Just curious how many of us on the forum live in the Northeast part of Ohio/Western part of Pennsylvania? As talked about in my post on Menard's a few minutes ago about how the trains fly off of the shelves, kind of wonder who is buying them? Hopefully there are some newcomers as well.
Jeff
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I live in Perry, OH- halfway between Cleveland and Erie. I am a newcomer- started (back) in model railroading 1-1/2 years ago, this time in O Gauge. Buy most of my stuff either at shows, online (e-Bay or Forum members) and through/ at Toy And Hobby HQ in Geneva, OH.
Mike
Hi Mike,
Thanks for contributing, I am in Southington, Ohio about 45 minutes due South of Geneva on the lake, via State Route 45
Jeff
I imagine there are a good many of us O gaugers in Northeast Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, myself included. I know at least twenty or more, some of whom are part of our Tuesday Train Gang group (informal) over in Western PA. A good number of guys and gals in the Greenville (PA) area, with a club in the rail museum up there. And certainly don't forget the Corner Field Model Railroad Museum and Hobby Store in Middlefield, OH. Look 'em up via a Google search.
And if you get over to Mercer, PA, be sure to stop in to see Dave Minarik at his Mercer Junction Train Shoppe. Go there on just about any Tuesday afternoon and you're apt to see me there as well. It's a short 45-minute drive for me.
In short: There likely is a very large concentration of O gauge hobbyists in the geographic area you mentioned. Probably one of the largest concentrations in the U.S., along with PA-NJ-NY areas.
Jefferson County Ohio here
I'm near East Rochester, a little crossroads about 20 miles east of Canton.
Joe Shipbaugh
I live along & model the old NKP west of Cleveland.
Conneaut Lake PA (Crawford Co. PA) here!
How about the folks from Cornerfield Museum and Hobby? Tom Sr, Tom Jr and the rest of the family have an awesome museum layout. Excellent hobbyist and promoters of the hobby!
What about Stockyard Express? They're located in Oberlin, and they have quite the selection of MTH! They are just O Scale, and not a whole lot other than MTH, but still very impressive. Nice guys up there.
I'm in Avon Lake, Ohio (West side of Cleveland). I'm 27 years old and have been involved in the hobby my whole life. I've been posting YouTube videos of my layout progress for about 9 years now. I get nearly all of my trains/equipment/track/accessories from either Stockyard Express in Oberlin, OH or Uncle Ray's Trains in Sheffield Lake, OH. Menards has some cool stuff but I've yet to buy anything.
- Jason
Native of Broadview Hts. living in North Royalton since 1995. My dad had HO for us and later N gauge around the Christmas tree, but I got my postwar O Gauge fill from my uncle (Parma) and grandfather (Old Brooklyn) who had O and O27. I ended up inheriting my grandfather's collection and have added a lot of modern O27 / Traditional / Non-Scale items, probably too many.
I hate shopping, but can always find time to visit the Trading Post Train Shop in Old Brooklyn.
This thread is a great idea for more connection opportunities. After it runs its course, I may start a similar thread for my location. Arnold
I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away. The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid. Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.
Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout. As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work. He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout. It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
raising4daughters posted:Native of Broadview Hts. living in North Royalton since 1995. My dad had HO for us and later N gauge around the Christmas tree, but I got my postwar O Gauge fill from my uncle (Parma) and grandfather (Old Brooklyn) who had O and O27. I ended up inheriting my grandfather's collection and have added a lot of modern O27 / Traditional / Non-Scale items, probably too many.
I hate shopping, but can always find time to visit the Trading Post Train Shop in Old Brooklyn.
When I lived in NE Ohio, a visit to The Trading Post on Pearl Road in Cleveland was a weekly ritual! Great selection of O gauge trains in an old-fashioned train shop atmosphere which is very hard to find anymore (been there since 1950).
I grew up in that area right along the Ohio River. I always thought the hobby was stronger in that area of the country and it's certainly what I miss about living there. Miss seeing the long trains cross over the rivers and trains working in the "used to be" steel mills.
Dave
John Rowlen posted:I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away. The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid. Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.
Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout. As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work. He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout. It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
John,
What an awesome concept,"Valley of Bridges". Makes me think of that awesome city of Pittsburgh. I don't believe you can be in that city and look anywhere and not see a bridge. Keep us posted on your progress. Along with your dad, this site is a wonderful motivator.
Dave
I live in Cuyahoga Falls. Just north of Akron and maybe 30 miles south of Cleveland. I lucked out and have a Menards 2 miles from me now. My number one store to go too. Train related items I have yet to buy out of the store. All my buys have been through the website and shipped to the store free. Before they built the one close to me I was driving 35 miles south to shop at Menards...............Paul
I live in Butler, Pennsylvania not far from the I-80 I-79 interchange! I visit layouts in Norheast Ohio. I went to the Elesh’s CornerField this summer and have a visit planned to a home layout. I see there is a Menards in Warren Ohio about an hour away and plan to visit for the first time in a Menards.
I'm in Eastlake, around 20 min west of Mike Wyatt. Been in the hobby since my deceased great grandpa and some uncle's set up a Christmas layout every year when our family lived in Texas. I just dug all those trains out of the garage attic last week which found some amazing stuff in good condition. The only Menards I've been to was in Angola, Indiana on my way to the S.S. Badger in Michigan which they didn't have any trains for sale unfortunately.
Hope u guys don't mind. I live in South East Michigan, I have to travel to Oberlin Ohio and points farther to all your area to see good Train stores.Even into the PA .
Seven Hills, about 5 miles south of downtown Cleveland.
JJAMES Cleveland Ohio here! Have to mention Trading Post Train shop ...Great crew there. I would love to see some pics of your new layout!
I'm in Bay Village, western suburb of Cleveland.
I am in Richfield Ohio, about 20 miles due south of downtown Cleveland. There's a new Menards just across the valley from me but I've yet to visit.
Lou N
John Rowlen posted:I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away. The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid. Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.
Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout. As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work. He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout. It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
Ah yes; Silver at Trading Post. Mr Cambie Silverthorn. Got a lot of trains there too. I remember his 65 T-bird convertible with the Trading Post sign on the back.
I miss your dad and my weekly visits to his Studio. I still have the Lackawanna FM, the 746, and the GG1 he helped me find on my youthful budget.
Lou N
I'm in Milan. About an hour west of Cleveland.
Seems like Ohio is another Mecca for O Gauge like Pennsylvania is.
We are next door neighbors! :-)
Originally from Canton, Ohio and it will always be home! My intro to train shops was Schaffner's, and later on it was Trains &Things up in N. Canton, and Glen's Train Shop up in Akron. Pretty sure all are gone now, but they were all pretty cool in their own regard.
I will put a plug in for the Massillon Train Club, I've been able to visit a couple times on trips home to visit my parents, and they have a great layout and are a friendly bunch.
Glen's Train Shop became Aaron's City Trains but it is now closed.
Took me a few minutes to remember Engelharts in Massillon. They had pretty nice display layouts.
Aaron's was a nice shop - It was a completely different experience than Glen's in the same space. Made it there a few times and did some pre-orders with them when they were open.
It's been discussed on the forum before but Glen's was a one of a kind experience. I will never forget Robert's uncanny ability to know where nearly everything was in all those piles of brown shipping boxes all over the store.
John Rowlen posted:I am in Parma, Ohio. There is a new Menards being built on Brookpark Road, about one mile away. The Trading Post on Pearl Road was my main supplier of trains as a kid. Dad and I always enjoyed talking with Mr. Silver... and Ralph Brown.
Every Christmas and birthday there was a new addition to the Super-O layout. As I work on my Atlas O "Valley of Bridges" layout, I get a strange feeling that Dad is sitting there watching me work. He passed twenty-plus years ago, but his presence was there when I started building my layout. It is time for me to get back to work and finish what I stated.
Sincerely, John Rowlen
I've been waiting for a Menards! I'm in Parma as well! And thank God for Trading Post!
