Tony's Train Town in Cedar Grove, New Jersey

Prayers up, for his family and friends.  He was quite a character, as I recall.

Definitely quite a character. Had a lot of mth and ho as well as a few marklin pieces. Is his store still there? It's been a long while since I have been there I usually go to walkers on union Blvd in Totowa, more friendlier. 

prrhorseshoecurve posted:

... Is his store still there? It's been a long while since I have been there ...

With Al's passing, I'm not sure about the store now.  But several months ago, I "discovered" Tony's Train Town while searching the MTH Product Locator for an MTH scale GG-1 produced in the Bicentennial paint scheme from years ago.  Wonderful chatting on the phone when I called the store.  I had the locomotive on my doorstep the next day.  Can't ask for better service than that.  RIP...

David

Sorry to hear of his passing, I was only there a few times, mostly, when I went to the N.J. Hirailers Trainstock. I found Al to be very helpful and a nice guy. He will be missed, I only hope that one of the young guys that were helping him out will take over the store.

I knew Al for quite a long time, since I got back into O gauge trains in the early 1990s.  Just about every Saturday would stop in. Also helped out in the store during the busy season / winter holidays. Over the years we became very good friends, once I got to know him I found him to be extremely kind.  Certainly going to miss Al along with the other regulars who would stop in at his store.

Sorry to hear about Al's passing, may he rest in peace. Around the early 1990s when I began getting back into model trains I bought quite a few Marklin HO stuff from Tony's Train Town. Always interesting to visit his store.

JohnB

My condolences as well.

I ran across Tonys doing a Google search for a locomotive that was several years old and rare on the secondary market.

Al had a brand new one that was in a display case. I questioned if it indeed was new. Al answered "I don't play games with people" and he wasn't kidding.  Loco was received in pristine condition. I also bought a few other nos  items from him, never disappointed.

I always got shipment to where I live far south of chicago in two days from Tonys train town.No other store has done that, not even from indiana. He had an "old time train store" feel over the phone.

Yes the store definitely could be described as an "old time train store", literally stocked from the floor to ceiling.  A few photos I found online.

NJ.com just had this article regarding the store:

Puntasecca leaves lasting impression

National Railroad Worx is partnering up with Tony's Train Town in Cedar Grove, NJ after the recent passing of Mr. Al Puntasecca. This location will only be opened selected days/hours during this time, and for limited time only. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly.

GRAND RE-OPENING will be held TUESDAY SEPT 6th 2016 9am-4pm
Tues-Fri 9am-4pm Sat 9am-2pm CLOSED SUN/MON

Please note: All items are marked down. All sales are final . No returns