I notice that some companys are exceding the bar as far as shipping etc. This might get locked but I will risk it. My favorites are Train World for bargins, Model Train Stuff for stuff just released, Yankee Dabler for decoders and such and just started using Linchfield Station for other DCC related stuff, real cheap shipping here so good place to go if you need 1 or 2 items. Unfortinally I can’t recommend any b&b anymore, most have left my area and the remaining ones just don’t cut it.
My old LHS back n Massachusetts was my favorite. He gave me very good prices on expensive stuff like locomotives, and the tiny shop was always well stocked. Unfortunately, the landlord of his little strip mall got greedy, jacked up the rent and it became time to retire. I could order stuff from Walthers through him, get any sale prices they offered, and pay no shipping.
I’ve also bought from Trainworld. They have great prices, often have items that are sold out everywhere else, and on at least two occasions I’ve ordered on Wednesday evening and had trains delivered the next day.
- Litchfield Station for DCC decoders and supplies - Good prices and VERY reasonable and quick S&H
- Model Train Stuff for their “live” inventory - S&H is kinda stiff for one item so I try to order several items to make it worth while.
- eBay - Yankee Dabbler
- Stewart’s Hobbies for brick 'n mortar/hands-on/see-in-person/order from Walthers
My go-to outlet is Model Train Stuff (MB Klein). Unfortunately, they do not do pre-ordering (a long time ago, they actually did). For pre-ordering, I like Tony’s Train Exchange in Vermont (tonystrains.com). Their prices beat most of their competitors. E.g., for the upcoming BLI ATSF class 4000 Mikado, the list price is $500. Most dealers charge $400 or more. Tonystrains price is $370.
For brass, brasstrains.com is the go-to store; they have by far the biggest collection and the most used merchandise. Especially for pre-orders, another reliable and often well-priced source is BPL Brassworks.
My local shop is Just Trains in Concord CA. It’s an excellent shop. And there’s a nice big test layout to play with. I mostly pre-order stuff.
Down in Santa Clara CA (right near San Jose) is The Train Shop, another excellent store. I used to go there regularly, but it’s a 45 minute drive. Just Trains is about 20 minutes.
Franciscan Hobbies in San Francisco used to be fun, but it went radically downhill when Bill Gunther died.
Berkeley Hardware in Berkeley CA has its moments. Right now, parking is difficult, so I tend not to drop by. They used to have their own parking lot. Not a GREAT store, but: “has its moments”.
Because of my local shop(s), I don’t do much mail order. I’ve used Trainworld, and like them. For DCC stuff, I usually use Litchfield, rather than go through my shop. Brass, I’ve ordered through my local shop.
Ed
I find the attitude a bit much at The Train Shop, had issues at Just trains too but I understand the original owners sold out. Fransiscan was great but that went away a long time ago (did you used to go across the street for foot & half burritos). Didn’t know Berkeley was still arround, thought they closed when they had to move. Used to like J & M but they are gone and things there changed long ago there too but the owner was super nice.
Trains & Such is my LHS. Been there for 50 years or so. Very good store. Stocks good quality used stuff. Stocks pretty much all the current new offerings. Will order and pre-order for you. Has an on line and eBay presence. Very knowledgable and enthusiastic staff.
Do you mean b&m (brick and mortar)? Unfortunately we haven’t had a good one around here (Middle Tennessee) in years.
Yeah, sorry about that, I know I should not try and do two things at once.
I haven’t been to The Train Shop much since Vern Cole died (seems like a popular pastime these days), so I don’t know much about their attitude.
I phoned up a couple of
Favorite story of when I was the Berkeley Hardware train department:
At the time, it was back in the corner, on the main floor. I’m going about my business, and I see a guy that keeps being sent in my direction by the floor staff. He gets to me and says: “My wife has died. I need some lime to bury her.” My quick-thinking mind responds: “I think you’ll be wanting building supplies. Try Ashby Lumber.” He says thanks and walks out.
Ed
My go to brick and mortor hobby shop is Cedar Creek Hobbies in Kingsville, Ontario. They provide good service and they are very friendly to deal with. Between my old train club and my own personal purchases, I have spent several thousand dollars with them over the past five years. I just ordered 9 Loksound V5 decoders from them. I’m sure that made their day!
Unfortunately they are a 4 1/2 hour drive from here so I have only been to the shop in person a couple of times when we were birding at Point Pelee which is close by. That’s a good thing because I don’t have the opportunity to go nuts buying stuff in the store if I can’t get there![swg][(-D][(-D][(-D]
One of their employees is Mark R. who is a frequent contributor to the forums.
