I notice that some companys are exceding the bar as far as shipping etc. This might get locked but I will risk it. My favorites are Train World for bargins, Model Train Stuff for stuff just released, Yankee Dabler for decoders and such and just started using Linchfield Station for other DCC related stuff, real cheap shipping here so good place to go if you need 1 or 2 items. Unfortinally I can't recommend any b&b anymore, most have left my area and the remaining ones just don't cut it.
My old LHS back n Massachusetts was my favorite. He gave me very good prices on expensive stuff like locomotives, and the tiny shop was always well stocked. Unfortunately, the landlord of his little strip mall got greedy, jacked up the rent and it became time to retire. I could order stuff from Walthers through him, get any sale prices they offered, and pay no shipping.
I've also bought from Trainworld. They have great prices, often have items that are sold out everywhere else, and on at least two occasions I've ordered on Wednesday evening and had trains delivered the next day.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
https://tstage9.wixsite.com/nyc-modeling
Time...It marches on...without ever turning around to see if anyone is even keeping in step.
My go-to outlet is Model Train Stuff (MB Klein). Unfortunately, they do not do pre-ordering (a long time ago, they actually did). For pre-ordering, I like Tony's Train Exchange in Vermont (tonystrains.com). Their prices beat most of their competitors. E.g., for the upcoming BLI ATSF class 4000 Mikado, the list price is $500. Most dealers charge $400 or more. Tonystrains price is $370.
For brass, brasstrains.com is the go-to store; they have by far the biggest collection and the most used merchandise. Especially for pre-orders, another reliable and often well-priced source is BPL Brassworks.
My local shop is Just Trains in Concord CA. It's an excellent shop. And there's a nice big test layout to play with. I mostly pre-order stuff.
Down in Santa Clara CA (right near San Jose) is The Train Shop, another excellent store. I used to go there regularly, but it's a 45 minute drive. Just Trains is about 20 minutes.
Franciscan Hobbies in San Francisco used to be fun, but it went radically downhill when Bill Gunther died.
Berkeley Hardware in Berkeley CA has its moments. Right now, parking is difficult, so I tend not to drop by. They used to have their own parking lot. Not a GREAT store, but: "has its moments".
Because of my local shop(s), I don't do much mail order. I've used Trainworld, and like them. For DCC stuff, I usually use Litchfield, rather than go through my shop. Brass, I've ordered through my local shop.
Ed
7j43k My local shop is Just Trains in Concord CA. It's an excellent shop. And there's a nice big test layout to play with. I mostly pre-order stuff. Down in Santa Clara CA (right near San Jose) is The Train Shop, another excellent store. I used to go there regularly, but it's a 45 minute drive. Just Trains is about 20 minutes. Franciscan Hobbies in San Francisco used to be fun, but it went radically downhill when Bill Gunther died. Berkeley Hardware in Berkeley CA has its moments. Right now, parking is difficult, so I tend not to drop by. They used to have their own parking lot. Not a GREAT store, but: "has its moments". Because of my local shop(s), I don't do much mail order. I've used Trainworld, and like them. For DCC stuff, I usually use Litchfield, rather than go through my shop. Brass, I've ordered through my local shop. Ed
rrebell I notice that some companys are exceding the bar as far as shipping etc. This might get locked but I will risk it. My favorites are Train World for bargins, Model Train Stuff for stuff just released, Yankee Dabler for decoders and such and just started using Linchfield Station for other DCC related stuff, real cheap shipping here so good place to go if you need 1 or 2 items. Unfortinally I can't recommend any b&b anymore, most have left my area and the remaining ones just don't cut it.
Do you mean b&m (brick and mortar)? Unfortunately we haven't had a good one around here (Middle Tennessee) in years.
CSX Robert rrebell I notice that some companys are exceding the bar as far as shipping etc. This might get locked but I will risk it. My favorites are Train World for bargins, Model Train Stuff for stuff just released, Yankee Dabler for decoders and such and just started using Linchfield Station for other DCC related stuff, real cheap shipping here so good place to go if you need 1 or 2 items. Unfortinally I can't recommend any b&b anymore, most have left my area and the remaining ones just don't cut it. Do you mean b&m (brick and mortar)? Unfortunately we haven't had a good one around here (Middle Tennessee) in years.
rrebell 7j43k My local shop is Just Trains in Concord CA. It's an excellent shop. And there's a nice big test layout to play with. I mostly pre-order stuff. Down in Santa Clara CA (right near San Jose) is The Train Shop, another excellent store. I used to go there regularly, but it's a 45 minute drive. Just Trains is about 20 minutes. Franciscan Hobbies in San Francisco used to be fun, but it went radically downhill when Bill Gunther died. Berkeley Hardware in Berkeley CA has its moments. Right now, parking is difficult, so I tend not to drop by. They used to have their own parking lot. Not a GREAT store, but: "has its moments". Because of my local shop(s), I don't do much mail order. I've used Trainworld, and like them. For DCC stuff, I usually use Litchfield, rather than go through my shop. Brass, I've ordered through my local shop. Ed I find the attitude a bit much at The Train Shop, had issues at Just trains too but I understand the original owners sold out. Fransiscan was great but that went away a long time ago (did you used to go across the street for foot & half burritos). Didn't know Berkeley was still arround, thought they closed when they had to move. Used to like J & M but they are gone and things there changed long ago there too but the owner was super nice.
