John and Steve,
Having been born on the far northeast side of Detroit, I never really made it "Downriver" to visit any train stores or hardware stores in that area. The closest that I ever came as a child would have been the famous downtown Hudson's Department Store. Hudson's had a spectacular model train department in the late 50's and 60's, and it was a major treat to be taken there. The likely original elevators -- with elevator operators at all times --was a treat itself. But, watch your fingers and hands!
I'm sure there were a number of model railroad enthusiasts in the Downriver area because of the numerous rail lines nearby. Also, many very lengthy freight trains would likely not be far away. I did have occasion to go to Great Lakes Steel Corporation, on Zug Island in the late 1990's. Great Lakes Steel had it's own internal railroad connecting to outside mainlines. Interestingly, even at that time GLS was operating what I believe was a GM EMD SW1 switcher locomotive by remote control -- often ferrying hot metal cars that were so hot you could feel the heat from what felt like a football field away!
I'll bet many hobbyists in your area found many of the Lionel Postwar offerings, including the EMD switcher to be quite appealing and realistic for a young hobbyist at that time.
For me, I would estimate Lopo's Cameras and trains was about a 15 minute drive from our home with my dad. Also for us, there were no railroad tracks in that entire distance, or in the surrounding area -- although there were plenty of streetcar tracks on many main roads! Still, almost all of my grade school friends had a model railroad of varying sizes -- often one or two simple loops. Lopo's and Hudson's Department Store were the likely sources for the trains and accessories.
