texas stuff

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

what is there to do in texas that is at most 5 hours away from central texas?(train related) and if there are any trains stores on the way or there please do tell.

2

OK, I’m in Massachusetts, and I’ve only been to DFW and environs once. Big freakin’ place.

Sorry, but to me, 5 hours in Texas is still in Texas. You’'ve got to do better. Towns/cities? Latitude/Longitude? Give us more to go on, Cowboy.

3

i live in the temple and killeen area(one hour from austin) and it’s going to be a overnight one day trip. i was thinking about going to dallas is the place up there any good?

4

You might want to checkout “Wild Bill’s Hobby” in Irving, on Shady Grove - a few miles west of Loop 12. It has been there a “gobs” of years - trains, cars, airplanes, and so on. Its not very big, but is packed to the roof - almost.

Also, check out the Train Museum that is located on the State Fair grounds in East Dallas.

For an interesting model layout - O scale I believe - at the Children’s Medical Hospital, in the main entrance lobby, is a multilevel (I would guess about 18 to 20 feet high) layout - lots of trains moving, mountains, villiages and an occasional “character (toy)” inserted for fun. This is directed at the children - and they love it. Adults have been seen to smile also. Note that in August, 2008 there is still road construction in the immediate area.

5

Super Cheif:

If you live only an hour from Austin, you might want to PM Don Z and see what’s available there. He and his mentor live there, and both of them have really SPECTACULAR layouts. It might be worth your while to contact them just to see what’s going on.

Just a thought.

Tom

6

Suggestions within 5 hours:

  1. Rusk, TX - ride the Texas State Railroad http://www.texasstaterr.com/

  2. Galveston, TX - visit the great train museum there. http://www.galvestonrrmuseum.com/

On your way to Galveston, stop in at Papa Ben’s Train Place in Houston. Great hobby shop. http://www.papabens.com/

If your trip to Galveston/Houston is in late October through early December, take in some of the open houses on the San Jacinto Model Railroad Club’s “Fall Layout Tour”. They haven’t yet posted the schedule for this year’s tour on their website, but check it later this month. http://sanjac.leoslair.com/tour.htm

  1. If you go to Dallas, stop by at the Museum of the American Railroad and see (among other things) their BigBoy http://www.dallasrailwaymuseum.com/

Just a few ideas

7

Oh yeah, almost forgot, can I assume that you’re already aware of the big model train show coming up in Temple on Sept 20/21?

http://www.centramod.org/

8

I wondered why my ears were burning…

Since you’re only about 45 minutes from Austin, there’s only 2 places to go.

  1. Kings Hobby Shop 8810 North Lamar Blvd. Good store but expect to pay full MSRP.
  2. Collectible Caboose 601 E Whitestone Blvd, Cedar Park - Sliding discount scale

Going to the DFW area, you’d have to go to:

  1. Discount Model Trains 4641 Ratliff Lane, Addison
  2. Hobby World 5658 Westcreek Dr, Suite 500 Fort Worth
  3. Angelo Hobbies 5515 Bonner Drive Fort Worth

I haven’t been to any shops in the Houston area, so I’ll defer to the other poster regarding Houston.

Don Z.

9

ok thanks it’s going to be a last thing before school starts trip with the family(i’m the son) i was thinking about dallas because i’ve been to houston and galvestion so many time before plus we have friends in the dallas area(no hotel) how are the train shops up there? and yes i know of the temple train show it’s done by my club, but i may no be able to go tell sunday this year(band) thanks to all those who posted.