Posts Tagged ‘Shops’

For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website.  These shops all look like fantastic places to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the great state of Texas.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of Texas are:

10. Model Train Crossing in Hurst

9. Papa Ben’s Train Place in Houston

8. Rebel Hobbies in San Antonio

7. Midlothian Hobbies in Midlothian

6. RC Hobby Shop in Sugar Land

4. Victoria Hobby Shop in Victoria (tie for fourth place)

4. Larry’s Hobbies in Houston (tie for fourth place)

3. Collectible Trains and Toys in Dallas

2. King’s Hobby in Austin

…and the most popular shop for model trains in Texas is…

1. G and G Model Shop in Houston

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Collectible Caboose in Cedar Park, Dibble’s Hobbies in San Antonio, Hal’s Hobby Warehouse in El Paso, Kerbey Lane Doll Shoppe in Austin, Mikes Hobby Shop in Carrollton, and Wild Bill’s Hobby Shop in Irving.

Nice to see that the four biggest cities in Texas all have great train shops with Houston, Austin, Dallas, and San Antionio all in the top 10.  However, Houston looks like “train city” in Texas with almost a third of the top stores being there.

Also in Texas be sure to visit some of the great railroading museums including Amarillo Railroad Museum in Amarillo, Greenville Railroad Museum in Greenville, and Railway Museum of San Angelo in San Angelo.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.  I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.

Check out my complete list of Model Train Shops in Texas at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.

Technorati Tags: Model, Shops, Texas, Train

For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website.  These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the great state of New York.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of New York are:

10. Dutchess Train and Hobby in Poughkeepsie

9. Trainland in Brooklyn

8. J and K Trains and Parts in Marlboro

7. Hudson Shores Model Train Depot in Blauvelt

6. Locomotive Works in Wilson

5. Got a Hobby in Bedford Hills

4. JR Junction Train and Hobby in Syracuse

3. Model Trains And Parts .Com in Schenectady

2. Aurora Rails and Hobbies in East Aurora

…and the most popular shop for model trains in New York is…

1. Empire Northern Models in Webster

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Adirondack Train and Hobby in Saratoga Springs, Bay Shore Hobbies in Bay Shore, Bruckner Hobbies in The Bronx, Bud’s H. O. Cars in Cortlandt Manor, Delhi Station Train and Lighting Shop in Delhi, Flying Scotsman and Walden Hobbies in Monroe, Groton Hobby Shop in Groton, Lantz’s Train Shop in Horseheads, Nassau Hobby Center in Freeport, NHS Hobbies in Ridgewood, Norwood Hobby Shop in Norwood, Scag’s Electric Train Shop in Staten Island, Trainville Hobby Depot in Levittown, TreatStation in Peekskill, Village Train and Hobby in Windsor, Walt’s Hobby in Syracuse, Willis Hobbies in Mineola, World of Trains in Forest Hills, and Xtreme Hobby Shop in Deer Park.

Also in New York be sure to visit some of the great railroading museums including Empire State Railway Museum in Phoenica, New York Museum Of Transportation in West Henrietta, Railroad Museum of Long Island in Greenport, Rochester and Genesee Valley Railroad Museum in West Henrietta, and Salamanca Rail Museum in Salamanca. So lots of great model railroading shops from all over New York in the top 10.

Empire Northern Models probably made it to the number one spot by having a popular website as well as a fantastic retail store.  I was a bit surprised that Trainland, where “Bobby Bacala” from the TV series the Sopranos purchased the Blue Comet wasn’t higher on the list because of that publicity, but I guess that was a few years ago.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.  I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.

See a complete list of Model Train Shops in New York at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.

Technorati Tags: Model, Shops, Train, york

For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website.  These shops all look like a lof of fun to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the great state of Illinois.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of Illinois are:

10. Ace Hobby Place in Chicago

9. Hammers Hobbies in Springfield

8. Woodstock Hobbies in Woodstock

7. B and G Train World in Elgin

6. Denny’s Trains and Things in Oswego

5. America’s Best Train Toy and Hobby Shop in Itasca

4. Prospect Bikes and Trains in Mount Prospect

3. Spring Hill Northern Train Supply in Richmond

2. Chicagoland Hobby in Chicago

…and the most popular shop for model trains in Illinois is…

1. First Hobby in Decatur

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Al’s Hobby Shop in Elmhurst, Atomic Toy Company in Galena, Berywn’s Toy Trains and Models in Berwyn, Choo Choo Connection in Schaumburg, Des Plaines Hobbies in Des Plaines, Ed’s Hobby Warehouse in Palos Hills, Golden Spike Train Shop in Burbank, Grayslake Hobby World in Grayslake, Hands To Work Railroading in Alsip, Hauff Hobbies and Train Repair in Glenview, Hill’s Hobby & Collectors’ Shop in Buffalo Grove, Hobbies R 4 U in Bradley, Hobby City in Berwyn, K-10’s Model Trains in Maryville, LaGrange Hobby Center in La Grange, Leisure Hours Hobbies in Joliet, Mike’s Scale Rails in Peoria, Oakridge Hobbies and Toys in Downers Grove, Past-Time Hobbies in Brookfield, Pat’s Hobbies Oak Lawn, Pizza Express LGB Train Shop in Carterville, Rossville Depot Railroad Museum in Rossville, Royal Hobby Shop in Rockford, Sweetname Hardware and Model Train in Peoria, Thunder Road Hobbies in Moline, Tom Thumb Hobby and Crafts in Evanston, Trains and Toys of Yesterday in in Morton Grove, Venture Hobbies Wheeling, Wabash Junction in Springfield, and Walt’s Hobby Shop in Joliet.

