So...how far would you go to get to a LHS?

[galaxy]

 

 Many of you have mentioned (complained) that there is no LHS close (or close enough to you) to shop at. So...how far would you go to get to one?

I have one 15 mins away, small, ok selection, order any Walthers items 20% discount.

I have another about 1 hour away. Super Big discounts, large selection, mostly internet sales-so not every item in stock in the store.

About 3 1/2-4 hours (including slower Amish roads) is Strasburg, the Railroad and 2 LHS there. nice stores, discounted prices.

I am lucky, apparently. I don't have to only order online.Because I like to sometimes go to a store and see, taste, smell, feel, chew, and study items and their parts. Web sites sometimes don't give me adequate descriptions, or don't list what I want to know about an item. Shipping problems and handling have been discussed here in threads numerous times.

SO how far (time to get there) would you go to get to a LHS??

 

[cacole]

I have only one choice, an Ace Hardware store in Tucson, Arizona, 70 miles away, but their selection of HO scale products has diminished significantly in the past year.

Beyond them, the next is An Affair With Trains in Phoenix, a five or six hour drive one way, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions.

[Robby P.]

I have one hobby store about 5 min's away, but not much ho scale.  Just a back corner.  There's another one about 25 mile's away.  There's a good bit of stuff, but I mostly buy car's from him.  There's another one about 30 mile's away but he just started in HO.  He's a big Lionel dealer, and I told him he has us HO Scale people thrown in a corner.  He laughed.  I am sure there are some BIG one's in Pttsburgh, but I don't know my way around there since I have only lived in PA a year, and my whole life in NC before the move.  That's what I have for LHS....

[tstage]

All four of mine are all about 30 minutes away in different directions.  I'll be going to one on Saturday that is an hour and 15 minutes away.  They have an excellent assortment of Details West parts so that I can buy what I need to finish detailing my Norfolk Southern GP38-2.

Tom

[ARTHILL]

The best HO shop in town is 2 minutes away. That may be too close. I drove to Mesa once, but not just for the LHS. I drive 15 miles on occassion just to see what the other big store has.

[on30francisco]

I occasionally hop the Caltrain from San Francisco and go to The Train Shop in Santa Clara (around 40 miles). Although there's a LHS in SF, it is very skimpy on supplies and sells at MSRP. The Train Shop is a dedicated model railroad LHS that caters to all scales and sells from 10% to 20% off MSRP. When I go there I try to catch the express train as the local has too many stops. Other than that LHS, I usually buy online as I refuse to pay MSRP if I don't have to.

[Driline]

I would not drive more than an hour one way. And if I did, it better be a good LHS with discount prices. No MSRP crap!

Fortunatley I have 2 LHS that have excellent stock and sell 20% off MSRP and both are only 20 minutes away.

Do I still buy online? Heck yea! Price rules my wallet. I buy all my engines online because I can get close to 40% off or more! Most everything else I buy at the hobby store.

Our metro area is 5 small cities with a combined population of about 250,000.

[loathar]

Probably 2 hours each way if it had a good selection and good prices. I'd save up $400-$500 first to make the trip worth while. I didn't realize how good I had it in Ohio where the LHS's were only 15-20 minutes away. I've got to go 60 miles one way for a shop with crappy stock and high prices now.

[galaxy]

The best HO shop in town is 2 minutes away. That may be too close. I drove to Mesa once, but not just for the LHS. I drive 15 miles on occassion just to see what the other big store has.

LOL that would be a train trip to Mesa only to see the shop??? Some railroaders wives think they have it difficult....

[galaxy]

I would not drive more than an hour one way. And if I did, it better be a good LHS with discount prices. No MSRP crap!

Fortunatley I have 2 LHS that have excellent stock and sell 20% off MSRP and both are only 20 minutes away.

Do I still buy online? Heck yea! Price rules my wallet. I buy all my engines online because I can get close to 40% off or more! Most everything else I buy at the hobby store.

Our metro area is 5 small cities with a combined population of about 250,000.

