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Train related activities in South Haven Michigan?

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  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
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Train related activities in South Haven Michigan?
Posted by johnandjulie13 on Wednesday, June 21, 2006 8:53 PM
Hello All:

I will be in South Haven, MI for a couple of days next week. Are there any hobby stores or other train related activities in the area?

Thanks in advance.

John O
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 22, 2006 1:40 AM
Holland, MI and Portage, MI are better places for finding Toy Trains and Model Railroad Stores. More real railroad activity attracts more model railroading activity.

I live in West Michigan and I also would like to run across Model Railroading activity in South Haven. All I have seen is rows of houses and the beach.

Andrew Falconer
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, June 22, 2006 1:56 AM
Holland, MI is about 28 miles north of Grand Haven, MI on 31.

Holland is the place more into model railroads and toy trains.

Andrew
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Posted by pbjwilson on Thursday, June 22, 2006 7:18 AM
Tom McComas is in New Buffalo. He does the "I Love Toy Trains" videos. I think he has a retail store but am not sure.
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 12:04 AM
Yes, I Love Toy Trains: The Store is located in New Buffalo, MI.

You can see it on the web page for I Love Toy Trains.

http://www.tmbooks-video.com/trains.htm

Stop in New Buffalo before heading north to South Haven.

Andrew
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Posted by Anonymous on Friday, June 23, 2006 5:32 AM
There is a store called Cobblestone Hobbies here in downtown Holland that sells Lionel products and can get MTH also. In Muskegon there's a House of Hobbies store there....lots of MTH gear there.

The other two stores I know of are in the Grand Rapids area, but they're both good shops as well. S. Haven is very close to me distance wise. Hope this helps!
  • Member since
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  • From: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
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Posted by johnandjulie13 on Friday, June 23, 2006 1:19 PM
Thanks to all who responded. This will give me something to do next week.

Thanks again.

John O
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    March 2002
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Posted by lionelsuperotrack on Saturday, June 24, 2006 11:57 AM
The hobby shop in Portage, Michigan, The Train Barn, has a huge toy train layout. Definitely worth seeing. If you call ahead you might be able to make special arrangements. The layout was in CTT several years ago and also has many trains for sale.

Take a look at this link for Hobby Shops all over the United States:

http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/interest.php?brandID=MTRAIN&authCod=oran

The Train Barn Link is below:

http://find.mapmuse.com/re1/profileBrand.php?brandID=MTRAIN&brandPT=427&uniq=963164880

It is great!!!!

Very best, Mike Spanier

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  • Member since
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  • From: Clarendon Hills, Illinois
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Posted by johnandjulie13 on Saturday, June 24, 2006 7:23 PM
Hello Mike:

Thanks for the information. The link indicated that the ToyBarn is in Kalamazoo. That will be a little far for me to travel. However, my wife's parents live about 30 minutes south of Kalamazoo. I may plan a little side trip next time we head to the in-laws.

Regards,

John O
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Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, June 24, 2006 11:16 PM
The distance between South Haven and The Train Barn in Portage, MI is between 45-60 miles away. That is too far off the Lake Michigan coastline for an easy trip. The Train Barn is located on the south side of Austin Lake.

Andrew Falconer

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