Ok, Im having a little trouble, and im hoping anyone out there in the bay area can help me.
I cannot find any aristocraft 10’ diameter track anywhere. (I think USA track is almost identical… so that would work to) Not at talbots, the train shop, chan’s trains, hobbytown usa, franciscan hobbies, or tin plate junction. Those are all the hobby shops I know of here in the bay area, near san francisco (within 30-45 min drive)
Is there a hobby shop that I am missing, or anywhere else besides the internet I can find some track? Franciscan Hobbies even said their supplier has nothing over 8 feet. Is there a reason for the shortage?
If your local shop is on the ball, when you tell them that Aristo has it on the in stock list they can order it drop shipped to you! If they won’t do that, time to deal elsewhere!
Because my hobby shop did not have, and was unable to get me 10’ diameter curves in brass, i did look and call elsewhere. But every single hobby shop within 1 hours drive had to order it, and thats where the hobby store advantage is gone. Yes its great to look at the product, and test/inspect it before buying, and I do prefer buying at a store, but If I have to wait for my hobby shop to order it, then mark it up, and sell it to me, whats the advantage? I would save both time and money buying it over the internet.
I was just hoping some store had something. Ill keep looking, and google-ing to find more hobby stores in the area.
Is there a place that has a list of hobby stores? I have already called franciscan hobbies, talbots, the train shop, tin plate junction, hobbytown, chan’s train.
Please let me know if there are any LHS that I have left out that may carry brass track.
If not, I guess ill buy it online… but I wonder how much shipping would cost…
You’ve been to every place I know of around the Bay Area. For all the time and energy you’ve put into getting something as simple as track, you could have ordered online and saved a boatload in markup.
Even with shipping, you’ll probably save a lot of money by buying online. New track doesn’t seem like the kind of product you need to test/inspect before purchase anyway.
Well, I didnt really GO to all those places, i called … so no gas money wasted there, only the time it took to call them. The only reason I preferred buying in the store was that I was told that some track came with deformed ties and that they were not molded correctly. Not sure which brand of track though …but maybe that was a one time problem. If I dont find it this week, ill get it online.
Thanks! I didnt even know about them. They have some really good prices. The price for track is even cheaper than trainworld, which usually can’t be beat. Hopefully my track arrives soon!
Sounds like a rumor a “brand L” guy would spread about “brand A”.
Ridge Road Station is always my number 1 go to (always great service). I just ordered a couple of cases of AMS track from them. The reason I mentioned the others is that they usually have similar pricing and are a thousand or two miles closer to you. That can make a big difference in shipping costs.
Aristo-Craft have a track SALE this month and next month. The details are in their web site (consumer sales and special offers tab). You might not need that amount, however, but it is just a thought.
I placed an order for track online from WholeSale Trains last week and it arrived a couple of days ago. Aristo track and no problem with the quality. The track connectors are not quite matchable with the old supply of LGB track that I have on hand but thats not really a problem as the connectors on the Aristo are better anyway and getting connectors to mate the two brands isn’t a problem if I dig in my parts box.
I see that you are up in San Jose. At least you folks have shops up there that sell train stuff and you also have the BAGRS club. Down here in the Monterey Area people don’t seem to know what G is and as far as any decent hobby shops go forget it. Only myself and another guy here run backyard railroads that I know of. Life here is lile living in the wilderness [:(!]