Any Train Stores That You Miss?

In the 60's and 70's Nassau County, Long Island, NY had a ton of hobby shops, most of which are now gone. Growing up on the South Shore there was Eastli Coin and Hobby in Massapequa and the Mays Dept store had a good selection of trains in the basement. There was Choo Choo Land in Baldwin where I bought a lot of postwar in the late 70's and early 80's. In East Meadow you had a Polks and Larry's right next to each other, lots of brass and a great selection of plastic models and RC. Then in Floral Park you had Jericho Hobbies that was in business in the 80's and 90's. The most interesting store, but not a train store was a plastic model shop in Freeport. Thus place was there forever and literally had every plastic model ever made. I believe the name was Dave's.

All the best,

Miketg

LOUISVILLE LOU:  I used to visit Fischer's downtown and climb the stairs to get Hudson Miniatures antique car kits (large wood, paper, plastic).  I think I only bought one Lionel item there, one of those oversize crossing gates. (I had Marx, and Fischer's, as usual for those shops, did not carry it),  After school I too came back to Louisville and visited a shop Mrs. Fischer had of mostly HO, on the side of that same "mall" that the remaining shop, Roundhouse, is in today.  Where did Mrs. Fischer have another shop.  I only remember the one near the Roundhouse.  An old train dealer was in a store in a stripmall between Buechel and Fern Creek out Bardstown Road, at what was the end of Watterson Trail,  but it was not there long.  There was another tiny little shop further into Louisville in the Highlands on Taylorsville Rd.,  (old trains) but it was not there long either.

I certainly miss going to Jim's Train Shop in Homer City, PA.  I would always to go up there looking for one thing and come home with a trunk full of other stuff he convinced me that I needed...

And it was so much fun to just browse his stock - there was just so much there!

Andy

Growing up on the South Shore there was Eastli Coin and Hobby in Massapequa

I used to visit Eastli fairly often.
I didn't know the first person who owned the store when I started going there. The second owner was a fellow named Grahm. 

I think I still have an ash tray from the store.

Can't believe I forgot to mention Hill's Hobby Shop in Park Ridge, IL. A real gem of the Lionel world. Post war everything, modern Lionel and MTH, parts galore, old catalogs, books. You could give them a list of things you needed and they'd hunt it all down for you. 

Also not far from Hill's was Townhouse TV and Appliances. They had a great Lionel train department in the back of the store with all new releases fully stocked. 

Trainroomgary, Wow. The Train Clinic!  That was my first go to train shop when I was a kid in the early '60s.  Do you remember Northwest Hobby on 7 Mile?  That was another one of my faves.  I also liked Joe's Hobby Shop on Wyoming in Detroit and then in Dearborn and most recently in Farmington MI.

Doug

Penn Valley Hobby Center in Lansdale, PA (worked there and they had everything).

I remember Woody's Train Shop in El Paso.  A small shop, trains exclusively, tended by Woody and his wife.  They lived in the back part of the shop.  It was small, but they stocked  HO, Lionel, MTH 3-rail, and others.  Friendly and accommodating,  they always had an operating layout, at times O Gauge 3-rail...at others HO.  Not big, but locally important, as they were the only train store in town.  It's been closed some years now, closing when age caught up to them and it was more than they could handle.  I enjoyed going there, but it's part of the past now like many other similar hobby stores that served us in years gone by.

          I miss going there.  Logan

Aaron's City Trains in Akron. A former Forum sponsor that recently went out of business.  I was only in there a couple of times, but the service was great and he had a large inventory.

Tom

mike.caruso posted:

TrainJunkie posted:

Puff n Stuff in Palatine IL. They always seemed to have something that interested me and great prices. I baught my Lionel C&NW H12-44 switcher there among other things.

Hi.  Where was this store located?!!  I lived in Palatine for several years and don't ever remember seeing a hobby or train store in town (although to be fair I wasn't into the hobby back then.)  Do you remember when they shut their doors?

Puff n Stuff was on Rand Rd North of Lake Cook Rd. I believe they closed in the Late 90's when the old man passed. 

You guys are killing me! Dispensa's Castle of Toys was awesome! I drive past that site almost daily.

Windsor Hobby in Berwyn was my home away from home growing up. The owner Bob always had "the good stuff" hidden in boxes and under towels and such. 

I also miss The Hazlet Train Shop in Hazlet, NJ. I was just getting to know Boyd when he passed. He was a nice man. Sometimes when I visited the layout/museum room and he would waive the $2 fee. I thought it was really cool that he set the store up like a car dealership. There was the one counter solely for repairs but you paid elsewhere and then brought him the receipt. It was a really cool place. 

