Jim Sutter's and Sean Marchev's shops are the two I miss.  

-Greg 

Jim's Trains in Homer City, PA.  I started buying from him when my daughter went to Indiana University of PA.  Great guy and reasonable prices.  If he was still in business I would have bought most of  my MTH purchases from him. 

Jimmys

Yes, of all the Hobby Shops I have been fortunate to Have Visited, Davis Electic Trains in The Cincinnati Ohio area, was the Largest, most Complete Model Train Store, Fully Staffed, that I ever visited.  They carried most everything in Lionel, MTH, Weaver, K-Line, G GUAGE, LGB, HO, N, Whatever.....They have been out of business for many years....But, The Memories, Their Displays were simply Amazing....WOW...Great Thread, Thanks for Posting....

Sure do....the best of the best.

Ditto on Davis Trains in Milford, Ohio.  If they didn't have it, you didn't need it.

Tom

The Train Clinic • Detroit, Michigan

13950 Hubbell Ave. Between Grand River and Schoolcraft / VE 7-6430

Their specialty, was American Flyer and Lionel, Sales and service. Yes: HO - Brass

We had like 6 hobby shops here in Tampa when I moved here in 1973, now we have none! There's a couple across the bay in Pinellas County.

Barrilaro's in Colchester, CT.  Anyone remember their modular layout ads in OGR?

Jon

I miss H&L Childs in Northampton, MA (and later Hadley, MA). Used to drive by their store twice a day on my way to the University.

There was also a great small store in Pawtucket, RI that I used to frequent while a graduate student about 1980.

Living in Cambridge, MA I loved visiting Ernest Fuchs in Boston.

Having grown up in Scranton, PA, I miss the train displays of the Globe, Scranton Dry, Household Furniture, American Auto, Bill's Sporting Goods, and Eynon Drug (what a mouthful!)

Lad Nagurney

Train Express, Indianapolis.

Lots of memories as a young boy dreaming of all those trains.  Larry was a great guy also, made me some  deals during the final sale.

Yes, earlier when I mentioned Davis Electric Trains, I forgot it was in Milford, Ohio. Also, there is still a Really Nice Model Train Store in Milford, Ohio...Dixie Union Station......Its a Rock Solid Hobby Shop, just ask for Rocky.....Wow.

Mizell Trains, Westminster, Colorado ( Northwest Denver )

In Feb 2012 I bought a 3472 Milk Car with platform in the original box for 56 bucks, works great !

Steve

Yes, I also remember Train Express, many mail orders came to Tennessee....

Mail order:  Jim's Train Shop - PA, Ma & Pa Junction - MD, Just Trains - DE, Island Trains - NY.

Local: Ted's Engine House - Pennsauken, NJ == M & G Hobbies - Delran, NJ == J & B Trains - Delran/Maple Shade, NJ.

Fred

86TA355SR posted:

Train Express, Indianapolis.

Lots of memories as a young boy dreaming of all those trains.  Larry was a great guy also, made me some  deals during the final sale.

Yes:  Train Express, they were a K-Line Super Store, all my K-Line Shadow Rail, came from there.

Gary

Fred Brenek posted:

Mail order:  Jim's Train Shop - PA, Ma & Pa Junction - MD, Just Trains - DE, Island Trains - NY.

Local: Ted's Engine House - Pennsauken, NJ == M & G Hobbies - Delran, NJ == J & B Trains - Delran/Maple Shade, NJ.

Fred

Just Trains is most certainly still in business - alive and well I'd say. They have a wonderful brick and mortar store as well as a very good mail order operation. 

Ma Webster' Model train shop 45 th St.  Manhattan. Besides missing the fabulous store I also miss my youth! The ultimate of shops.

Nate

Steve24944 posted:

Mizell Trains, Westminster, Colorado ( Northwest Denver )

In Feb 2012 I bought a 3472 Milk Car with platform in the original box for 56 bucks, works great !

Steve

Ahh, Mizell's! I never actually visited the store, but Chuck was always helpful getting me any parts that I needed.

Tom 

SJC posted:

Fred Brenek posted:

Mail order:  Jim's Train Shop - PA, Ma & Pa Junction - MD, Just Trains - DE, Island Trains - NY.

Local: Ted's Engine House - Pennsauken, NJ == M & G Hobbies - Delran, NJ == J & B Trains - Delran/Maple Shade, NJ.

Fred

Just Trains is most certainly still in business - alive and well I'd say. They have a wonderful brick and mortar store as well as a very good mail order operation. 

Just Trains just isn't the same since the founder died and a new manager took over.  I have to say, I miss the owners more than I necessarily miss the stores.

Fred

Madison Hardware in Manhattan,  the Closter Hobby shop in Closter NJ...more recently, HiWay Hobby in Ramsey NJ on RT 17

-Mike

Anybody remember All Nation Hobbies, Downtown Chicago ?  Is it still there ?   I use to go there back in the 70s when I was in High School and College.  They had a HO layout with working signals that traveled through various Landscapes.

Steve

I miss Mizells in North end of Denver.  They were always there for me.

Chesterfield Hobbies, Midlothian VA.........Adrian retired and no buyer materialized......a great shop and, a local hangout for us local train nuts.....most of us purchased most of our trains there.....Adrian gave us a nice discount and stood behind/serviced what he sold......very sad to see him gone......but, I'm glad that he's enjoying his retirement.......

Peter

G&M Trains and Hobbies in Martins Ferry,Ohio. great place for new and used, and always found something in the junk box.

Carriage House Trains and Antiques in Monaca,Pa. A small place I found when I drove delivery van when I first got married. Tom had a great lay a way that worked out for a newly married guy. as long as you needed as long as you paid something each month. great prices.

just remembered.....

Yorba Toy Trains Yorba Linda,Ca. Found them when we were visiting in laws, and everytime time we went out there I went over. was proud of myself for being able to find it on my own.

Last time out (2013) I got to visit Mile Post 38. Then they closed after that. hope it's not me......

no

leapinlarry posted:

Yes, earlier when I mentioned Davis Electric Trains, I forgot it was in Milford, Ohio. Also, there is still a Really Nice Model Train Store in Milford, Ohio...Dixie Union Station......Its a Rock Solid Hobby Shop, just ask for Rocky.....Wow.

Dixie Union Station is located in Mason, Ohio, north of Cincy, near Kings Island Amusement Park.  Rocky is one of my go-to guys.  Great shop!

Tom

Steamer posted:

G&M Trains and Hobbies in Martins Ferry,Ohio. great place for new and used, and always found something in the junk box.

