Train Stop San Dimas, CA Reopens With Pauls Attic Blowout Sale

Wow! I always loved going to that place when I was a kid.

Randall,

 

For those of us that don't live in the area or state and can't make it, how do we get in on the action if we can't call?  The store's website does not have a cart that you can place any wanted items in.  You always had to call them directly to place your order.

Randall, Is there an inventory list posted some where? Also I am like Blue_Line, don't live anywhere close but could be intrested if  they have some particular items. Thanks

Most of the stuff going outside are items that are one of a kind things that would have taken too long to inventory so what we did was fill a box with say twenty Lionel locomotives and give it an approximate value. For example the box with the twenty locomotives has everything from 1060 plastic 0-4-0's to a 226E. There is a HO box with fifty Athearn freight cars that have been run but have Kadee couplers and after market sprung trucks. There is so much stuff that it would take months to list all of it on a individual basis. That's why this will be a blast, since you get to paw through the boxes and stacks of other merchandise and make your best deal.

 

Now, if the store re-opens (I am speaking for myself here and not the management) due to the completeness of the inventory there is the possibility to put a list up on the web site. NO PROMISES HERE, SO DON'T CALL OR EMAIL AND SAY THAT I SAID THIS WILL HAPPEN.

 

Anyway if you are in the area come on down, I am sure just about anybody will be able to find something they want at a great price.

 

Regards,

Randall

Wish it wasn't a 7 hour drive.

Or in my case, 2200 miles!

 

My sister used to live in Claremont, California when she attended college there. I used to drop into the Train Stop when I was a kid from time to time when I was yougner. I loved it!! I have a Lionel Nickel Plate Road Flat with Trailers (1988 catalog) that I remember buying there. Man it was jammed with stuff and that was in the late 80's!!

Went to the train shop sale today 6-2-12 and there was a large crowd.  waited 20 minutes to check out, well worth it. spent around a hundred bucks.  there was one person that had a large stack behind the check out area, they were adding to the stack the whole time we were there.  lots of great deals, but I am afraid there will not be much left for Sunday.  Saw a sign that said the train shop will re-open on June 27, 2012 and this might be why any new items were not available today.

Although there are days when I feel that my memory isn't quite like it once was, the name Paul Kirby is a familiar one.  And if I'm not mistaken, this might have been the gentleman (or one of them) involved in building the former Frank Sinatra train layout that was a somewhat compressed version of the 1949 Lionel showroom layout. The layout was featured in a TM book and then later part of a video that highlighted some of those layouts from the book.

 

I seem to also recall the book or video mentioning that Paul delivered Frank an SP Daylight passenger set around the Christmas holidays, and it became a favorite of Sinatra's trains back then (which would have been in the 1980's).

 

Can anyone confirm if I'm correct?  At the very least, it will make me feel better that this cookie is still pretty sharp when it come to things I really enjoy - like this wonderful hobby!  

Rocky Mountaineer, you are correct in that Paul Kirby and his employee did build the former Frank Sinatra Layout at the Sinatra home in Rancho Mirage, Calif.  Wheather or not Paul delivered a Daylight train to him on Christmas, I do not know.  I do know that Paul supplied him with some of his trains and accesories though.  You are correct again in your belief that the layout was based on the Lionel Showroom layout of the late 40's and 50's.  A friend of mine was doing train repairs for Paul during this time so we got a little feedback on how construction was going as the layout progressed.  I even got to polish some of the accessories that were going on the layout.  Woop-de-do!  As far as I know the layout still exist with the new owner of the property.  TV personality, Huel Howser did a show about the layout and the whole compound once.

 

Ray

Visited this morning after seeing a flyer at the Ontario train show which seemed mostly N gauge. 

 

They had a few good things left as I'm sure most  of it  went Saturday.  Very good  discounts and kind staff. 

 

I hope  the shop continues as mentioned before there's a lot to see (not a lot of train shops around the area).

 

Best wishes to the family and good luck,

 

James

 

Interestingly enough, I tripped across the store's website tonight while searching for something, and their site showed up in a Google search.  The website home page does indicate that the store will re-open on 6/27. 

 

Can those of you "in the know" locally out West confirm something for me?  There's a comment with the re-opening notice that "all sales are final"... so is this a continuation of a going-out-of-business sale?  And is the stock they're selling simply left-over stock from what didn't sell at the "Paul's Attic Blowout Sale" a couple of weeks ago?  Or did they hold back inventory from the attic sale that they are now selling when "the store re-opens"?  Just curious... 'cause the website shows they may have something I'm searching for, but I'm not even sure if their website is accurate in terms of inventory availability, or if they'll be selling items at any type of discount from what's listed online.  I'll probably have no way of knowing for sure until I can call them on 6/27.  The website indicates no email or fax correspondence until 6/27... so they're really closed until 6/27.

 

Just curious... thanks if anyone has any further info.

 

David

I am sorry it has taken so long to reply to this thread and the private emails sent by several forum members, but we have been a little busy. The parking lot sale was a huge success from every aspect, sales, inventory moved, attendance (even Mike Reagan from Lionel showed up), and a whole lot of fun. Out of over three hundred boxes of stuff we had to pack up about a dozen large banker boxes at the end of the day on Sunday. All of that merchandise will be going to the Southwestern and Southern Pacific TTOS meets until it is gone.

 

Now that the inventory process is finally done, the store will reopen on June 27, 2012. The store hours are 10am to 5pm Wednesday through Saturday. Everything in the store is on sale. As far as the tinplate side of the store is concerned locos, rolling stock, and accessories are 20% off. The collectable room inventory has been replenished and is also at 20% off. We accept cash, Visa, Mastercard only, no checks. All sales are final. We will also be selling parts, paper, catalogs and other collectables. All of the showcases throughout the store have been packed with inventory, and nothing is being held back. We are hoping to be able to put the inventory on the web site, but as the site is currently configured we are unable to do so. We are working on the problem so please bear with us. Customers can call or email starting on the 27th and we will check the stock. We will not hold merchandise.

 

I have added several photographs of the tinplate side of the store so you can see a sample of how much there is in the store.

 

Regards,

Randall

Good Day, 

 

What is the e-mail address for an inquiry on stock?

 

Regards, 

Swafford

It's on the internet!

 

http://www.trainstop.com/