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Trains/Hobby shops in Vegas?

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  • Member since
    August 2015
  • 409 posts
Posted by Autonerd on Sunday, March 24, 2019 12:27 PM

SeeYou190
Google has a very hard time with model railroad shops.

"Model Train Store" is the term that works best for me, but it is still not very good.

 

I must respecfully disagree -- I travel a lot for work, and Google Maps has been a big help in finding local stores -- and Kevin, like you, I find the term "Model Train Store" works well. Again, its Google Maps you want, not just Google. (in fact, I just did a Maps-fueled tour of the hobby shops between Sacramento and LA, and came away with some good scores.)

Reading the reviews can be helpful, as they will sometimes mention other good stores. (Most of the bad reviews are "I walked in the door and no one acknowledged me!")

I agree about Westside, it's a small-ish store but I scored an Amtrak Horizon FS car at a good price there. Shame if Train Exchange is closed, though I've been there a couple of times and not really found anything. 

  • Member since
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  • From: US
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Posted by MikeyChris on Friday, March 22, 2019 6:58 AM

PennCentral99

I needed some odds and ends, so I swung by the Train Exchange. He finally closed up, the business is empty.

Terry

 

Bummer! He was close to my hotel (Station). There used to be a couple shops(same owners, maybe Habbytown?), one closer to Fremont maybe? It was a long time ago, and I have been asleep a few times since then :-)

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 2:53 PM

PennCentral99
I swung by the Train Exchange. He finally closed up, the business is empty.

.

Oh no, I missed him by just a couple of months.

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Hopefully all the other shops on my "must visit" list out West can hang in there until I make it.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2011
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Posted by PennCentral99 on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 2:19 PM

I needed some odds and ends, so I swung by the Train Exchange. He finally closed up, the business is empty.

Terry

Inspired by Addiction

See more on my YouTube Channel

  • Member since
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  • From: Clinton, MO, US
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Posted by Medina1128 on Tuesday, March 19, 2019 11:14 PM

I just checked the Yellow Pages for Las Vegas and this is what I came up with.

https://www.yellowpages.com/search?search_terms=model+train+store&geo_location_terms=Las+Vegas%2C+NV

  • Member since
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Posted by PennCentral99 on Monday, March 18, 2019 9:02 PM

Not much has changed since you lived/visited here. As stated, there might be 3 hobby shops, 2 of them might be of interest......Westside Trains and The Train Exchange.

The Train Exchange is still in the process of "closing up". His inventory is reduced and he is reluctant to re-stock and modernize. But if you're looking for that "never to be found again" item, he might have it. I go to him for hard to find stuff (Testors Dull Coat, can and liquid form; flex track @less than $5 a piece).

I would recommend a few hours spent south of Las Vegas in Boulder City at the Nevada Southern Railway Museum. There, you will not only find rolling stock and locos of years past, but history regarding the role of railroads in the construction of the Hoover Dam.

The Clark County Museum would be along the way to Boulder City. Not primarily dedicated to the railroad history, but they do have some items of interest.

You can also go to the Alan Bible Visitor’s Center at Lake Mead and walk the line that used to be the rail down into the Hoover Dam, the trail takes you through 5 tunnels.

There has been a major project near the Railroad Pass, which includes re-establishing the rail line from across the highway from Boulder City-Henderson-Las Vegas. I believe their intention is to establish tours, but that's not up/running. The rail line from Arden yard to Henderson is still active with local freight deliveries.

Terry

Inspired by Addiction

See more on my YouTube Channel

  • Member since
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  • From: US
  • 187 posts
Posted by MikeyChris on Monday, March 18, 2019 8:42 AM

The Train Exchange was going to close up when I was there like 8 years ago! Five years ago they were still open. Maybe they are stiull going...

 

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
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Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, March 17, 2019 8:05 PM

If you use Facebook, there is a lot of model railroad stuff, and modelers,  It might be another resource.

Mike.

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  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Sunday, March 17, 2019 6:58 PM

There is a railroad museum closer to henderson that they hope to eventually run to the strip. Part of the line has beed done. 

  • Member since
    February 2008
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Posted by maxman on Sunday, March 17, 2019 4:52 PM

April, 2019, issue list three in Las Vegas area:

Hobbytown, USA

Train Exchange

West Side Trains ("7 miles west of the strip")

Have not been to any of those.

  • Member since
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  • From: Bakersfield, CA 93308
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Posted by RR_Mel on Sunday, March 17, 2019 3:57 PM

Until my health got to me my wife and I hit Vegas a couple of times every year.  As is pretty much everywhere the model railroad shop thing has hit Vegas too.  The last time we were there (2010) it was down to two in Vegas and one on the road to Henderson.  None of the three impressed me.
 
Early on (90s) there were two very well stocked model railroad only stores just north of the strip.
 
 
Mel
 
 
My Model Railroad   
 
Bakersfield, California
 
I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
 
  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, March 17, 2019 3:16 PM

Google has a very hard time with model railroad shops.

.

"Model Train Store" is the term that works best for me, but it is still not very good.

.

When I travel, I have had better results asking the member so f this forum. They have proven to be a great source or hobby shop information.

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-Kevin

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Living the dream.

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Sunday, March 17, 2019 3:12 PM

I guess both of you will have to Google around, and see what you find.  It shouldn't be that hard to find places to get started.

There was a thread in here from April of last year, same topic, different OP.  I don't remember much of a response from any one on here, that lives there.

You'll find it in the Search the Community box.

Mike.

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, March 17, 2019 3:08 PM

I need to know too.

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I will be in Las Vegas next month.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    January 2001
  • From: US
  • 187 posts
Trains/Hobby shops in Vegas?
Posted by MikeyChris on Sunday, March 17, 2019 1:48 PM

We are going to be spending some time in the Las Vegas/Henderson NV area shortly, and was wondering what there was in the way of Hobby Shops and Train activities (RR clubs, dinner train, excursion, etc.). I lived there in 1968-70 and been back many times, but the last trip was about 5 years ago, and things change. Thanx!

Tags: Vegas Trains

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