Mike,
That sounds like a plan to me!! I don't know of any private layouts near my location but I would be more than willing to "open" mine up. The Menard's is about 15 minutes from where I live. Of course Cornerfield Trains & Museum is not far, Mercer Junction in PA is worth your time if you have not been there yet? Great train store, well stocked and a great owner!!
There is a Eat n Park in front of Menard's and a Perkins directly across the street.
Jeff
paul 2 posted:I live in Cuyahoga Falls. Just north of Akron and maybe 30 miles south of Cleveland. I lucked out and have a Menards 2 miles from me now. My number one store to go too. Train related items I have yet to buy out of the store. All my buys have been through the website and shipped to the store free. Before they built the one close to me I was driving 35 miles south to shop at Menards...............Paul
Hey neighbor, I'm in Stow. Everytime I'm in there I always swing through, my oldest boy wanted to buy my wife the Starbucks store for our new layout! Have you been to Rail and Road hobby in North Hill yet? He's only there on Saturday but he's got some neat stuff.
I've met @rockstars1989 very good people, gave my boys some turnouts for our layout. :-)
Mike,
That sounds like a great idea! I live an hour away, as I said above when I mentioned the Warren Menards. I am semi-retired, right now not working, but when I do work, I am usually off Thursday and Friday. I agree Saturday or Sunday will probably catch the most people. I go to church on Sundays, but can be there by noon. This Thursday and Friday I'm booked moving my parents into a new personal care home, but I'm sure that is too soon to get the most folks lined up.
Keep in mind Saturday and Sunday, Nov 10, 11 is the Greenberg Show in Monroeville, Pennsylvania. I don't know how many of the eastern-most folks go, but I will go that Saturday.
Let me throw my location in here as well (Willoughby Hills). Rumor is they have started building the Menards in Mentor after talking about it for 2 years so now I won't have to drive over to Warren to pick up stuff. Of course if my "good friend" Paul would just pick up my orders at the one 2 miles from his home and bring it to our Tuesday night meetings that would help until the one in Mentor is complete.
I would agree that Northeast Ohio is a real great place to live if your into 3 rail model railroading. I know we have had some hobby shops close up but there are many active groups here and some of the nicest guys/ladies you could meet.
Bryan, I'll bet Paul would charge you a significant handling fee! 
I had to look up Willoughby Hills. I see you are up near the Lake near Kirtland. Handy for those shows!! 
Bryan, so nice you threw you hat in the ring. Getting into your home is like Socialized medicine......you go on a waiting list LOL. I see you put good friend in quotation marks. A good friend would of turned around Sunday and went back to Medina for me when I ask him to because I was in PA. LOL. See you tonight buddy. I am bringing one of the passenger cars to show off.......Paul
Mark Boyce posted:Bryan, I'll bet Paul would charge you a significant handling fee!
I had to look up Willoughby Hills. I see you are up near the Lake near Kirtland. Handy for those shows!!
Your right he does try to take advantage of every situation.
Your correct about the Lakeland Shows its only about 5 miles from my house so that makes it real convenient considering I work or am involved in most of them. For example this Saturday our NMRA division (which somehow I got elected to be Assistant Superintendent) is putting on a clinic day for young/new hobbyist at the college.
Sounds like a great plan. I would say Saturday November 17th in that there are no local train shows in the area that day in Ohio. There are shows on the 10th and 24th.
Sounds Great - I'm In.
See a suggested group of activities attached.
Ashtabula native here. I now live in the Netherlands, and am just debating dipping my toes into 2 rail O.
Does anyone know what the product number is for the coaling tower in JDStucks video?
I am in Mayfield Heights. Great idea!
Nice job, Mike!! Western Reserve - Good name. The proposal works for me. I'm putting November 17th on my calendar. I think 9:30 is a good time, since it leaves time for those who have to travel the farthest. We can get a feel for who wants to participate, and where they are located before reaching out to a place as far out as Western Pennsylvania.
Im from Perry, Ohio. "North Perry" ya know, the one in lake county next to the lake. Im about 30 Mins east of Cleveland.
I grew up in the Warren and Cortland area in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Found memories of the Hobby House, Trumbull Camera and Hobby, Trigg Marine (and trains), Train America, Crouse Hardware, The great train store, Boardman Hobby, Amers, and others I can't remember the names of.
