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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 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

There are fantastic model railroading hobby shops all across the United States.  These stores all look like a lot of fun to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

The most popular model railroading shops (based on online chatter) in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee are:

10. Mishawaka Rail Yard in Mishawaka, Indiana

A Tie for Number 8

8. BAD Hobbies in Nicholasville, Kentucky

8. Rupel Toy Trains in Elkhart, Indiana

7. Park Lane Hobbies in Dyer, Indiana

6. George’s Train Shop in Huntington, Indiana

5. Aardvark’s Model Train Shop in Nashville, Tennessee

4. Phil’s Hobby Shop in Fort Wayne, Indiana

3. Berkshire Trains in Lexington, Kentucky

2. Scale Reproductions Hobby Shop in Louisville, Kentucky

…and the most popular shop for model trains in Indiana, Kentucky, or Tennessee is…

1. Johnny’s Toys in Covington, Kentucky

Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were G and G Hobbies in Griffith, Indiana; Joe’s Hobby Barn in Terre Haute, Indiana; Linville Signs and Hobbies in Batesville, Indiana; Toys Forever Models and Hobbies in Muncie, Indiana; Train Express in Indianapolis, Indiana; Watts Train Shop in Zionsville, Indiana; Wayne’s Trains and Train Central in Indianapolis, Indiana; L and N Trains and Things in Louisville, Kentucky; The Roundhouse in Louisville, Kentucky; Chattanooga Depot in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and South Bound Trains in Franklin, Tennessee.

So, there are clearly many great model railroading shops all over Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, with all three states having stores in the top five.  Indiana had the most in the top ten with five, but Kentucky had four in the top ten – and also had all of the top three spots.

When in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee be sure to visit some of the excellent railroading museums including Depot Railroad Museum in Salem,Indiana; Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson, Indiana; Indiana Railway Museum in French Lick, Indiana; Indiana Transportation Museum in Noblesville, Indiana; Bluegrass Railroad Museum in Versailles, Kentucky; Nostalga Station in Versailles, Kentucky; Casey Jones Home and Railroad Museum in Jackson, Tennessee; Tennessee Central Railway Museum in Nashville, Tennessee; and Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga.

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 Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.

Technorati Tags: Indiana, Kentucky, model, Shops, Tennessee, 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

True photographers and collectors will definitely know what the value of a digital steam train photo collection really is. Steam trains are part of the history of mankind, as our civilization wouldn’t have gone this far without the discovery of the steam engine. But how many of us have got the chance to really see a true steam train? Too few actually. Now, I think it is a little clearer why digital steam train photos are highly appreciated by collectors, since they are a little more difficult to get than normal pictures. A digital camera may be within reach, but a steam train is not.

The earliest steam trains go back to the Industrial Revolution that changed the face of mankind for ever. Now the steam trains and engines are on display in special museums, or they are sleeping at the back of long forgotten deposit places. Digital steam train photos collections come from those of you who are determined enough to look back at history and record it with the help of modern technology. The great part about such digital photos is that the zoom in option allows you to get the very precise technical details of a steam train.

Many of the photos in the collections some people have, come from digital steam train photo albums that were downloaded from the Internet. However, for some passionate collectors that are interested in both steam trains and photography, there is an immense satisfaction to actually get to take detailed pictures of a classical steam engine. Some of the digital steam train photos may be so vivid you can almost imagine the wheel screeching. The advantage of using a good digital camera, with advanced features is that you will get a truly atmospheric classic image.

Even if you’re in motion when you take a picture, it should not affect the quality of the digital photos, since technology has already learned how to avoid blurring. There are thousands of digital steam train photos online, some technical, some artistic, your choice. Yet, mention should be made that there are sites providing more special photos, for which you’ll have to pay if you want to get the train photos for the collection. There are people who have even made a business out of selling digital steam train photos to industry and shops. Who knows? You may be one of them.

Technorati Tags: about, digital, photos, Secrets, Steam, Train