Trip to Caboose Hobbies

[IVRW]

I wish my mom was like your wife. :P

[Anonymous]

 So far, I have ordered only once from Caboose Hobbies. The order was shipped next day, priority mail, customs pre-cleared. Within 10 days, my order arrived here in Germany.

The people at Caboose Hobbies are professionals, knowing their trade perfectly.

[riogrande5761]

1. Some day!

[Midnight Railroader]

simon1966

It is about 9 years since my last visit and I was stunned by the amount of empty space on the shelves compared to the first trip. 

 

 I agree. Caboose Hobbies was--no joke--one of the reasons I moved to Denver.

But yes, the shelves and pegboards are now pretty barren by comparison to how they used to be.

 I hope the place makes a comeback.

 

 

 

[simon1966]

We popped in over Easter during a trip to visit family in Fort Collins.

]

It is about 9 years since my last visit and I was stunned by the amount of empty space on the shelves compared to the first trip.  Great store, great people, but clearly cutting way back on what is stocked.

[Packer]

I've never dealt with them, but I've only heard good things.

When browsing through there site recently I did come across this:
http://www.caboosehobbies.com/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=&products_id=67416
It's good that there brass prices are reasonable, now only if I can convince the parents to spend that much for a christmas present (they had a cow over that Athearn Genesis F45 at 175).

Roger, want to trade, I'd rather be back in Texas than here in florida.

[Texas Zepher]

DingySP

..And I saw Gary Colman.

I literally tripped over him once.  He was coming out of the checkout area just as I was going down that isle. There was a tall display that obscured him from view. Wham!....Fortunately neither of us hit the ground.

jamnest

this was my first visit in person. WOW!!!!

It is a pity you didn't get to see it in its glory days.  The shelves are much more desolate then they used to be as the inventory has been pruned back quite a bit.  It used to be if it was a Model Railroad supply it would be in stock.  Recently (last 3-5 years) I've encountered more and more things that "can be ordered" but aren't sitting on the shelf. 

[CAZEPHYR]

jamnest

I have orderd form Caboose Hobbies on the Internet, however this was my first visit in person. WOW!!!!  Great customer service.  I bought several items for a total of $176.  When I picked up my wife, she asked if I had purchased anything, and I showed her the shopping bag and told her what I had spent.  She said she was glad that I had purchased some things for my layout. Wow!!!

Great weekend!

I agree with your post about Caboose Hobbies.  I have visited many times over the past few years, but have ordered many more times on the Internet.  I just receive my lastest order about three weeks ago from Caboose Hobbies and they try to please.

CZ

 

[oldline1]

Oh, well.......even though there are a lot of posts praising Caboose Hobbies I just have to add my 2¢ to the postings. They are great to deal with. I have been ordering stuff from them for 20 years or so and have always appreciated the super service. I have been to the store twice in that time and was always treated as a welcome guest unlike some other places. Anyone remember Tolson's in Ft. Worth or talked to Mitchell's in Delaware?

I mostly do brass with them and one of the best things they offer is honesty and true descriptions of the items they sell. Brass isn't always wonderful and they are totally accurate when describing something. Experience is a good thing and they certainly have it at Caboose Hobbies.

I just wish they were closer to me or I wasn't in Texas...................MOSTLY..................I wish I wasn't in Texas! LOL

 Roger Huber

[Ibflattop]

Caboose Hobbies is the Mecca of the Model Railroad World. When I was there back in the early 90s while on Vacation. We spent like 3 hours in there just Drooling.  While walking around and taking everything in, the people were coming up and ask if I was finding everything ok. I got what I wanted and headed out to the register. I guess it was the Manager the rung us out,

 He Asked, "Did ya find everything ok?"

 I said," Yes I did and I could get even More!"  (Wife rolls eyes.)

 He then asks,  "Are ya looking for a job?" ( I just look at my wife.)

" Well, We are on vacation from Ft.Wayne Indiana, and it would be a really long Long Drive to come to work."

 Whe then proceed to Chat about Ft.Wayne cause He use to Drive a Semi thru town. Then he started to ask about the NKP 765 Steam engine and how he helped on rebuild it.

 Comes to find out that he was a Transplanted Hoosier.

 Humm I wonder if they still have a Job opening for me??????????????         Kevin

[DingySP]

I was there in the mid 80s. The Great Wall of Detail Parts is really something else.

Lots of great displays....And I saw Gary Colman.

[shayfan84325]

Mr. SP

Just wish I lived closer than 1500 miles away.

I wish I was closer, too. Still, their website is good and their staff is great on the phone, too.

[Mr. SP]

An awe inspiring place ain't it. WOW just isn't enough. Caboose Hobbies is thee place for excellent service and a good supply of just about everything. The brass area is like being in a fine jewelery shop.

