I’m fairly new to southern CA, and have made a trip to San Diego a few times - some for business, some for pleasure. Since there’s no LHS near where I live (not train-related, anyway), I try to make it a point to stop at one when I have to go to San Deigo. I got a list of LHS’s from the Walthers website and from the Trains.com search engine, and so far have visited Reed’s hobby shop in La Mesa, and The Whistle Stop in San Diego. Reed’s seemed to be a decent size and fairly well-stocked. I was a little disappointed in The Whistle Stop, though.
Just wondering if there were any really good ones out there that I should visit next, and how do they compare to Reed’s. I have to go to SD again this Wed, so I’d like to make another LHS run if I can work it into my schedule.
By the way, I live in Imperial County, so I’d be going/coming via I-8 (or “the” 8, as the Californians call it), so I don’t really want to venture too far north if I can help it… Unless there’s a really good LHS up there, that is!
Also, before you even ask… yes, I have been to the Model RR museum in Balboa Park! [:D]
Those are the two I always visit when I am in San Diego and I always seem to find something on my needed list every time. If anyone can advise of a better LHS, I would be very interested in finding it.
Peter smith, Memphis
Well, I guess I’ll pay another visit to Reed’s… with a shopping list in hand, this time! Unless somebody recommends a different shop before I hit the sack tonight (Tuesday).
I travel to S.D. on occasion on business and Reed’s and the Whistle Stop are the only two in the immediate S.D. area that I know of. I like Reed’s in that I can ride the Trolley there from my hotel, rather than drive in traffic. It’s always a good run, sitting towards the front for an “engineer’s view” of the signals. Their stock is fairly good too.
My only complaint is pretty much MSRP at both shops, so I rarely pick up much more than a few mags. I did get a Proto CNW SD45 at TWS a while back, though. It was marked down - must have been a “shelf queen” for a few years until I got it.
I realize you asked about San Diego, but have you visited The Original Whistle Stop in Pasadena? Well worth the trip. I’ve been going there since I was 6 and I’m 43 now. Funny story: Got back into trains after a 15+ year break, walked into the store a few months ago and the owner looks up and says, “welcome back, it’s been a while.” [:)]
Whistle Stop and Reed’s are about all America’s Finest City has to offer in the way of train shops. It’s been a year since I’ve been there, but Rail Baron was in Poway, althought that may be a little off the route.
Dan
Well, growing up in San Diego County I could only tell you that all the ones that I used to go to are now gone. The ones that you listed are about it. Now living up in L.A. not far from the Original Whistle Stop and a few others my best bet still is to buy all my stuff online since there are better deals and no sale’s tax.
Oh, buy the way, have you been to the musuem? Jusk kidding. That place rules!
And when you visit the San Diego Model RR Mseum give them a call and try to get there when their library is open. On my last two visits, I spent most of the day in their library taking notes from their great book collection. If I am not mistaken they have complete sets of MR, RMC and NG&SLG not to mention all of the published SP rolling stock series. And, much much more!
Peter Smith, Memphis.