Carriage House Trains and Antiques in Monaca,Pa. A small place I found when I drove delivery van when I first got married. Tom had a great lay a way that worked out for a newly married guy. as long as you needed as long as you paid something each month. great prices.

Dave,

 You reminded me when you mentioned the lay-a-way plan. I was able to do that at Trent's Trains too, which was a nice feature back in the 1990's.

Tom

Al Moyer's Coventry Trains in Pottstown Pa. Also Train 99 in Concordville DE. 

Brick and Mortar stores;

Rayvin's hobby shop in Jefferson La. was a favorite of mine when visiting my grandparents. It was just a few blocks from their house. I also liked going to Kenner train shop and Mike's train shop when in town. I don't remember going to any of these stores when I lived there, only when going back to visit.

I liked shopping at Allied Model trains when I was a teenager living in Santa Monica. I used to go there when they were on Pico, when I was on my way to my Orthodontist in Brentwood.

More recently, I would shop at Trainmaster of Montgomery and Uncle Al's hobby shop/Lil Bobbie's hobbies. Both went out of business about 10 years ago.

On-line stores;

Jim's train shop and Ma & Pa. (Jim has actually called me long since the store closed just to say "hi". Great guy, still missed.)

Warren's Model Trains in Fairview Park, OH....but only when it was owned by Tom Podojil....who passed away much too young several years ago.

The Hobby House on Huron Road in downtown Cleveland was always exciting.

And while I'm too young to have vivid memories of the place, my grandparents used to take me to Jaye & Jaye trains in Euclid, OH once a year.  I still remember picking out two items from the 1982 Traditional Catalog there.

Not all good times are behind me, though.  Stockyard Express in Oberlin has become a favorite place of mine to stop by.

I've also found buying and selling on this Forum is a good way to "meet" people and make some new friends.

Tom,

   We had the best 3 Trains shops in the USA right here in Western Pa, and now 2 of them are gone completely, the Iron Horse & Jim's Train Shop are gone, and yes I do miss Frank's place & Train Club most of all, but Jim's was big time also.  Dave at Bill & Walts has long down sized, from his big shop on the Blvd of the Allies, and I miss that Monster Train shop also, his little place in White Oak is nice, but his big store at the foot of the Blvd of the Allies was something special in Pittsburgh, for many many years.

PCRR/Dave

III Rail Trains in Coon Rapids, MN. It wasn't around long, maybe 7 or 8 years, but boy did George know how to stock and sell trains. Nobody like him around here before or since. I have to mail order everything now.

 Collectible Trains & Toys  Forney TX  (Dalls)

Brent

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.

There are quite a few stores now closed which I miss. As several of them have already been mentioned, I'll limit my response to a few which haven't. My first would be the Hazlet Train Stop in Hazlet, NJ which was owned by Mr. Boyd Mason. His wife closed down not long after he passed on. Although the store didn't carry model railroading equipment, another of my now-gone favorites (you'll like this one Tom) would the Depot Attic in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The Depot Attic had a fabulous selection of railroadiana. Two of my other favorite sources of memorabilia were Broadway Limited Antiques owned by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Samelson and Mr. Arnold Joseph's Railroad 'N Things, both located in Manhattan. Ah, the memories.

Great thread!

Bob

Steve24944 posted:

Anybody remember All Nation Hobbies, Downtown Chicago ?  Is it still there ?   I use to go there back in the 70s when I was in High School and College.  They had a HO layout with working signals that traveled through various Landscapes.

Steve

Sorry, it's long gone.

And one I forgot:  There were three shops in a line in western Chicago  ...'burbs....Hills is the one that closed, and it was in an east-west  line of three I visited when going to Wheaton...the most western one downsized and moved into a smaller place in the same shopping area, and the other, which I had visited for O scale stuff, went to tinplate.  All three of these I had visited for O scale, one gone, one still has a little, most eastern one does not.

Gandy Dancers in Chamblee, Georgia. (Outside Atlanta)

leapinlarry posted:

Yes, I also remember Train Express, many mail orders came to Tennessee....

trainroomgary posted:

Yes:  Train Express, they were a K-Line Super Store, all my K-Line Shadow Rail, came from there.

Gary

Quick Train express History- TE used to sell trains at the local tire dealer in my hometown-Schied's.  That's how they got started.  I'd look at trains while dad bought tires.  MPC was in full stride.

I saw an ad in MR for the main store, an hour drive from home.  Dad took me the first time, TE was on Industrial Blvd, Indianapolis, their first store.  (Back then PW was king and I vividly remember $500-700 #681s, Berks, Hudsons lining the shelves!  Hundreds of them.  Here's another one you may enjoy-a mint PW SF F3 ABA combo-$325!).  The first move wasn't in their favor-a fire developed in the tire warehouse the store was attached too.  Through the years, I visited TE at each location as they moved around Indy. 

About once a year, I'd stop by the store-life, job, other priorities kept me out of trains during that time.  In August 2014,  I stopped by to look at the shop and saw the sign on the door- "SALE, Going Out of Business"  

The month before they closed for good, there was still a ton of inventory stock.  Some of the same guys I remembered from childhood still worked there.  The great guy Larry is, his concern was his customers to the end-he had all pre-orders sent to Charles Ro. 

I miss that store.  And, all the childhood moments I had there. 

CNJ 3676 posted:

... Although the store didn't carry model railroading equipment, another of my now-gone favorites (you'll like this one Tom) would the Depot Attic in Dobbs Ferry, NY. The Depot Attic had a fabulous selection of railroadiana. Two of my other favorite sources of memorabilia were Broadway Limited Antiques owned by Mr. and Mrs. Howard Samelson and Mr. Arnold Joseph's Railroad 'N Things, both located in Manhattan. Ah, the memories.

Great thread!

Bob

Bob,

 Glad you mentioned Fred Arone's Depot Attic in Dobbs Ferry (NY). Every Saturday in the 1990's I would be in his basement shop. Fred would usually be at his sink scrubbing one of his many railroad lanterns. I was able to get my collection of Trains magazines from him. If you have never read some of the great writing of David P. Morgan, take a look at some of those early issues.

Tom

We lived in Houston when I got back into the hobby in 1989.  Two stores that supported my reborn habit at that time were Trains & Planes on Westheimer and JR's Hobby Depot on Kirkwood.  God; I could spend hours at JR's visiting with Jerry and other customers!

Both stores are long gone now.

Curt

Really enjoyed stopping into Train Express in Indianapolis. Great guys, great prices and a huge showroom. Not to mention, easy access off of the highway.

