I’ve built a small HO layout before, but now I am going to start on my new N Scale layout, and I was wondering where people buy there track online. Thanks for the help!
Hi!
I am in the process of building a new 11x15 HO layout and needed a lot of supplies (that I couldn’t salvage from the old one) and also DCC stuff as I am converting from DC. I have used three folks via online, and have used them before - all with terrific success.
I picked up turnouts and motors from Toy Train Heaven (www.toytrainheaven), DCC stuff from Caboose Hobbies (www.caboosehobbies), and track/roadbed from NHS Hobbies (www.nhshobbies). I used the first two because of availability of what I needed and good prices, and used the third strictly for low prices. These shops have been around for some time, and are certainly reputable!
Enjoy,
Mobilman44
May I suggest Craig’s from this forum and his superb http://www.dallasmodelworks.com/
Craig (and Joe from FDT, but he doesn’t sell track) has the best service I’ve ever came across in my life so far. Truly superb and I wholeheartedly recommend him because of that, very personal service and he goes a long way to satisfy his customer.
Magnus
Try www.internettrains.com .
I found the following online stores to be very cheap for shopping:
www.modeltrainstuff.com (wide selection, very fair pricing on shipping)
www.wholesaletrains.com (wide selection, not as fair pricing on shipping, but ok)
www.scaledstructures.com (smaller selection, but great prices and free shipping with over $50 purchased through March 31st)
…and of course your local hobby shop could also be a good place to go to.
Good luck shopping!
Don’t use internet trains … they are a joke.
Do a search and you will see why.
I buy a lot from 1st Place Hobbies - good prices and customer service. (www.1stplacehobbies.com)
I’d like to second Magnus’ recommendation. If you don’t see it on his website, send him an email and he’ll get it and have it out to you in no time and at a fair price.
Jarrell
Yes, ask him for anything and he will check, Not just say that he will but actually search for the item your looking for. This last week he went way beyond good service when he agreed to ship something that wasn’t even from his store but I could not get any other way to Sweden. Now that is service beyond what can be expected.
He is also superb in answering e-mails. He will answer you and answer fast and personal. This is a store that can not be recommended enough.
Magnus
This guy has prices that can’t be beat…PERIOD. Take a look at some of his Woodland Scenics stuff. he has a huge store. If you can’t find it then just email him. he will send you the link. And to top it off this guy has
FREE SHIPPING
http://www.tjmodeltrains.com/servlet/StoreFront
Mike
That is a horrible place to buy. How can you be 12 years old and buy stuff online?
Avoid this company like the plague – they will charge a credit card as soon as they receive the order and you’ll likely not hear from them again for several months, if at all. I had to file complaints with the BBB in order to get a refund.
I heartily recommend Craig at dallsmodelworks.com as well. He is tops in personal service, prompt shipping and has a sense of humor! I also deal with cchobbies.com another “one man” operation for HO track (see if he has N)… I like that Craig is an active member on this board and (like me) he’s a scuba diver! He has gone above and beyond the call of duty by remembering weeks later that I had my eye out for a reduced price on a kit should it ever come on sale and he contacted me! (Even though I was honest with him that the model is probably going to be too large to use on my small layout but I’m “experimenting”. Will at cc is a farmer by day. I was hesitant to order at lst because he lives in a remote area of Wyoming but he’s been top notch. For larger “brick and mortar stores”, Caboose Hobbies, Hiawatha Hobbies, Trainworld are all good. I’ve ordered locos from trainworld in the past. Be aware that as New Yorkers, they can sometimes be curt and a little rude on the phone. ONLY call to order or ask about their "wholesale or “call” prices. They don’t suffer questions on the phone. That’s better done via email. I’m going to stick with Craig and Will for the time being whenever possible. I like to help them keep in business and grow (if that’s even possible in today’s economy!) I’m old enough to remember Mom and Pop candy stores, toy stores, clothing and hardware stores and these guys keep that tradition alive.
A while back, I found great prices on Peco track, particularly turnouts, here:
They had prompt shipping, too, as I recall. It’s a brick-and-morter train shop in New Jersey that also does e-tailing.