I also miss Trainworld in Brooklyn,NY when they were on Avenue M. Wow, they had so many trains. I had never seen a store with such a selection. As a kid I was almost in Heaven there. The problem was I didn't have any money. 

I miss all of 'em.  Every dang one.  No matter where they were or if they were good, bad, or indifferent.  I hate to see them go.

Back when I was "New Yawk" Pete I enjoyed Carmen Webster's Model Railroad Equipment Corp., Polk's Hobby Department Store and many others, all long gone.  Adios, mis amigos.

Pete

Texas Pete posted:

I miss all of 'em.  Every dang one.  No matter where they were or if they were good, bad, or indifferent.  I hate to see them go.

Back when I was "New Yawk" Pete I enjoyed Carmen Webster's Model Railroad Equipment Corp., Polk's Hobby Department Store and many others, all long gone.  Adios, mis amigos.

Pete

I will always remember gawking at the front window and then walking down the stairs to Model Railroad Equipment Corp. Back then I was a youngster and usually went with my dad. Am I right that after that store closed, the Red Caboose opened in the same space (moving in from across the street)? Around what year would all of that have happened? 

Tom 

I would like to say "Thank You" to all the people that mentioned our store in this great post. Peggy and I really appreciated all of the business you gave us down through the years.   

Yes, the Red Caboose did move down to the basement across the street. As far as I know, it's still there.

Most of them.

All  the hobby shops I grew up around in Florida that had model trains are long gone.

All but Tacoma Trains are gone now for where I live, near Olympia, WA. Most of the good Seattle ones are gone now, too.

All the ones I hit when I was in Aberdeen, MD in the Army; they're all gone, as well.

What a great post.  There were quite a few in the Detroit area.  There was Lopo's Train and Camera on Chalmers on the east side.  When shopping in downtown area, there was Down-Town Train and Hobbies just north of Grand Circus Park.  On the west side you had the immortal Train Clinic owned and run by Jim Huff (what a great person he was),  it was smart on RPK's part to hire him out of retirement to run the repair department at Madison Hardware when in Detroit.  His son was a scout for the Toronto Blue Jays.  Also notable were Northwest Hobby and Joes Hobbies and Star Hobbies in Dearborn.  On the northside there was a big trainstore with a big rr x-ing sign out front on Woodward Ave.  I believe it was called Models Hobbies...

Marty

Arizona Trains on Treat Ave. in Tucson.  Great place and very customer friendly.  I actually started buying from them before I moved to Tucson. 

George

When I traveled on business, some peoople I was with would want to go sit in a bar, and I would take the rental car and hunt hobby shops.  I tracked down an O scale shop in St. Louis not far from the airport, that closed before I stopped traveling there.   On the north side of the air force base in Sacramento there was an O scale shop where I found one of the Hallmark brass O scale cabooses.  Behind, on the east side, there was another shop that had some O scale.  It disappeared before I stopped making the trips, too, and then the base closed, and the other disappeared.   North at Yuba City is/was? a tinplate shop that I only got to once, because it would close (for the day) before I could get up there after work.  Of course, in Sacramento, there is a lot to see and do...the train museum in Old Sacramento, highway 49 in the gold country, but there was not enough time on those trips to make it to Yosemite.

I wanta hear about others that have OPENED!

The Hobby House

Downtown Cleveland Ohio

Here are a few more:  Sam's Hobby and Toy, Ed Guth Hobby & Sperry's Trains, Syracuse, NY

Train Barn,Orchard Park NY; Hodgson's, Elma NY;  Russ's Parts, Lackawanna NY; Spoonley's Buffalo, NY

Hobby's for  Men, somewhere in Hudson Valley;  Tom's Train Terminal, Meadville PA

May they all RIP !

How can I forget Frank Hare's  IRON HORSE,  on Painters Run,  South Hills, PGH

WE Miss You,    Frank.

