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In new location--looking for hobby shops and model railroad clubs--Northern Florida General discussion
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Prolific poster 1,660 posts IrishRover Prolific poster 1,660 posts
IrishRover

I am settling into the Daytona Beach area, within reasonable driving range of Jacksonville and Orlando.  I ma looking for good local hobby shops, and may be interested in joining a model railroad club.  I model HO scale--trying to determine my era as yet--and will also be doing some HOn30. 

I heard there's a very big shop in Tampa, that might be worth the nearly 3 hour drive--nut want closer places also.

Thanks!
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tomdove New member 20 posts
tomdove

All Aboard-South

There's a nice little train shop called All Aboard - South in Mount Dora, about an hour west of Daytona Beach. Owner Jon Schubert designs and builds layouts, works in HO, specializes in DCC and has a sizable layout right in the store. He could direct you to clubs in the area. 

Jon has been helpful to me, even though he does not carry much N-scale stuff. He's a good guy. Disclaimer: I'm just a satisfied Snowbird who spends winters in Mount Dora, not a participant in his business in any way.

There are a couple of clubs in the Orlando area and perhaps one near DeLand. Jon could put you in touch with them.

-- Tom

-- Tom

Serving the Mid-Atlantic in N scale with the Bolero, Lindy & Tango RR (1925) and the Cha-Cha Chesapeake Industrial RR (1946).
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Central Florida Rairoad Modelers

A great club in Orlando. Here's the website: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/6961 To plan a visit to their clubhouse go here: http://www.centralfloridarailroadmodelers.org/CFRRM_Website_2010/Visit/Visit.htm

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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John Buckley roadglide Frequent poster 568 posts
John Buckley roadglide

Colonial Photo and Hobby

In Orlando, Colonial Photo and Hobby is my choice when I need something urgently. I live in Jacksonville and the supply is quite limited. Colonial carries a very big selection.

The Orlando Society of Model Railroaders has a great layout too. http://osmr.webs.com/

John

COO, Johnstown & Maryville RR

 
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Colonial Photo and Hobby

Colonial Photo and Hobby used to carry a large selection - until their staff changed. Now their RR stuff shelves are about empty and according to them they don't plan on fixing the problem. I wouldn't be suprised to see them drop RR all together.

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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IrishRover Prolific poster 1,660 posts
IrishRover

Thanks! and hours of All Aboard South?

I was at Colonial Photo and Hobby a year ago--it seemed nice then, but I'm sorry to hear that it's going downhill for trains.

All Aboard South doesn't have its hours posted on their website--does anyone know what they are?

Thanks for the heads-up!

 
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John Buckley roadglide Frequent poster 568 posts
John Buckley roadglide

Colonial Hobby

Really? I had not heard that. I have not been there in some time. But thats sad to hear that even they are getting out of the model railroad business. I guess the internet is mostly to blame. I can order something from Walthers on a Monday and its at my door step by Thursday.

John

COO, Johnstown & Maryville RR

 
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Colonial Photo & Hobby

Sad but true.  Many of the members of our club (Central Florida Railroad Modelers) have been in the store recently.  In addition our club president and vice president have had conversations with the staff there encouraging them to "step up" (stock up) and it's been falling on deaf ears.  Very sad....

 

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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EricSooLine New member 14 posts
EricSooLine

North Florida

There is a club located in Green Cove Springs that has a modular HO layout. Northeast Florida Model Railroaders. There is a shop called Trains and Trolleys by Edgewater that had an excellent selection of DCC gear at the Jax Rail fair a few weeks ago... I used to live over on left coast and found there was a great shop H&R trains in Pinellas county and also a good shop down in Bradenton called Gold Coast Model RR supply. Even Tampa had a shop called Happy Hobo that had a lot of detail gear and local stuff. Good Luck and have fun.

 

 

Eric

Winnetka,IL
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