HO Railroading Heaven...I Found It!!

[Anonymous]

Ok those of you who have seen my couple of posts know im new to this and my LHS(hobby lobby) stinks royally when it comes to model railroading, so today I opened the phone book and called a few other mom and pop hobby shops in town and went to a couple and the last one i found was absolute HEAVEN!

I walk in the door and HALF the store is DEDICATED to Model railroading, i was greeted by an old guy and told him my story so he starts showing me around, I asked him about undecorated Loco's and he showed me one, then proceeded to take me over to an 8 foot test track. There were four guys blocking the way and the old man says, "Look out you guys, your already railroaders THIS guy is trying to become one." And they all began talking to me like we were friends giving my tips and hints, telling me about their layouts etc.....It was awesome, they had HUGE amounts of locos, cars, scenery and structure kits. Oh and btw....RTR? theyve never heard of it :) eveyrhing in there is kit! WOOHOO! Im in Heaven, needless to say time with my wife will be diminishing :)

Just wanted to share my gold find with everyone. Have a good day

[Anonymous]

It's great when you can find a great store for the things you want, but also for the support, advice, and information that is also a part of the hobby.

Andrew

[Anonymous]

Just remember too, there are plenty of vetern modelers on this forum who will only be too happy to help you if you need help. This is why it is called the "The Worlds Greatest Hobby'. Have fun becoming a model railroader.

[Anonymous]

I like RTR's. To me, kits are to complicated.

[CBQ_Guy]

Doc,

Welcome to the World's Greatest Hobby! (now be sure to support that LHS, he supported YOU).

[Anonymous]

What a great experience. Glad you found a new hobby shop to visit. But really--nothing was R-T-R?

[Anonymous]

Doc...where are you from...beacouse that sounds a LOT like A.B. Charles and Sons in Pittsburgh LOL

[Anonymous]

Superchief on my honor nothing was RTR, unless you could talk the old man into selling you a display loco :)

[Anonymous]

Johnny Dash im in Bloomington, Illinois

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoctorScrypt

Superchief on my honor nothing was RTR, unless you could talk the old man into selling you a display loco :)

[:0]Wow...that's wild. No doubt a kit builder's paradise!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoctorScrypt

Johnny Dash im in Bloomington, Illinois

Hey, were almost neighbors...I'm about 60 miles north of you in Peru!

Next time you're up this way stop in at "The Valley Roundhouse" in Spring Valley for a good selection and 20 per cent off pricing. The address is 122 West Saint Paul St. 663-3411. Usual disclaimer, this is my LHS. Marion's a good guy. You won't be sorry.

Paul Kossart aka "The CB&Q Guy"

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoctorScrypt

Johnny Dash im in Bloomington, Illinois

Hey, were almost neighbors...I'm about 60 miles north of you in Peru!

Next time you're up this way stop in at "The Valley Roundhouse" in Spring Valley for a good selection and 20 per cent off pricing. The address is 122 West Saint Paul St. 663-3411. Usual disclaimer, this is my LHS. Marion's a good guy. You won't be sorry.

Paul Kossart aka "The CB&Q Guy"

*sigh* so I have to either hit chicago, milwaukee, madison and now Blomington to find a decent HS? Getting desperate here, almost like i sould open my own just to get the goods [:0]


Jay

[Anonymous]

Hey CBQ, i might just head up that way this weekend. Do you know if they have many undecorated locos? My LHS can order them but they only had one, it was a bachmann. it was only 32 bucks so im going to get it to mess around with, that way if i mess it up its no big deal. But once i get good id like to find a ready supply of nice diesel engines undecorated.

BTW, anybody else here from around my neck of the woods?

[Anonymous]

Dear DoctorScrypt,
I'm glad you found your model railroading "gold find."[:)][:D][8D][8)] I sort of grew up in a train store so to speak, but I imagine it must be nice to find a hobby store like that.[:)][:D][8D]
Say what scale and/or gauge are in???

See you around the forum[:)][:D][8D],
Daniel

[Hawks05]

wish my LHS had kits of non passenger stuff and more RTR stuff as well. they have maybe a 3 deck shelf with HO stuff and another 3 deck shelf with buildings. then the rest is all O scale. kind of sucks.

[Jetrock]

I'm pretty fortunate in that there are two hobby shops within 20 miles of where I live which are entirely model-railroad oriented, and a third a couple miles away which has an aisle of model railroad stuff--plus the railroad museum. I have found that most model railroad oriented hobbyshops are more than willing to help you find what you need. It's also pretty easy to start a bull-session with other customers--one habit common to just about all model railroaders is an unlimited head of steam when it comes to talking about their own layouts, specialties and interests in railroading!

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoctorScrypt

Hey CBQ, i might just head up that way this weekend. Do you know if they have many undecorated locos? My LHS can order them but they only had one, it was a bachmann. it was only 32 bucks so im going to get it to mess around with, that way if i mess it up its no big deal. But once i get good id like to find a ready supply of nice diesel engines undecorated.