I’ve bought turnouts on eBay with great success (usually less than 1/2 retail). I’ve also bought flextrack, but the shipping is kind of a killer.
My personal favorite online retailer is Caboose Hobbies out of Denver (caboosehobbies.com). When I was a teenager (in the '70s) they would accept my orders over the phone and ship it the same day; they accepted my word that I’d send a money order that same day. Once, all I needed was some rail joiners and the guy sent them for free. I don’t know if they still do those kinds of favors, but they still operate with the same friendly attitude.
I always here this from Americans about Caboose. But I’ve heard quite a few Europeans with a different experience, my self included. For me Caboose hobbies have been very poor.
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They told me shipping would be roughly 50$(Can not remember exact figure any longer), it ended up being 145$, quite large difference.They did the same thing one more time. I never ordered there since then.
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They charged me completely wrong for a MUCH larger amount on an order, it was there fault by their own admission. It ended up costing me quite a lot in credit card fees. They told me that they didn’t care, that was my problem. This despite that they admitted the mistake.
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They have sent me the wrong stuff several times. Once they sent me the wrong turnouts controls to the turnouts that they sent me. They told me to pay shipping back for the wrong items, then I had to pay for shipping for the correct ones, they also refused to write “Replacement” on the customs form so I had to pay custom fees twice.
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When any of these things happen they have seized answering e-mails and I have to make a very expensive call to speak to someone, when I ask a question about anything else, they answer quickly.
I’ve heard this from a lot
DONT use internettrains.com Just wanted to make sure you knew that. They are the, for lack of better word, the scum of model railroading, and an embarasment to this great hobby. That being said, I use www.modeltrainstuff.com for most everything I’ve ordered for my new layout. They have real-time stock that shows you exactly how many of a certain item is in stock. No gambling on if they will have enough for you’re order, they tell you right away so you can plan acordingly. I just got conformation today that my order of track shipped yesterday. In total that’s a short 3 buisness days for them to gather a very large order for me. I ordered a single engine from them 2 weeks ago, to have it rush delivery, and they sent it next day. It was fair pricing too, only $20 for rush. They are a LHS with internet ordering, which means that everyone there knows how to treat customers, and they all love the hobby.
For bulk buying of n scale flex track I’ve found the following to be the cheapest websites
www.alshobbyshop.com for model power code-100 $71.50 for a box of 100 (they sell out fast so you might need to inquire about being instock)
www.modeltrainstuff.com for atlas code-55 $240.00 for a box of 100
www.standardhobbysupply.com for atlas code-80 $208.00 for a box of 100
Hope this helps.
[quote user=“Lillen”]
I always here this from Americans about Caboose. But I’ve heard quite a few Europeans with a different experience, my self included. For me Caboose hobbies have been very poor.
-
They told me shipping would be roughly 50$(Can not remember exact figure any longer), it ended up being 145$, quite large difference.They did the same thing one more time. I never ordered there since then.
-
They charged me completely wrong for a MUCH larger amount on an order, it was there fault by their own admission. It ended up costing me quite a lot in credit card fees. They told me that they didn’t care, that was my problem. This despite that they admitted the mistake.
-
They have sent me the wrong stuff several times. Once they sent me the wrong turnouts controls to the turnouts that they sent me. They told me to pay shipping back for the wrong items, then I had to pay for shipping for the correct ones, they also refused to write “Replacement” on the customs form so I had to pay custom fees twice.
-
When any of these things happen they have seized answering e-mails and I have to make a very expensive call to speak to someone, when I ask a question about anything else, they answer quickly.
Your absolutely right, they ship DHL(or at least last time they did), the thing is I can accept high shipping prices, I just can’t stand being told price X and then being charge price x*3. That makes me pissed off since it completely screws around with my attempts to compare prices.
For me mail order is the only way to go. Partly because of here I live, partly because Swedish stores are worthless, I’ll give you an example, the Milwaukee station is on sale for 125$ at Dallas model works, I would pay 380$ for the same on sale from Walthers model. Hardly makes it a tough decision.
Magnus