I live fairly close to them and have done so, on and off, for years. So I thoroughly reommend them but I have no experience with them via the 'net or purchasing by mail. As far as I’m concerned it has been, for the last thirty years, all the train store I ever needed! They may not always have the lowest prices on items but they have a lot of sales and specials and if you wait long enough you’ll get what you want at a competitive price. The only caveat I have is that they sell a lot of the old stuff in what seems to be pretty rough condition for what I consider rather high prices but I’m not a collector and it may be that this is what that stuff fetches.
I have purchased from them many times–O gauge, On30, and Large Scale. About the best prices around and very prompt service/delivery. Expecting my latest order to arrive tomorrow, in fact, and will then be calling them to place yet another order (Large Scale).
If you call their toll-free order line (as distinguished from their info line) just make sure you know what you are going to order, including stock number, and have your credit card and address info at hand. They don’t mess around on their order line, so you need to have all the info ready to go.
I made a few large purchases from them back in the early 80s. Never had a problem and fast shipping. Their online listings seem to be pretty far behind what they have in stock. Use a train magazine to get a better idea of their inventory.
Sounds like they are a good place, and you gave me some other great links to look into. I’ll give them a shot when I’m ready for one of the expansion sets, which will hopefully be by Christmas.
As noted in my earlier post, I was expecting an order (MTH “War Bonds” Trolley) from Trainworld to arrive today.
It showed up right on time. Ordered late Saturday afternoon; delivered to Southwest Virginia the following Wednesday morning. Doesn’t get much better than that!
Virtually all of my buying is by mail order these days, since I don’t have access to a local hobby shop. I only buy from established dealers that I have dealt with for a long time though, and do not do eBay.
Wow these folks are quick. I ordered my expansions yesterday and they are already here today. I have a small luxury in that i work for UPS so I can see my stuff coming and grab it ahead of time.