Currently living in North Royalton for 17 years. I've modeled in almost all scales over the years. I've come to the point where I can't stand the 3rd rail anymore, 2 rail is too big for my space, S is a better size but a dead scale, and HO seems too small for my eyes. Not sure exactly where I'm going next modeling wise, but I still love trains. I'll be visiting the 2R show in Parma and visiting Stockyard Express on Sat. Say hi if you see me 
Mike,
I have no desire for a "club" just merely a get together every now and then for anyone in the area with common interests. There is a old time hardware store in Howland (about a 5 minute drive from Menard's) that has Lionel, MTH, model cars, R\C stuff, a full display of Everygreen Styrene for the scratch builders, even some of the newest Woodland Scenic's structures. He even has some HO trains as well, etc. Now, this is not a fully stocked train store, but it is well worth the visit. I was in there yesterday and picked up my first LionScale car. The name is Andrews Shopping Center. The owner is a very good guy, have known him for years!!
Jeff
Tom Sr & Jr, trying to drum up some business for you, I doubt that you need it!! I need to make the short trip for a visit.
jonnyspeed, all of those shops you mentioned are gone except Crouse's & I think Boardman Hobby is still there? What a shame.
jjames9641 posted:jonnyspeed, all of those shops you mentioned are gone except Crouse's & I think Boardman Hobby is still there? What a shame.
Crouse True Value in North Lima (a Youngstown suburb) is still around. Lots of entry and mid-level Lionel and a spattering of O items from other brands. Used to have a fair amount of LGB, but that all disappeared about a month or so ago.
Boardman Hobby is not even worth a visit if O is your thing (or just about any other scale for that matter).
My own "local" dealer is Mercer Junction in Mercer, PA, which is an easy and pleasant 45-minute drive from my home. Owner Dave Minarik is a contributing member on this forum, as well as an advertiser, and he knows the stuff he sells inside and out, and can usually fix any problems. Example: I bought a new just-released engine from him yesterday, and during a test run on the shop layout we found that it (and another identical model he had just placed on the shelf) had a problem...excessive and disturbing noise in the front truck. A call to the manufacturer revealed that this same problem had been reported by other dealers/buyers. The fix was not terribly difficult, I imagine, but it was sure above my pay grade in terms of knowledge required. Dave fixed it in short order and I came home with a properly operating locomotive. It pays to have a "go to" local dealer!
Sounds great for the 17TH count me in weather permiting...................Paul
Great to hear about more O Gauge guys (where are the O Gauge "Gals??) coming on the 17th!!
Tom Jr. Yes, we have been very busy this year but with winter approaching things will slow down. My wife and I were at Mary Yoder's last Friday and was going to stop by but was not sure of your hours? Did not even think to call.
Allan. I agree with you about Dave at Mercer Junction great store, great owner. Have known the Tuesday guys for many years all great people!! I actually ordered the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Premier switcher from the 2019 Vol. 1 catalog from Dave yesterday. Always great service, great attitude, that is IMO why he is so successful.
Jeff
Mike Wyatt posted:Hey Al- I'm Mike- with the MTH Commodore Vanderbilt that had crumbling wheels.
How are you?? You should join us in a couple of weeks. The planned get-togethers are on the attachment. Bring Big Al!!
Mike, I am doing fine! I plan to call sometime soon to see how the engine is running. As for the get together, i need to make sure I am not working that day.
I'm a bit outside your area, but would love to join for some of your meets. Port Clinton in not the mecca of O gauge trains!
paul 2 posted:Sounds great for the 17TH count me in weather permiting...................Paul
Yes Paul, unfortunately we are getting into the season where the weather could be bad. I hope it isn’t on the 17th!
Thaddeus posted:I'm a bit outside your area, but would love to join for some of your meets. Port Clinton in not the mecca of O gauge trains!
Thaddeus, We used to go to Lakeside and Marblehead, turning right instead of left to Port Clinton! You are about as far west of the bulk of these folks as I am east! Hopefully I will meet you midway sometime!!
