I WILL BE IN THE BUFFALO AREA THIS WEEKEND. COULD SOMEONE TELL ME OF A GOOD HOBBY SHOP.

THANKS, CHRIS

Niagara Hobby on Union Rd Cheektowaga near the Galleria for Lionel and Atlas. MTH its Aurora Rails in the town of Aurora. Ron is great.

THANKS GREGG4. THAT WILL WORK!!

CHRIS

There is a nice store in Hamburg (right next to a real steam locomotive) and a small shop in Clarence at the corner of Transit and Roll Rd.

Before heading out to Aurora Rails call Ron first at (716) 652-5718. Saturday hours may not yet be in effect.

Pete

Hey Buffalo guys, is K-Val hobbies still on Hinmann ave? I have relatives in Niagara Falls and spent a lot of time at that store years ago. Last time I was there was ten years ago.

K-Val is still around though it is more HO then O these days
Artcraft is the shop in Hamburg (not far from East Aurora and Ron)
If you're into older Lionel and early MPC then Seneca Junction on Main St in Clarence is the place to be. It's past Transit Rd so it can be caught with the Hobby shop on Transit.
If it's near lunch time there's a Ted's Hotdog place on Transit near Main(grilled dogs + hand cut rings) and Anderson's Custered on Main St, before Transit, for roast beef on 'weck - unique to Buffalo!
Enjoy the visit

quote:

If it's near lunch time there's a Ted's Hotdog place on Transit near Main(grilled dogs + hand cut rings) and Anderson's Custered on Main St, before Transit, for roast beef on 'weck - unique to Buffalo!

I'd go for the Andersons roast beef on weck, and a soft serve twist over Ted's hotdogs.
Always liked Kval, even though they never had much Lionel. Nice foks.

Niagara Hobby- 3366 Union Rd, Cheektowaga 14225/716-681-1666/mon-sat 10-9, sun 10-5
Artcraft- 4 Scott St, Hamburg 14075/716-649-3079/
Aurora Rails- 2268 Blakely Rd, East Aurora 14052/716-652-5718/Mon-Thurs 8-6, Fri 8-5 Closed sat, sun
Transit Station- 5565 Transit Rd, Williamsville 14221/716-636-0583/mon-fri 11-7, sat 11-6, sun 12-4
K-Val- 277 Hinman Ave, Buffalo 14216/716-875-2837/

These are probably the main shops for O gauge as others have said. Niagara Hobby probably has the most variety of product. Artcraft I would say has the most O Gauge. It is also worth the trip for the PRR loco parked on the tracks behind it. Although the last time I was at Artcraft they were remodeling, so I don't know what state they are in now.

I have to disagree with Jeff and CW Burfle though about the beef on weck. Anderson's is OK if you like a beef one level above steak-ums. Schwabl's in West Seneca is much better. Or the Bradford Grill in downtown Buffalo. Heck, any "old guy" bar anywhere in Buffalo is better than Andersons for Beef on Weck. Sorry guys, but I do like my beef. But, eating in Buffalo is the least of your worries. We have the best food and the biggest asses on the east coast. Beef, Chicken Wings and beer are plentiful. If you are looking for a little more upscale food, we have lots of that too. The Empire Grill or Romeo and Juliet's on Hertel is a great lunch, if you want just a sub then nowhere is better than Marco's deli, and dinner... I don't even know where to begin. If you like art, the Albright-Knox Art Gallery on Elmwood is world class. We also have theatre, music and lots of trains. Must visit the Central Terminal.

quote:

the last time I was at Artcraft they were remodeling, so I don't know what state they are in now

I was in Artcraft in February, and the place looked trashed. No new product. Trains laying on their side on a once nice layout with dust all over everything. A complete shambles from its former self. The steam engine is still there though! Also, check out Duff's on Millersport Highway for Chicken Wings. Or how about the Caboose Ice Cream Parlor about 5 miles south of Niagara Hobby on Union Rd. just before the 400 Expressway. There's the caboose and a really neat railroad theme park like setting complete with a RR crossing, authentic baggage handling equipment, and a covered station platform. A very clean and museum like setting. You will pass this place if you take Union Rd. to the 400 while traveling between Niagara Hobby and Aurora Rails. The weather is going to be drop dead gorgeous all weekend!! If you want nightlife, stop out at Hennessy's on Route 20 in Lancaster where I'll be playing drums with the Boneshakers Blues Band at 9:30 PM! Don't forget to say HI!