 

The store an hour away is a wholesaler online, so I can do either. If I order online at 2 pm one day, it can be as soon as on my step the next by 4pm. Some items online they really don't stock, so order only. SOme items will be in the store on their way out. Their time given for fullfillment is remarkably accurate. I am on  a disability budget so my $$ count.

I still sometimes like to see it in person before I buy though. The 15 min away is the reliable for small things, or save gas and/or S&H.

[BRAKIE]

Well,I love to hobby shop hop and have driven many miles(up to 100) to visit various stores.I have become friends with some of the owners.The longest was 270 mile round trip several years ago.It was well worth the trip in many ways then just spending money in a hobby shop.

After all I saw several trains,visited a small yard and had a great home cooked meal in a Mom & Pop restaurant that faced the yard.

The down side is I no longer do this because of health restrictions on driving and of course the escalating hobby and gas prices.

[GAPPLEG]

All four of mine are all about 30 minutes away in different directions.  I'll be going to one on Saturday that is an hour and 15 minutes away.  They have an excellent assortment of Details West parts so that I can buy what I need to finish detailing my Norfolk Southern GP38-2.

Tom

Tom where do you go ?  I live in Erie PA. , not far from you. I go to Buffalo most of the time for a shop. Don't go west in your direction very often. I have been to Wings on Detroit avenue in the past. Are there others in your area or around the area that are any good. I'm planning on going to Cleveland in a couple weeks.

[Arjay1969]

It's not a matter of choice, in my case...the last LHS where I live closed down almost 2 years ago, so now the only places I can get supplies are either online or a 1.5 - 2 hour drive away.

 Heck, I'd open a shop myself if I had the money, and owned a building to set up shop in.

Robert Beaty

[steamnut]

Sadly, the only decent hobby shop that could possibly be described as being in my area (northern Virginia) closed last month. This shop was 16 miles away and took about 30 minutes to get to. That is close to the maximum distance / time I will spend driving to any kind of shop. The closing was said to be due to lease issues and the owner hopes to reopen in a rural community (near his new home) 60 miles away, but I would never drive that far and I wonder how many of his other former customers will do so. Although there are at least three other hobby shops within 10 miles, they are all general-interest shops with pathetic model railroad offerings. So for the foreseeable future I have no bricks-and-mortar shop.

[jktrains]

All four of mine are all about 30 minutes away in different directions.  I'll be going to one on Saturday that is an hour and 15 minutes away.  They have an excellent assortment of Details West parts so that I can buy what I need to finish detailing my Norfolk Southern GP38-2.

Tom

Sounds like Nick's.  Say hello to Doug.

jktrains

[cwclark]

  The closest one to my house is 25 miles and the furthest in the area is 60 miles. i'll usually take half a day to drive there and back. The secret is to make a list of stuff needed and leave it next to the work bench. One of my pet peeves is to go all the way to the LHS and forget something just to go back another day. If i write stuff down on the list then and there and when i'm thinking about it, i'll never forget an item. ...chuck

[Medina1128]

I do most of my shopping at a train store (Show Me Lines) in Grandview, MO, that's about an hour away. It's not the distance, it's the camaraderie that's the great thing. If they don't have what you're looking for, they'll get it for you. Their prices are comparable with most internet sites. Another choice is the Train Haus in Warrenton, MO, but they're about 3 hours away. Both have mail order and once you develop a relationship with them, they'll get it for you, ship it to you and bill your credit card. If you're ever in Grandview, stop in and say hi. They have more stuff crammed into their little store than any of your major hobby centers. AND they're helpful and friendly. Tell 'em Marlon sent ya!

PS Cwclark, at the Show Me Lines store, when you forget something, call Charlie, and he'll send it to you!

[tstage]

All four of mine are all about 30 minutes away in different directions.  I'll be going to one on Saturday that is an hour and 15 minutes away.  They have an excellent assortment of Details West parts so that I can buy what I need to finish detailing my Norfolk Southern GP38-2.

