoon. I could easily have spent an entire day at either. I would start with a boat tour of the Riverwalk. You can board the boat rides at a number of locations. The riverwalk is largely a man-made circular waterway with the San Antonio River forming one leg of the loop. After that, there are any number of restaurants, bars, and shops to spend time at. I had to leave in the late afternoon but I imagine the nightlife at the Riverwalk is quite lively.
As far as train related activities, I can't help you much with that.
I second Lone Star Trains, good LHS, with a TON of magazines, videos and books, and of course, trains.
http://www.lonestartrains.com
Edit:
The Riverwalk of course, take the boat tour as has already been mentioned, very good value, From the Riverwalk you take a nice walkway between the buildings that will bring you out in front of the Alamo. (The guide on the boat tour will tell you how to get there) I recommend that you enjoy one of the local restaurants instead of one of the chains, the Tex Mex is the real deal and very good.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
Geared Steam I second Long Star Trains, good LHS, with a TON of magazines, videos and books, and of course, trains. http://www.lonestartrains.com Edit: The Riverwalk of course, take the boat tour as has already been mentioned, very good value, From the Riverwalk you take a nice walkway between the buildings that will bring you out in front of the Alamo. (The guide on the boat tour will tell you how to get there) I recommend that you enjoy one of the local restaurants instead of one of the chains, the Tex Mex is the real deal and very good.
I second Long Star Trains, good LHS, with a TON of magazines, videos and books, and of course, trains.
One of the things that I thought was really cool at Lone Star is that they always had that box by the door full of freebies. There was always magazines in there and usually some kind of track as well. On occasion you could get structures, rolling stock, and locomotives as well.
The other shop that I would go to was Dibble's. They always had a great selection of stuff, although the customer service left a lot to be desired.
csmith9474 The other shop that I would go to was Dibble's. They always had a great selection of stuff, although the customer service left a lot to be desired.
Agreed, I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one that felt that way.
Geared Steam csmith9474 The other shop that I would go to was Dibble's. They always had a great selection of stuff, although the customer service left a lot to be desired. Agreed, I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one that felt that way.
Really? I always get great customer service when I visit the store. I even get a discount from the owner since he knows I come in from Austin. Everytime I go visit my family back home, I stop by at Dibble's and Hobby Town USA to see what they have on hand.
To the OP:
Dibbles is located at 1029 Donaldson Ave., San Antonio, TX 78228 (in case you want to map it). This hobby shop has a very extensive amount of super detail parts (mainly HO), a good variety of HO rolling stock and motive power. They also seem to have a pretty good selection of N scale stuff, paints, building materials, plastic model kits (airplanes, cars, etc.). If you visit the store, I'm sure you'll find something you'd like.
The other decent store is the Hobby Town USA located at 1201 Austin Hwy. Ste. 102, San Antonio, TX, 78209. This store is like most Hobby Town's, it has a lot of R/C stuff, model kits, kid's toys and such. It also has a very good selection of trains from N (maybe even Z) to larger scales (not sure which). The prices are usually a bit lower than retail and the customer service is great. This is a pretty larger store with lots of things to look at.
Hope this helped.
TONY
"If we never take the time, how can we ever have the time." - Merovingian (Matrix Reloaded)
If you have any interest in seeing something of model railroads, you might want to try to get in and see the San Antonio Model Railroad Assn's clubhouse and layout. The layout is still under construction, but it's huge. The parts that do have completed scenery are excellent.
http://www.samratx.org/
When are you going? How long will you be in San Antonio?
The annual SAMRA train show is the weekend of Jan 31/Feb 1, at the Live Oak Civic Center. I was there a couple of years ago, and it was a great show.
Here's an interior shot of the very nicely restored old SP depot:
Here's one of the old locomotive outside:
And one of an Amtrak train that we caught at the small Amtrak station right next to the old SP depot:
Regards
Ed
I'll second the motion for a visit to the SAMRA Club Layout. It is still under construction, but very impressive! The scenery work is being done by an MMR and they have a bridge on the layout that is simply incredible.
Don Z.
Research; it's not just for geeks.
My family is from San Antonio; TTM is definitely worth the visit. Brackenridge Park has a nice zoo and a train ride. The Witte Museum is nearby and enjoyable if you are into that sort of thing. There are several Spanish mission churches which are now museums; and the Spanish governor's mansion is downtown as well.
