I’m going to Cincinatti for a business meeting early in March. I will be free to use Sunday 9th of March for visiting hobby shops, visiting model railroad layouts and rail fanning. I have never been to Cincinnati before. I’m modelling Rio Grande in H0 scale, narrow and standard gauge operation in Alamosa and San Luis Valley. Which Hobby shops should I go to? Are there any model railroad clubs or private layouts I could visit? Are there any good spots for railfanning?
I went to college outside of Cincinnati and used to go railfanning there on weekends every now and then. But, that was 20+ years ago. There used to be actual street running in Downtown behind the riverfront stadium. I have some pictures of it somewhere. NS and CSX both have large yards just outside of downtown. The CSX yard (Queensgate) was difficult to railfan. The NS yard is behind Cincinati Union Terminal. I was actually treated to a privtae tour of the NS shops and yard on a Saturday afternoon back then. I have a neat pic of the yard taken from the yard tower with CUT in the background. The other place to railfan is across the river in Convington Ky. They (NS guy show gave the tour) told be how to get to the engine terminal in Ky and to tell anyone who asked that he said it was OK. Ah, those were the days before vandalism, terrorism and the other -isms caused problems for railfanning.
Regarding hobby shops, the only one I remember is Golf Manor Hobbies, I think it is still around. Check the phone book when you get there.
I asked the same question back in May of last year, I attended a conference there and wanted to get the heads up, so here is a link to my original thread:
I live 35 miles from Cincinnati and my grandson and I visit there frequently to railfan and hobby shop. As mentioned previously, the art deco Cincinnati Union Terminal is a don’t miss attraction for railroad buffs. If Sunday is your free day, the Cincinnati Railroad Club currently opens “Tower A” in the Terminal from noon to 4 pm. Great history and current operations in the large freight yard are readily visible from Tower A through panoramic windows!
Don’t believe you’ll see much Rio Grande action or modeling in this eastern midwest US city, but certainly lots of CSX and Norfolk Southern, with smatterings of Union Pacific and BNSF leased power. Also, lots of eastern and midwest American fallen flag railroad modeling.
And compared to Europe, I’m sure you’ll find prices very reasonable!
Definitely make sure you visit the Cincinnati Union Terminal while you’re in Cincinnati. Besides the exhibits and museums that are situated inside the terminal, there’s also a FREE guided tour of the CUT. The visit up in Tower A is also worth the effort. And definitely bring your camera(s).
you have ohio valley trains in milford ohio which is a 20 to 30 minute drive from downtown cincy depending on traffic. dont think they are open on sunday could be wrong call and check to make sure.
telephone5138316577
address 223 main street
milford, oh
also you have johnny’s toys located in covington kentucky. they are open on sunday.
An outstanding model railroad is in the big museum in the old Union Station. It depicts Cincinnati circa about 1950, and includes passenger trains that served CIncinnati in the 1950’s PLUS trolley cars in operation. Great city scenes!
Golf Manor Hobbies has lots of older HO stuff. It’s a good source for Rivarossi parts, too.
Between those two and the terminal that ought to fill your day. Golf Manor is about like a model railfanning event, too. If there are any detail or Rivarossi parts you need, make a list before you go in and your brain fogs up. Real live railfanning may be best accomplished in the company of a local area Cincinnati off-duty police officer… in uniform.