I want tο know іf tһеrе іѕ a store wһеrе уου саח ɡο tһаt іѕ tһе bіɡɡеѕt model train company іח tһе United States, wһеrе уου саח bυу аƖƖ tһе different-sized model trains, Ɩіkе O scale, HO scale, аחԁ N scale аחԁ stuff Ɩіkе tһаt, аחԁ аѕ well аѕ a large selection οf locomotives, diesels, аחԁ cabooses аחԁ stuff Ɩіkе tһаt, аѕ well аѕ garden railroads аחԁ quarry railroads аחԁ junction railroads. Dοеѕ anyone know wһеrе tο ɡο tο bυу tһеm? Anywhere іח tһе United States, іѕ tһеrе tһе bіɡɡеѕt train store?
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Internet!
(“Junction railroads”? What are they?)
I’m not aware of any “model railroading supermarkets,” as the hobby, by its very nature, has FEW “big guns.”
William K. Walthers (est. 1932) is the largest overall, between being a distributor, manufacturer and importer. They do not sell directly to consumers, but through an affiliate business set up for that purpose. It used to be “Terminal Hobby Shop,” but has since been renamed.
Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Colorado, has been around a long time, is makes its home in a former grocery store. In addition to being a retail operation, they also sell via mail order and the internet.
There are also various train meets around the country at different times, where a variety of dealers get together to sell all manner of train-related stuff; the Greenberg shows come to mind. Another big one is the Great Scale Model Train Show held several times a year in Timonium, Maryland. (All these train shows, whether traveling or not, charge a modest admission fee for entry.)
Walther’s is it.If they don’t have it nobody probably does.
Caboose Hobbies in Denver, Co., is the biggest railroad hobby shop on the planet. Largest inventory of all manufacturers and best prices to boot. As an example, I was looking for an HO scale 4-6-2 Pacific. I found one to fit the bill, made by Mantua.
Mantua list price = $179.88.
At Walthers you pay = $179.88 (they charge list price for everything and are the last place you want to shop. The only time I order from them is if I cannot find a specific item any where else).
At Hobbylinc you pay = $151.18.
At Caboose Hobbies you pay = $119.99, all for exactly the same engine. And these are every day prices, not sale prices.
They handle all scales, including live steam.
The store is many 1000s of square feet, with a full scale diesel electric loco in the middle of the store as the center piece.
They also have on line sales as well, caboosehobbies.com.
Andy’s right, it’s likely Walther’s.