If feasable, I'm in from Conneaut Lake in Crawford county, PA.
Mark, we are sort of neighbors, Anxious to meet you some time.. Maybe at Mercer Junction????
Hi John!! Mercer Junction is a good choice indeed, and right off I-80!! I was also thinking of the Greenville Museum. I have never been there, have you? Both are very close to the Ohio line and good access to everyone in Ohio.
jjames9641 posted:Tom Jr. Yes, we have been very busy this year but with winter approaching things will slow down. My wife and I were at Mary Yoder's last Friday and was going to stop by but was not sure of your hours? Did not even think to call.
Allan. I agree with you about Dave at Mercer Junction great store, great owner. Have known the Tuesday guys for many years all great people!! I actually ordered the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Premier switcher from the 2019 Vol. 1 catalog from Dave yesterday. Always great service, great attitude, that is IMO why he is so successful.
Jeff
Thank you Jeff!
I travel in Ohio for business one week every month. This thread is perfect timing because I will be in the "Northern" Ohio (every city north of I70) in 2 weeks and now I have a few places to visit.
I live in Maryland, about 30 minutes from Baltimore (the east coast Cleveland - lol)
SteveC posted:I travel in Ohio for business one week every month. This thread is perfect timing because I will be in the "Northern" Ohio (every city north of I70) in 2 weeks and now I have a few places to visit.
I live in Maryland, about 30 minutes from Baltimore (the east coast Cleveland - lol)
I contend I-70 is the real Mason-Dixon line, maybe even OH SR-30 through Canton and Mansfield
We'd love to have our original Browns back. This 1999-2018 version is worse than half the high school teams in the region.
Thaddeus posted:I'm a bit outside your area, but would love to join for some of your meets. Port Clinton in not the mecca of O gauge trains!
True, but it is near the Mad River and Nickel Plate Museum which IS something. Highly recommended!
jjames9641 posted:Allan. I agree with you about Dave at Mercer Junction great store, great owner. Have known the Tuesday guys for many years all great people!! I actually ordered the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Premier switcher from the 2019 Vol. 1 catalog from Dave yesterday. Always great service, great attitude, that is IMO why he is so successful.
Jeff
I have one on order through Dave, too!
My favorite uncle, long since gone (unfortunately), was a WWI vet who spent his entire working career at YS&T, Campbell Works. He was, as I recall, a Master Electrician. Taught me how to hunt, fish, fix things, and be a decent and confident man.
Dave Warburton posted:Thaddeus posted:I'm a bit outside your area, but would love to join for some of your meets. Port Clinton in not the mecca of O gauge trains!
True, but it is near the Mad River and Nickel Plate Museum which IS something. Highly recommended!
I visited the Mad River and Nickle Plate Museum once when we were vacationing on the Marblehead Peninsula. Yes Indeed, I would defiantly recommend it too!!
raising4daughters posted:SteveC posted:I travel in Ohio for business one week every month. This thread is perfect timing because I will be in the "Northern" Ohio (every city north of I70) in 2 weeks and now I have a few places to visit.
I live in Maryland, about 30 minutes from Baltimore (the east coast Cleveland - lol)
I contend I-70 is the real Mason-Dixon line, maybe even OH SR-30 through Canton and Mansfield
We'd love to have our original Browns back. This 1999-2018 version is worse than half the high school teams in the region.
Being brought up in Steelers Country, I do indeed feel bad for Ohio losing the original Browns!!! Of course I felt bad Baltimore lost the Colts too! Hopefully there aren't any folks from Indiana reading this! 
Mark Boyce posted:raising4daughters posted:SteveC posted:I travel in Ohio for business one week every month. This thread is perfect timing because I will be in the "Northern" Ohio (every city north of I70) in 2 weeks and now I have a few places to visit.
I live in Maryland, about 30 minutes from Baltimore (the east coast Cleveland - lol)
I contend I-70 is the real Mason-Dixon line, maybe even OH SR-30 through Canton and Mansfield
We'd love to have our original Browns back. This 1999-2018 version is worse than half the high school teams in the region.
