Greater Pittsburgh train shops...Rate 'em!

I VISIT Hobby Express rather often since I'm in that area frequently. His prices are ridiculous in my opinion. Yes, I've bought a few things there out of necessity but generally not.

Last April (2010) I priced, and recorded those prices, on items there that I wanted to get. I went to York and saved over $200 by getting them at York. I'm not talking about a train either. I'm talking Santa Shed, MTH Operation station, and some other stuff in that general category.

Plus, he doesn't repair MTH stuff. I couldn't even get a coupler fixed/replaced there, as just one example.

I've started to use Iron Horse for repairs just recently. His prices too are a bit on the high side.

I buy most of my stuff now, and for the last 'x' number of years, at Imperial Trains. I have gotten outstanding support there and his prices seem more reasonable. Sadly they aren't an MTH authorized repair shop though.

All 3 shops are well stocked.

Forget about AB Charles. I was given a $100 gift certificate for there and found it nearly impossible to buy anything because their 'O' inventory is so limited. Really limited.

- walt

AFAIK, Allen does ALL the Lionel repair in the local area, and maybe the
MTH as well. I could be wrong about this in 2011. I've had good success
with MTH at Imperial, but they're pretty weak on Lionel, at least as far
as in store product. I've had some good experiences with Iron Horse, but
plenty of bad ones too...most of the bad ones come from the previous
administration under F.H. It's too bad that they keep cutting their hours
because soon they'll only be open on Saturdays! The Train Gallery in
Dormont will be my next exploration any day now.

I have been to the following stores in the Pittsburgh area:
AB Charles
Hobby Express
Iron Horse
Len's Train Shop
Imperial Trains
J&C Hobbies
Toby Tylers
Bill & Walt's Hobby Shop

AB Charles and J&C Hobbies have the worst collection out of the list. Not much to see unless they can order something. Probably won't go there in near future.

Toby Tyler's is mostly Lionel but they don't have much newer stuff. I think most of the items have either been around for a while or they bought them off of other people who were selling their collections. Also, they don't seem to know the O equipment very well. I asked somewhat easy questions and got wrong answers which led me to buy the wrong parts. Bought a good bit of track and switches there originally but will probably go elsewhere in the future. I got some rude service on one of the visits there. Not on my list of places to go due to some service issues and the poor selection of engines and cars.

I have been to Hobby Express and haven't bought anything there. I can get it cheaper elsewhere.

Bought several cars and some track at Iron Horse. Selection is pretty good but the prices aren't the best. I bought the cars because I would have a hard time finding them elsewhere. They have the second best selection of the places I have been. Will probably go back again. People are friendly there.

Been to Imperial Trains once. They had some cars I was looking for and got a good price on them and an OK price on some other stuff I bought. Probably will go back again in that they have probably the best collection of any of the places I have been but it is a pretty good hike to get there from my house. Wish they were more convenient. Dealt with the owner and I found him to be friendly but maybe a little pushy to get you to buy more (but that is fine).

Been to Bill and Walt's several times, nice selection of cars, tracks, and accessories. Prices are good and they are friendly. Bought cars, track, and a transformer there. Cars and engines are mostly later but not the latest years but they have a good bit of them. They are friendly but not overly so. Store hours are my main problem here. For my scheulde, can only go there on Saturdays.

Len's Train Shop is my main place. I have bought track, DCS, diesels, and cars from him. If I order, I have been ordering from him. His prices are slighty above the prices you can find on the internet but I have gotten discounts on my total purchase which have made him very competitive (example, bought a bunch of track and some sections he didn't charge me for them.) Have things serviced there and his prices are very good. Selection is good but not as good as some other places. Since this is a side business, he is not open for many hours during the day but he is open on several evenings and on the weekends.

As for ranking:
a.) Price: Len's, Bill & Walt's, and then everyone else (Maybe Imperial is the best of the rest)
b.) Service: Len's
c.) Best Overall experience: Len's,Imperial, Iron Horse, Bill and Walt's

The previous admin at the Iron Horse was second to none. Frank Hare was a great person and wonderful friend of my family. I have not been back to the Iron Horse since Frank passed away, mostly because I don't care for the new administration. Just my two cents.

I mostly frequent Imperial Trains. Their prices are good and they are easy to deal with. Mercer Junction in Mercer PA is another great store. Like Imperial they have good prices, but they also sell custom painted B&LE and Union RR items.

-Ryan

I wish I had that problem: so many local train shops to choose from!

