Hobby Shops In Southern Ontario

[snoot1]

deiselsmoke, yes Lloyd's Small  Engines is still in business. He is just north of Atwood. GUB, thanks for info on Doug's Trains. After seeing this, I think I was there 8 or 9 years ago. I took my kids in with me that day. He and a couple of friends were  talking, we walked in, he looked at the kids as if to say they shouldn't be there. I haven't been back since.  snoot1 

[GUB]

That's the place. Like I said, I do not go out of my way to shop there.

GUB

[Caso.Sub]

GUB and SNOOT

Thats why I don't support Doug's Trains. My favourite shop Otter Valley Railroad lets the kids play trains while there dad is looking at products, which i feel is contrustive for the hobby. I can't comprend how Doug has stayed in business, like come on, hes like ogger that lives under the bridge in the books we read to our children. HAHA

CASo

[da_kraut]

Hi Caso.sub

just went to Otter Valley yesterday.  They have great prices and a large Kato selection and are very good people.  As for other stores that one could recommend there is as mentioned in Hamilton,Modeler's Choice and Trains on Brant in Burlington.  These I find have good selection and fair prices from the dozen hobby stores that are in a 160 km radius from Guelph.  As it stands Otter Valley will certainly get more of my business in the future.  

Has anyone been to SLN Hobbies in Port Dover?  Seen them at the shows and apparantly they do not carry any rolling stock but everything else.  They do not have a web site but just  a phone number.  519-583-0975 and an email address at [e-mail]

Thanks

Frank 

[GUB]

If memory is correct SLN is by appointment only. I do recall seeing them at the last Woodstock Show. I thought their price for a case of Flex Track was pretty good, from what I remember.

GUB

[da_kraut]

Thank you TA462,

I will definitely check out the Doll House and Train Emporium.  Looks like they have an excellent selection.  Sometimes one can see some really wonderful models, like about a month ago I went to "The Little Train Shoppe" in Brampton. There they had a Lionel step side gas turbine in UP colours in HO.  What a beauty.  Wonder what it would like in CP colours.   A couple of years ago I had the privilege to visit a gentleman who in N scale had two U50's painted in the CN paint scheme and they looked very good.

Frank

[tatans]

Wouldn't some hobby shops in southern Ontario be located in Michigan??

[GUB]

Last time I checked Southern Ontario was still part of Canada, not Michigan.

GUB

[Caso.Sub]

Frank

Im glad you found Otter Valley. I really like the people their, the prices are great and they work with my crazy schedule. I got a case of the new kato's off them, beautiful runners. Their selection of kato's is amazing, if they don't have it they can find it fast and at a really good price. I don't understand why more people don't know about them. I usually go to Pine Croft Tea Room and a winery with my wife when Im down there.

CASO

[tatans]

I'm pretty sure that you will find "Southern" (there is no other part) Ontario, really is part of Michigan, How many people do you know who have never Shopped in the U.S. ??? Most Canadians so close to the border laugh at those of us who do not straddle the border and spend most of their time getting great deals smuggling "stuff" across the border. These are the same people that complain that the LHS just closed down. By the way "northern" Ontario starts north of Kapuskasing.

 

 

[Mark R.]

I live right on the border ( I can see Detroit out the back window of my shop ) and I can honestly say, I can't remember the last time I went "shopping" over there !!! I have three hobby shops all within a reasonable distance who get most of my business .... ok - I do go to the "worlds largest yard sale" online from time to time !!!

The Canadian dollar is pushing almost par with the US dollar. To pay gas for the trip over, plus bridge / tunnel fare, I've found it's not worth the effort anymore. I can buy it here at home for about the same, probably less if I factor in the trip savings.

And - In case anyone wants to learn the regions of Ontario ....

Mark. 

[da_kraut]

Hi Caso,

thank you for the tip about the Pine Croft Tea Room and a winery.  When they have my order in my girlfriend and I will go the the Pine Croft as well.  You are right the people there are very knowledgeable and very pleasant while willing to help out.  More people probably do not know about them because they are kind of out of the way and do not have a typical store.  The lack of the store might also put people off, unfortunately.  Just happy to have found them.

Frank 

[empty net]

I live in the Niagara area and I hardly go shopping in Buffalo/ Niagara Falls N.Y. any more.  Most importantly, I find the hobby shops in S. Ontario are much better than those I know about "across the river."  Also, just as important, the US border inspectors are taking a lot longer these days to inspect incoming cars  -  waiting an hour or two in line to enter the U.S. is not worth it for what you find in the Buffalo hobby shops. 

Empty Net

[tatans]

I live right on the border ( I can see Detroit out the back window of my shop ) and I can honestly say, I can't remember the last time I went "shopping" over there !!! I have three hobby shops all within a reasonable distance who get most of my business .... ok - I do go to the "worlds largest yard sale" online from time to time !!!

The Canadian dollar is pushing almost par with the US dollar. To pay gas for the trip over, plus bridge / tunnel fare, I've found it's not worth the effort anymore. I can buy it here at home for about the same, probably less if I factor in the trip savings.

And - In case anyone wants to learn the regions of Ontario ....

Mark. 

A huge amount of the cross border crossings are by people that live within a short distance of the U.S. border, I see by the map of Ontario regions, they left the top 2/3 of the province conveniently off, it cuts off just north of Timmins(highway 11) which is NOT in Northern Ontario, as much as Ontoreos like to think it is. Even the map index fails to show "North(ern) Ontario.

