I will spend 2 weeks in Virginia Beach starting August 29. Too bad I will depart prior the Tidewater train show. I visited that show in 2009 and it was not bad at all.
My question is, which of the many hobby shops in the area, are the best for quality Ho trains.
Thanks in advance.
The pickings are kind of slim in Hampton Roads.
There is The Engine House on bonnie rd in VB; Dale’s Train Station in Norfolk, and Davis Hobbies over in P-Town.
Not sure about the place in Denbigh or near downtown newport news (can’t remember the name of either)
Thanks, I took note.
I second The Rock’s suggestions…pickings on this side of the Roads are rather slim.
Dale’s specializes in LGB and large scale and has a toy museum attached, Davis is an old skool shop that is probably your best bet (even though the Davis’s have now passed away), The Engine House has a good mix of scales and you can get pretty good advice there too with the added benefit that it is right next door to a large antique mall so the wife can stay happy while you look at trains. The Engine House is right off of VA Beach Blvd, Dale’s is a little further up Va Beach Blvd just on the Norfolk side at Military Circle, and Davis’ is across the river in P-town. If you go to Davis’ then be sure to see the Children’s Museum right up the road- it houses a truly massive collection of Lionel that is well worth seeing and there is a rail museum around the corner near the ampitheater.
Norfolk Southern corporate HQ in downtown Norfolk has a small but interesting rail museum that is free to the public (look for the Emerald Tower). Not much else around that I would bother with.