I find the attitude a bit much at The Train Shop, had issues at Just trains too but I understand the original owners sold out. Fransiscan was great but that went away a long time ago (did you used to go across the street for foot & half burritos). Didn't know Berkeley was still arround, thought they closed when they had to move. Used to like J & M but they are gone and things there changed long ago there too but the owner was super nice.
I haven't been to The Train Shop much since Vern Cole died (seems like a popular pastime these days), so I don't know much about their attitude.
I phoned up a couple of hours ago to Just Trains and informed them I got a "destroyed" Atlas covered hopper from them. 15 minutes later, a phone call tells me there's a replacement coming and just bring in the wreck when I can. I have a very high opinion of them. Yes, the previous owner was VERY competent and also "easy on the eye". I like the new guys just fine.
Franciscan: was unfortunately uninformed about the burritos. I am DISAPPOINTED!
Yup, Berkeley's still got a train department. Incidentally, I WAS the train department for awhile in 1963.
I can't think who J & M was.
Favorite story of when I was the Berkeley Hardware train department:
At the time, it was back in the corner, on the main floor. I'm going about my business, and I see a guy that keeps being sent in my direction by the floor staff. He gets to me and says: "My wife has died. I need some lime to bury her." My quick-thinking mind responds: "I think you'll be wanting building supplies. Try Ashby Lumber." He says thanks and walks out.
My go to brick and mortor hobby shop is Cedar Creek Hobbies in Kingsville, Ontario. They provide good service and they are very friendly to deal with. Between my old train club and my own personal purchases, I have spent several thousand dollars with them over the past five years. I just ordered 9 Loksound V5 decoders from them. I'm sure that made their day!
Unfortunately they are a 4 1/2 hour drive from here so I have only been to the shop in person a couple of times when we were birding at Point Pelee which is close by. That's a good thing because I don't have the opportunity to go nuts buying stuff in the store if I can't get there!
One of their employees is Mark R. who is a frequent contributor to the forums.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
tstageModel Train Stuff for their "live" inventory - S&H is kinda stiff for one item so I try to order several items to make it worth while
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Factory Direct Trains Excellent service to date, at least five steamers from them.
Tony's Train Exchange - I believe Tom got one of his Trix Mikados from them, and I quickly followed suit when he spilled the beans. Suhhhhhweeeet deal it was, too. I have ordered decoders and other things over the years.
Let's not forget Micro Mark! Very strong service for me to date.
BLI's own 'refurbished deals' found at the left hand index on their home page. Ya gotta look!
MB Klein's, of course.
I order a surprising amount of stuff direct from Walthers. Very commendable service from them.
I ordered Modellbahn Ott's last Trix GG1 about twelve years ago or so. Treated very well. Unfortunately, and I don't have any experience with this, but I think that one model is beginning to show zinc pest, slight whitening on the surface, but that's not his fault.
I got good service from the gentleman at traintrack.net years ago. I think he's still going...haven't looked in a while.
The nice folks at Cripple Bush sent me a very nice rock cut face in molded rubber. No complaints. Same for Micro Engineering: called them to ask for missing parts on the combination girder bridge I had on my second layout. No questions asked, I had them in two weeks in Canada. Both BLI and Walthers have each shipped missing/replacement parts if they had them, in BLI's case no charge...and they replaced a Niagara Paragon decoder no charge...my fault, too.
I haven't dealt with them yet, but they 'seem' to be a good outfit, some blowout prices on decent stuff if you keep an eye: hogtrainz.
Toytrainheaven is Bowser's site, or it was. Seem to be a decent site, reasonable prices, I'm guessing they do good business.
I have two model railway shops near me. When passing them I would call in (even if I did not want anything).
At one shop the owner did not like it me calling in and not buying (although many times I did buy). One day I wanted to ask the owner a question about a locomotive he was selling. He ignored me by continuing to talk to his colleague about what they were doing that night. He lost a potential sale as I walked out and have never returned.
At the other shop, 'Pooley's Puffers' run by Dave Pooley, the attitude is completely different.
He is polite and engaging even if I say 'I am just passing and having a look'. Okay, he knows there is no sale, but he knows I come back and do buy. He knows what my layout is all about and lets me know if I am interested in any items 'just arrived'. If I am interested, they are 'put to one side' for me to collect later. Great service.