Dispensa's Castle of Toys, Oak Brook Terrace, IL. They always had a huge wall of Lionel to drool over. One of those classic family owned businesses with a kiddie land attached. The land was sold in the 1980's and developed into a high rise office tower. The best part about the office tower was that it was built and then unusable for some time due to engineering issues and the building leaning!! Total justice for this kid since his fun summer place to go and awesome toy store had been dismantled!! 

When I was going to the Jersey Shore in Avalon back in the 1990's.I used to stop in at Antique Trains in Turnersville and Trains and Things in Vineland. The late Richard Bimmer who owned Antique Trains was a very interesting character and I am not sure if Ralph Burrell who owned Trains and Things in Vineland is still in business. He also was good to deal with. Maybe someone on this board would know if Trains and Things are still in business.

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Tom,

   We had the best 3 Trains shops in the USA right here in Western Pa, and now 2 of them are gone completely, the Iron Horse & Jim's Train Shop are gone, and yes I do miss Frank's place & Train Club most of all, but Jim's was big time also.  Dave at Bill & Walts has long down sized, from his big shop on the Blvd of the Allies, and I miss that Monster Train shop also, his little place in White Oak is nice, but his big store at the foot of the Blvd of the Allies was something special in Pittsburgh, for many many years.

PCRR/Dave

Yep, those 3 were my "local" favorites when visiting Pittsburgh although I only actually set foot in Jimmy's once but I did buy from him by eMail often.  And on several business trips to New York City back in the 70's, a visit to Madison Hardware was icing on the cake!

Bill

Milepost 38 is still around. They were bought by Arnie's trains and moved to Westminster about 17 miles away. The stores I miss are Little depot in Anaheim, Tinplate treasures in Anaheim, Discount trains in Brea, Train Stop in San Dimas, Yorba toy trains in Yorba Linda, and others. We've lost a lot over the years not much left to shop at anymore. I miss all the friends I had there. 

    Bob

Tinplate Junction, Oakland

John' s Junction, Oakland

Lee's Trains, Oakland

Franciscan Hobbies, San Francisco

San Antonio Hobbies, Mountain View CA

and many more....

AB Charles on West Liberty Ave. in Dormont, PA.

Bill and Walt's in Downtown Pgh.

Jim's in Homer City, PA

Collectible Toys and Trains on Loop 12 in Dallas, TX

Antique trains in New Jersey, closed when Rich passed and Mitchell's in Delaware both nice places to visit.

Antique trains in New Jersey and Mitchell's in Delaware,

When I was a kid I used to love to go to Downtown Philadelphia and check out the original Nicholas Smith and Wm Beckers on 11th St then to Millers Union Station around the corner on Arch St, and not to mention Tom Thumb Hobby on 15th St and Quacker City Hobby on Chestnut St.  When I was about 12 I went into Millers to buy a used American Flyer 282 C&NW Pacific with my Christmas money which was $10.00, When Mr Miller went to test it, it wouldn't run he then pulled a 312AC Pennsy K5 Pacific off the shelf which was about $15.00 I said I won't have enough for it. His reply was I promised you a locomotive for $10.00 and your getting one for $10.00. He passed away less than a month later and the store closed a few months later.

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.

Fred Brenek posted:

Mail order:  Jim's Train Shop - PA, Ma & Pa Junction - MD, Just Trains - DE, Island Trains - NY.

Local: Ted's Engine House - Pennsauken, NJ == M & G Hobbies - Delran, NJ == J & B Trains - Delran/Maple Shade, NJ.

Fred

 I only went to Ted's a couple of times, but when George opened M & G Hobbies, I was a regular from the beginning. He always treated me well, gave me a break on prices almost every time I made a purchase, and often knew what I wanted before I did. I was nearly crushed when he went under.

 Trains N' Things in Vineland was a real nice store, I found them when I moved to Atlantic County. They sold the business to a real nice couple, but it is now all the way down in Alloway, which is at least an hour away from me.

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?

Count me in as far as missing Mizell's in North Denver. Met many fine folks there over the last 30 years. Fortunately a vast majority I still keep in contact with with my own business now. Does anyone remember Downtown Hobbies in Denver? That was an old school hobby shop. Forum member Big Boy 4005 (Elliot) worked there too.

Growing up in New York in the 70's and 80's I spent a lot of time at Madison Hardware and the old Train World on Ave M in Bklyn. I went to Madison all the time to see the brothers, Carl was a nice guy! Lou, well depends on the day. I lived near Westchester Hobbies in White Plains and there was also the Roundhouse in White Plains that was a nice store a lot of HO brass there. I knew of Trents Trains and heard some not so nice things about him..But I went to college in Dayton, Ohio (GO Flyers},and after I graduated moved to Cincinnati. I discovered Davis Trains and became a customer until they closed. It was a great store and I became friends with Joe Davis, Steve Rider etc. Thanksgiving was a blast in that store. But while the store did well, the electronics division supported the store. When Joe died his son just did not have the passion..Davis Trains was my favorite store, plain and simple.

Trains, LLC Albemarle Rd Charlotte NC.

Big modern store, trains only, run by a nice guy that knew trains well.

80% of my MTH came from that store.

RadioRon posted:

Fred Brenek posted:

Just Trains just isn't the same since the founder died and a new manager took over.  I have to say, I miss the owners more than I necessarily miss the stores.

Fred

Fred, you are most certainly right about JusTrains.  Kirk Mitchell built it into a business of national stature in a fairly short amount of time.   But it all went away in the years following his death & the move of the business from the Newark Shopping Center to a nearby industrial park.  They carry virtually no Lionel... all MTH.   Don't know why their relationship with Lionel soured.

I completely agree.  Their old store was simply amazing - the largest, best equipped train store I've ever seen.  It had everything.  Along with all the trains they had an impressive supply of scratchbuilding materials, paint, and plastic models.   And prices were terrific.  Value and selection - it was an awesome combination.  The modern incarnation is a huge disappointment. 

It's really too bad.

George

Chuck Sartor posted:

Count me in as far as missing Mizell's in North Denver. Met many fine folks there over the last 30 years. Fortunately a vast majority I still keep in contact with with my own business now. Does anyone remember Downtown Hobbies in Denver? That was an old school hobby shop. Forum member Big Boy 4005 (Elliot) worked there too.

Yes - I remember Downtown Hobbies in Denver. Back in the late 70s or early 80s I bought some part there to repair my Wabash GP-7.

Steve

How many people are familiar with Blasdell Hobby, when it was in the basement of Russ' home? (Buffalo NY suburb)

I always liked going there when I was in Buffalo.

There was also a fairly good sized shop above a stained glass studio in the Buffalo area. I think it was on Eggert Rd. I forget the name. I think the owner's name was Vic.

