Confessions of a Serial Collector – “A Vanishing Breed”
By Chip Kessler, TCA #93-38197 Summer 2026 e*Train
When I first became interested in model railroading in the early 1990s, there were six choices in my region of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia to go see the latest offerings. Each was a dedicated train shop. In other words, nothing but trains and more trains.
Today, there is one such store, Side Track Hobbies, in my area, and it isn’t exclusively model trains. It is split evenly between trains and R/C cars, but yes, there are plenty of model trains to choose from.
If I wish to count one of those chain hobby shops that features everything from model trains to jigsaw puzzles, then there are two stores to visit in my area. Sadly, gone are the days of the “Madison Hardware Company” (which I featured in my last TCA e*Train article) type of full-service train stores offering the latest and greatest, plus a nice selection of trains from years gone by, and oh yes, the ability to fix any issues with your trains.
Yet, regarding stores that are exclusively trains, trains, and more trains, I’m happy to report they are still out there! Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Raleigh, North Carolina, the home of Nick’s Trains. Talk about stepping into yesteryear! Here, one can delight in seeing nothing but trains, train accessories, and everything that goes with them. There are items from all ages and all gauges. I was so enamored to step “back in time,” so to speak, to this example of a good-old-fashioned train store that I visited it on three separate occasions during my week in the area, seeing our son who lives in a nearby town.
What about you? Is there an old-fashioned train shop in your region still thriving today? Why not jot down a few sentences and share them with your fellow TCA members via this article? Please send it to me via email at [email protected]. For that matter, if you have memories of a local train store you visited in days-gone-by, please feel free to share your experiences as well.
Speaking of which, I put out a call for Madison Hardware Company memories in my last column, and as usual, our TCA brotherhood responded, so without any further ado, it’s my pleasure to bring these to you.
We start with:
Richard Sappelli, TCA #70-3365
Hi Chip,
I went to Madison Hardware one time in the 70’s to get a part for my 313 prewar Bascule bridge. Somehow, the long rod that goes from the motor gearbox up the structure bridge had broken. So, I went into Madison to get the part. As I waited for Lou to handle other customers, I saw that others were asking for more than just one part or an item. Because of this, I decided I had better ask for more than just the one bridge part. My time came, and I asked for the 313 rod, which he dug out from the back. I had also thought of some other parts I could use, and he subsequently got those for me.
When it came time to add me up, he did not put the 313 rod on the bill. He had misplaced it and told me to come again for the rod. So, what I really wanted, I did not get, but ended up with parts that I really did not need. I never did get that part from Madison in the end.
Thanks, Richard! As is well-known, Madison Hardware’s reputation for being the “go-to” place for parts was second to none.
Next up, with the following tale is
Lew Strauss, TCA #05-59087
My home address for the first 25 years of my life: 440 East 23rd Street, NYC. My mother gave my father a set of trains as a present prior to my birth (1954) purchased, naturally at Madison Hardware, four avenues west from our apartment in Peter Cooper Village. I wouldn’t venture a guess how many times I passed the store in my lifetime let alone went inside. Our trains made an annual appearance just after Thanksgiving, heading back to the closet just after New Year’s. I still retain strong memories of the store, the “boys” and their repair guy Joey (who would emerge from the old wooden door with a leather-looking smock tied around his waist). Much later near the end I actually had a key made there (just to say “I did”). Each year I looked forward to picking up a catalogue there. We didn’t have tons of money to spend on trains but starting when I was eight-nine we added Canadian Pacific passenger cars (only the Skyline 500 dome and Park Observation Car), a Santa Fe Diesel switcher, Bosco Milk Car, Missile Launcher car, Atomic Waste Car, Fort Knox gold car to name a few. To the right before the counter was a wall of receding tracks. It seemed every year the Morse Fairbanks Virginian would be in the same spot. There were probably drool stains on the glass after every visit. Definitely not in our budget.
Great memories, Lew! Thanks for sharing.
Our next trip down memory lane:
Tom Moe, TCA #09-63481
Hi Chip,
I enjoyed reading your notes about Madison Hardware. I did have the chance to visit some years ago when on vacation in NYC with my family. My wife and daughter had gone off shopping, so I hauled our two young sons over to Madison Hardware. Sadly, I don’t have any photos. I remember the place was chock-a-block with “stuff.” But all I bought were a couple of little white missiles for my #44 Missile Launcher. After browsing, we left the store where we saw a fellow in a suit and tie who had climbed up on a dumpster that was in front of the store. He told me to “come on up” and dig through the things that Madison Hardware had thrown away (open boxes and miscellaneous “whatever”). He said that he always finds some treasure, so my boys were mortified when I climbed up on the dumpster to join him. He reached into the dumpster and pulled out a brand new, in the unopened plastic bag a #39 grain elevator. No box of course. When we got home, I assembled the tower. It still sits proudly on the fold-up layout that I built for my kids and grandkids (it can be carried on stairs, fits in a storage room and in a moving van- we moved a lot when I was in the Air Force). I’m told that Frank Sinatra shopped there, but he didn’t “drop by” while we were there.
Thanks Tom! I’ve read several accounts over the years that Frank Sinatra, a big fan of Lionel Trains, made frequent visits to the “Mecca of Lionel” Madison Hardware. Now, here’s some thoughts from Wes Swartz (90-31830) following up on my column from last time commenting on my obtaining a pair of Lionel Santa Fe F-3’s “indirectly” from Madison Hardware:
I also purchased a Lionel Santa Fe 2383 from Madison Hardware which has run a lot of miles. I also have two other versions of the Santa Fe: 2343 and 2353. I purchased the 2353 with custom Lehigh Valley cabs many years ago planning to install the cabs, but did not have display shelves and my layout was crowded with trains already. I did not really want to run a Lehigh Valley F-3 AA because the 2353 was nice and the cabs were beautiful and mint. I recently bought an additional 2383 to put on the Lehigh Valley cabs. The Lehigh Valley F-3 AA is now parked on my current layout at the head of a long passenger train. I think I purchased a few other items from Madison Hardware, like parts and track plus I just found a small Madison Hardware envelop with two rollers in it! I am pretty sure I have a letter with some prices too from them.
I appreciate you sending along your story, Wes!
We’ll close this time with:
Dwight Phillips, TCA #22-75866:
Recently, I read your article regarding your memories of Madison Hardware. In response to your invitation, I would like to share a particularly memorable event that occurred during one of my visits. Back in the mid-1980s, I learned about the store and decided to pay a visit, during one of my business trips to New York City. Needless to say, I was in awe of the amount of Lionel postwar items which were available. Over the years I purchased a number of pieces of rolling stock, in particular 6400 series box cars. However, the memorable event occurred when I was there to purchase a 2400 series silver passenger car. Lou waited on me and he asked one of the employees to get the car from the back room. After he did so, Lou set it down on the counter. As soon as he did so, a cockroach jumped out of the car and quickly ran across and then down the counter. Lou laughed and said that those who worked in the store referred to the roaches as “passengers”. Lou then had the employee retrieve another car, which he took the top off of, to make sure that there were no “passengers” inside, before I purchased it. I definitely did not want to take one of “passengers” home with me. I still have all of the cars which I purchased, as well as some of the receipts and the store’s business card.
A great story, Dwight, to wind things up this time around.
Again, if you have a favorite memory or story about a local train store, whether from years ago or one that’s still around today, please email it to me. I’d love to share your story, or perhaps your best-ever train find. And, of course, as I mentioned earlier, I’d also love to hear a great Madison Hardware story!
