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Model Railroad Shops in Houston
Below is a description of the major Model Railroad Shops in
Houston. They are arranged from north to south. Most descriptions were written
by the shop owners.
Spring Crossing is located at 1420 Spring Cypress Road,
just east of I-45 and the Spring Exit. Race Fierman operates a full service
rail shop that includes a large stock of HO, N, & O scale. Most items are
10-20% off MSRP. Race always seems to have some older stock for those who missed
items the first time around. He also produces custom backgrounds in several
scales from computer manipulated and printed materials. For those headed to
UP's Lloyd Yard, Spring Crossing is at the north side and Larry's at the south.
http://race.fierman-spring.xing.home.att.net.
Papa Ben's Train Place has over 7,000 sq. ft. of nothing
but model trains and accessories. Papa Ben's stocks Z, N, HO, S (scale &
hi-rail), O (scale & hi-rail), G as well as various gauges of each scale
(Nn3, HOn3, Sn3, On30, Gn3/F). Lines include Austin Modeling Associates, CDS,
Champ, Micro-Scale, Oddballs, Woodland Scenics decals and dry transfers. There
is a large book and publications department that includes dozens of prototype
hardback and How-To softback books, railroad historical society publications
as well as the "usual" line-up of monthly magazines covering all aspects
of model railroading. Sales and installation of DCC is offered, including Digitrax,
Soundtraxx, North Coast Engineering, Lenz. Also, Papa Ben's is a direct purchase
dealer for: Accucraft, Branchline, deLuxe Innovations, Digitrax, Funaro &
Camerlengo, Homa-Bed, Inter-Mountain, Kadee, LGB, Marklin, Micro-Trains, Miniatronics,
Northwest Short Line, Precision Scale, Red-Caboose, San Juan Car Co, Walthers
and all brass importers. Papa Ben's offers a plateaued purchase discount program
for repeat customers. Papa Ben's Train Place occupies a freestanding building
on Houston's near southwest side, 2506 South Boulevard, (Kirby at US 59, Southwest
Freeway.) AMEX, DISC, MC, VISA gladly accepted. Owner, Ben Pearlman is a long
time NMRA member and officer, and his staff are all experienced modelers. For
a map and more information, visit www.papabens.com
G & G Model Shop is a mile south of Papa Bens located
at 2522 Times Blvd. just east of Kirby in the Rice Village. Gus Fritag has the
oldest model railroad shop in Houston and is a longtime member of the NMRA.
As a general model shop, Gus has trains, planes, cars, and military. His railroad
materials are strongest in Lionel and HO, but his real strength is in the scratch
building supplies and scenery area. Gus is the largest Evergreen styrene dealer
in the world and keeps the local architects and Rice University students stocked
with speciality shapes in styrene, brass, and wood.
Houston Roundhouse at 3264 South Loop West , Houston,
Tx 77025 (713) 662-0809 Fax (713) 662-2819 opened in 1976 as the Bellaire Roundhouse
and has recently expanded to 3,600 sq. ft. at this easy to find and reach location.
The store is packed with N and HO, track and structures, locos and cars (probably
the best stock of out of production Micro Trains and Kadee cars in Texas). We
also have a good stock of O gauge by Lionel, MTH, Atlas (locos, cars and track).
Many brands of scenery and DCC by Digitrax, North Coast, Lenz and Atlas. We
have hundreds of railroad books and videos and specialize in HOn3, Sn3 and On3
narrow gauge and have over 100 brass engines and cars. Almost all items over
$5 are marked at 10% off list to every customer with 10% and 15% additional
discount for volume customers. Extra discounts for advance orders. This shop
is the home of Roundbell Hobby Products which manufactures and markets to other
dealers 10 colors of wood stains and imports and sells 17 sizes of Mashima 5
pole can motors and 9 matching precision flywheels for repowering locomotives.
Visa, MC, Discover, Amex 11AM- 6PM Mon.-Sat, till 8PM Thurs. Wayne Weiss is
the owner operator and staffs the store with true railfans and modelers. roundbell@aol.com.
South Loop 610 at Main St., one mile west of Astrodome.
Trains and Planes is located at 8914 Westheimer (Northwest
corner of Westheimer and Fondren) less then two (2) miles East of the Adam's
Mark Hotel. Our phone number is 713-977-1420, www.trainsandplaneshobbies.com,
and our business hours are 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday. We are LARGE in Lionel
with some "N", "HO", and "G". But what most folks
like best about our store, be they model railroaders or not, is how eclectic
the store is. We are a large store, 5500 sq. ft., and are actually billed as
a Toy and Hobby store. We have everything from Retro Tin Toys and Wooden Lincoln
Logs to the latest in Lionel TMCC (Train Master Command Control). We are a true
specialty store in toys and hobbies stocking merchandise that customers, particually
new customers, can't belive we have. Our hearts may go back 27 years to model
trains, and we do still sell a lot of model trains, but the charm and unique
nature of the entire store is the real draw. Ask any of our customers, some
come in just to walk around and look. Pam & Ed Dupaquier keep things going.