Being brought up in Steelers Country, I do indeed feel bad for Ohio losing the original Browns!!! Of course I felt bad Baltimore lost the Colts too! Hopefully there aren't any folks from Indiana reading this!
Mark, my youngest daughter just called me to ask about the city of Pittsburgh because she is interviewing for job that may ask her to move there after college. I told her it was a great city and sports town. She didn't care about the O gauge trains though.
I did tell her it's okay to root for the Pirates and the Steelers because we root for the Orioles and Redskins, but just don't wear your Caps jersey downtown. Lord Stanley - Finally!
Steve, Good advice!! Pittsburgh has a lot more to offer now than when I got out of college in '76 and had to move away because of the steel bust.
The Capitals have had so many good teams, they and the region definitely deserve to finally win!!! I'm glad for them!! In the mid '90s, we lived in Keyser, West Virginia (near Cumberland) for 3 years. That area was totally mixed, there seemed to be as much a Pittsburgh following as there was a Washington/Baltimore following. I do not know how it is now that there is baseball in both Baltimore and Washington!
I live in Poland, Ohio, close to our Editor-in-Chief, Allan Miller. Downstairs basement has been refurbished with new wiring, LED track lighting and lots of electrical outlets, all new electrical work up to code. Have the first 18 feet of benchwork finished, but am going to have Mianne-Foley do the next 30 feet. Decided I would rather do track and scenery than carpentry!
Ed Boyle, Partner/Associate Editor
O Gauge Railroading magazine
Sounds great, Ed! I finally wised up and decided to get Mianne as well. My first order should be shipping soon. I broke my plans down into three of his kits. I definitely am with you on rather do track and scenery than carpentry.
I used to drive right through Poland a lot when our older daughter was in college in Canton.
I am just east of Cleveland near I-271 and Chagrin Blvd. in Pepper Pike.
youngstown posted:I am just east of Cleveland near I-271 and Chagrin Blvd. in Pepper Pike.
Corky and Lenny’s territory. Best corned beef sandwich ever!
Clark Pa here between Hermitage and Greenville
PA Jim posted:Clark Pa here between Hermitage and Greenville
Hi Jim! So you are near Mercer Junction Train Shoppe too! It’s about 45 minutes from me
For all of you Northeast Ohio folk, there is a train show at the Highland Heights Community Center, 5827 Highland Rd., Highland Heights, OH 4143, on Saturday, November 10, 2018 from 10-4 p.m. Admission $5.00. Contact Jim Wendorf for selling tables. Table cost $25.00 each for 6' x 30" table.
I hope to see you at the show!
Mark Boyce posted:Dave Warburton posted:Thaddeus posted:I'm a bit outside your area, but would love to join for some of your meets. Port Clinton in not the mecca of O gauge trains!
True, but it is near the Mad River and Nickel Plate Museum which IS something. Highly recommended!
I visited the Mad River and Nickle Plate Museum once when we were vacationing on the Marblehead Peninsula. Yes Indeed, I would defiantly recommend it too!!
Mark, my parents owned a Hardware Store just off the corner of RT 269 & 163 called Danbury Hardware for many years. The actually purchased from my great aunt who started it in the 50's. Train O'Rama was just down the road. My wife graduated from Danbury, but I never spent much time out near the Lakeside area when I was younger.
Mad River & Nickel Plate Museum is a pretty cool place and a great place to watch trains entering and leaving the Bellevue Yard. Spent some time there last week chasing NKP 765 there. The museum should get a whole lot better in the next years time when they being back NKP 757!
The Monroeville Model Train Club is just a little further to the east from Bellevue on RT 20. They have their own building and have a couple nice layouts inside and are expanding their traveling O gauge layout. Nice group of guys, but their schedule does not work well with my work schedule. If I could only hit the lottery and retire...……...Or if my wife could get promoted.....
Thaddeus,
I have been to Train O'Rama and we used that intersection you mentioned. We went around '99 through 2004 or thereabouts. My wife's family used to go to Lakeside every year when she was growing up in the late '60s and '70s.