One more Buffalo shop I liked was K-Val. Not a lot of Lionel for sale, but the folks were very friendly.

Switching over to New York City, there was Madison Hardware.  I have fond memories of my visits with Carl and Lou.

I'll add another vote for Hazlet Train Stop. Worked there in the mid-70's repairing trains; got paid in trains. Boyd was always very kind to me, and would let me tag along with his sons to area meets to help me build my collection.

Moving to the DFW area, I was always impressed with Collectible Trains & Toys. K-Line SuperStore and just a general great collection of all things train-related.

Log Cabin Train Shop outside of Pittsburgh.

Great topic that brings back good memories.

As I kid with my dad, we would visit Hill's Hobbies in Park Ridge, Illinois when it was located across from the railroad station.

Frank

The Corner Store in Lorain, Ohio

As I was growing up through the 90s my Mom would take me there a couple times a year. I was lucky to get a box car or some other small item when we went. I awed over the big Lionel and new MTH engines in the display casses.

But the best part was the layout the owner had built in the back. My parents would have to drag me away from that layout after an hour or two of starring at it. Even to this day its one of the best layouts I've ever seen. I'm pretty sure its torn down which is sad. Good memories.

Jason

Fred Brenek posted:

SJC posted:

Fred Brenek posted:

Mail order:  Jim's Train Shop - PA, Ma & Pa Junction - MD, Just Trains - DE, Island Trains - NY.

Local: Ted's Engine House - Pennsauken, NJ == M & G Hobbies - Delran, NJ == J & B Trains - Delran/Maple Shade, NJ.

Fred

Just Trains is most certainly still in business - alive and well I'd say. They have a wonderful brick and mortar store as well as a very good mail order operation. 

Just Trains just isn't the same since the founder died and a new manager took over.  I have to say, I miss the owners more than I necessarily miss the stores.

Fred

when i first started reading this topic,justrains came to mind immediately  ,when kirt m had it,i bought alot of atlas o and mth power-dummy combos. they had the lowest pricing and free shipping to boot.-Jim

South Jersey had several great hobby shops just a few years ago but today they are all history.   Antique Trains in Turnersville, N.J., Trains 'N Things in Vineland, N. J., J&B trains in Maple Shade, N.J. and even Ted's Engine House in Pennsauken, N.J. even though it went out long before the others I have mentioned.  A real shame. 

Polks Hobby Store Manhattan

Madison Hardware 

anyone remember dom and augie c. aka "brothers hobby" from the youngstown,ohio area? augie done about anything price wise to make a sale.like justrains ,i purchased alot of mth. they had their own store just north of rt 7@ the ohio turnpike for about a year or so before it ciosed .i still see dom at a few  ne ohio shows,selling h o and rr items.-Jim

Jim's Train Shop          Homer City, Pennsylvania

I really miss my wife calling to me "Honey, Uncle Jimmy is on the phone!" She INSISTED that I put the MTH "Jim's Train Shop" building on my layout.

Chesterfield Hobbies         Midlothian Virginia

I didn't subscribe to OGR to give me an excuse to stop by and see Adrian.....

The list is long.

Little Hobbies - Flemington, NJ - First at Turntable Junction then on Route 31.

The Train Shop - Middlesex, NJ

Hazlet Train Shop - Hazlet, NJ

US #1 Hobby - Bridgewater, NJ

The Gingerbread Stop - Warren. NJ

Steve Varga's Hobby Shop - New Brunswick, NJ

Tiny Tots - Greenbrook, NJ

D&S Hobbies - South Bound Brook, NJ

20th Century Hobbies - Hillsborough, NJ

Millburn Train & Hobby Center - Millburn, NJ

Hob-Nob - Flemington, NJ

Hobby & Game - Somerset, NJ

Hal's Small Appliance & Sweeper Shop - Easton, Pa

There was also a shop in Bound Brook, NJ next to the Brook Theater.

Does anyone remember the small Lionel shop in Buffalo, I believe it was on Northland near Fillmore, run by a family named Haidvogel? My father used to take me in there in the late 1950's, it was the first floor of a two story house. The corner of Northland and Fillmore is completely under a railroad overpass, which made the visits all the more memorable. If I recall correctly, it was run by a man and his mother, both were well on in years at the time. Always wonder what became of that place. The other big Lionel place in Buffalo was Chester Spoonley's over on Choate Street, again on the first floor of a two-story house. Could never get near the place on Saturday mornings. I understand his son tried to run it after the old man passed away, but that apparently did not work out.

And, in that era, our Sears Roebuck on Main and Delavan sold Lionel year round, and a pretty good selection at that! They always had a big Christmas layout that was a big draw. Of course, in that era, in Buffalo at least, Sears was the go-to place for everything not clothing related, if Sears didn't have it only then did you look anywhere else!

Madison Hardware of NYC of Course,

Hobby House outside of Tampa Florida on US 19, they had everything!! When visiting my grandparents, my grandfather would take me there. Had so much mint in the box MPC Lionel, Postwar, and my vintage Tyco Slot Cars including the US1 Trucking system I still collect. It was like walking through a time zone, they didnt even know what they had...so much MIB items..spent so much money there....

And there was a hobby shop in Bayshore NY, off of Montauk Highway and Saxon Ave, next to the old Gimbels Dept Store. He was like the madison hardware of Long Island, Dont remember the name, but I can still vision the floor to ceiling of product of Trains, Slot Cars, DieCast, Radio Control etc he had EVERYTHING....Unfortunately, it burned down when the Gimbels store caught fire in the 80;s and he never reopened.

When I was a kid in Louisville, KY, in the fifties, Fischer's Hobby Shop was the go to place for Lionel trains.  It was over the old Rialto Theater on 4th Street which was the retail strip downtown.  You had to climb quite a few stairs to get up there.  The repair shop was on your left when you got to the top of the stairs.  They closed up shop downtown in the early 60's and had two different suburban stores which I think were run by Mrs. Fischer as her husband had passed away. College and an Army career kept me away from my hometown until the 1990's. When I returned we had somewhat a variety of shops including, Casey Jones Trains, L&N Trains 'n Things, The Roundhouse, and Hobby House.  All but The Roundhouse remains.  But that store is a maze of rooms full of new and used Lionel, MTH, Weaver, and American Flyer.  They do a great business in repairs.  All of the guys are real friendly and glad to have your business.  I understand that some of the guys who used to go to Davis Electronics in the Cincinnati area will make trips to this store. It's in the back area of a strip mall on the East side so not real noticeable.

Does anyone remember the small Lionel shop in Buffalo, I believe it was on Northland near Fillmore, run by a family named Haidvogel?

