WHAT WERE YOUR FAVORITE TRAIN STORES AS A CHILD?

Both the Lionel and American Flyer/Gilbert showrooms/stores in New York City.

I used to go to Street Hobbies  (Al Street the Train Man) in Columbus, Ohio as a kid. I was into HO at the time and he had a great selection of HO stuff. Also did repairs on my locomotives too.

handyandy posted:

I used to go to Street Hobbies  (Al Street the Train Man) in Columbus, Ohio as a kid. I was into HO at the time and he had a great selection of HO stuff. Also did repairs on my locomotives too.

Was that the train store in the basement of a hardware store, located just down the street from the big Lazarus store??

I remember a shop in the basement there that was packed with Lionel items. This was back in the 50's and early 60's.

Jeff

Jack Colliers Toys For Men in SF and Lees Trains in Oakland,a long time ago.

Mikey

Growing up in Cleveland, The Hobby House on Huron Road was the place to go.

I also fondly remember going to Jay and Jay Trains in Euclid, OH with my grandparents.  Smaller selection but it was closer to home and didn't require driving downtown.

My father always took me to Potomac Trading, years and years ago. Still there although it has been years since I've walked through the door.

Our local "chain" was my favorite when into HO, N, and G.

When I got back into O (as a "big kid"), Engine House Hobbies and even more so, Catoctin Mountain Trains. Sure wish I could still walk in the door of Catoctin Mountain Trains!

H.L. Child n Son in Northampton, Ma

Long gone

Sears Roebuck & Company in Steubenville, OH.

George

Dennis GS-4 N & W No. 611 posted:

Growing up in the Detroit area, the Downtown Hudson's Store, and Lopo's cameras and Trains were my favorites.  The downtown Hudson's store had a huge number of Lionel trains for sale, particularly at Christmas.  Hudson's was the large department store in Detroit.

Les Gordon's Trains and Kelly's Koin Kupboard here in Indianapolis. One memory of Les Gorden's was the large pile of Girl's Train Set's he had in the late 50's that were marked $15. He ended up painting several just to get them sold. Both places (and owners) are long gone now.

Steve

Besides the train shop in Columbus Ohio, I mentioned above, my favorite shop in my hometown of Marietta, Ohio, was Swan Hardware. The toy dept. was upstairs on the 2nd floor. Always a nice Lionel Dealer display layout there, and a good stock of the latest Lionel items.

On Lake Street, Minneapolis. Long gone now, of course...

Number one on the list in NYC was Madison Hardware, my favorite bar none. The second was close to where I lived on Long Island which was Willis Hobbies. Willis did not have much O gauge stuff, but was very strong on HO, which I was also into as a kid.

In the 50's, I went to Trost Hobbies at 63rd and Kedzie on the southwest side of Chicago. Most of my original trains were bought there, and I remember perusing Model Railroader and being disappointed that the pictures only showed trains on two rail track. The store closed in 2006 after a 78 year run, and the space is now occupied by a Mexican Bakery.

Mill City posted:

Dennis GS-4 N & W No. 611 posted:

Growing up in the Detroit area, the Downtown Hudson's Store, and Lopo's cameras and Trains were my favorites.  The downtown Hudson's store had a huge number of Lionel trains for sale, particularly at Christmas.  Hudson's was the large department store in Detroit.

 

WOW!  Thanks Mill City.  Brings back some great memories.

mowingman posted:

handyandy posted:

I used to go to Street Hobbies  (Al Street the Train Man) in Columbus, Ohio as a kid. I was into HO at the time and he had a great selection of HO stuff. Also did repairs on my locomotives too.

Was that the train store in the basement of a hardware store, located just down the street from the big Lazarus store??

I remember a shop in the basement there that was packed with Lionel items. This was back in the 50's and early 60's.

Jeff

No, this shop was out on West Broad Street in the '70's and '80's.

AMER's, A mile or so south of the market street bridge in Youngstown, Ohio.

SMC Model RR Center  SI, NY

Berkshire President posted:

Growing up in Cleveland, The Hobby House on Huron Road was the place to go.

I also fondly remember going to Jay and Jay Trains in Euclid, OH with my grandparents.  Smaller selection but it was closer to home and didn't require driving downtown.

Jaye and Jaye was my go-to store growing up in the Cleveland area in the 1950's. Very fond memories of the place. Nice layout running in the rear of the store, too.