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Originally posted by jacobmarley:

Aurora Rails- 2268 Blakely Rd, East Aurora 14052/716-652-5718/Mon-Thurs 8-6, Fri 8-5 Closed sat, sun

Heck, any "old guy" bar anywhere in Buffalo is better than Andersons for Beef on Weck. Sorry guys, but I do like my beef. But, eating in Buffalo is the least of your worries. We have the best food and the biggest asses on the east coast. Beef, Chicken Wings and beer are plentiful.

If you like your beef then make a point of checking out "BarBills" just east of the traffic circle in East Aurora, on your next trip to Aurora Rails (ob Train). Might be some of the best wings and Beef in WNY and much more reasonable than Schwabls.

Pete

quote:

Originally posted by NYC Z-MAN:
I was in Artcraft in February, and the place looked trashed. No new product. Trains laying on their side on a once nice layout with dust all over everything. A complete shambles from its former self.

I had heard a rumor from one person that they had fallen on hard times, but I don't like to spread that stuff around unverified. That's too bad though. Unfortunately I think it will become a very familiar story in the coming years. Luxury retail is going to take a very big hit. Well, it already has actually. Perhaps it's time for small business owners to diversify a bit. Hobby shop/Liquor store, Jewelry/Liquor store, Book shop/ Liquor store... You get the idea. The only consumption that goes up in economic hard times is booze. Kind of feeling the need myself lately.

It's a shame though, because Artcraft was the best O gauge shop around this area a few years back.

Artcraft has to have the best location for a train store.
It’s located in an old country train station.
The tracks behind the store are active (Buffalo Southern).
PRR 2-10-0 no. 4483 is a stone throw away.
I was there in August for the annual Fair Train arrival and everything looked the same as it did last year so not sure about the falling on hard times comment. It’s a cool location.

Niagara Hobby by far has the most wow factor, plus an A++ restored caboose that you can walk thru.

If you have time check out the Arcade & Attica RR, live steam!!!

I'll be working this weekend (that's a change). Someone's got to recommend Pizza Junction for lunch. The subs are huge!!! Pizza weighs a ton. Just a few minutes from Ted's Hots. A little drive for you but worth it. It's in North Tonawanda I believe on Erie Ave. What trains are you shopping for? Joe

quote:

Originally posted by Chuck Light:
Artcraft has to have the best location for a train store.
It’s located in an old country train station.
The tracks behind the store are active (Buffalo Southern).
PRR 2-10-0 no. 4483 is a stone throw away.
I was there in August for the annual Fair Train arrival and everything looked the same as it did last year so not sure about the falling on hard times comment. It’s a cool location.

That's good to hear Chuck. (about Artcraft) As I said, I only heard one other person say that aside from Jim Z above. I hope everything is good. Actually, I liked their O Gauge layout very much. Its fairly straight forward, double-sided design had inspired one I built a few years back. And not only are the folks there friendly, but they really know their trains. I wouldn't take my stuff to be repaired anywhere else.

If anyone's interested, this is a pic I took a number of years ago of the PRR loco. That alone is worth the trip.

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That's good to hear Chuck. (about Artcraft) As I said, I only heard one other person say that aside from Jim Z above. I hope everything is good. Actually, I liked their O Gauge layout very much. Its fairly straight forward, double-sided design had inspired one I built a few years back. And not only are the folks there friendly, but they really know their trains. I wouldn't take my stuff to be repaired anywhere else.

Al/Chuck,

I'm also glad to here this about Artcraft as I have not been there since. Maybe it was just a bad spell for the owner.

Al, it's funny you mention the layout since I also built my double sided layout from ideas inspired by theirs.