Just wish I lived closer than 1500 miles away.

[RedGrey62]

My wife and I try to travel from Omaha to Denver once a year to catch an Avalanche game and I get to visit Caboose Hobbies every time.  The last time was a bit of a shock for my wife though.  I was looking for some very speicific items and unfortunately they were out and I actually came out of the store with nothing in my hands.  My wife had to feel my forehead to see if I was okay!  The did have a brass piece that I wanted but that was just a bit out of the budget.  The folks are great and very helpful.  My wife likes the "railroad widows and orphans" area up front where she can sit and relax while I take my time going from aisle to aisle.

Ricky

[Anonymous]

jamnest

we stopped in Georgetown and rode the train over Georgetown loop.

 

We did the same stuff a week ago!  We started out on Sat, but Caboose was closed because of July 4th.  We then went and rode the loop and visited the Colorado RR Museum.

Caboose Hobbies had to wait until first thing Monday morning!  It was well worth the trip as I purchased some narrow gauge kits and other stuff.

[ripvanwnkl]

Another "Me Too" extolling virtues of Caboose Hobbies and staff!  After several years of on-line orders, visited CH in Denver while on vacation out west in April this year.   Bought Intermountain DCC/Sound MKT and CNW F units at great prices after couple hours of shopping. 

Also will give a plug to http://edstrains.com in Longmont, Co.  Ordered Intermountain KCS and Pacer Stacktrain items from him on-line.   He arranged for me to pick them up at Intermountain's distribution center in Longmont just north of Denver on our way to Cheyenne, WY.    Very good prices and people!   

By the way, my wife was very supportive of all my model railroading trips during our vacation.  Especially after I accompanied her to Landstrom's Black Hills Gold manufacturing and distribution center in Rapid City, SD for her shopping! 

[modelmaker51]

That was one of my two "local" hobby shops when I lived in Cheyenne years ago. I always spent at least $100 on my monthly visits. The other store was in Greely, but I don't remember the name; it was a good store too, but not nearly as spectacular as CH.

[csmith9474]

Definitely a great train store. I love the selection of detail parts. I try to avoid the brass section at all costs, but that always fails. As noted several times prior, their customer service is great!! We are PCSing to Malmstrom AFB in October, so it is going to be a heartbreaker to be moving away from a great resource such as Caboose. Looks like it is time to get back into the mail order game....

[shayfan84325]

Caboose Hobbies has always been great. 35 years ago I was too young for credit cards or a checking account. When I mail ordered I had to go through the process of mailing an order form with a check from my parents. It took FOREVER (3 or 4 weeks)! Caboose hobbies was different. I could call them on the phone and place an order; they shipped it that day on my word that I was mailing them a check. The order and payment passed each other in the mail and it was usually just 2 days to get my stuff. After I discovered Caboose Hobbies, I never needed to order from anyone else, and the way they trusted me was great. They are a seriously good business run by great people.

[twhite]

Jim: 

Lucky you!  I live in California, so my only trips to Caboose Hobbies have been by website, but IMO that place has been absolutely tops with me over the past 15 or so years.  Great service, fine shipping, reasonable prices for what I need (mainly Rio Grande brass HO steam) and I've always been satisfied with them. 

I'd give my eyeteeth to be able to visit the shop in person--it must be pretty overwhelming.  Glad to hear another MR likes that place as well as I do! 

Tom

[TMarsh]

Margaritaman

Bottom line is all stores have "train stuff" but not all stores have good people.

Absolutely right!!! The people make the difference!

 

[Margaritaman]

When my business travels take me to Denver I always stop by.  Mr. R.T. Poteet lives near as well if I'm not mistaken.  Bottom line is all stores have "train stuff" but not all stores have good people.  Caboose Hobbies has wonderful people. 

[jamnest]

I just returned from a business meeting in central Colorado.  My wife, who is a retired school teacher traveled with me.  I told her on our way home, we could stop over night in Denver so she could visit a childhood friend.  On our way to Denver we stopped in Georgetown and rode the train over Georgetown loop. (we both enjoyed the ride.)  

Saturday morning, I droped my wife off to visit with her friend.  (The friend lives only five miles from Caboose Hobbies.)  I told her I was going to a local train store.  My wife supports my hobby, but doesn't understand it.

I have orderd form Caboose Hobbies on the Internet, however this was my first visit in person. WOW!!!!  Great customer service.  I bought several items for a total of $176.  When I picked up my wife, she asked if I had purchased anything, and I showed her the shopping bag and told her what I had spent.  She said she was glad that I had purchased some things for my layout. Wow!!!

Great weekend!