Dave
I’m with Tom on this and to make it even more worthwhile, because we can bring into the country goods valued up to around US$285.00 (depends on the exchange rate) without invoking our 15% sales tax, I try to purchase enough items that come to just under that value.
Cheers, the Bear.[:)]
Factory Direct Trains Excellent service to date, at least five steamers from them.
Tony’s Train Exchange - I believe Tom got one of his Trix Mikados from them, and I quickly followed suit when he spilled the beans. Suhhhhhweeeet deal it was, too. I have ordered decoders and other things over the years.
Let’s not forget Micro Mark! Very strong service for me to date.
BLI’s own ‘refurbished deals’ found at the left hand index on their home page. Ya gotta look!
MB Klein’s, of course.
I order a surprising amount of stuff direct from Walthers. Very commendable service from them.
I ordered Modellbahn Ott’s last Trix GG1 about twelve years ago or so. Treated very well. Unfortunately, and I don’t have any experience with this, but I think that one model is beginning to show zinc pest, slight whitening on the surface, but that’s not his fault.
I got good service from the gentleman at traintrack.net years ago. I think he’s still going…haven’t looked in a while.
The nice folks at Cripple Bush sent me a very nice rock cut face in molded rubber. No complaints. Same for Micro Engineering: called them to ask for missing parts on the combination girder bridge I had on my second layout. No questions asked, I had them in two weeks in Canada. Both BLI and Walthers have each shipped missing/replacement parts if they had them, in BLI’s case no charge…and they replaced a Niagara Paragon decoder no charge…my fault, too. [*-)]
I haven’t dealt with them yet, but they ‘seem’ to be a good outfit, some blowout prices on decent stuff if you keep an eye: hogtrainz.
Toytrainheaven is Bowser’s site, or it was. Seem to be a decent site, reasonable prices, I’m guessing they do good business.
I have two model railway shops near me. When passing them I would call in (even if I did not want anything).
At one shop the owner did not like it me calling in and not buying (although many times I did buy). One day I wanted to ask the owner a question about a locomotive he was selling. He ignored me by continuing to talk to his colleague about what they were doing that night. He lost a potential sale as I walked out and have never returned.
At the other shop, ‘Pooley’s Puffers’ run by Dave Pooley, the attitude is completely different.
He is polite and engaging even if I say ‘I am just passing and having a look’. Okay, he knows there is no sale, but he knows I come back and do buy. He knows what my layout is all about and lets me know if I am interested in any items ‘just arrived’. If I am interested, they are ‘put to one side’ for me to collect later. Great service.
David
My fav shops thru the years was Watts Train Shop(G scale and nolonger in business) St Aubin and Ridge Road station(all gone and were G scale shops), Zionsville Train Depot, Norms Train N’ Connection and Train Central(all local shops), Brasstrains, ReSourced Rails(for brass models) and ebay when all else fails as I do enjoy older long out of production models in both HO and G scale.
Of all the shops that are “fallen flags”, I miss Watts the most. That shop in its original form where you had to enter thru the “Sparkle Shop” was magical to say the least. To get to the trains you had to enter thru the year round Christmas part of the store. The smells, the decor really set the mood as trains and the holidays go hand in hand. Then you went thru the layout room, with shelves full of LGB trains and various German/Austrian railroad memoriblia. Finally you where in the main show room filled with more LGB trains. A small room at the rear corner was an old school “boiler room” with 3 to 4 ladies constantly on the phone taking call in orders(pre internet era here folks!). It was an experience every time I went. I could afford very little, but what I did have back then was cherished. Mike
I currently do not have a favorite brick and mortar store. I have not been to a local train store in over a year.
I always stop at local B&M stores while travelling. I have only visited one on the current trip I am taking.
I also think I am just about done with online ordering. MBK got all my money. Their inventory system closed that deal for me.
As far as fallen flags go, these were the best I shopped at:
Orange Blossom Hobbies, Miami
Aardvark’s Model Trains, Nashville
The Gandy Dancer, Atlanta
Bobbie Hall’s Hobby House, Dallas
For current stores, these are my favorites (I do not know the operational status of all):
Ready To Roll, Miami
Gulf Coast Model Trains, Sarasota
Riverdale Station, Atlanta
New Brookland Model Trains, Columbia
-Kevin
Personaly I like the way things are now but really miss the in person talking with fellow customers.
7j43k, do you ever get to a train shop they have in San Lorenzo, Trains Unlimited.
My closest “local” hobby shop is Dad’s in Wapakoneta, Ohio, 32 miles north. Decent selection, and gives a 10% discount.
My internet dealers are (in no particular order) Train World, Model Train Stuff, Precision Design Co. (In Canada), Walthers (when they have sales), and Yankee Dabbler.