Tom

Sounds like Nick's.  Say hello to Doug.

jktrains

JK,

I was referring to Rob's Trains in Alliance, OH.  I think it's Nils (father) and Rob.  Nice folks.  Is that the one you were thinking of?

Tom 

[emdgp92]

I am sure there are some BIG one's in Pttsburgh, but I don't know my way around there since I have only lived in PA a year, and my whole life in NC before the move.  That's what I have for LHS....

Let's see, we have A.B. Charles in Dormont (big red barn, near the pool), Esther's Hobby in Millvale (just off Route 28), Iron Horse in Upper St. Clair/Scott Twp (Painters Run Rd, just off Bower Hill Rd), and Toby Tyler's in Pleasant Hills (Lebanon Church Rd., not far from Route 51 cloverleaf). I tend to head over to A.B. Charles quite a bit, even though they're across town from me. You name it, they probably have it somewhere. Iron Horse and Toby's are mostly O scale. Since I'm not into O or Lionel, I don't go there as much. Esther's is nearly all N scale. I drop in there from time to time after work.

There's also The Silver Mine near Washington, PA on Route 19. I haven't been in there for months :)

[tstage]

Tom where do you go ?  I live in Erie PA. , not far from you. I go to Buffalo most of the time for a shop. Don't go west in your direction very often. I have been to Wings on Detroit avenue in the past. Are there others in your area or around the area that are any good. I'm planning on going to Cleveland in a couple weeks.

GAPPLEG, 

I responded to your PM.  Hope that helps...

Tom

 

[locoworks]

surely if you have to travel any great distance it is not really a LHS ( local hobby store )?? it is just a hobby store as it's not local????  perhaps its an american expression regardless of 'locallity'??

[jktrains]

No.  Nick's is just outside North Canton.  He carries a good selection of DA, DW, Cannon, Overland and other detail parts.  Also lots of building details.

 

[SOO_N Scaler]

Let's see...... King's Hobbies in Austin,,, 180 mile round trip,,,,,,,, DMT in Addison,,, 285 mile round trip,,,,,,Papa Ben's in Houston 400 miles round trip. So..

As a previous poster mentioned,, I make a list when I do the chance to go, as not to forget anything.

King's MSRP......DMT 20% everything, cept dcc command systems,, Papa ben's % off depending on frequency, and amount purchased.

I use Feather River Trains as my E-Tailer,, great guy,, good prices,,, EXCELLANT customer service.

Adios Wyatt

[csmith9474]

Denver.

Of course Custom Railway Supply is about 5 minutes from my house, so I don't really ever have a need to go up to Denver. I occasionally like to go to Caboose if I am looking for a specific detail part that may be hard to find.

[Greg H.]

Due to migraines and the medication for them, I can't get more than 20-30 minutes from home without a co-driver. 

[csmith9474]

Due to migraines and the medication for them, I can't get more than 20-30 minutes from home without a co-driver. 

I get cluster headaches, so I understand what you mean about having a co-driver. Where at in Colorado are you?

[Greg H.]

I get cluster headaches, so I understand what you mean about having a co-driver. Where at in Colorado are you?

Over towards Austin Bluffs and Academy.   You?

[csmith9474]

I get cluster headaches, so I understand what you mean about having a co-driver. Where at in Colorado are you?

Over towards Austin Bluffs and Academy.   You?

I live in the 30th and Garden of the God's area. As I posted above, I frequent Custom Railway. Mike treats me really well there. That is one of the best train stores I have ever been to.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

My nearest LHS is 60 miles away. It has a fair selection of items ranging through N scale to O scale with the largest number of items being in HO scale. If there's something that I want that they don't have they'll order it from Walther's. I get nearly everything at a good discount.

[Greg H.]

I live in the 30th and Garden of the God's area. As I posted above, I frequent Custom Railway. Mike treats me really well there. That is one of the best train stores I have ever been to.

I've heard of them, but, since it means getting past the mess at Union and Austin Bluffs - that adds another 10 min to the trip.

Know of any others in town?