Buying Trains Online

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

Hello Everyone

I recently moved into an area, with little to no hobby shops. Im guessing Im now going to have to buy online. Do many modellers buy online? Any tips or suggestions or caustions? Any good ones to buy off? I looked at Caboose Hobbies website, mighty impressive.

Thanks

Caso

2

I have bought stuff from caboose. Excellent service and fast shipping. Great prices. A class act all the way.

Lillen

3

Caso,

Are you looking/wanting to buy:

  • supplies?

  • locomotives?

  • rolling stock?

  • kits?

  • DC/DCC systems & supplies

  • all the above?
    Tom

4

Everything

I recently purchases a ranch farm house. Im planning on building a work shop, which will have a wood work shop, I want to have my laout out there. My wife told, no way can I have in the house. See doesn’t care about this new building. We are using a wood furance, and natural gas for heating. My layout if I plan the building right will be:

62 by 50 or about.

So we are talking about huge layout.

5

Okay, here’s my list:

Supplies, rolling stock, and kits

Caso, this one that I can’t help you much on. I usually buys these at my LHS to help support them as much as possible. I also like to double-check the BLT and NEW dates on the rolling stock kits before I buy to make sure that the cars fit in my era. Even with kits now becoming more difficult to find, I still check the RTR cars through the viewing window.

Locomotives

  • Empire Northern Models - Tim Smith has some of the best prices around. He’s also very knowledgeable about DCC and installations.
  • M.B. Klein - A place for good and great deals. Has the advantage of seeing exactly what particular item and how many they presently have in stock. Very easy to order online. The inventory number is “live” on the web site. Once you purchase the last one of a particular item, it disappears from the inventory list. That’s a great feature!
  • Trainworld.com - They aren’t quite as easy to order from as M.B. Klein but you can still get some good to great deals from them.
  • Tony’s Train Exchange - Good pricing and informative.

DC/DCC systems & supplies

  • Empire Northern Models - As I stated before, Tim is real knowledgeable (especially about DCC), does VERY nice work, and has some of the best pricing around.
  • Litchfield Station - Bruce Petrara is also ver
6

I hope you have a large bank account before starting that kind of project! :stuck_out_tongue:

-beegle55

7

Caso,

I had replied to your earlier post. Yes we are limited in this area but Broughdale is worth checking out. If they do not have what you want they will order it for you. Also as previously mentioned if you don’t mind a drive of an hour to two there are a number of hobby shops in the Toronto Area. Also keep your eye out for the local shows. The Woodstock Show is coming up at the end of April and another in St. Thomas in May. There’s a host of others throughout the year.

GUB

8

Hey Gub

I contacted a local shop near me called “Otter Valley Railroad”. about stuff.

You know anything about them?

Your right this layout is gonna cost some serious cash, I recieved some big bonuses and stock options in the last year. i love trains. I could always start a train investment plan, like a mutual fund.

9

Standard Hobby Supply
Ramsey, NJ

http://www.standardhobby.com

They carry all guages and different companies, cheap and next day shipper. Use internet or call they have a 1-800 number. Also a downloadable catalog free.

10

You might note that there IS a search option for these forums.

Here’s a link to one of the most recent of about a zillion threads on this subject: http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1050486/ShowPost.aspx

11

I have purchased from caboose hobbies and have had excellent results using them unlike internettrains.com avoid them like the plague