Orlando, Florida

[CP5415]

OK, I'm leaving tomorrow for Orlando.
Does anyone know if any train stores are left?
Just joking!!!!

Gordon

[AntonioFP45]

Wow! We do have something in common!

Cmarchand and I met Mr. Holley in the mid 1970s. This is where I made the "jump" from Tyco to MODEL RAILROADING! As a 13 year old, I always addressed him as "Mr. Holley". Always joked with his "one liners". I continued to patronize Chester Holley's through the 80s as an adult. Gave us the tour of his house. Gigantic collection! Unknown to most people, he was friends with Irv Athearn, Bill Walthers, and the president of Marklin! He was a native of Scotland.

True story: Several American visitors stopped by at the Marklin factory in Germany. They asked for a tour and were told basically "no can do". One of the visitors then said "But Chester Holley told us that you...." before he finished his sentence, the Marklin rep got excited with "You know Chester Holley?!" The visitors then got the VIP treatment! To him, it was no big deal! Most modelers are unaware that he was one of the influential pioneers of model railroading. When his wife passed, he really changed. Was saddening. He missed his lifelong love terribly! Mr. Holley passed away approximately 1 1/2 years after Margret or "Margo" as he used to call her. Diane now runs the business, still greets you with a smile every time! She showed me her G scale garden railroad behind the house, nice! Approximately '18 x '10. [:)]

Happy Hobo Trains: These guys are classy and top notch! You can browse all you want, but for fun, just pick any topic and Kevin and *** will "have fun with it". (I enjoy teasing *** about his love of Santa Fe, especially since many of the modelers that frequent the store do "southern and southeastern roads!) Happy Hobo is currently researching DCC with the aid of a high caliber computer industry expert. Win-Win! [:)][:D][8)]

[Allen Jenkins]

You're right-on, Bill, Chet was very informative, and enjoyed life. His first appearance, was only reflective of the part of town he lived in. His quanset hut metal building was not only stuffed, it was old stuff, that took you back years. His affection was the brass O gauge passenger cars, and wouldn't hesitate to show you the underside detail. Eccentric, he was! Chester Holly was real Tampa, just west of the cigar domicile of Ybor City, and I miss that! ACJ

[Anonymous]

I lived in Tampa when I went to USF in tthe late '60s and was a weekly visitor to Chester Holly's. That was a real model train store w/ character - the character was behind the counter - Chester. A comment was made that he was gruff, and I suppose he looked that way-he was far from the neatest dresser, often wearing mismatched socks w/ his dorky shorts and a stained undershirt. He appeared to bathe occasonally and seldom cleaned his store which was crammed to the gills w/ all kinds of goodies, both old and new. . .

However, if Chester liked you, he was one of the warmest and most delightful model railroaders I have ever met. And, I spent a fair share of my meager budget there, because of him. He gave me a tour of his home next door to his shop, and his extensive Lionel tinplate collection which stretched all along several walls from floor to ceiling. He drove an old, well-maintained Rolls Royce (late '30s vintage I vaguely recall) and parked it outside under the Florida weather. That said a lot about how he enjoyed life. I remember one time I was in there and he was wearing equally dorky sandels and only one sock. Ecentric? You bet, but one hell of a nice man. I was saddened to learn of his passing a number of years ago.

[Allen Jenkins]

True! True! Thanks, AntonioFP45! You are right on! It's been awhile since I had the pleasure of visiting these shops, and I gotta' tell you Brother, I felt at Home! I actually did't want to leave these shops when I visited, that you mentioned, because who knows who just might drop in! Local modelers, local railroad employees, Rod Stewart, on US concert dates in Tampa, used to drop by his old friend, Mr. Chester Holly, and look to add to his collection of "O" gauge brass. Chet, ( a really gruff charactor in his own right!) showed me a pic, and asked me if I new the 'fellow'. Chet, was aire to Holly Shipyards, in the northeast and used to ride in the family owned observation Pullman, lounge car behind practically all the name trains. Diane Holly Mastas, Chet's daughter, had the store in the late eighties, the last visit I was privilaged to visit. I would go there just because they still advertise in MR. I remember Kevin , had a slide of every SCL engine there was in his collection, which was displayed on some days, 'cause he wished to!. I bought my only intened buy of brass, there, a Norfolk Southern GP59, and a Southern bay window caboose, with wheel mounted generator(both unpainted). I lived in Lakeland, FL, there are good hobby shops there, located between Tampa, and Orlando, on I-4, and also, the Bone Vally Phosphate, Fertilizer Business Unit, of The CSX is within 45 miles of The Port of Tampa, and 15 miles south of Lakeland, Florida. The dynosaurs walked there, make your plans! I Love Florida! ACJ.

[AntonioFP45]

Go to Colonial Hobbies in Orlando.

Don't forget to visit the beautifully restored station just west of Downtown. Amtrak stops here and you will see CSX action going through. [:D][8D]

The Church Street Station Entertainment Complex is in Downtown. No longer a passenger station, is has become part of an entertainment /show complex. (Type it in your search engine, should find it)

It's really nice for family or singles. Because it's still on the CSX mainline, you'll see "Amtrakers" and CSX trains cruising through! Win-Win for railfans! Worth checking out. [:D][8D][8)]

If you do visit Tampa, check out Chester Holley's and absolutely don't leave Tampa without checking out Happy Hobo Trains! Kevin and *** are "top notch"! Good service and great converstation. Kevin is a Seaboard Coast Line fan, *** is a Santa Fe fan! You ought to hear them sometimes![:)][:D][8D][:p][8)]

Cheers and have fun!

[Allen Jenkins]

One major hobby shop in The City Beautiful, is Colonial Photo & Hobby, Inc. 634 N. Mills Ave. [phone]. I used to visit, after my deliveries of Quikrete, to the Home Depot's in the Area. I would go by and buy a car, engine, or Model Railroader, or whatever. I just seemed like the stuff they had, was what I needed, and modeled. They are in the hobby, and also have a pretty neet photo department. I also recommend, if you get to Tampa, (two hours west, on Interstate 4), the Happy Hobo. There is a large operating wall layout, and the owner has been there a long time, and is dedicated to providing the latest, and most comprehensive range of modeling supplies. Also Chester Holly, in South Tampa, a shop that's advertised in MR since the early fourties. All these shops are well aquainted of the local area railroad heritage in and around the wonderful state of Florida, and welcome you, better than most tourist sites. Always remember to check the latest edition of MR, for area hobby shops wherever you go. Enjoy Your Visit to the Bikini State, remember to use sun-screen, and "Arrive Alive!" ACJ.

[Dave Farquhar]

Check out the Naval Aviation Museum while you're down there. On the upper level there are life-size dioramas of a 1940s town, to give people an idea of what it was like to live during WWII. Pictures of the displays could give you ideas for modeling, or making copies of the photos and sizing them to fit inside your buildings could give you an easy way to detail the insides. Of course the America it depicts started disappearing in the '60s and '70s so if you're modeling modern times it might be less useful but might still prove inspirational.

And if you're like me and happen to love airplanes, well, then you can just spend all day there like I did. :)

[CP5415]

I make time for trains!!!
Besides, I have to do some siteseeing don't I?

Gordon

[Roadtrp]

I love my trains, but I sure don't think I'd ever have time for visiting a hobby shop in ORLANDO!

[(-D]

[CP5415]

I plan on making a trip to Orlando, Florida in the fall.
Is there a decent hobby shop in Orlando?

I see a couple advertised in the back or MR Magazine but was hoping for some local advice

Thanks in advance

Gordon