I met Paul Haidvogel after the store had closed. He had a booth at a local indoor flea market.  I got to know him a little better through the TCA.

He told me he was an Sunbeam appliance repairman. I got to know him a little better through the TCA.

I was fortunate enough to have Mr. Haidvogel invite me to his home. All of the stuff from his business, including trains, had been moved to his garage when he closed his shop suddenly due to health reasons. I purchased quite a bit of oddball stuff from him. I'd try to go see him every time my wife and I went to Buffalo to see her family.

He was a very nice fellow.

Anybody familiar with Spoonley the Train Man?

I never met him, or visited the store, it was gone by the time I started visiting Buffalo. It was still listed in phone book, and my wife and I tried to find it once.

I have an interesting book titled "The Train Man", written by John Zach. It is a biography of Spoonley. There are pictures and short descriptions of other Buffalo train shops in the back of the book.

Apparently there were two shops:

The Haidvogel Train shop, run by August Haidvogel on Northland Ave

Captain Paul's Miniature Railways, run by Paul Haidvogel  at 311 Grant St.

Paul was August's nephew.

I don't know how the train shop related to Paul Haidvogel telling me he was a Sunbeam appliance repairman.

After to moving to Southern New Jersey, I had three great train stores to buy trains. My favorite was Vince at Track 33 in Clarksboro, Then there was Irene at Trains & Things in Vineland and let's not leave out Rich at Antique Trains in Turnersville. Rich was a character and will be missed. I pass by his shop at least once a week. What ever happened to Irene at Trains & Things and Vince at Track 33. We still have one but to far south to travel, I believe they bought out the stock from Trains & things. Miss all three, Now I have buy on the bay.

The Vineland Trains n Things is now The Alloway  Trains n Things , 157 Remsterville Rd,  Elmer N.J 08318 .

Vince from Track 33 moved to Delaware and apparently doing business on line as 'Yankeedabler Hobbies"

J&B is long gone from Maple shade ,but there is BNB Hobby Train Depot just about a mile down the road in Moorestown   , 10 W Camden Ave  which turns into Main St. in Maple Shade . I have not been there , but was told it is worth the stop .

There is a fairly new store in Runnemede N.J. on the Black Horse Pike around 2nd or 3rd Ave  . I have driven past , but did not have the time to stop in .Sorry , I did not catch the name . Has any one on the forum been there

This is a great thread , thanks for posting it . Jim

Steve24944 posted:

Anybody remember All Nation Hobbies, Downtown Chicago ? 

Sure do!  Without a doubt the best & most famous hobby shop I ever visited, back in the 1960s.

Is it still there ?  

Nope.  Long gone.

I use to go there back in the 70s when I was in High School and College.  They had a HO layout with working signals that traveled through various Landscapes.

Steve

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.

colorado hirailer posted:

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.

The first suburban shop that Fischer's had was in the Dixie Manor Shopping Center on Dixie Highway.  I think that it was opened while the shop downtown was still open.  Thus they had two shops for awhile.  I also remember the shop near Watterson Trail and I bought an Atlas O Turntable there.  But they seemed to be more interested in slot car racing?  My brother-in-law used to stop there for his HO needs and wants when in town.  I am not familiar with the shop on Bardstown Road in the Highlands.  Fisher's shop downtown was a small place but they always seemed to have your Lionel item "in the warehouse" (wherever that was?).  They tore down the old Rialto theater in the late 60's, a beautiful Italianate place.  Now that part of 4th street is being rejuvenated, what a shame to have lost this beautiful piece of history.

I really wish Barry's Train Shop in Elizabethtown, PA would reopen.....even if just out of his home. Barry is a great guy and his selection and pricing were second to none. 

Downtown Lock & Electric on 14th Street, DC got our family back on the rails in the mid 70s.  The store is still there but their Lionel business is long gone.

Purkey's in semi beautiful Sykesville, MD is well remembered.  He's been gone 6 years now.

Justrains is still in business but it's not the same as when Kirke was alive.  A real shame, too.  I bought a lot from them back in the day.

Actually, the old Nicholas Smith, on 11th Street in Philly.  The old guy, Ed, was a character.  It's where I purchased my first Lionel set as an adult.  The Heartland Express, with a GM&O GP-20 loco.   For some reason, Ed took a liking to me.  I would stop there on the way home from work, some days, and if there was a new customer in the store, watch with humor as Ed tried to make a fool out of them.  Not that I was laughing at the customer, because I wouldn't want to be in that position.  

One day, Pete Camile came in to buy some trains.  I think he was a long time customer.  For those that are wondering who in the hell Pete Camile is, he was some sort of politician in the Rizzo administration.  

There used to be a bunch in my area. Iron Horse being one... A.B. Charles is still around, but little to no trains.

Keith6700,

   When I was younger AB Charles always ran some real great sales on rolling stock to compete with Dave @ Bill & Walts and Frank @ the Iron Horse, lot of times he would undersell them, AB Charles was a great place when the old man was still running it.

NEPA,

   I am with you buddy on Barry's Trains Shop in E-Town, Pa, the very last thing I purchased from him was my Scale Legacy Northern Pacific, in the Pittsburgh Steelers Colors.  Barry is a great guy and we wish him all the best, I do miss his store badly.  

PCRR/Dave

H&L Childs n Son in Northampton, Ma.  Grew up there, finally closed in the late 90's.  They had a huge Lionel billboard outside the store.  Hope it got saved when the old store front became a furniture outlet.

Keith6700 posted:

There used to be a bunch in my area. Iron Horse being one... A.B. Charles is still around, but little to no trains.

AB Charles closed about a year ago. They had just moved to the stripmall location in Peters Twp and had very little train inventory. They didn't last very long there at all.

OK, Here is one for Those folks out in the Dallas Texas Neighborhood, Do you remember Cullum and Borum Hardware in Downtown Dallas?  I think I have the name right, and if not please correct me. When I was a young lad of 8, I visited this store with my parents and saw one of the nicest In Store Layouts, which really turned me on to Lionel Trains.  Anyone remember this Store?

As a young lad growing up in Philadelphia in the 1950's , it seem to me that almost every local hardware store sold Lionel trains . I even remember seeing a lot of various ads for trains in the Inquire and The Evening Bulletin leading up to Christmas .  Jim

Growing up in Sunnyside, Queens, my first trains (Marx) were purchased at the local 5 & 10 store. Years latter I wanted real Lionel trains. There was a Strauss store on 48th Street and Queens Blvd. That sold Lionel trains. My first purchase was a Lionel rotating searchlight car. I still have it.

