After 77 years English’s Model Railroad Supply is closing.
English’s Model RR has been an area fixture as the place in Central Pennsylvannia to buy toy trains as well as other hobby supplies including Model Kits and Rockets.
Founded in Sunbury PA, Lew and Shirlee English operated a hobby shop from their home’s basement. Over the years it grew and eventually found a permanent home in Montoursville PA.
Very disappointing. The store was an occasional but predictable stop for me when passing through the area, always a treat, and my preferred retail shop. I especially liked the helpful and knowledgeable staff and the very large supply of detail parts that one actually could see in person before buying. The large, “actually on the shelf to see it before buying” inventory was old-school and enjoyable, plus there was the option of access to the very large inventory of the mail order side of the business (sometimes a staffer would disappear into the rear of the building to find what I wanted). The little Bowser “scratch and dent/returned items” sale shelf yielded some nice, serviceable items as well. I’m not sure what will replace it, regionally, for me.
To clarify comments made above, Lewis K. English, Sr. and Shirley (or Shirlee, spelling?) English are both deceased by a few years now. They purchased Bowser from the original owner of that company many years ago and subsequently also purchased many other model train companies from yesterday. Ownership passed to their sons, one of which is now also retired from working.
Bowser itself is NOT closing but ONLY the retail store. People will be able to continue ordering Bowser products either through their extensive dealer network, or through their internet/mail order outlet (in existence for many years) known as Toy Train Heaven, and certainly easy to find online.
Though I as someone who literally grew up in that store (since age 5, my parents would often leave me there while out shopping–times were different then) will miss it very much, and their excellent service, the fact is there are still other good train stores remaining in Central Pennsylvania who would love to assist any customers who still prefer to buy in person when possible: The Station, just a few minutes from downtown Harrisburg, in New Cumberland, PA, White Rose Hobbies, in York, PA, Tommy Gilbert’s in Gettysburg, PA, and Mainline Hobbies in Blue Ridge Summit, PA. Unfortunately for some from northern PA or Canada, all of those stores are 90 miles or more farther south from Montoursville, PA, where English’s is located, but nevertheless they will still be around to serve in person customers. (Lots of Canadian customers patronized English’s through the years, perhaps due to proximity to US 15, a major north/south artery).
I have too many fine memories of 50 years of being a customer (and briefly once upon a time an employee of the English’s during my college years), so I am very very sad to see it go.
I was talking about the shop. Not the Bowser company. They had some of the best prices for Bowser cars but also had the hard to find S service cars and the Buy war bond H21 hoppers.
I’ve been going there for ages, but the last time was just before Covid appeared, and I haven’t yet made it down there again. I do have a good friend nearby in Ohio, and may try to get down there before the snow flies. Had a nice hour & a-half chat with him last night, though.
My longtime friend is in East Palestine, but when I first met him he was in Kiski Junction, running an excursion train between a steel plant and a coal mine, but as far as I know, all of that track has been ripped-up, and the access bridges either scrapped or no longer useable. He’s long retired, but did show up here in Southern Ontario last year, for a few days.
Thanks, Wayne. You might have mentioned your friend’s whereabouts before, as I kinda thought he might be somewhere in the Youngstown area. Not too bad of a drive from where you’re at.
I hope you’re able to see him before it gets cold. Life-long friends are worth keeping in contact with. Phone calls are great but in-person is always more enjoyable. [:D]