     Jimmies in Homer City, PA. Great place good deals and he was very nice to deal with. Sorry we kept forgetting to bring a treat for the dog Jim. I see you post things on the OGR forum from time to time hope you and yours are doing OK. Choo Choo Kenny  

Thirty years ago, when I returned to the model railroad hobby, Davis Trains (then known as Davis Electronics) was just a small storefront in Milford Ohio that the primary business was Sony electronics (mostly TVs). At that time, the train department consisted of a small display case of Lionel equipment fronting about a half dozen shelves of Lionel sets. Quite a bit of stock was classic '50s vintage items. Over the ensuing decades, Joe Davis expanded his store to two additional storefronts to include Lionel, MTH, K-Line, as well as HO, G scale, and an extensive array of scenic and hobby tool products. Since I live only 6 miles from that now lost source of model railroad treasure, I would visit there almost every week and rarely left empty handed. Joe and his helpful staff made me feel as if I was a part of the model railroad family. Parking in front of his store would almost always present cars with license plates from Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee. Pennsylvania, West Virginia and others from the Midwest. The day after Thanksgiving when Joe would have an "open house" that would include his own layout and collection, there would be a line outside the door just to get in the store.

Things began to go downhill when K-line left the marketplace as a large part of his store was devoted to that brand. The vacancy was taken up by non-railroad toys which I presume didn't fare too well in making up the loss of a major model railroad brand. Not to long after that downturn, Joe Davis died and his son and (I believe) daughter-in-law took over the business. With a decimated model railroad product line and toys that were often sourced by consumers at big box stores, Davis Trains began to suffer. Near the end, Joe's son confided in me that the internet was really taking a toll on his business. That observation did not surprise me.  I for one was extremely grateful for having a fully stocked and staffed model railroad store so conveniently located. I never bought anything off the internet unless Davis Trains just couldn't get it for me. It indeed was a sad day when they finally closed their doors.

Have to mention Mike's Trainland in north Suffolk, Va where Lancaster Nursery's farm was also located. Great place to talk and buy trains. In the same building was Mr. Junie Lancaster's fabulous train collection which is now at the Portsmouth, Va Children's Museum.  The nursery's retail location was located in Portsmouth and Mr Lancaster had some wonderful people working for him. Coleman's Winter Wonderland ran from about November 1 thru mid-January and featured a fantastic Christmas display that was a must-see for many families in a 100 mile radius. Weekends were a traffic jam anywhere close to Coleman's.

There is nothing in Tidewater that compares with either of these today.

I was at Mike's in Suffolk several times but the one that was super neat was Walt's in Dormont in South  Hills of Pittsburgh. I was in to HO brass then.

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the existence of Dixie Union Terminal in Mason Ohio. Rocky (Lane) has provided service and product that would do justice to the departed Davis Trains. The size of the store, however, precludes D.U.S from having the breadth of inventory that Davis Trains had at their peak. Rocky, however, provides service and an ability to secure what you might be after that exceeds the expectation that his modest storefront presents. An added bonus is a nice selection of pre-owned (used) model railroad rolling stock,  railroad prototype books and related railroadiana. Dixie Union Station is certainly worthy of a visit if you should happen to be in the greater Cincinnati area. 

Hey, Larry 3-rail trains in Calgary, here's one for you: You may or may not remember, but there were a few great ones in Alberta back in the day. Universal Hobbies was one, run by John and Merv Claxton. Merv hosted a 1957 local TV show, "Clackety Claxton". I wrote a short novel-length story with the same name, giving credit at the end to Merv, altho' the story was about a ficticious hobby shop owner in the mid-50s, based in the Twin Cities. I saw my first Lionel Trainmaster diesels at Universal. Uncle Don's Hobby Shop was also a favorite, a classic 14-ft x 60 ft store with creaky wood floors, counter top displays, lots of Lionel new and used, Am. Flyer and others. There were a few others - Lionel was everywhere in Alberta, Canada in the 50s, even a small city like Lethbridge, which is where I swear on stacks of bibles I saw a (salesman's special?) clear-shelled 2333 Santa Fe being run around the store display on a Saturday morning, probably about '53 or maybe '54... 

The one and only store that's near me was great but after they moved to a smaller store, I went to the new location and was very disapointed not in the inventory but just the vibe from the staff. They came across as cold and I thought in some ways they did not want anyone there. I picked up a few things to help my little sister with a school project after going I will not go back it's not that I don't want to support a store it's about the service. The store is still around but to be honest I don't know how they still stay around without up dating their website and social media pages. I wish the store the best but I won't go back. I really wish there were more stores around locally but sadly no.

