Indy to Chicago hobby shops

[SpartanCook]

Hello all, 

this may be short notice but I have to go visit summit Illinois today for work from the Dayton OH area. I am taking 70 to 65 and to get to the Chicago area. Any hobby shops worth visiting for N scale stuff?

thanks

Kyle 

[DanO22]

Try timberline train shop in downers grove. Address 5228 main street phone [phone], not to far from summit.Keith is the owner very pleasent and knowedgeable. Have a safe trip and enjoy.

Dan

 

 

[mobilman44]

DesPlaines Hobbies in DesPlaines..........

[drgwcs]

Try Train Central on West Washington Street and the north side hobbytown near Castleton Square Mall in Indianapolis. Hobbytown probably has the best selection of N between the two.

In Chicago besides DesPlaines Hobbies try Grayland Station at 5514 West Devon Ave. Small shop in size but packed to the gills. They have a ton of N scale. Fair warning they are closed Sun-Tue open 10-6 Wed, 12-8Th and 10-5Fri-Sat. Allow time for traffic. Well worth the trip for N scale.

[Doughless]

Train Central is on EAST Washington St in Indy.  WEST Washington will take you to the other side of town.   Its convenient to get to from I-70 on the east side.

The long standing Hawkins Rail in Lafayette, IN has recently closed.

[drgwcs]

Doughless

Train Central is on EAST Washington St in Indy. WEST Washington will take you to the other side of town. Its convenient to get to from I-70 on the east side.

Duh, oops yes you are correct- I was in a hurry when I typed that and was not thinking........It is just west of Shadeland on EAST Washington.

[Eilif]

America's Best Toy and Train is about 40-60 minutes outside the city in Itasca but it has a HUGE selection of new and use stuff in every scale. 

I didn't look specifically for N, but if you find yourself on the north side of the city then stop into "Chicagoland Toy and Hobbies" where they have quite a bit of new and used trains stuff in all scales.

Lastly, it's definitely mostly an HO joint, but former Bar and Cigar Shop "Zientek" has the most extensive collection of NOS stuff I've ever seen.  It's also the only train shop anywhere near downtown Chicago.  Most of it still priced as when it arrived in the shop so there's some amazing bargains to be had from the decades gone by.  I think it's worth a visit just for the experience, but if you're only into N, I'd definitely give him a call and see if he's got anything particularly insteresting in the shop.  He done some big consignment purchases so you never know what he's going to have.

[richhotrain]

Walt's Hobby Shop in Crest Hill, right next to Joliet.

Also Lombard Hobbies in Lombard, IL.

Rich

[Edsland]

I second Walt's, its where I bought most of my stuff. 

[mbinsewi]

richhotrain

Also Lombard Hobbies in Lombard, IL.

They used to come up to Trainfest, and had Kato locos, NOS,  (new old stock) for $60.  I haven't seen in a couple of years.

Mike.

[richhotrain]

Edsland

I second Walt's, its where I bought most of my stuff.  

Walt's is a huge store with a big selection of everything. No discounting though, all MSRP.

Rich

[richhotrain]

mbinsewi

 

richhotrain

Also Lombard Hobbies in Lombard, IL. 

They used to come up to Trainfest, and had Kato locos, NOS,  (new old stock) for $60.  I haven't seen in a couple of years.

Mike. 

Lombard Hobbies has an excellent selection of locos, rolling stock, track and structures. Not much in the way of "supplies" though like glue, paint, etc. They provide great discounts on all of their merchandise. They also maintain an excellent website.

Rich

[emdmike]

Whilest past your trip date, for those traveling thru Kokomo(40min or so north of Indy).  The Train Exchange stocks a nice selection of N scale.  Their hours are kind of odd, you want to talk to Norm, best time to reach him is Wed afternoons or Friday evenings.  He models in N scale himself, so quite familar with whats out there on the market.       Mike