I don't happen to have a LHS that is within a reasonable driving distance. That comment is partially shaded by the extreme cost of any driving these days regardless of the destination. I think therefore it is worth a discussion as to where us O scalers are finding their supplies. To those of you who enjoy the convenience of a LHS...well I envy you that access. For myself, I buy at trains shows whenever they get close enough, but that's still way to infrequently. I stockpile materials as best I can for planned projects. I mail oder from Right O' Way, AM Hobbies, Norm's O Scale, MicroMark, Rusty Stumps etc, and I shop locally in an art supply store for basswood, adhesives and inks etc. But to say I can drive over to what's referred to as the local hobby shop is a rare event indeed. I miss that experience very much. I would like to hear how others are handling a similar situation if you'd care to share your hobby supply sources.

Bob...

Hi Bob,

Because of the pain meds. that I take, I have not driven in the last few years. I buy some stuff, from the buy and sell section of this forum. I have picked up a lot of stuff threw E-b**, threw the O Scale, O Trains and SP lists. House of Duddy, The Train Station and P&D Hobbies are all good places, to deal with.

I try to buy as much as I can from the LHS. [The Big Little RR Shop-Somerville, NJ-shameless plug] I usually go there straight from work so I am halfway to the store already. This cuts down on the gas by 50% if I would have gone straight from home. The store is about 35 minutes away from me. I also like buying stuff from 2 rail shows or York where usually I can find some good deals on equipment.

Bob I have three LHS in the Chicago area that I buy almost 100% of my items from. Quite frankly, I can not afford to purchase trains from on-line sources.

With that said, if Americas Best Train and Hobby in Itasca IL, Chicagoland Hobby in Chicago or Berwyn Trains and Hobby, also in the Chicago area, ever go out of business, I will probably not make any further purchases unless I happen to be traveling to a city with a store or if I attend a local show like yourself. I have done York, but that too has become why too expensive for my pocket book. I will probably attend York again soon, but not for making train purchases.

Where are you located Bob? Maybe there are some other forum members that live close to you and together can form a small group of your own.

Have a great day.

Charlie

I stockpile my needs list, until I can get to Mainline Hobby, Tommy Gilberts, NIEDZALKOSKI'S train shop (sorry for the caps on the store name. I can't pronounce it, let alone SPELL it).

I won't do much mail order, and Internet ordering is NEVER going to happen for me! (no credit, debit, or any other sort of plastic)

Save a pile of MONEY,then go to York.There are still some GREAT DEALS to be had there on most any thing.BF

I get my magazines, track pieces for the club, supplies and the occasional piece of rolling stock at my LHS. I buy my new locomotives from Doherty's Whistle Stop (forum member Sean Marchev) in New Jersey. I occasionally pick up an item or two from eBay.

One of these years I'm going to go to York....and on my return from York my wife will probably brain me with one of my York Purchases.

No LHS within 5 hour drive that carries O scale. Some three rail but that doesn't help much. Any way aside from the trip to Indy every Sept I'm limited to internet purchases from a number of places but mostly from AM Hobbies, Norms O Scale Trains, Sunset 3rd Rail, Valley Model Trains, Plastruct, Scenic Express among others.

Caboose Stop Hobbies in Cedar Falls, IA as well as Grand Central Hobbues in Lincoln, NE, and Engine House Hobbies in Wichita, and Hobby Haven in Des Moines, IA. Caboose Stop is the largest Atlas dealer in the five states I cover. Merlyn and Carol are great people.

Dick

quote:

Merlyn and Carol are great people.

How are they doing with the flooding? I read on the Atlas forum they had some water in their basement.

Swap meets and a friend changing scales (from O to HO) have been my main sources. After that, a well known internet auction and folks on various Yahoo Lists. I have met a lot of folks at train shows, and have bought most of my stuff through those people. I can't recommend them (shows, swap meets) enough!

SW

Other than at a train show back in February I haven't bought anything all year. Until I decide if i want to stay 3-rail or go 2-rail I'm just running the little I have.

All of my track came from LHSs and most of my engines, rolling stock, and buildings came from online dealers or shows. The LHSs don't carry what I want as far as rolling stock and engines and the shows are so infrequent around here the internet is only alternative.

To all who is complaining about in this topic.
Try to model WM in Denmark!!!!
I get all my stuff from US hobby shops and Ebay, have never had a bad
experience with the shops, only positive the same with the dealers.
I think compared with European prices you get your toy,es cheap, i bye
at the same prices as you but have to pay oversea shipping and 35% custom
and tax.
I think the shops that will survive, is the shops (like P+D)who have there
stuff and inventory on the net.
I am not a big customer, i use about 150$ a month on my modeling, and i spend
them on the net, from the shops on the net.
Fan off "Wild Mary"
Per Denmark

I do both Standard Gauge and Narrow Gauge:
I would rate base on $ spent:

1) Caboose Hobbies (Denver) my old hangout
2) Ebay - a mix
3) AM Hobies - Bob is great
4) Bruces Trains - (Sacramento) near where i live
5) P&D Hobbies - mail order, great
6) Roseville Hobbies - closer to my home, but notmuch O/On3

Plus direct pre-orders from:
3rd rail, Golden Gate, Glacier and other small specialty suppliers.

Mark