The riverwalk is a neat place, but it has changed over the years. It is very touristy in places; and on weekend nights it can be wall to wall people.
There is a downtown Mexican market; and lots and lots of great restaurants and shops downtown and along the riverwalk.
If you have a rental car; you might try a day trip to Fredricksburg; about a 85 mile trip. A small Texas town with a real German heritage; they have a long downtown strip full of shops and restaurants. The museum of the Pacific War is there (Fredricksburg was the birthplace of Admiral Chester Nimitz); it is well done and worth the visit.
The Fredricksburg & Northern RR ran from Fredricksburg to a junction with the SA&AP (later SP) near Comfort. The line was abandoned in the early 40's; but the line featured one of the two railroad tunnels in Texas. The tunnel is now a bat cave; the state has a small park and nature trail down to the tunnel; you can also hike a portion of the right of way.
Another day trip of about 80 miles is to Austin. I believe the Austin Steam Train Association out of Cedar Park is running an excursion train on weekends; motive power right now is an Alco Alligator in a SP-like black widow scheme. Their 2-8-2 (sister to the one in San Antonio) is under repair. Near the Cedar Park depot is the Collectible Caboose hobby shop; has a good selection of HO/N/O/G plus collectables for your wife.
Most of the hobby shops I am familiar with have closed. Dibbles does have a good selection of detail parts; although it has been years since I have been there. The Pearl Brewery used to have a honest to God electric railroad that switched cars to and from an interchange with the SP; but I think that is gone now.
tin can Most of the hobby shops I am familiar with have closed. Dibbles does have a good selection of detail parts; although it has been years since I have been there. The Pearl Brewery used to have a honest to God electric railroad that switched cars to and from an interchange with the SP; but I think that is gone now.
With the brewery having shut down, the Texas Transportation Company went as well (owned by Pearl). The tracks were still in the street, and some of the overhead was still in place in the early '00s, but have since been removed. I always thought that the street running was really neat. One of the electrics is on static display at the Pearl complex (at least I think it is there) that has been turned into some kind of arts, entertainment and shopping complex if I am not mistaken.
I completely forgot about SAMRA. They have a really nice facility, and put on a top notch show.
Perfect timing for this thread! I'll be attending a conference at the San Antonio Crowne Plaza Riverwalk Hotel during the last week of March this year.
Going to keep this thread in my back pocket for making plans to stick around the weekend after the conference.
Regards,
Ryan
Ryan BoudreauxThe Piedmont Division Modeling The Southern Railway, Norfolk & Western & Norfolk Southern in HO during the merger eraCajun Chef Ryan
San Antonio is difinitely better when it's warm. Downtown is best when walking. There is a freight yard outside of town, to the east I think. Anyway, while I was there on my annual trip I could see freights from the hotel running all day long. Couldn't make it though...("Why do you want to see trains?) And as said the Amtrack line. The only hobby stores I could find were AWAY from downtown, so without a car.....
Eric
And in between train activities, you might want to try the Little Rhein Steak House. Take your wife there and I guarantee she won't complain about spending any money on trainstuff! Probably the best steak I've had anywhere.
Mike
Ah, San Antone. One of my favorite cities. Lots of things to do. Yes do the River Walk boat ride but do it after dark. Alamo of course because well if it wasn’t for the Alamo the whole United States wouldn’t be here!!(You won’t find that in any history books but it’s true) Take off your hat before entering.please. The Buckhorn brewery and museum is always good it’s just down the street from the Alamo. Sea World is nice, Expensive but worth it so I’ve been told by the wife. While you’re there visit Rudy’s, the worst BBQ in Texas just north on I-10 in Leon Springs’bout halfway to Boerne. Head north to Fredericksburg /Center Point exit we call it(family in both ) but I believe the sign says Comfort go to Fredericksburg beautiful town. Take 290 back to Austin and start looking carefully for signs, if someone hasn‘t stolen them again(all this to get you ) to LUCKENBACH yes you’re so close you have to go In the great city of Austin checkout the best looking capital building and grab a Whataburger. Man I miss those things. Just a few things on a beaten path to do. Enjoy Texas.
Todd
Central Illinoyz
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