Another store I miss would be Ridge Road Station.  While for me it was an on-line store, they did have a brick and mortar shop up in New York State.  While buying LGB he always had the best deals and was easy to deal with.  He also sold all other scales.

I always enjoyed taking the Kids and stopping at Loco Louies.  Lou Caponi was always interesting to talk with.  He had New MTH and Lionel and you could also find a variety of older trains. RIP Lou.

H & L Childs in Northampton, MA was a childhood favorite.  While I grew up in NY, my grandparents lived in Springfield, MA.  While my birthday fell was on 2/1, we ended up celebrating on President's Day weekend when we visited my grandparents and was able to go Childs for a few presents.

A local favorite was Caffero's train shop in Binghamton, NY, which was actually in the front foyer of Mr. Caffero's house.  Crammed full of trains. 

Any body familiar with Rosewood Hobby in NJ? I purchased train stuff from them in the 1970's through the mail. I don't know whether there was a retail store.

Atlanta Trains which was 3 miles from house and was so convenient.  I used to stop in there every 2 weeks because I could or happen to be passing by.

Definately Madison Hardware, the first place I bought trains... I got my love of trains from my mother - she took me to Madison Hardware many times when I was young. Later in life, I went to college a short walk down 23rd Street and then went to work on 26th street. Whenever I went into Madison, Lou would always ask "how's mama"? After I was working, I was able to buy my mother her favorite engine (which she could never justify purchasing for herself when my brother and I were growing up) - a new/old stock 2360 GG1.

I've had this Angela Trotta Thomas print hanging in the house for probably 15 years. My one quibble with the portrayal... I don't think the shelves inside ever looked that neat!

All Nation Hobby Shop in on Madison in downtown Chicago.  Long, narrow, stock stacked to the rafters (or so it seemed) usually crowed and busy, at least the times I went there.

Also my home away from home, Windsor Hobbies in Berwyn.  Great view of the CB&Q racetrack.  Small, limited stock, the "good stuff" in back.

Rusty

Apples55/Paul, awsome pic!     Madison Hardware was amazing.  If you wanted to stay on the  northern nj side of the river, there was Hiway Hobby on  rt 17 in Ramsey.

How about the Gingerbread Stop in Warren New Jersey. Owner Bob Fischer. Small, friendly with scratch building supplies.  He had lots of HO brass. Me being in O Scale traction I went there a lot for his supplies. Every now and then he would surprise me with some items he knew I would grab. 

Nate

Yep.  Four  of them in Washington, D.C., home for the first 22 years of my life.

Keene's Model Railroad Shop....strictly HO.  Clark Keene....I'll never forget him and his smiling encouragement of a gangly teen venturing into a new realm of the hobby.

Corr's Hobby Shop....a full line hobby shop....trains, ships, planes, etc. 

Superior Lock and Electric....whence the Lionel trains of my earliest youth came.  Wooden creaky floors, dim lighting, orange/blue boxes, ......neophyte's Nirvana.

Vicar's Camera and Hobby....Western and Wisconsin Avenues...at the terminal loop of the Tenleytown D.C. Transit streetcar run....or a short bike ride from my home for this 'free-range' (new PC term?) kid.

All gone.  Of course, i'm no longer there, either.  Now in Meeeshigan for the past 50 years.  Just the sweet memories of a by-gone era.

  When I first got back into trains I had started with HO and then eventually moved to Lionel postwar. I remember having quite a few stores to visit. Back before all of these scale offerings it was kind of an adventure trying to locate cars you were looking for. There wasn't any internet and I would look forward to visiting these stores to see if they may have gotten a car I was looking for over the week. I made a lot of friends at these stores. Some of them would even call me to tell me if they bought a collection that might have something I was looking for.

  Sadly I'm down to only a couple stores left of about fifteen. I like the new scale stuff but it doesn't have quite the same adventure as trying to locate a postwar piece and feeling the sense of satisfaction when your carrying it home. Now I just order and wait for it to come in. A lot of the people I knew have since passed on or moved to another state. I know that things change and we have to move on with the future. But I cant stop the feeling that we gave up a big piece of the hobby to the internet.

  bob

I would have to say that Jim's Train Shop is greatly missed.  But,I have more money in my wallet.  Jim is a great salesman and promoter of toy trains.  I also miss visiting Bill Oberst's train shop in Georgetown,SC.  Bill is the consummate southern gentleman.  Even though Bill's business was mostly mail order,he had quite an inventory on hand for viewing.

Norm

I would have to say that Jim's Train Shop is greatly missed.  But,I have more money in my wallet.  Jim is still a great salesman and promoter of toy trains.  I also miss visiting Bill Oberst's train shop in Georgetown,SC.  Bill is the consummate southern gentleman.  Even though Bill's business was mostly mail order,he had quite an inventory on hand for viewing.  It was always fun to stop in and visit with Bill.

Norm

The Hobby House in Cleveland and Jaye and Jaye in Euclid...I used to ride my bike as a teen from Willoughby to Euclid to visit Jaye and Jaye back in the early 80s before I started driving. I miss those days. My #8002 Lionel Berk came from Jaye and Jaye as did my ZW Transformer. Good memories.

there used to be a restaurant on (or near) Broad St, Newark, NJ where your burger and fries were delivered to you at the counter on flat cars behind a Lionel postwar locomotive.   i sure do miss that place.  ok, there was probably 2-3x the RDA of sat. fat in those meals, but as kids we had no problem burning calories by running around outdoors in the pre-X-box era.

cheers...gary

Yep - Roy's Train World. It was a fixture in Mesa AZ for years.

Jim's Train Shop for mail order.

Tinplate Junction and San Antonio Hobbies for local.

I have recently found Mercer Junction and am very happy with the service and selection.

overlandflyer posted:

there used to be a restaurant on (or near) Broad St, Newark, NJ where your burger and fries were delivered to you at the counter on flat cars behind a Lionel postwar locomotive.   i sure do miss that place.  ok, there was probably 2-3x the RDA of sat. fat in those meals, but as kids we had no problem burning calories by running around outdoors in the pre-X-box era.

cheers...gary

Gary,

  That sounds like a cool place to eat..even considering saturated fat!  

 Tom 

Mountain Trains in Manchester NH when Tom Smith owned it before he sold it to the morons who destroyed what he had built.

I have to agree Jim and Peggy of Jim's Train shop are truly missed.

I dealt with Jason's Train Shop in Johnstown before he had his misfortune event. Jason for was great to work with also.

