This weekend I will be in Waukegan, north of Chicago. Whenever we are up there we usually run into Chicago. I thought about running up to Miilwaukee for a change, so my question: is Walthers worth visiting?
While I was in the major building process of my current layout, I was there at least once a month. Haven’t been there in a year, but it is always a good place to go. They have a large island style layout, fully sceniced and trains running. They usually run and display what new trains and locos are currently popular. They also have a few shelf displays of their products, in all scales. They also have smaller table top layouts with trains running, a few displays of finished buildings, and dioramas, a "bargin/clearance " area, and a bank of computers where you can search their catalog for products. Lots to look at ! The building is huge, but it’s mostly wharehouse for the huge supple of “stuff”. I guess the show room is about 40’ x 40’ ?
Mike.
Apparently there can be some real bargains at Walthers. I know someone who visited there and spent $3-400. Apparently they have a lot of items they can’t sell via normal retail because the box was damaged etc. so sell them at a greatly discounted price.
We’d definitely recommend a visit to Walthers’ showroom. And while you’re in town, don’t forget that Model Railroader’s offices are not far away in Waukesha. Stop by during business hours (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays) and we’ll be glad to give you a tour of our offices, workshop, and the MR&T layout!
And if you are hitting both Walthers and the Kalmbach headquarters, don’t forget Hiawatha Hobbies which is not far from Kalmbach. If the weather is at all decent there is also good railfanning at Duplainville, where the CP crosses the CN.
Dave Nelson
Thanks everyone for the suggestions.
Hey thanks Steve, I always wondered if MR was tourable.
I would hit both Walthers and MR Hq. just for the sake of seeing both places. You cant deny alot of Model Railroad history in both.
I would hope pictures are allowed to be taken. Whats a trip without momentos?
PM Railfan
And before you visit Kalmbach, be sure to stop by the Usinger Sausage Co. and buy a few gift baskets for the staff at MR. I’ll bet they would really appreciate it [:D]
http://www.usinger.com/visit-our-store
Elves and Model Railroading go hand-in-hand!
Ed
Has Walthers changed? Just curious. In the 1990’s I visited Walthers and took the tour. At that time there was a fairly small retail/show room, then we saw the large warehouse with shelves of product, and finally in the back there was a room where a train club was housed. At the time it was interesting but fairly unremarkable.