Hello all,
I will be traveling to Indy sometime in the next two weeks. I’m looking for hobby shop recommendations, railfanning recommendations and other family-oriented recommendations (I’ll need these in case my wife comes along and says enough trains, already!). Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Keith Baker
I recommend:
Big 4 Hobbies, 1005 E Main St, Plainfield, IN 46168, just west of Indy airport. Easy access via I-70 exit 66, north on Indiana 267, then west on US 40 (Main Street in Plainfield).
Their website: www.big4hobbies.com
Good luck,
Dave
If you have time, you may want to pay the Indiana Transportation Museum a visit. The facilities are located here.
Vernon
There’s actually not what I’d call worth-it-to-go-out-of-your-way train stores in town. If you’re willing to drive an hour north of town, go to Hawkins Rail in Lafayette. Hands down the best train store I’ve ever been to.
The Indianapolis zoo is very good and very near downtown. Also in that same area are White River state park and a number of museums, plus Victory Field, a very nice ballpark and home of the AAA Indianapolis Indians. There’s also a race track out at 16th Street and Georgetown Road that some people have enjoyed…
PM me if you’d like more on the city.
Jim
If you can, by all means, go to Hawkins as suggested.
We enjoyed Union Station downtown when we were there several years ago.
The children’s museum (for all ages) was very good as well.
If you go to the Motor Speedway and visit the museum, pay the extra to take the van ride around the track.
dlm
Big 4 hobbies !!!
I third Big Four. Nice, big, knowledgable, great people. Also. you might check out Whistles & Growls, 380 S Madison Ave Ste D, Greenwood, IN 46142, and Train Central (Has a nice display of Brass lokies, some customs for sale, and a HUGE wall of detail parts.
Also, Monday Night, if you have time, drop by the Naptown White River club layout. It’s nice, and they’re tame. If you want, bring your stuff. Tell 'em Morgan sent ya, They’ll either let yo in or chase down the street based on that, depending on who you talk to.
ITM has little as far as MRR goes, (I keep telling them they need to get Athesrn to make some exclusive coaches for them, they use the prototypes for the Athearn lightweight coaches…) but they are a deeply involved museum. Most recently, they rebuilt a PRR mesenger car for bycicles for the Central Indiana Bicycling Association and a trail going in near the right-of-way, and ITM can play chase/support. Also responsible for the FairTrain, which is a shuttle during the State Fair from Fishers to Indianapolis, and is basically a near-perfect training ground for would-be train crews, because it’s a train to somewhere, not just a museum piece, and has baggage. Okay, wheelchairs, and more strollers than a baby show. But to me, it’s different than just a museum run out and back. You won’t catch the Fairtrain, but the same equipment does thier museum runs as well.
If your thinking of the old Lionel layout that was on the 5th floor, it’s gone now, for most of a dozen years. The Ruben Wells is good though, if you need to kill time indoors.
OH! Go by Crown Plaza Hotel, look like you know what your doing, and sneak up to the second floor Where the old Platforms to Union Station used to be, are some Pullman sleepers converted into h
OH YES , do not miss Big 4 Hobbies , I found it for the first time on my last trip to Indy , now its my main got-to-do when there . There is nothing like a STOCKED hobby shop with EVERYTHING in it ! [:)]
Hobbytown USA
6336 East 82nd Street
Indianapolis IN
Train Central
6742 E Washington Street
Indianapolis IN
Big Four Hobbies
1005 E Main Street
Plainfield IN
The Children’s Museum
Broad Ripple Village
Fountain Square Cultural District
The Canal and White River State Park
Mass Ave
Wholesale District
Indiana Avenue
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Indiana Transportation Museum - Noblesville
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians & Western Art
Conner Prairie - Fishers
Do you need more.
Hello all,
Thank you for all of the information, I think we’ll definitely find something to do. I’ll give a report after my trip!
Thanks again,
Keith Baker
if you go downtown at night, walk sideways so you can take the bullet in the shoulder.
grizlump
Not to go too far off topic, but I’m curious what makes Hawkins so great? I’d seen their ads in MR since the late '70’s when I started in the hobby. Years later, while passing through Lafayette, I just had to stop in to see the “famous” hobby shop. Sorry, but I was thoroughly unimpressed. I don’t remember many details about the shop (this was nearly 15 years ago), but I do remember wondering what was the big deal. Maybe things have changed since then, and it is a truly great shop now. If, however, I ever have a chance to be in Indy, I won’t waste time and gas just to go to Hawkins unless someone can convince me that it has improved significantly.
Tom
Hey, the Pacers are trying to trade Jamaal Tinsley already! Cut us some slack!
As for Hawkins, they’re in a new location since their downtown spot several years ago. He’s now in a back room of a shabby old former school building. You have to want to go there or else you’ll miss it. The place isn’t very big but it’s so overstuffed with stuff that you can barely walk the aisles. Great fun to just browse. Very friendly owner as well.
No advise for MR stuff but I agree about visiting the Speedway Museum if you’ve never been. They have many of the winning cars from past races on display there. I also recommend St. Elmo Steak House for a good meal.