Sounds like there is a lot of railroad and model railroad interest in the Bellevue area.
Greetings fellow Buckeyes (and our PA friends to the East), NE Ohio native here, currently living south of Cleveland in Brecksville. I think a Forum gathering is a stellar idea, and would personally look forward to meeting some of the real people behind the familiar avatars.
Hello to all who have responded!! Looks like Mike Wyatt has put something together for Nov. 17th for a breakfast get together. I plan on opening my layout to anyone that is interested that day if time permits!!
Mark I'm just 15 min from Mercer Junction and have been there many times.
Jeff Is that a new addition?
Oh this thread is making me a little homesick!
I grew up in Northeastern Ohio, went to school in Tallmadge, after graduation, moved to Stow and then settled in Cleveland. Glen's Train Shop was my favorite store hands down. I've traveled all over the Buckeye state in various jobs, one working for a hobby distributor before moving to southern Arizona. My other favorite stores were the Whistle Stop, Falls Model Trains, Trading Post Train Shop, Depot Trains, Amer's, Boardman Hobby, Buckeye Rail and Hobby, Schaffner's and so many more. If there was a train shop or a railroading attraction in Northern Ohio I've pretty much been there.
I found the old Glens building online, to me Akron will never be the same....
PA JIM, no new additions building wise. Have made a few small changes to the layout though, the Hellgate bridge that was the so called center piece of my layout has been removed and I am currently working on installing (2) Lionel Lift bridges from the early 90's that I found BNIB's. Had some help from a couple of our friends from the Tuesday night (Greenville, PA) group build the bridge abutments & painted them for me. Plan a visit some time!!
Jeff
Jeff I was talking about what you are holding in your arms.
Jeff How did you get the Tuesday night guys to come and help? I can't even get them to come and see my layout.
Bryan H. posted:Greetings fellow Buckeyes (and our PA friends to the East), NE Ohio native here, currently living south of Cleveland in Brecksville. I think a Forum gathering is a stellar idea, and would personally look forward to meeting some of the real people behind the familiar avatars.
Bryan, My aunt and uncle lived just across the Cuyahoga River from Brecksville from '71 to 2001, when my aunt moved back to Pennsylvania. My aunt was a librarian at the Brecksville library for all that time retiring in 2001 after 66 years service as a librarian in Pennsylvania and Brecksville. We used to go visit them often.
jjames9641 posted:Hello to all who have responded!! Looks like Mike Wyatt has put something together for Nov. 17th for a breakfast get together. I plan on opening my layout to anyone that is interested that day if time permits!!
Jim, I would be happy to see your layout that day if it all works out. I plan to be at Perkins for breakfast and whatever else happens!
Next two weekends the Youngstown Model Railroad Association will be holding an open house at 751 N FOUR MILE RUN RD AUSTINTOWN OH 44515. The 2 rail O scale is in the upstairs of the building and the HO layout is downstairs. Come and join us from noon to 6 PM both Saturday and Sunday. We have made many improvements on the layout (O Scale) and we are in the middle of redoing our roundhouse and turntable. We will be installing a 11 stall roundhouse and we have already installed a Millhouse 34" turntable. Memberships are open. If you can't join us this month we have another open house the first weekend of December. Downstairs we have made more improvements to the large Steel Mill complex. Both layouts are worth the visit.
Scale City Designs posted:Next two weekends the Youngstown Model Railroad Association will be holding an open house at 751 N FOUR MILE RUN RD AUSTINTOWN OH 44515. The 2 rail O scale is in the upstairs of the building and the HO layout is downstairs.... Both layouts are worth the visit.
Indeed they are! If you are in the area, make plans to visit. I make it a point to attend each year to check out the two very large layouts and also enjoy a hot dog or two and a bag of popcorn (they sell refreshments on site). They always draw a large crowd over the three weekends. Admission is, I believe, $5 for adults.
The club--especially the O scale club--can always use new members. I have been thinking about joining myself, but for me it's a matter of finding enough time to do everything I would like to do, including working on my home layout and volunteer work at the animal shelter.