[Caso.Sub]

Frank

Pinecroft is really nice, and the winery is just south of the Tea Room. Very nice place. Back to the store, I think there location hurts them, however their service and products are top notch. For all the money I have spent there I have been very happy. Keep spreading the word, we need to keep local shops in business. I like to support the local guy who spends money in the community than a complete stranger. Thats my philoshpy!!

[doctorwayne]

For those who seem to have forgotten, this is the original post in this thread. 

Hello

I recently moved, to Southern Ontario. Im wondering if anyone knows any good Shops in the London area. My companies head office transferred to me to the London branch to run it. Im new to the area, and could use some help

Thanks

Caso

This would seem to rule out a good portion of the various maps offered for our perusal. 

Wayne

[Caso.Sub]

I should have actually said Southwestern Ontario.

CASO

[tatans]

Spun completely off the original subject, something that irks me to no end and here I am doing it,--- sorry, I think semantics plays a part here, oh well, a sort-of geography lesson eh? please excuse me. thanks.

[DavidH]

I'm headed for Toronto and area for a couple of weeks on Saturday.  I always make it a point to hit Credit Valley in Mississauga.  They have to have one of the best stocks of N scale in Canada.

 

David

[GUB]

I was just there last week and picked up a few things. Great place. Do you frequent George's Trains as well? Another great place.

Gub

[DavidH]

I did stop in to George's Trains last year for the first time.  It seemed to be a nice shop, but I didn't find much of a selection of N scale there.  I don't think I'd go out of my way to go back.  I'll be a little pressed for time this trip as I also have to go to Guelph, Sudbury and Timmins, so I probably won't be able to scout out any new shops. 

 

David

[betamax]

I did stop in to George's Trains last year for the first time.  It seemed to be a nice shop, but I didn't find much of a selection of N scale there.  I don't think I'd go out of my way to go back.  I'll be a little pressed for time this trip as I also have to go to Guelph, Sudbury and Timmins, so I probably won't be able to scout out any new shops. 

 

David

I went to George's Trains last year, wasn't too impressed by their selection. Leaving Toronto I headed over to Mississauga and stopped in at Credit Valley. That was a good plan. Bought a lot of stuff. They have a nice selection. Later I called them and bought the Walthers 130' turntable, and they shipped it to me right away. They had one, and the price was right too.

I thought about stopping at Panther Hobbies, but I had spent enough. I spoke to someone who had, and they said it really wasn't worth it.

Someday I need to go to Modelers Choice in Hamilton. Must've dropped a grand at their booth at Railfair last year...

[da_kraut]

Hi DavidH,

when you are coming from Toronto make a little detour and go to Trains on Brant in Burlington and then since you are already on Highway 403 go a little further to Modellers Choice in Hamilton.  From Modellers Choice in Hamilton it is only a short trip down the mountain to Highway 6 which leads straight into Guelph.  I certainly believe that if you can fit that extra hour of driving time into your trip you will be quite happy.

Frank

[1train1]

 

 While we are on the Southern Ontario kick - I just got my notice from Credit Valley Railway in the mail - their 14th Anniversary Sale starts September 8th until the 22nd.

 

[Caso.Sub]

Any hobby shops in Southern Ontario having boxing day sales? I see a few a note of sale, but no flyers up yet? Any thoughts, also any thoughts on the Woodstock show on Jan 6?

 

CASO

[mavrick0]

Not sure of who will have sales but most usually have some kind of sale.  As for the woodstock show it isn't too bad.  If you've been to the Kitchener or Paris one's it is usually the same.  The one I always look forward too is the Ancaster one which should be coming up on Jan 27.  I usually find more stuff and better deals there.  The one that just past in Nov I picked up some Atlas/Kato engines for $35 each and a Kato GP50 for $30.  All in great condition and in there original boxes with MT couplers.  Wish I had more money because the guy was liquidating all his N-scale stuff for half the sticker prices so we are talking about rolling stock for $2-5 each and not cheap stuff either.

[Caso.Sub]

thats always good to find bargins, i try to find 3nd hand brass or detailed plastic locos and rare frieght cars at show usually. I don't know if Broughdale is having a boxing day sale, I know Otter Valley is. I assume Modellers too, and maybe Credit as well. I might just go the closes one, depends what the wife says.

CASO

[mavrick0]

If anything I'll be checking out Trains on Brant for sure but their prices are always low so can only imagine what boxing day will be like.  I'm also thinking about heading a little further down the QEW and hitting a new store called Just Train Crazy in Grimsby.  I've heard good things about them too and great prices.  Other then that I won't go new Credit Valley, tried that last year and almost started throwing people out of my way just to get out and with only one cash register the line is nuts.

[Caso.Sub]

hey maverirck

this just posted:

We are please to announce this Dec 26th, about our extensive boxing day sale. Everything in the store is on sale, including new releases. Boxing day sales run as high as 60% of regular prices, this includes all scales, books and train merchandise. Also each day from Dec 26 to Dec 29, there is going to be door crashers specials on items ranging from sound loco's to DCC systems to Kato's. For more information please send an email to [e-mail] Boxing Day Dec 26th hours run from 9am to 7pm. All other days same hours.

 

What do you think? i think i might check it out and get some wine in the process too.

CASO

[CP5415]

Hate to break it to you, but there's no duty on Model train stuff you bring back from the states. No smuggling needed!!

Read it online Gov't of Canada website & read it in the Toronto Star not too long ago.

Gordon