Wow, I think it was Chris who commented (maybe not here) that model railroading was getting to be a rich man's hobby. I would agree.

I remembered that I had two gift certificates to Hub Hobby from Christmas '04. Last night I stopped in. I picked up an Athearn C&NW Dash-9 (8627) and a C&NW 50' gondola.

I found that most rolling stock ranged from the upper teens to $30. Is it cheaper to buy from catalogs?

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The railfan side

My pictures

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http://home.comcast.net/~dellwoodtim/rr.html

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The railfan side

My pictures

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MyPhoto's
More of myPhoto's

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The railfan side

My pictures

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Wisconsin Central 1987-2001
EMD SD40 1966-1971

My father was part owner of the now-defunct Team Track Hobbies in Woodbury back in the late 70's-early 80's, and the catalog/mail order discount hobby outlets effectively killed the business. It's a tough business, especially if you're a small hobby shop owner who carries a relatively select inventory. It can be disappointing for us modelers/fans as well, as often those small shops carry the esoteric items of local interest that we crave.

I will purchase from Scale from time to time (especially when I was an N-Scaler) because they had whatever it is you were looking for.....for a hefty price of course. Some of their HO stuff is strangley on par with online shops though. An example would be many of their structure kits were the same or even cheaper than some of the online stores I was shopping at. Cannot say the same for locomotives or rolling stock though. That being said, I will purchase rolling stock from there simply because they have what I am looking for and it is less of a hassle than hunting the web sometimes.

I have never been to Becker. Now that I am HO scale again, I will have to check them out.

On the East side, in Oakdale, there's Hobby Town USA- Bergen Plaza Shopping Center 7065 10th. st. N. Oakdale, MN, 55128. I find there stuff affordable, AND NEAR ME! there's one in Brooklyn Park, but don't know exactly where. Becker's is a very good place, and he has an association with my club the "New Brighton Connection Modular Railroad Club" and gives discounts to members. So, if you want a fine group of modelers, come join us. and don't let the name fool you, we have member's from Big Lake to Glenco to Lake Elmo. email me if you have any questions- DeislTrain9@aol.com

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Taylor P.
Lake Elmo, MN
Route of the "400"

my train pictures.

Since this thread got bumped, I decided to post a little something in it.

Wow!

No, that's not it... Walthers just announced some new Autoracks in HO Scale. They are going for $40 PER CAR!!!! Not a two pack, PER CAR!

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/932-40122

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I still like the TCW.

to Walthers...YOU'RE PRICES ARE A FAIL!

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Taylor P.
Lake Elmo, MN
Route of the "400"

my train pictures.

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John Fladung
Saint Paul, MN