Confessions of a Serial Collector: More on The Vanishing Train Store
By Chip Kessler, TCA #93-38197 Fall 2026 e*Train
Based on my article from the Summer Edition, I wanted to dig a little deeper into this important subject for model railroad enthusiasts. Why are hobby shops that were specifically devoted to our great hobby disappearing? Accordingly, here’s my follow-up to “A Vanishing Breed” from last time around!
When I first became seriously interested in model trains, there were five dedicated train stores operating in my region of Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. This was back in the early 1990’s. Today, there is one. I can add one other if I wish to consider an establishment that sells a selection of model trains to go along with everything from R/C cars to model kits to games, along with other like-minded hobby pursuits.
The sad fact is that the full-service model railroad store, which offers everything from a great selection of trains in different gauges to supplies, plus can service and repair your trains, is disappearing before our eyes.
Think of your own present locale. Are there any train stores still around like I just described in the previous paragraph? Hopefully you can answer in the affirmative. What a joy it can still be to walk through the doors and see aisle after aisle of trains and more trains, plus have knowledgeable staff members to talk to and receive guidance with any of our questions.
When the legendary New York City train store Madison Hardware closed its doors back in 1989, who knew at the time that it would serve as a forerunner of things to come? And yet here we are 37 years later.
Let’s examine the whys and wherefores of the current situation.
First and foremost, the changing landscape of those interested in our wonderful hobby means that unfortunate business decisions had to be made and have to be made. After all, running a model train store is a business. If there’s a nice profit to be made, you stick around. If not, then it’s time to get out.
No one can argue that buying a model train for a son or a daughter is as prominent today as it was in the years following World War II. And while there were ebbs and flows at times in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, the hobby was able to withstand these dips and keep surviving. Now, however, we are dealing with young people more interested in their phones, along with other visual stimuli in the form of video games and whatnot. The bottom line is, as we all realize, the major thrust of model railroading interest comes from the very “children” born during the boom years mentioned earlier in this passage. I’m not about to get into a diatribe over “how to attract the younger generation” to model trains. This has been addressed on numerous occasions over the last several decades, and if I were to offer any thoughts, I’d leave them for another article.
Yet, speaking of age, it can be a deciding factor as to why a train shop disappears. Here, a store owner is wishing to retire after many years of service, and the business can’t be sold; thus, the reluctant choice to close down may be all that is left. Why can’t it be sold? Here once again it is a matter of economics, as in, if it’s a good business decision to get into the model train hobby, a buyer would come forward.
One man who bucked the growing trend (and had a nice brick and motor run, beginning in 2002 and ending in 2015) was Mike Brock TCA #04-57269. Ironically, it was a train store shutting its doors in his home area of Greensboro, NC, that prompted Mike to pick up the slack.
“A friend had a train store in town,” explains Mike, “and he went out of business. “I thought the region would still support such a business. I didn’t wind up buying his store but opened my own shop.”
As a result, Greensboro Electric Trains was born and stayed in operation for 13 years. And still, in time, the economics of running a full-service train store in these modern times caused yet another to close its doors.
“It is still an outstanding hobby,” states Mike, who dates his personal involvement back 75 years to a 1949 Lionel set #1457B featuring ATSF Switcher and freight cars. “But dollar-wise, is someone going to spend 500 dollars or so to get a youngster involved, especially when they have so many other options available vying for his or her attention? Yes, the hobby will be around forever, in my opinion. But again here, how much are people willing to spend?”
Whether the product in question comes from a free-standing train store, or some other venue such as train shows, collectors and/or operators still desire nice trains.
According to Brock,
“It comes down to dollars. Some of the newer engines Lionel is producing cost upwards of 2000 dollars. And Lionel is building these to order.”