Al's hobby shop in Elmhurst, Illinois was the place to go for me when I was growing up here. The Train Department got smaller, RC became bigger. After 63 years, I'm still here and Al's closed a few years ago. Progress took over and the town is different, and I guess we all change through the years. But those were good times.

Hey Pine Tree, I'm in Elmhurst too! South side, near York and Butterfield. 

Al's was nice into the early 2000's or so. I don't know if it was a change in management or something, but it was like they gave up on trains. Even the Lionel selection was good. Towards the end I even tried to special order some new Lionel, but nothing I ordered ever arrived, so I gave up.

I miss Jasons Trains in Johnstown Pa. He was great to talk to and got me into remote trains. Maybe that wasn't so good but I'm having fun. Thanks Jason

I have only two that are worthwhile to mention:

The first shop I'll mention was where I began my journey to (eventually) becoming a "serious" modeler. I think it was the mid-1960s or so that I discovered "Spotlight Model Railroad Shop" in Kansas City. What a huge difference between the "Joe Faulk Toys" and such that I frequented for my hobbies in my section of KC (North KC at the time). At Spotlight there were rows and rows of shelves with NOTHING but train stuff. Wow. To this kid, it was like that question asked in Field Of Dreams: "Is this heaven?"

It was at Spotlight that I discovered decals and that wonderful smelling concoction "Solvaset". I also learned about Floquil (also smelled good to me), on and on. It was through Spotlight that I began to learn that if it wasn't available, I could make it myself.

Even after we moved to Arkansas in '69, on my nearly annual trips to KC, I would stop by "Spotlight Model Railroad Shop" and browse n' buy.  It was a sad day when I swung by during one of our annual KC visits to discover that Spotlight was no more.

The second shop I'll mention is the shop that contains my best memories: The Golden Spike, of Fort Smith, AR.  This became my "Spotlight" once in Arkansas. I think I discovered The Golden Spike in April of '69 or so.  The hobby shop was upstairs at the "Cottage Florist". Both businesses were owned by Dave and wife Shirley McDonald.  Long story short: Through The Golden Spike, Dave and Shirley have become my oldest friends, having known them since '69. They are like family, including both sides being there for the other during times of loss and or family tragedy. They are treasured friends to this day.

Though Dave and Shirley retired and closed their shops years ago, our friendship continues.  In spite of The Golden Spike closing, the wonderful modeling memories from there remain, with the added bonus that friendship memories continue to be made.

Don't believe everything you read on forums: This hobby has a lot of great people in it.

I did not see any mention of Hobby Hangout in Easton PA, which was run by Forum member Phil Kropp (don't know if spelling is correct). Out of the two hobby stores in Easton PA, HH was my favorite. Phil was always helpful when asked a question or to provide advice. He was a major influence on my club (Black Diamond Society of Model Engineers, Bethlehem PA) purchasing Legacy Control for our 3 rail layout. We also purchased MTH DCS from his store as well.

JohnB

Summerdale Junction posted:

As a young lad growing up in Philadelphia in the 1950's , it seem to me that almost every local hardware store sold Lionel trains . I even remember seeing a lot of various ads for trains in the Inquire and The Evening Bulletin leading up to Christmas .  Jim

Also growing up in the 50's, from South Jersey, I would accompany my father to center city Philly around Christmas.  We would take a trolly to "Miller's" where he bought favorites like 726, GG1 Trainmaster and SF's.  I don't recall exactly where it was but seemed to be in business for awhile.

I've seen it advertising in old magazines.

I also enjoyed taking my son to "Train 99" out on Rt202.

Anyone remember

Bambergers (Now Macy's) in Newark NJ

Branch Brook Co. Bloomfield Avenue Newark Near Branch Brook Park. and,

Polks in Manhattan . 5 or 6 floors of all day fun!

Buzz

GG1 2340 posted:

Bambergers (Now Macy's) in Newark NJ

Branch Brook Co. Bloomfield Avenue Newark Near Branch Brook Park. and,

Polks in Manhattan . 5 or 6 floors of all day fun!

 

Buzz

Dad bought a 1966 Virginian Trainmaster set at Bam's (thats what mom called Bambergers). The woman at the register rang up the price incorrectly and Dad said he paid something like $19.99 and got the hell out of there.

Still have the set, its been around "the tree" about a million times.

In the 50's on Main Street in Newark Delaware.   Dorsemans Hobby Shop. 

Full service hobby shop, all trains on the 2nd floor.  Spent many hours in that store.

Although not a train store but internet sales, one of the best and most personable individuals that I had the pleasure of contacting and making purchases from was Bob Thatcher of AM Hobbies.  Jim's Train Shop owner Jim paralled AM Hobbies in his manners in dealings with customers he also carried a good assortment and prices for Weaver cars, my orders were always processed and shipped with no issues.

Richmond, Virginia and the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Hanover, Henrico and Goochland.

Every one of these is long gone.....

1950's Lionel:

Jones and Gooding (Appliance Store, Downtown and in Cary Court Shopping Center, where trains magically appeared every Christmas and where most of my first Layout stuff came from in 1953).

Rowletts (A Bicycle Shop, no less, with outfits for sale at Christmas ).

Miller and Rhoads (Department Store downtown with Lionel in the Toy Department and a huge display in a corner window, downstairs).

Thalhimers  (Another Department Store downtown with Lionel in the Toy Department. It might have had trains in the window, too, along with animated holiday scenes, but I don't remember).

Mac the Train Man in Southside Plaza Shopping center between Thanksgiving and New Years.

And a Mystery Quonset Hut in a big field in South Richmond that had used trains in big paste-board barrels. I never knew the name, I was just too young for it to register.

Late 1950's and early 1960's I got into HO and these were my go-to places:

Keels Hobby Shop on Second Street, Downtown. It was a small shop, maybe 25'x25' but the Manager, "Curley" Sims, could lay his hand on just about anything I needed. Later moved to Brookhill Azalea Shopping Center in Northside and added slot-car tracks.

Bob's Hobby Shop, South side of West Cary Street in "The Fan". The set-up was the salesmen stood on a platform behind tall display cases that held the expensive items and cheaper things like car kits, parts, paint, etc. were on shelves behind them. You would ask to see something and they would put it out on top of the counter for your inspection. Later, Bobs moved into a larger space across the street and a block west with a more traditional retail floorplan. Bob Smith and Bob Graham were the salesmen I worked with the most. In the 90's they moved about 5 miles west to Patterson Avenue where they remained until closing in the 2000's. With that move they became The Hobby Center in spite of still having two or more "Bobs" working there. While they had an extensive line of scale trains, Bob Smith always said it was the model plane hobbyists that kept the lights on.

I got back into Lionel in the 1990's and mostly just bought PW at train shows.