I wonder if this store goes by or had a different name in the past. I went to a place in a similar location about 5 years ago on a Sunday drive only to figure out their closed on Sunday's. There wasn't any engine to be seen, I didn't know about it to look for it anyway. It was a train station if I remember, and at that time I was modeling G and HO. When I looked in the window I saw a lot of O scale stuff. I forgot about all it, Joe

Artcraft used to be on camp rd. in hamburg. They moved to the train station about a year ago.

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Originally posted by Enginear-Joe:
I wonder if this store goes by or had a different name in the past. I went to a place in a similar location about 5 years ago on a Sunday drive only to figure out their closed on Sunday's. There wasn't any engine to be seen, I didn't know about it to look for it anyway. It was a train station if I remember, and at that time I was modeling G and HO. When I looked in the window I saw a lot of O scale stuff. I forgot about all it, Joe

The station was occupied by another train dealer who offered mixed scales as well as original K-Line and MTH. He wasn't open all the time and ended up out of business. Artcraft had the opportunity to rent the station from the town (or county) and since his lease was running out on the old location why not. Rick is a super guy!

ken

To set the record staright on two points - Artcraft and beef!
Artcraft’s old station used to house the original location (albeit a different name) of Transit Station, whose owners found business better in the northern burbs and then closed the first location. We also left out D&L in Darrien Center (small but great parts and service). The one other shop in our neck of the woods (but an hour out) is Ridge Road Station – mostly G with a 4 level 4,600 SF layout but Lionel O and 4, As for roast beef I prefer Schwabl's too - but I was trying to keep it simple. Besides if it’s winter where or who else serves Tom & Jerry’s like they do! Hopefully the mention of more shops will keep the moderator from tossing us for turning this into the Food Network!

Niagara Hobby is the biggest such store I've ever seen & is easy to find off the NY Thruway at the Walden Ave. exit, in Cheektowaga. Go east to Union Rd., turn s. on Union & the store is on the right.
K-Val Trains is more of an old-time store also in Buffalo; sorry, can't recall directions w/o a Buffalo map. DK

So Chris how was your trip?

Ridge Road Station has by far the best prices on Fast Track I have seen.

What no Charlie the Butcher?

Artcraft's Camp rd. location was the best in the area. The store had a great 'Christmas' vibe to it -- all year long. I miss it.

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Originally posted by Norton:
If you like your beef then make a point of checking out "BarBills" just east of the traffic circle in East Aurora, on your next trip to Aurora Rails (ob Train). Might be some of the best wings and Beef in WNY and much more reasonable than Schwabls.

Pete

Pete, we were out this weekend looking at trees and buying pumpkins. We stopped in at Barbills for lunch. I've been there before and enjoyed it, but I have to say the beef is not as good as Schwabls, and this time around it took them 1 hour to serve us. I had had two beers in that time and was kind of ornery to tell the truth. It actually took me going up to them and "taking them to task" to get served at all. If it were not for my wife, I'd have walked out. Every single person who came into the bar after us was served first. All we wanted was beef. My wife thinks it was a reaction to the election pin on my hat. Personally, I think they just forgot.

On a train note, there are a lot of trains out that way, (East Aurora) and a lot of scenery that I use in my layout. The overpasses, girder bridges, streams, and trains within the landscape are my biggest inspiration for scenery. Excellent if you like rural. Which I do. I love western NY. It has such a comfortable, homey feel to it. The diversity, the change of seasons, the family feel. Plus you can go from "Soho" to "Currier and Ives" in a half hour.

Chris, I'll ask too. How did you like our neck of the woods? One thing that I think we all forgot to mention is that although Niagara Hobby doesn't have the benefit of being in a train station as does Artcraft, it does have lines right behind it that lead into a yard. A very busy place to watch trains as well as buy them.

Al, Too bad about the wait. I was there about three weeks ago on a Saturday and had to wait about 30 minutes. Only one girl hand cutting the beef. Everyone was out this weekend enjoying the weather.
Agree about East Aurora and that down home feel. I have relatives there and visit often. The village hasn't changed much in 50 years.
OB trains: Has Aurora Rails opened weekends yet?

Pete