David
To the world you are someone. To someone you are the world
I cannot afford the luxury of a negative thought
My fav shops thru the years was Watts Train Shop(G scale and nolonger in business) St Aubin and Ridge Road station(all gone and were G scale shops), Zionsville Train Depot, Norms Train N' Connection and Train Central(all local shops), Brasstrains, ReSourced Rails(for brass models) and ebay when all else fails as I do enjoy older long out of production models in both HO and G scale.
Of all the shops that are "fallen flags", I miss Watts the most. That shop in its original form where you had to enter thru the "Sparkle Shop" was magical to say the least. To get to the trains you had to enter thru the year round Christmas part of the store. The smells, the decor really set the mood as trains and the holidays go hand in hand. Then you went thru the layout room, with shelves full of LGB trains and various German/Austrian railroad memoriblia. Finally you where in the main show room filled with more LGB trains. A small room at the rear corner was an old school "boiler room" with 3 to 4 ladies constantly on the phone taking call in orders(pre internet era here folks!). It was an experience every time I went. I could afford very little, but what I did have back then was cherished. Mike
Silly NT's, I have Asperger's Syndrome
emdmikeOf all the shops that are "fallen flags", I miss Watts the most.
I currently do not have a favorite brick and mortar store. I have not been to a local train store in over a year.
I always stop at local B&M stores while travelling. I have only visited one on the current trip I am taking.
I also think I am just about done with online ordering. MBK got all my money. Their inventory system closed that deal for me.
As far as fallen flags go, these were the best I shopped at:
Orange Blossom Hobbies, Miami
Aardvark's Model Trains, Nashville
The Gandy Dancer, Atlanta
Bobbie Hall's Hobby House, Dallas
For current stores, these are my favorites (I do not know the operational status of all):
Ready To Roll, Miami
Gulf Coast Model Trains, Sarasota
Riverdale Station, Atlanta
New Brookland Model Trains, Columbia
-Kevin
Living the dream.
Personaly I like the way things are now but really miss the in person talking with fellow customers.
7j43k, do you ever get to a train shop they have in San Lorenzo, Trains Unlimited.
My closest "local" hobby shop is Dad's in Wapakoneta, Ohio, 32 miles north. Decent selection, and gives a 10% discount.
My internet dealers are (in no particular order) Train World, Model Train Stuff, Precision Design Co. (In Canada), Walthers (when they have sales), and Yankee Dabbler.
On line stores that I like dealing with...Hiawatha Hobbies, Spring Creek Model Trains, High Country Hobbies, Yankee Dabbler, and Trains In The Valley. They are all prompt shippers. Never had a single problem with any of them.
On line stores I will deal with in a pinch but rather not...Model Train Stuff, Trainworld. They take too long to ship IMO.
Only local store near me is Factory Direct Hobbies. Use to be Factory Direct Trains and they changed their name. They're OK but I like the online ones I mentioned above first and foremost.
rrebell 7j43k, do you ever get to a train shop they have in San Lorenzo, Trains Unlimited.
I get there very occasionally. Their stock didn't bowl me over, though it's been fun to poke around. As is true of most hobby shops that have been around for awhile.
Hobbies Unlimited. Not Trains Unlimited.
I like the shop that has the best price and have ordered from many of those mentioned. However, PWRS gets most of my business because I don't have to pay to ship as someone in the family usually is going past the place a couple of times a week.
Central hobbies in Vancouver are excellent but will be closing down soon and that will be it for B&M shops in the Vancouver area. I always tried to get there when I was heading into Vancouver.
PWRS lets me go in and look at stuff, but it is row after row of warehouse shelves full of stuff and not very inviting for browsing as it should be to be an efficient operation.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
My Best LHS is 50 miles away, one hour, one way. MAINLINE HOBBY SUPPLYS, Blue Ridge Summit, Pa. started in a garage. I like Road Trips. I can drive past two Hobby Shops getting to Mainline. I can go in wanting nothing and leave with a large brown paper bag full of mostly HO-Scale and sometimes a piece of N-Scale. MAILBAG HOBBYS in Maryland was in a basement then moved in to a B&M store then a down sized store IIRC and had a presents at Train Shows. I have not seen Nancy from MAILBAG for some time now, not even Train shows (Timonium or York). I can not speak for internet mail orders, never done that yet. I have a LHS (WHITE ROSE HOBBYS) maybe 10 minutes away, He's getting better with HO-Scale train stuff. Big into Radio Control Stuff.
I like working with Ron at The Hobbysmith here in Orygun.
Don; Prez, CEO or whatever of the Wishram, Oregon and Western RR
Great Lakes Hobby & Toy, Sterling Heights, MI.