Allan you are correct admission is only 5 dollars and children are FREE a perfect opportunity to introduce the young ones to a great hobby.
We can always use new members (even an Editor in Chief) ask any member for a application. Red or Grey shirts with YMRA on them . I will be wearing a Black Scale City shirt tomorrow make sure you introduce yourself. Also check out the new downtown area with Ameritown Buildings. (Free plug for Allan).
I made the trip over to the Youngstown Model Railroad Association from Butler, Pennsylvania a few years ago! It was well worth the trip! I talked with a few members, but have no idea who they were now. 
Sounds like I need to make another appearance and see what's new!!! It is actually almost the same length trip for me as the Pittsburgh area events; a little over an hour!
Thank you for the the tip that it is open house time again!!
Mark Boyce posted:Bryan, My aunt and uncle lived just across the Cuyahoga River from Brecksville from '71 to 2001, when my aunt moved back to Pennsylvania. My aunt was a librarian at the Brecksville library for all that time retiring in 2001 after 66 years service as a librarian in Pennsylvania and Brecksville. We used to go visit them often.
I bet your aunt helped me with research from time to time. I attended Brecksville High School '79-'83 and used the library often.
raising4daughters posted:Mark Boyce posted:Bryan, My aunt and uncle lived just across the Cuyahoga River from Brecksville from '71 to 2001, when my aunt moved back to Pennsylvania. My aunt was a librarian at the Brecksville library for all that time retiring in 2001 after 66 years service as a librarian in Pennsylvania and Brecksville. We used to go visit them often.I bet your aunt helped me with research from time to time. I attended Brecksville High School '79-'83 and used the library often.
Yes, she probably did help you. She loved research on any topic! Twila Bakken is her name, she will be 93 in January.
Allan Miller posted:Scale City Designs posted:Next two weekends the Youngstown Model Railroad Association will be holding an open house at 751 N FOUR MILE RUN RD AUSTINTOWN OH 44515. The 2 rail O scale is in the upstairs of the building and the HO layout is downstairs.... Both layouts are worth the visit.
Indeed they are! If you are in the area, make plans to visit. I make it a point to attend each year to check out the two very large layouts and also enjoy a hot dog or two and a bag of popcorn (they sell refreshments on site). They always draw a large crowd over the three weekends. Admission is, I believe, $5 for adults.
The club--especially the O scale club--can always use new members. I have been thinking about joining myself, but for me it's a matter of finding enough time to do everything I would like to do, including working on my home layout and volunteer work at the animal shelter.
I think it's great that most, perhaps all, of the OGR Magazine leadership are hobbyists themselves, with their own home layouts. Arnold
Thanks to the moderators for letting us go a little off train topics as NE Ohio O Gauge enthusiasts get to know each other.
Will be paying a visit to the Youngstown Model Railroad Association's annual open house tomorrow (Sunday).
This is a group that will (I hope) enjoy meeting and doing some things train-related.
On the 17th, we will
- look to the coming months, and
- set up a schedule and hosts(esses). We will need to move it around to different areas, with a different host setting things up each time.
- We will poll all attendees as to whether (a) we do this 12 months? (b) whether Saturdays or some other day fits most peoples' schedule and (c) best time. I wouldn't want to get in the way of guy's who still work!!
I thought each time three things:
- Breakfast - Discussion of some topic. - A visit to either a layout, a store, show, or display, etc.
For December 15 I will set up a breakfast at Mary Yoder's Amish Kitchen in Middlefield, a topic and then a tour of Center Field RR Museum in Middlefield.
Topic Ideas: Ideally one person who has considerable experience in that area can lead the topic and the rest chime in.
- mixing of post-war "traditional" Lionel w/ other product lines. Example- I bought a Lionel Pacific Fruit Express Reefer, and the thing looks HUGE with my traditional postwar cars. Yet at York, I bought a weathered Atlas O 50' boxcar, and it looks OK- juuust a little big. Should we go by the description - "50' boxcar" or the era the model was made??
- Lionel Legacy vs. MTH DCS
- Electronics- changing over to LEDs
- Upgrading locomotives PS-1 to later; etc.
Mike
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