Which Hobby Stores In Your Area Have a Good, Regularly Refreshed Selection Of Postwar Trains?

Since Empire trains began regularly stocking Postwar steamers, I have waded back in and am enjoying the locos.  The owner frequently does a mechanical check and fix, so that is an added plus.  I completely rebuilt my layout to eliminate two duck-unders, so I presently don't have a layout with wide radius curves for now.

As stated above, its fun to see the new Postwar arrive, since there is no way to predict product availability for these trains.

Lou1985 posted:

Berwyn's Toy Trains in Berwyn, IL has a good selection of Postwar that changes regularly. They also have a good selection of modern Lionel, MTH, and Atlas O. 

Tom at Berwyn’s has some AMAZING postwar. Not only is it everywhere, but also refreshed often with stock from in back.

Sam Jumper posted:

Lou1985 posted:

Berwyn's Toy Trains in Berwyn, IL has a good selection of Postwar that changes regularly. They also have a good selection of modern Lionel, MTH, and Atlas O. 

Tom at Berwyn’s has some AMAZING postwar. Not only is it everywhere, but also refreshed often with stock from in back.

Very lucky to have 3 LHS that have a very nice selction of both used postwar and used modern, Berwyn Toy Trains, Chicagoland Toys and Hobbies and America's Best Train, all about 20-30 minutes from me.

Not exactly on topic, but  Does anyone remember Trin Collector's Warehouse in Prsippany NJ?

are they still in business? 

that place was immense  in postwar Lionel.

i visited in early 80's and bought a perfect 2332! I had never seen so much PW!

Spelling correction, Train Collectors Warehouse.

The Train Collectors Warehouse is still very much in business.

Tony H posted:

Sam Jumper posted:

Lou1985 posted:

Berwyn's Toy Trains in Berwyn, IL has a good selection of Postwar that changes regularly. They also have a good selection of modern Lionel, MTH, and Atlas O. 

Tom at Berwyn’s has some AMAZING postwar. Not only is it everywhere, but also refreshed often with stock from in back.

Very lucky to have 3 LHS that have a very nice selction of both used postwar and used modern, Berwyn Toy Trains, Chicagoland Toys and Hobbies and America's Best Train, all about 20-30 minutes from me.

True. It's not common to have 3 good hobby shops in one area. I go to Berwyn's Toy Trains more than the other two, because it's less than 15 minutes from my house. Too bad I don't buy much Postwar as they have a great selection. 

With the closing of the Big Little Railroad Shop in Somerville, sadly there are no more hobby or train shops within a 15 mile radius of here.  I would periodically stop at that store for accessories, track and scenic supplies and  Jan the owner was always helpful and pleasant. Like many in the hobby, Jan was a senior citizen and I would imagine that the rigors of running a retail store was getting too demanding for her and she just retired.

Prit'thee, you jest?  There ain't nair'n.

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

I have been finding recently that at least two of the hobby shops in our area have been buying postwar trains and keeping a reasonably good selection for display and sale.  My sense is that the selection has become better over time.  This makes each visit a bit more of an adventure, more than merely looking at the episodic arrival of new product from current manufacturers.

The two hobby shops where I have recently noticed this influx are Great Lakes Hobby in Sterling Heights, MI, and Empire Hobby and Train in Troy, MI.

Perhaps this is a recent anomaly, but I suspect that more of the Baby Boomers are "culling the Herd", as one of my friends used to say, for a variety of reasons, or, their families are now selling their trains and equipment since they are no longer being used.

Are other Forum Members noticing a similar pattern?  And, which hobby stores in your areas (or travels) have a good, regularly refreshed selection of Postwar Trains?  In this regard the hobby stores in our area seem to have a greater selection of Lionel, American Flyer, and Marx.

 

English's Model Railroad (home of Bowser) in Montoursville, PA !!! In fact my last purchase was a 1930's prewar standard gauge engine with three cars and a caboose. But, they have a wall dedicated to older O and S stuff - much post war. I have some of those in O.