Well I know he has a couple undec locos, and I believe he has a couple undec shells, too. I never really checked these out, to be honest with you, but I have noticed a couple. I DO know he has an awful lot of undec pieces of rolling stock.

He is there on Saturday normally from 9 am to at least 4 pm. I normally go there on many Saturdays to visit and see what's new around 2 pm, so maybe I'll see ya there! BTW, he's closed on Sunday but during the week he's open from something like 3:30 pm unitl 8 pm in case you ever get up this week on a weekday. He has lots of kits AND RTR, but he doesn't like the cost of the RTR either for HIS layouts!

Take care,

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN

QUOTE: Originally posted by CBQ_Guy

QUOTE: Originally posted by DoctorScrypt

Johnny Dash im in Bloomington, Illinois

Hey, were almost neighbors...I'm about 60 miles north of you in Peru!

Next time you're up this way stop in at "The Valley Roundhouse" in Spring Valley for a good selection and 20 per cent off pricing. The address is 122 West Saint Paul St. 663-3411. Usual disclaimer, this is my LHS. Marion's a good guy. You won't be sorry.

Paul Kossart aka "The CB&Q Guy"

*sigh* so I have to either hit chicago, milwaukee, madison and now Blomington to find a decent HS? Getting desperate here, almost like i sould open my own just to get the goods [:0]


Jay

Now that's an idea! I wonder what the cost would be to open a new hobby shop these days? And do you really not have any decent hobby shops nearby?[:0]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan
Now that's an idea! I wonder what the cost would be to open a new hobby shop these days? And do you really not have any decent hobby shops nearby?[:0]

None, the only good Trains store went out of buisness about 8-10 years ago when the center they were in changed hands and decided to tear the builing they were indown.

the one place that sells trains in town is a disgusting place, it smells, the people are rude, they know nothing about the trains the sell. It's really a Role-play gamer's haven. they did do RC cars and planes years ago to, but that didn't work out for them either.

Closest place is 45 minutes away, but I haven't gotten over there to see what they have yet. I drive 45 minutes the other way 4 days a week, so when i have time, i just don't want to drive.

Jay.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by NTDN

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan
Now that's an idea! I wonder what the cost would be to open a new hobby shop these days? And do you really not have any decent hobby shops nearby?[:0]

None, the only good Trains store went out of buisness about 8-10 years ago when the center they were in changed hands and decided to tear the builing they were indown.

the one place that sells trains in town is a disgusting place, it smells, the people are rude, they know nothing about the trains the sell. It's really a Role-play gamer's haven. they did do RC cars and planes years ago to, but that didn't work out for them either.

Closest place is 45 minutes away, but I haven't gotten over there to see what they have yet. I drive 45 minutes the other way 4 days a week, so when i have time, i just don't want to drive.

Jay.

If your're in Rockford, planning a trip towards Chicago's NW suburbs would be an option for you. There are several area shops that have good reputations and should prove worthy of the drive. What you have to contend with now sounds wicked. And what's with the rude clerks? One would think they'd be bending over backwards to help you--or at the very least be willing to find someone who could.[:(]

[cp1057]

Glad to hear of your success, Doc! Make sure you recommend that store to other Model RR's you meet.

I must be lucky, there's at least 5 dedicated model RR shops within an hour's drive of my place, of varying degrees of selection. Also there are several hobby shops that have a decent selection of train stuff. My favourite right now is Credit Valley Railroad in Mississauga Ontario. Great selection, competetive prices and the staff are knowledgable enough to answer most any question regarding trains.

Charles
Hillsburgh Ontario

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by SuperChiefFan
If your're in Rockford, planning a trip towards Chicago's NW suburbs would be an option for you. There are several area shops that have good reputations and should prove worthy of the drive. What you have to contend with now sounds wicked. And what's with the rude clerks? One would think they'd be bending over backwards to help you--or at the very least be willing to find someone who could.[:(]

Hit the nail on the head, Good old Rockford, big enough it should have everything, yet stupid enough ti doesn't. Heard there's a shop in freeport, but not sure of it's quality. there are a few in the burbs I might check out, since i'll be in Oakbrook 1 day a week starting in january.

The clerks will only deal with you if you're into RPG stuff, or card games or any of those money stealing no good things. want to know about that 2-80 they've got on display, don't ask them, they think it's just a stupid toy.

Jay.

[Anonymous]

to those that asked, i am going to be modeling in HO, in a 10x12 room with three levels.

BTW i was at my LHS today reading the latest MR(i got first months bills, i cant afford a subscription til jan) and I saw SUBWAY CARS! i think im going to incorporate a subway in my city level WOOT! new ideas every day.

I also found out in talking to my mom about getting back into it that she built me a quite detailed layout when i was little, so now i got free labor when it comes time to do scenery WOOT! Doesnt get any better than that.