I am heading up to the Ocala Florida area next week. I see from the MRR mag there are several LHS in the area. I am not going to have allot of time so I was wondering if anyone could rec a particular shop? Tks Terry
Dan’s Train Depot. If you are willing to dig deep enough they’ve got just about everything for model trains.
Dans is a good store. You will spend money though so be careful walking in there.
Tks for the info guys. I will make a serious attempt to get to one of them during my short visit. Dans looks huge on the website. I don’t know why it is but Ocala has more train HS then Miami? We are moving up to the area this fall. Looking forward to getting back into society after living in “Paradise”.
Tks
Terry
I live just south of Orlando and I consider Dans to be my second choice LHS. If it weren’t for the distance from me, it would be my first choice. I highly recommend it.
Terry,
While I have never been to their store, Trains of Ocala did have a large selection and was well represented at a local train show in Covington, LA two years ago. I remember buying some items from their booth and getting their business card. I liked the stuff we bought and enjoyed the variety they had on display. I would do business with them again given the opportunity.
Cheers,
Ryan
I may not get to visit all of the HS in Ocala this trip but when we move up to Gainesville this fall I will certainly pick my favorite as a place to hang out. Down here in the Keys the nearest HS is 100+ miles north in Miami. I am very much looking forward to cruising a HS again.
Terry
There are 9 train places within 25 miles of Ocala. Check the yellow pages for addresses when you arrive…or Google before you leave home.
Dan’s Trains (Ocala) has excellent inventory but charges Walthers list with all new items. They have a lot of used stuff at good prices. All scales available. No layouts.
Trains of Ocala is OK and worth a look. O-HO-N. Display layout only.
PDK Trains (Ocala) is strictly mail order but owner does sell stuff locally sometimes. G-O-HO-N
Hobby Lobby (Ocala) carries basic O-HO-N stuff at list…occasional discounts. No layouts.
Rob’s Hobby World (Ocala) has excellent prices and specializes in HO but carries N scale stuff. No layout. He will take an order and have it sent to you.
D&S Hobby (Citrus Springs-20 miles) HO & N. Limited inventory. No layouts.
All About Toy Trains (Crystal River area-25 miles) carries all scales. Several layouts. Decent prices. Does mostly mail order.
Noell’s Hobbies (Wildwood-20) Limited inventory.
There’s also one in Belleview which is a few miles south of Ocala but I can’t remember their name. They carry HO & N at reasonable prices and have a display at the Market of Marion in Belleview.
The local train club (Ocala Model Railroaders) has awesome HO & N scale layouts. They’re open on Saturdays, a few evenings during the week and welcome visitors. 352-401-0747
Conagher
Wow you know allot about Ocala for living in Texas LOL. Once we get moved in I will check them all out and pick one. I like a HS with a layout so you can see and hear what you are buying. I don’t mind paying msrp on some things just to help out the LHS. That way I can actually see what I am buying and don’t have to wait for mail order. Tks for the plethora of info. It will be really enjoyable taking a day to check out HS’s once we get up there.
Terry
Neutrino,
I live in S.E. Orlando near the airport and I work across the street from Colonial Photo & Hobby. They have a fair train department and can’t be beat for the conveniance to me.
So is your wife being transferred up here? There really isn’t anything in G’ville but there is a hobby shop in High Springs on 441, His and Hers. They have moved since I visited so don’t know how they are doing. Not a train dedicated store like Dan’s and Trains of Ocala. I have been to Dan’s and it is a nice store. ToO has moved since I have visited also so can’t attest. They had previously a well stocked small location.
Welcome to Gator Country! O, the FHP station is across 441 from the Alachua to Gainesville branch of the CSX. Often outlawed power sits at the 121 crossing for 24 hours. Bulkhead flats to 84 Lumber, boxcars to Harwood brick, and treated poles out of Koppers at the end of the line. Coal comes to Deerhaven power plant, which is about 2 miles up 441. There is an aggregate yard between that has a SCL painted GP parked there.
Hi,
I see a lot of guys have suggested Dan’s Train Depot. I’ve got to tell you that having bought lots of items from Dan on Ebay and considering his great Ebay store, I thought it would be worth a trip to his shop in Ocala. I drove 1 1/2 hours to get to his shop while I was on vacation this past May. It was an absolute waste of time. All the freight cars he had in beer flats were pretty much junk, like the $3.00 Tyco freight cars you can find at any train show.
Dan is a smart guy. He saves all the good stuff for Ebay and I can’t blame him. Why would he want to price an item at $5.00 or $10.00 for his shop when that same item might get bid up to some rediculous price on Ebay. I met him at a train show in Florida last November and it was the same thing. He brought some loose junk and some crappy freight cars and had the good stuff on Ebay that week.
Don’t waste your time going to his shop. Sit on your computer and buy stuff from his Ebay store.
Mondo
Terry: I was reading my post and realized I forgot John’s Hobbies in Belleview. He has a layout and specializes in DCC stuff plus installations, etc. for all scales.
So I reckon that makes about 9 or 10 hobby shops in the area…which is more than just about anywhere I know of in America. It’s amazing when one considers there are only about 40,000 people in Ocala. There’s a pretty extensive network of model railroaders throughout the area with several model railroading clubs and a historic railroad preservation society.
To answer your question: Ocala is recognized as the horse capital of the world and I do alot of business there.
And yes, Dan does save much of his better items obtained from collection purchases for sale on eBay but he has a very extensive inventory of NEW stuff and tons of used items far above the typical Tyco quality level. In my opinion, something for almost every budget and almost every model railroader. And I have never seen such a large inventory of HO brass locomotives.
jdamelio - Yes the wife is getting transferred to Gainesville. We have been in the florida keys now for two years and ready to get back to the states. I will have plenty of time to check out all of the HS once we get up there. conagher - Tks for the info. It always struck me as odd that Ocala would have so many HS. My wife and I have two horses so I guess we are going to the right place. Before I am done I will check out all of the HS in the area. What better way to spend your time. And to everyone else who took the time to give me info I thank you. Terry
Several years ago, Orange Blossom Hobbies in Miami went out of business. There are those of us who still bemoan that loss. However, the Miami area has 2 excellent stores in TexNrails and Ready To Roll. Anyone coming to Miami should plan on visiting both stores.
Mark
I believe there is a HS in Belleview called John’s Hobbies. I have no experience in their store, so I do not vouch for them. I only know of them because they had the best price on the Lenz Set 90 I’ve seen so far.
Mark - Been to RTR in Miami many times. As a matter of fact they have sent me “emergency train stuff” over night to the keys several times. I call and it is on my doorstep the next day. But being almost seventy miles one way I don’t get up there very often. Never made it to Tex-n-rails. Terry
“Never made it to Tex-n-rails.”
It’s a lot closer to you than R-T-R. It’s right near the MetroZoo on SW 117 Ave, right alongside the Turnpike, just South of SW 152 St.
Mark
Speaking of Tex 'N Rails…they own Trains Of Ocala.