I miss a few:

• Doherty's Whistle Stop (Sean Marchev)
• Jim's Train Shop (Jim Sutter)
• The Train Stop, San Dimas

I miss Catoctin Mountain Trains in Thurmont, Md. like a child misses his mother at his first day in kindergarten.  Paul (and in the earlier years, Peter) were responsible for feeding my new-be enthusiasm and giving me guidance as I made my choices of motive power and rolling stock and track and accessories.  Their far reaching knowledge of the industry and customers needs was so impressive.  Opening that door and walking inside was like stepping into another world where I was welcomed like family and knew I could browse for hours without hassle.  Over and over again, Paul went out of his way to make sure when a customer left his shop, they would be back to enjoy more of his first rate operation.  There was just nothing better than Catoctin Mountain Trains and Hobbies.

I truly miss Hill's Hobby, Park Ridge, Il.

Mike Hill is a great guy!  Always willing to spend time to discuss the Model RR hobby(all scales).

Mike's 2R O scale inventory was the best in Chicago...

Here in Jersey it was Steve Vargas on Easton Ave in New Brunswick, Meyers in East Brunswick, then Edison. Those were my go to places early on. I do miss Sean Marchev/Dougherty's and Millburn Hobby too.

When I was out in Dayton, Oh, I remember a place i think it was on the Oakwood/Kettering border called Far Hills Station, as O gauge was beginning to intrigue me and this place had a good amount. 

Some good shops still around here in my area, Big little Railroad Shop in Somerville, Model Railroad Shop in Piscataway and a bit of a stretch from home but close to work Train Station in Mountain Lakes

jim pastorius posted:

I was at Mike's in Suffolk several times but the one that was super neat was Walt's in Dormont in South  Hills of Pittsburgh. I was in to HO brass then.

Jim:

Are you sure that Dormont store wasn’t AB Charles?  They were right on West Liberty Avenue and were more into scale model railroading than toy trains. 

I don’t remember any train store named Walt’s but as Pine Creek Dave mentioned earlier there was a Bill & Walt’s.  Their original location was downtown on Smithfield St.  They later expanded to several locations around the Pittsburgh area but now they have only one location near McKeesport in White Oak.

Bill 

Went into the train room's store room and found several old business cards stapled to the under side of the stairs. There were more, but they were hard to get to, take a look below. Click on card to enlarge.

Scale Rail in Omaha was a favorite stop. Owned by Frank ----.  I was in one day when a rep from UP was told that Westside Models would NOT build 100 O Scale 4-8-4 brass locos for gifts for UP's best customers. Could not believe it.

Dick

I am one of the reasons a lot of those train stores are out of business.  I enjoy looking in a good train shop but I run and collect post war Lionel and Marx.  Many of the train shops do not carry used trains and if they do often ask more than I will pay.  I have visited the train stores in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Ponchatoula, LA and many more.

99% of my trains and layout gear came from national and local train meets, collectors I met, garage sales, flea markets, OGR "For Sale" forum, ebay, and "Trains Wanted" news paper ads (a good way to met serious collectors and buy their "don't wanter's").

Charlie

Wow! A lot of those mentioned above brings back memories! I miss:

Jim's Train Shop- mail order

Dougherty's whistle stop

Madison Hardware

The Gingerbread Stop

Selrite

Aaron's City Trains- mail order

The old Justrains- w/captain Kirk at the helm!

Train Express

Milburn Train & Hobby

Choo Choo Eddie's

Rails to cottages- Rockaway, NJ

The Train Shop - johnson city, NY

colorado hirailer posted:

I, too, was about to comment that Dixie Union Station is in Mason (Ohio), and is still there.  Sadly, the one in Milford kind of enlarged, doubled in size, and then vanished, almost right in front of my eyes,  I bought some K-Line aluminum passenger cars there, but usually I did not find much of interest, but they had tons of stuff, and upstairs, too.  I have not been in a shop that had more inventory, when they were at their largest.  I used to stop at G&M in Martins  Ferry and the one mentioned south of Pittsburgh on the posting about a tunnel entrance  on my way east (the last time I stopped at each, gone).  Fischer's Hobby Shop in downtown Louisville, Ky,, a tiny little shop (name unremembered but I was there every weekend in my teens) on a backstreet off the main drag in St. Matthews, a Louisville suburb, where I became derailed into HO for a while, and, as mentioned, Mizell's, in Denver area...all visited, and all their passing is lamented.

The store in Saint Matthews moved to the Clifton area on Frankfort Avenue sometime in the 1990's.  When it was in St Matthews it was known as Kentucky Model Shop but renamed L&N Trains 'n Things.  Ironically it was next store to where the main line of the old L&N from Louisville to Cincinnati runs (now CSX).  This store closed in about 2013 and its inventory was bought up at auction.