Also in Illinois be sure to visit some of the great railroading museums including Chatham Railroad Museum in Chatham, Chicago Great Western Railway Depot Museum in Elizabeth, Illinois Railway Museum in Union, Kankakee Railroad Museum in Kankakee, Monticello Railway Museum in Monticello, Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and Union Depot Railroad Museum in Mendota.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.  I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.

Check out my complete list of Model Train Shops in Illinois at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.

Technorati Tags: Illinois, Model, Shops, Train

For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website.  These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the great state of Pennsylvania.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in the state of Pennsylvania are:

10. Strasburg Train Shop in Strasburg

9. Cappelli Hobbies in Philadelphia

8. Neely’s Train Shop in Altoona

7. Modelers’ Depot in Hopwood

6. Action Hobbies in Langhorne

5. Hobby Express in Cranberry Township

4. Esther’s Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh

3. Len’s Train Shop in Irwin

2. A. B. Charles Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh

…and the most popular shop for model trains in Pennsylvania is…

1. Bill and Walt’s Hobby Shop in Pittsburgh

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Brentwood Station in Pittsburgh, Bussinger Trains in Ambler, C. T. McCormick Hardware in Zelienople, Central Keystone Hobbies in Avis, CoolTrains Toys and Hobbies in Salunga, English’s Model Railroad Supply in Montoursville, Gene’s Trains and Hobbies in Duncansville, Grzyboski’s Train Store in Moosic, Henning Scale Models in Lansdale, Hobby Headquarters in Meadville, Imperial Train in Imperial, Jerry Quinn Classic Trains and Toys in Coatesville, Jim’s Train Shop in Homer City, Ken’s Trains in Glassport, Main Line Hobbies in East Norriton, Modellbahn Ott Hobbies in Gilbertsville, Nicholas Smith Trains in Broomall, Niedzalkoski’s Train Shop in Jeannette, R and B Hobby Center in Tunkhannock, Singers Hobbies and Crafts in Wellsboro, T and J Train Junction in Danville, The Train Gallery in Pittsburgh, The Train Shoppe and Hobby Center in Wilkes Barre, The Underground Railroad Shoppe in New Castle, Tommy Gilbert’s Hobby Shop in Gettysburg, Toys On The Square in Hummelstown, Winkie’s Toy and Hobby in Lititz, and  Ye Olde Train and Christmas Shoppe in Boyertown.

So lots of great model railroading shops from all over Pennsylvania in the top ten, but the Pittsburgh area had all of the top five.  As usual, the top spot went to a store with both a fantastic local shop and a thriving website.

When in Pennsylvania be sure to visit some of the excellent railroading museums including National Toy Train Museum in Paradise, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg, Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, and Western Pennsylvania Model Rail Road Museum in Gibsonia.  Also in Pennsylvania are some teriffic model railroad displays, including the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg and National Christmas Center in Paradise.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.

I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading. See a complete list of Model Train Shops in Pennsylvania at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.

Technorati Tags: Model, Pennsylvania, Shops, Train

For the past year I’ve been compiling a list of model train stores for my model railroading website.  These shops all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the states of Virginia and West Virginia.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in Virginia and West Virginia are:

10. Rick’s Hobby Shop in Roanoke, Virginia

9. Chesterfield Hobbies in Midlothian, Virginia

8. Riders Hobby Shop in Sterling, Virginia

7. Whistle Stop Hobbies in Alexandria, Virginia

6. Trains Etc. in Lorton, Virginia

5. Engine House Trains in Virginia Beach, Virginia

4. Main Street Trains in Barboursville, West Virginia

3. KMA Junction in Manassas, Virginia

2. Piper Hobby in Chantilly, Virginia

…and the most popular shop for model trains in Virginia and West Virginia is…

1. Locust Grove Trains in Locust Grove, Virginia

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Awesome RC and Hobbies in Fredericksburg, Virginia; Craftech Hobby Shop in Norfolk, Virginia; Davis Hobby Supplies in Portsmouth, Virginia; Debbies RC World in Chesapeake, Virginia; Dunn’s Toy and Hobby in Manassas, Virginia; Hobby Works in Fairfax, Virginia; Leesburg Hobbies and Collectibles in Leesburg, Virginia; Rail Yard Hobby Shop in Roanoke, Virginia; Staunton Trains and Hobbies in Staunton, Virginia; Train Depot in Manassas, Virginia; Train Town Toy and Hobby in Ashland, Virginia; Walt’s Hobby Shop in Petersburg, Virginia; Cain’s Trains and Hobbies in Bunker Hill, West Virginia; Fountain Hobby Center in Charleston, West Virginia; Kid Country Toys in Charleston, West Virginia; Nitro Hobby and Craft Center in Nitro, West Virginia; Patrick’s Trains in Wheeling, West Virginia; Stephens Outdoor Railways in Vienna, West Virginia; and West Virginia Hobbies and Crafts in Teays, West Virginia.

So, there are lots of great model railroading shops from all over Virginia and West Virginia, but clearly Virginia dominated the list with nine in the top ten.  This isn’t too surprising as Virginia is a bigger state with a bigger population and more hobby shops than West Virginia.

When in Virginia and West Virginia be sure to visit some of the excellent railroading museums including Eastern Shore Railway Museum in Parksley, Virginia; Fairfax Station Museum Railroad Museum in Fairfax Station, Virginia; Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia; Princeton Railroad Museum in Princeton, West Virginia; West Virginia Railroad Museum in Elkins, West Virginia; and Williamson Area Railroad Museum in Williamson, West Virginia.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.  I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.

See a complete list of Model Train Shops in Virginia and West Virginia, at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.

Technorati Tags: Model, Shops, Train, Virginia, West