Fortunately just ten miles from me and just jam packed full of modeling stuff. I only order online if store for some reason can't order it for me. His prices for ordered items usually beat online/shipping costs and I can inspect items before accept and pay for them.
danno54 Great Lakes Hobby & Toy, Sterling Heights, MI. Fortunately just ten miles from me and just jam packed full of modeling stuff. I only order online if store for some reason can't order it for me. His prices for ordered items usually beat online/shipping costs and I can inspect items before accept and pay for them.
SeeYou190 emdmike Of all the shops that are "fallen flags", I miss Watts the most. I currently do not have a favorite brick and mortar store. I have not been to a local train store in over a year. I always stop at local B&M stores while travelling. I have only visited one on the current trip I am taking. I also think I am just about done with online ordering. MBK got all my money. Their inventory system closed that deal for me. As far as fallen flags go, these were the best I shopped at: Orange Blossom Hobbies, Miami Aardvark's Model Trains, Nashville The Gandy Dancer, Atlanta Bobbie Hall's Hobby House, Dallas For current stores, these are my favorites (I do not know the operational status of all): Ready To Roll, Miami Gulf Coast Model Trains, Sarasota Riverdale Station, Atlanta New Brookland Model Trains, Columbia -Kevin
emdmike Of all the shops that are "fallen flags", I miss Watts the most.
On the research / reference side of the hobby I would like to put in a good word for Ron's Books. They have a great on-line store with a huge inventory of both in and out of print books on the hobby as well as the prototype. They have been really helpful for me to get info on topics such the dairy industry, meat packing industry, 1950's boxcars, the coal industry as well as train operations.
They have a volume in stock on the history of the Lehigh Valley RR that I am going to hint to the family that it would make a great father's day gift.
I have to put in a kind word for my LHS, The Train Shack in Burbank, CA. They are always willing to order stuff for me, adn when Walthers has a ridiculous sale (like Proto Hi-Level cars for $23!) they are happy to order even though they make no $$ on the sale. They offer a discount to club members, which is a nice selling point for membership at our club. I tend to buy more used stuff, and they call me when there's a collection with stuff I might like.
Arnie's in Orange Country is a bit of a schlep for me, but great, great great for used stuff with very fair prices.
For mail order, I have always done well with TrainWorld. They once processed a return when I accidentally ordered the wrong locomotive -- I did the exchange in person. I check their sale pages regularly.
Agreed about Yankeedabbler, great for decoders. Nice shop, too -- I was traveling and stopped in, and didn't even realize where I was until I read the sign on the door more carefully!
ANd Zeintek in Chicago is always great fun for bargain- and old-stock hunting. I fly United for business and a four-hour layover is enough time to get out there for a quick look-round.
Aaron
Someone else mentioned English's/Toy Train Heaven (the Bowser brick-and-mortar and mail order businesses, respectively; Montoursville, PA) and Trains in the Valley (.com, not the .org Massachusetts rail advocacy group). I'll second those.
English's has a rather large open inventory on shelves you actually can browse. Great for detail parts and other hard to find items. If I buy something mail order, I always compare Toy Train Heaven with other online sellers. Shipping is OK, though maybe not the speediest; items from their special sales seem to take longer than regular purchases. Real time inventory information seems good as far as I can tell; I've never failed to receive in timely fashion something listed on the website as "available," and it's always come direct from Mountoursville, never drop-shipped from somewhere else. Customer service helpful by phone and email, though it might take a couple of days for an email reply, depending on how busy they are.
Trains in the Valley (Elizabethville, PA) is online and B&M. It is fairly new with limited selection, but good prices and excellent service (quick replies to queries). It's one of a few places I check when shopping. Another plus: he posts actual photos of used items he has for sale.
Other B&M (mid-Atlantic): CoolTrains in Salunga PA (near Lancaster); not a large selection, but reasonable prices and it seems to have a decent flow of used items for sale. I've also liked Gilbert's shop in Gettysburg PA (though I haven't been there for a number of years). Also: Trains, Toys and Hobbies in Claymont Delaware; smaller successor to the former Mitchell's in Wilmington. OK selection (if a bit dated in some respects--that can be a plus, depending on what you're looking for); prices so-so, has some brass and foreign items.
General comment: except for large brick and mortar shops (like English's) I find selection at these (and other) B&M shops to be hit and miss--maybe they'll have it, maybe they won't--for anything beyond widely sold basics like Atlas track, etc.
Other mail order: Besides Toy Train Heaven I've used Klein's (Model Train Stuff), Trainworld, Factory Direct, BLI direct from manufacturer, and Iron Planet Hobbies--comparable service from all, never a problem with any of them. Some show real-time inventory online, some don't. Iron Planet and Trainworld seem to have the fastest shipping, in my experience.
Books: Another vote for Ron's Books.