Anyone live in the New York City area that knows of a good hobby shop that has lionel trains?? If you have a name that would be great or an address. Thanks.
Just the Manhattan area. Sorry about that, I should have narrowed it down. Yes, the Manhattan Island is just perfect. I found some online, but don't know if they are good. Thanks.
If you don't mind the subway, try Brooklyn. Trainworld 751 McDonald Avenue 718-436-7072
www.trainworld.com "F" train towards Coney Island Ditmars Avenue stop Easy ride.
Driving: Info on web. Not the cheapest BUT friendly, knowledgeable people. In business a long time.
New to this whole computery thing, are ya? Try this:
http://www.lionel.com/CustomerService/findex.cfm
Jon
Kooljock1 New to this whole computery thing, are ya? Try this:
It appears he was interested in good hobby shops based on the impressions of folks who lives in the area.
The impression of what constitutes a good hobby shop is going to vary from person to person.
Some persons who lives nearby might think that because a shops is close to where they lives and therefore convenient it is a good hobby shop.
Other persons who lives or don'ts lives near the shop but thinks the shop has a good selection might think selection makes for a good hobby shop.
Other persons who lives or don't lives near the shop might think if the shop has cheap prices, then that makes for a good hobby shop.
Other persons who lives or don't lives near the shop might think good service or smart employees makes for a good hobby shop.
I guess it is all a matter of personal opinion regarding what makes a good hobby shop.
I know of lots of shops in the New York City area, but I don't know if these would meet the posters criteria of good.
Just a hobby shop that will have postwar lionel. Any shop with postwar is good enough to me. Thanks.
Last I heard train-world/train-land both in your area have postwar but will not sell them if they have to be shipped they only sell them to walk in customers which you would be living there. From what I gathered they had some problems with used items being shipped.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
Trainworld is in Brooklyn. Trainland is in Lynbrook, on Long Island. My first ZW came from Trainland, before Pete B. purchased the business.
You could walk by 105 E 23rd St. and see where Madison Hardware was.
There were two shops, on opposite sides of the street on 45th st. One was the Model Railroad Equipment Corporation. I think the other was the Red Caboose. Don't know whether either is still there. I was in both stores many times, never was able to make a purchase.
cwburfle,
Didn't you have to go up a set of stairs to get to the Red Caboose, (south side of st.)?
That's where I bought all, except the New York State car,of the Lionel Bi-Centenial set for and finishing up in 1976.
The N.Y.S. car I bought here in Nassau County, L.I., N.Y.S. Those N.Y.S. cars were scarce, here in N.Y.
The Modle Railroad Equipment Corporation, (north side of st.), proprietor's first name is Carmen.
Ralph
I went to the Red Cabosse on 45 Street a few years back, they used to advertise in Model Railroader years ago and I think they have been there for 60+ years. They are mostly model trains not toy trains if I remeber correctly. Neat shop packed with trains, models you name it. Here is the link they are still in business I just checked, down the stairs.
http://www.theredcaboose.com/
Thanks,George,
You reminded me when I saw the link for the Red Caboose, the store that I had to go up, onto the second level, wasn't the Red Caboose, but the Roundhouse II and it was at the Roundhouse II where I bought Lionel's Bi-Centenial Train set for the year of 1976. I'm sorry for making a mistake in my previous post.
The Roundhouse II was located on the south side of the street. Now, I'm not sure of the location of the Red Caboose.
I am under the impression that the Red Caboose is (or was) in the same physical location as the Roundhouse. It was upstairs. Customers rode up in a tiny elevator. Model Railroad Equipment Corp was on the opposite side of the street, in a basement. The person who mentioned the owner, Carmen, was correct. It was owned by Carmen Webster, but by the time I had started going there she was no longer (actively) involved. She may have already passed-on. Somewhere in the store was a mock-up of an observation platform from a passenger car. Another interesting shop that is gone was Polk's Hobby. They had multiple floors, with product seperated by floors. By the time I was visiting, they didn't have Lionel, but I knew one of the salesmen, so I would stop by anyway.
I did all my NYC purchasing from Madison Hardware and Savoy Merchandise. Savoy was a few blocks from Madision, they sold carneval supplies, and were jobbers. I think I first walked in because they had American Flyer listed as a brand they carried, even though AF had already been gone about ten years. The names of companies whose product they carried was painted on blacked out windows on the upper floors of their building. I was able to buy some early MPC at very good prices from them. I purchased my first 8031 from them. They offered me a gold chessie for $25, but I elected to spend all my funds at Madison that day. (This was all current product at the time, not old stock).
HI CW,
I am pretty sure the Red Caboose has not changed it location, I was going there back in the 1970's and it was downstairs. I believe its still in the same family although I may be wrong. My Dad used to stop there in the 1960's he was a HO model RR and bought items, its a neat store but as can be expected its pricey on certain items but what do you expecxt for NYC. I would still stop by there, I took my wife there a few years back and she could not believe it as the store was jammed packed with tons of train/model and hobby items from floor to ceiling.
seacoast I am pretty sure the Red Caboose has not changed it location, I was going there back in the 1970's and it was downstairs. I believe its still in the same family although I may be wrong.
I am pretty sure the Red Caboose has not changed it location, I was going there back in the 1970's and it was downstairs. I believe its still in the same family although I may be wrong.
Take a look at the link provided you provided earlier. Says right on their web site that they are now in the location of Model Railroad Equipment Corp. If you were going there in the 1970's, it was still the Model Railroad Eqiuipment Corp. back then.
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