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Model Railroad Retailers Articles

A Candid Conversation With Chuck, Jane, & Nick Cornish

The article interviews the owners of an (unnamed! - its name is shown in an ad on the next page, "Cornish & Sons") hobby shop in Alexandria, Virginia. They cater toward S-scale modelers.

A Report from Nuremburg

The annual toy fair has good representation by model railroad manufacturers.

A View From a Hobby Shop Owner

The author describes the reality of a brick-n-mortar store owner in the 1990s of stocking model railroading items, and S-scale products specifically.

A Visit to Fred's Train Shop

The author describes the owner's history and the what is available at the store in downtown Overland Park, Kansas. Includes several photos of the store and its owner.

A Visit to The Train Shop

This store is located in a 5,000-square foot former grocery store in Santa Clara, California. The three partners discuss their store and their philosophy about the store and the model railroad industry. It provides some insight in to the business of this hobby.

Be An S Dealer

Some modelers have so much stuff in the closets that they could actually become dealers.

Central Coast Trains

The author interviews Anita Walter, owner of this model trains-only store in Atascadero, California. The store stocks S-scale products, consignment items, Lionel, Kadee, and scratchbuilding materials. She has a mailing list for those who model in S-scale.

Coffee With Doug Peck

The author describes his basement set-up which includes two finished rooms housing his model railroad and his collection. As a retailer, he dismisses the doomed forecast about the hobby in general and S in particular. He started Port Lines Hobbies in the late 1980s, was a full-time school teacher, and now runs the retail store full-time since retiring.

Dealer's Corner

This article describes how to build a relationship with a local hobby store, from a storeowner's perspective, to help grow an interest in the scale you are modeling.

Des Plaines Hobbies Open House for S Scale

As part of the O Scale National convention near Chicago, and Mike Calvert of Gilmaur Models in the United Kingdom being there, Des Plaines Hobbies held an open house to give S-scale modelers who attended a chance to see the U18b pilot model in person. Photos are included with the article.

Dixie Union Station Expands Inventory to Carry S Gauge Trains

The store primarily carries HO- and O-scale, but has recently added about 10 feet of shelf space for S-scale products, such as MTH, Lionel, GarGraves, Artistta, and more.

Express Station

The behind-the-scenes story of a small model train store in Tukwila, Washington.

Hobby Shop Nostalgia

The author shares how a hobby shop got him into the hobby of model railroading.

In Loving and Grateful Memory of Ron Sebastian

Ron Sebastian owned and operated Des Plaines Hobbies, and suddenly passed away in 2019.

Jeff's Junction

The author reflects on where he has been buying his S-scale products (at S-specific train shows).

JR Junction Train and Hobby

After a brief history of railway traffic in Syracuse, New York, the author learns from the owner that the store carries all current S-scale products and catalogs, as well as many other items. Includes several photos.

O Scale Influences Bay State Models: A 30-year Massachusetts Tradition Closes

The author interview Win Nowell

President's Message

The author covers inflation, and recruiting.

The S Starter Set Project

The idea of a local club putting together an S-scale starter set from lightly-used and commonly-available American Flyer components has spread to several clubs, and this article covers the success these clubs have had with the idea over the past couple of years. It also covers how tasks are divided among club members to build these sets. A complete listing of how to review the purchased equipment to prepare for including in the sets, is included in this article.

The Sacramento Improbabillium Mine

A slide by Bob Werre leads the author to go visit and interview Wayne Lyndon, owner of the Whistle Stop Hobbies in Sacramento, California. The S-scale mine is based on the Ophir Tram House.

The Train Shoppe - Salt Lake City

A bit of info about this full-service model railroad store in Utah. They stock Lionel American Flyer products.

View Into the Future

What will a future hobby shop look like?

Visit Des Plaines Hobbies

After a brief introduction of the owners, the article covers that S-scale is quite visible within the mostly-HO-scale store. Covers the services they offer, and which product lines they have purchased over the years. Includes several photos of the store.

Welcome to Toy Trains Unlimited

Covers the history of the Toy Trains Unlimited store in Hanover, PA. They repair A.F., and carry Lionel, MTH, K-Line, and parts. Includes photos of the store (the web site listed in the article was shut down in 2018 due to lack of interest).