But I can’t believe nobody mentioned C.T. McCormick in Zelienople. I’m sure they meet the location criterion (within 60 miles from the point). I was there for the first time in September and found their selection and prices very good.

I like T K hobby shop in Ohio, good selection of stock, very friendly and knowledgeable sales people, and the prices are hard to beat! easy to get to, stay on interstate 70 west, go through west Va. and after you cross into Ohio, your only two minutes away!

Rate the shops

#1 Mercer Junction "Great shop Great owner!"
#2 T&K Hobby Bridgeport Ohio "Excellent stock and prices"
#3 Patricks trains Wheeling WV "Full to the brim with trains good deals"
#4 CT McCormics Zeilenople Pa. "Regional itens a little high on prices"
#5 Underground RR New Castle "Nice layout lots of used"
#6 Imperial RR shop "Never acnowledged I was there"
#7 Brady's "Great stock high prices"
#8 J&C hobbies "Care more about RC stuff"
#9 Kranaks Sharon, Pa. "Expensive old stock put out every year"

Andy Hummell,
Thank you for mentioning our store. Yes, we are retired but not forgotten. That's means a awful lot to me.
Thank you,
Jimmy

We are blessed here in Pittsburgh. It is hard to rate these shops--we must have close to 20 guality train shops in a 75 mile radius.
Jim,I hope you and Peggy have a nice Thanksgiving.

Norm

quote:

Mercer Junction - Great shop with probably the best display layout you will find in this area.

I'll second that motion! I hope to feature Dave's store layout in the pages of OGR in the near future. It's really that good, and seems to get better every time I visit.

Thanks for posting the thread as I will be in the Pittsburgh area on a project late this Spring.

Ricky

My picks

1. Mercer Junction,fantastic owner,growing inventory,very friendly,I think this is going to end up being the premier store in Western Pa in time. Dave,is on the right track. As a matter of fact I have a visit scheduled there this tuesday!! Overall rating in my opinion 1 out of 10 is a 10

2. Imperial trains,Regis has been very friendly to me been there now 3 times,alot of inventory. He has his rolling stock sorted by roadnames for the most part, kind of hard to get use to that type of shopping. Overall rating in my opinion 1 out of 10 9

Stopped by Iron Horse train shop this past weekend,huge amount of inventory prices did seem to be just a smidge high. The biggest thing that turned me off here was all of the clutter in the store,it was hard to get down the rows of stuff. But in there defense it appeared they were READY for the holiday rush with all of the product sitting around. I personally prefer a clean organized train store.

Good Morning Norm,
Thank you for your kind wishes and thoughts. Peggy and I wish you and your wife the same. Please take care and have a wonderful and safe day.

quote:

The Train Gallery in
Dormont will be my next exploration any day now.

If you hate Iron Horse's hours you might as well skip the Train Gallery. They're hardly ever open.

And just FYI Iron Horse is now open Monday to Saturday til Christmas.

Being new to the area,all this information on local hobby shops is like getting an early Christmas present. With a new layout in progress which dealer has the best prices on Atlas track, my next big purchase. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Jack

I go to Toby Tyler's. Their stuff is used, but they a pretty good selection of Atlas O, MTH, and Lionel. Plus they have excellent prices!!!

 

BTW, Iron Horse recently closed down.

 

Oh... It seems that it just did.

 

Anyway, who made your 765?

Pre-order from Lionel as well as the Big Boy.

Keep in mind that this thread is fast approaching three years old.

I am not putting these in any particular order.  Any I leave off means I have never had any experience with them.  Since I live 40 miles north of the Point, I tend to visit shops in the North.

 

Mercer Junction - Great layout.  Dave is a super guy and very helpful.  Custom Bessemer and Union railroads stock are super.  I am never in his area other than making a special trip just to the shop, so I don't visit as often as I would like.

 

Hobby Express - Lots of inventory, although the prices seem high.  Lots of local equipment.

 

McCormicks - A good bit of inventory.  Friendly.

 

Underground Railroad - Lots of post war trains.  Very knowledgable and great Lionel post war repair.  Friendly.

 

Thanks!

 Pat's Trains (Wheeling, W. VA.) should be on this list for greater Pittsburgh. I checked google, and Pat's falls within the 60 mile radius from down town (The Point) Pittsburgh. Pat is a great guy, friendly, and he has very good prices.  He has a lot to offer, both new and used equipment.  Nice layout, and lots of stock on hand.  Worth the trip.  Remember, the LHS in greater Pittsburgh are few, and far between.