Madison Hardware

Great pics, brings back some memories for me.  I had the opportunity to visit thier shop during my senior class trip to NYC.  I bought roller collector pickups and a new bottom plate/spring assembly for my Dad's 1655.  I was tired of the 3rd rail sliders getting hung up on my O22 turnouts.  I would have loved to go back a few years later when I had much more $$ to spend, but alas it was gone.  For those who never got to see thier shop in person, it was a site to behold, something we will probably never see again.    Thanks for posting!     Mike

Anybody still remember the Model Railroad Equipment Corp, in the basement of 45th Street in NYC, or the Red Caboose upstairs across the street?

The downstairs store is still there (at least a year ago) but in a very lesser form.  Can't say I've ever had a positive experience there lately.

I grew up in NYC and 45th Street was full of wonders for this young boy - multiple train stores, Lafayette Radio Electronics, Harvey and Heathkit.  Now those

were the days!

-Mark

I went to them probably in my early to mid teens with my dad.  At the time, I was into HO, so didn't pay too much attention to the Lionel stuff besides looking a little at what my dad was browsing.

I had forgotten the name of the shop in the basement, but I sort of remember it.  I think the stairs dropped you  in the middle, then there were cases and shelves to the left and right on both sides of the elongated store, with maybe an aisle in the middle?

The trips in question covered these 2, Madison (probably only a year or 2 before it closed) and one other store I forget the name of (America's Best Hobby, maybe?).

-Dave

Thanks for those photos, with your permission going into my personal album. Bears mentioning for those who may not know, Carl's birth name was Carl Shur, and he was Louie's brother. He was a big band drummer in the 20s-30s and it was good business in those years to have an anglicized surname. He assumed the name Shaw, never legally changed to it.