Then, in the early to mid 2000's, my grandsons really got into trains, first with Thomas and then Lionel. Since they were the Luckiest Kids in the World, we had the most local Lionel dealers since the 1950's:

Train Town Toy and Hobby just up the road in Ashland, Va. On Railroad Avenue where you would run right out the front door to watch the RF&P (CSX) and Amtrak trains go by when you heard the horn or the rumble.
 
Bobby's Trains, first in Glen Allen in an antiques mall and then a new storefront in Manakin, Va. with new and used Lionel.

Chesterfield Hobbies with Adrian and his crew as mentioned in several earlier posts.

The Great Train Store chain that specialized in Thomas and Lionel with play layouts for kids' hands-on in Regency Square Shopping center.

The Toy Center on Patterson with a good-sized Train department with a nice selection of Lionel and MTH.

The aforementioned The Hobby Center further out on Patterson with all things hobby-related but no Lionel.

Norge Station, with tons of Lionel just an hour down the road near Williamsburg.

I miss Madison Hardware. My dad took me there a few times as a wee lad. It was both scary and wonderous. They refurbished his 248 and R transformer.

That was some Train Store.

Everyone was very nice there even if you wasn't looking for something that Day.

Good luck,John

Pine Creek Railroad posted:

Keith6700,

   When I was younger AB Charles always ran some real great sales on rolling stock to compete with Dave @ Bill & Walts and Frank @ the Iron Horse, lot of times he would undersell them, AB Charles was a great place when the old man was still running it.

NEPA,

   I am with you buddy on Barry's Trains Shop in E-Town, Pa, the very last thing I purchased from him was my Scale Legacy Northern Pacific, in the Pittsburgh Steelers Colors.  Barry is a great guy and we wish him all the best, I do miss his store badly.  

PCRR/Dave

graz posted:

Keith6700 posted:

There used to be a bunch in my area. Iron Horse being one... A.B. Charles is still around, but little to no trains.

AB Charles closed about a year ago. They had just moved to the stripmall location in Peters Twp and had very little train inventory. They didn't last very long there at all.

 

I thought they were still there (until now lol). I haven't been out in Peters in a while, so I wouldn't have known. 

GG1 2340 posted:

GG1 2340 posted:

Bambergers (Now Macy's) in Newark NJ

Branch Brook Co. Bloomfield Avenue Newark Near Branch Brook Park. and,

Polks in Manhattan . 5 or 6 floors of all day fun!

 

Buzz

Dad bought a 1966 Virginian Trainmaster set at Bam's (thats what mom called Bambergers). The woman at the register rang up the price incorrectly and Dad said he paid something like $19.99 and got the hell out of there.

Still have the set, its been around "the tree" about a million times.

Uneeda Appliance in Jersey City and the Repair Store (can't remember the name) on Route 17 near the present Giants Stadium. Used to be Sportland before the Meadowlands

Bobbye Halls in Dallas,Tx. I got in on the last 5 or 6 years of the store being open. If you can find her book "Tracks from Texas to Tokyo" it is a fast and enjoyable read. RIP Dragon Lady!  Pecos River Brass in Lewisville, Tx. Almost exclusively 2 rail ( in O Scale). Bought my first brass loco a Westside Santa Fe mike. Thanks, John.

Davis Electronics - I was on a tight budget when the train bug rekindled, and I lived about 10 minutes from the Davis store in Milford.  I'd pick up magazines and make occasional small purchases.  Over time the budget increased, my purchases grew and I was familar enough that I could go upstairs and see if Dan the repair guy was in the shop - if it was a slow day he'd stop and we'd chat about repairs and I'd get an occasional part or two.  Dan was a good guy, and he'd offer encouragement and suggestions on ways to handle tricky repairs.  The postwar collection Joe Davis amassed was super - I wonder if his son held onto the trains.

Weber's in Lafayette, IN; a full line shop that had a large Lonel collection on shelving up above the items for sale.  I was pretty young when I visited a few times - it made quite an impression seeing all those trains I'd only seen in old catalogs in person.

Bickel's in Logansport, IN - another full line hobby/craft store that was also an authorized Schwinn bike dealer; they also had the dreaded slotcar tracks (at their original location they had a big, routed track for 1/24th scale cars and an Aurora tub track - the tub track moved with the store when they relocated to the newfangled mall in the 70s).  The Lionel stock was a little bare when I was a kid, but my dad said they had a pretty good stock for a small town hobby shop in the late 50s through the 60s, and they had someone who did repairs.  When the owners passed away, they left the store's stock and Schwinn dealership to a friend of my dad's that the owners thought of as a son.  There were some odds and ends of postwar Lionel repair parts, bulbs in Lionel boxes and miscellaneous items like Super O power blades in envelopes with Bickel's stickers attached that I ended up with awhile back.

One store my dad (a salesman who's territory covered Indiana and Michigan) mentioned was a department store in Michgan called Hardy-Herpolsheimer's in Muskegon.  He picked up a number of 6464s for outrageously inexpensive prices after Christmas (I have a lovely 6464-325 Sentinel and 6464-500 Timken in their boxes that he got for under a buck apiece).  

I would say Madison Hardware I miss the most. I went their with my parents as a kid and was there just before they closed for good. If Carl and Lew liked you, you could ask for just about anything and they would have it somewhere in that store. I also miss Choo Choo Eddie's in Rutherford, NJ. My little sons always liked going there back in the '90s.

We also went many times to the Hazlet Train Shop owned by Boyd Mason. The kids loved his layout and he was one of the best Lionel repairmen in the business. I enjoyed talking to Boyd on many visits to the shop. Back in the 50s-60s era, Boyd had actually been a repairman at Hobbyland, a relatively well known train shop in lower Manhattan back in the day.

J & B Trains in Maple Shade NJ and that rascal Jim Sutter from Homer PA

miss them both

Without a doubt, I still miss dearly Davis Electronics Train Shop in Milford, OH.  The friendliness of the people, the ever so many selections, the way they made you feel like you were at home atmosphere was as good as anywhere I have been to this day.  It was a sad day for me (and my family) when we heard they were going to have to close.

Without the folks there and that store, I doubt if I would be "into" trains as I am today.  They, it, changed my life for the better for sure.

I miss them all, but especially  CASEY JONES TRAINS in Louisville on South

3rd st. A group of us guys would meet there on Sat morn and wait for the

owner to open. He was Fred Gocke, a super fine gentleman and friend.

He did all my repairs at that time, but has since passed away.

Now I suppose Louisville has only one shop. The ROUNDHOUSE  on the east side

Those were the days.

Rod