Fortunately, there are some of the giants in the model train world which are still thriving, successfully dealing with the economics of today. Look through the pages of the major train publications, and their ads tell you there is still a thriving market out there for them to take part in. That’s the good news! Best of all, in most cases these advertisers have brick-and-mortar locations where one can visit. This is the best news of all, especially if you live nearby or can plan to visit if you happen to be in the area. Unfortunately, there just aren’t as many of these opportunities as in the past. Proof rears its ugly head when one picks up a model train publication of 10, 20, 30 years ago and sees all the ads. Sadly, a great many of these businesses no longer exist.
While it isn’t a business that places ads in the train magazines, I did have the opportunity for the first time last year to drop in on a thriving store, which, inch for inch, ranks as one of the best I’ve ever been to, and I’ve had the pleasure of visiting stores in a great many states over the years. This stop took me back to many of those truly memorable train stores. I mentioned this store last issue and want to take you back there this time around.
Nick’s Trains in Raleigh, NC, has been going strong, with its start in 1995 as a weekend 8-by-12-foot offering in a local indoor flea market. These humble beginnings led to a more permanent local location today, where this family-owned business continues to shine, anchored by its stout commitment to customer service.
“It’s something we take a great deal of pride in, “states shop owner Grover Nicholson (TCA member 91-34348), the “Nick” in Nick’s Trains. “Customers tell us they like the opportunity to be able to come in to see and touch things, and ask questions.”
This hands-on aspect is one of the many reasons Nick’s Trains is still going strong. To meet customer needs, there is a staff ready to be of service including George Lasley along with Grover Nicholson’s sons Peter and Frank. Even grandson James Wiatrowski pitches in.
Nick offers, “many times people come in and say ‘I want a train, but I don’t know what I want’ and this is where we step in, inquire about their particular needs and desires, then look to work with them. Sometimes they buy that very day, and even if they don’t make a purchase, chances are they come back.”
There’s a lot to “come back” to as the shop features all gauges from Z through G in its now four thousand square foot location which recently featured an addition. Expert train repair is also part of the shop’s full-service mandate in additional to a wealth of scenery products, train books and just about anything else connected to the hobby.
“And if we don’t have a particular item in stock, we’ll go about finding it,” adds Nick, mentioning how a customer wanting an HO Dreyfuss Hudson and yes, one was located.
Flexing its muscles against the declining world of physical trains shops, Nick’s trains features a strong line-up of Lionel and American Flyer postwar trains and accessories, even some pre-war items.
Do people come in wanting to sell trains? “Boy do they,” Nick responds. “Fact is, it happens so often that we’ve started booking appointments for people to come in. This way we can devote the time necessary to look over what they have.”
At the time we spoke, I was informed demand was such that these appointments are being booked out months into the future!
With people selling, there needs to be folks still buying. What about the outlook for the model train hobby? Who better to ask than a couple of gentlemen still in the daily trenches: the owner of Nick’s Trains, Grover “Nick” Nicholson, TCA #91-34348, and his able assistant, George Lasley, TCA #19-74160.
Nick says,
“I’ve given a great deal of thought to this, I believe things will remain strong for a number of reasons. It’s because there are so many different aspects to this hobby. You have certain people who just want to run trains. Then they are those who are really deep into the electronics. As well, is the crowd who are model builders.”
He adds one cautionary tale,
“I’m not so sure the collecting part is going to thrive in the years ahead.”
George Lasley offers a sobering reality,
“One of the reasons we are having so many people stopping in to sell is because unfortunately many long time collectors are passing away.”
Everyone I’ve spoken with, whether they are present or former train shop owners, believes model railroading isn’t going away.
That’s good to hear!
What serves as a cause for pause is the number of physical outlets left for us to see what’s available.
Yes, many train shops have left us. We’ll still have our memories of time spent walking around, gazing at the great trains available for sale, talking to folks behind the counter, leaning on their expertise.
The moral of the story: appreciate what is still left, and when possible, visit to take advantage of an experience our parents and grandparents probably believed would never go away.
If you would like to share your memories of a great train store you went to as a youngster or one you are privileged to have the opportunity to visit today, I would love to read about it and potentially share in a future column. Please get in touch via e-mail at [email protected]
