Any modelers in the Alton, IL area?

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

And if you do live in Alton, have you ever been to the Green Caboose hobby shop?

2

I live about 15 miles from Alton. I went to the Green Caboose one time about 2 years ago, but was not all that impressed. I have made no effort to back. The store I really like to go to is K-10 in Maryville, IL. This is a small store with a good stock and exvellent prices.

3

I live in Edwardsville… and have been to both. K-10 is my preference, I do a lot of business there. Ken and the gang are excellent help.

4

http://www.k-10smodeltrains.com/

Go to Kens on the first Sunday of each month. Next Sunday for example. The layout room is open and operating. The store is open as well. At 60’ x 80’ the layout is well worth a visit.

5

I’m pretty much limited to going to the Green Caboose since that’s the closest shop to me, unless I go to Springfield or Quincy.

The way gas prices are going though, I’ll probably mail-order or go to any train shop in the area when I can’t go there.

6

Hey Christopher, I understand, especially if you have to have someone drive you about. However, this weekend would be a great one to make the extra 20 mile drive to come to the Maryville, Collinsville area. The NMRA mid west region trainshow is going on in Collinsville Friday thru Sunday and the then K-10’s has an opperating schedule on the layout on Sunday afternoon in Maryville. One of the best weekends in the Metro East for model trains the whole year!! I think the NMRA is having an “official” layout visit to Kens on Thursday.

7

I’m trying to convince my parents to take me to Alton tomorrow-I want to get a BLI Heavy Mikado sometime.[8D]
Maybe when the GATS show comes to Collinsville this fall, I’ll see if I can go to K-10.

8

Unless you had the BLI on order, there is a good chance that the stores will not have them on the shelf. I would call ahead to see if they have them in stock. As an FYI, Ken at K-10 generally has a 20% discount from list price on items. Could be worth a call as that would be a big chunk on $200. I purchased a Heavy MIke myself a few weeks back. I would check it before you buy. I did not and mine did not work out of the box and had to go back to BLI. Mine was a Q model. It took weeks to get it back from them. The new supply of Q BLI MIkes came in last week at BLI so now would be a great time to get one ordered.