Are there any good train shops in the greater Toledo, Ohio, area any more? There used to be The Semaphore (closed about 6-8 years ago), J&M (recently retired) and Steve's Hobbies (closed about 2-3 years ago).
Currently, there is Riders which really doesn't have much in the way of trains and Hobbytown USA. That is probably the "best" that I'm currently aware of but I'm looking for some stuff like a little better selection of kits, scratch building materials and steam locomotive detai parts.
Price doesn't bother me too much. Unlike a lot of people, I'm happy to have a nice selection of merchandise and am willing to pay for it.
So, if anyone is aware of anything that i've missed, I'd appreciate hearing about it. That might also include areas within an additional 25-30 miles of Toledo as well, especially to the south as I'm in Findlay.
One of these days, I'd like to start a hobby shop thread with some specific things in mind, but that's another thread.
dlm
Have you looked at MapMuse.com?
Search under Hobbies and Crafts, then Model Train Shops, then find your area on the map.
I've found it useful, especially when visiting unfamiliar areas.
Sadly, Toledo is down to just Rider's and Hobbytown, neither of which has a very broad or deep train selection.
North from there into Michigan, the first two hobby shops with good train selections you'll encounter are Joe's Hobbies in Farmington (about 75 miles from Toledo) and Michigan Model Train Center in Pinckney (about 60 miles from Toledo). Rider's in Ypsilanti is pretty much an OK magazine stop, but they've reduced the train inventory to the point that it's about the same as Rider's in Toledo.
I can't speak for south of Toledo.
-Fritz Milhaupt, Publications Editor, Pere Marquette Historical Society, Inc.http://www.pmhistsoc.org
Do you know anything about Rick's Toy Trains on Lewis Ave. and Gladieux on Navarre in Oregon? Both were listed on MapMuse.
Can't say that I know anything about either of those. They're new to me.