Tampa, FL Hobby stores worth visiting for N scale?

[carmelmodelrr]

Are there any hobby stores in Tampa worth driving to?  We'll be in the area soon and the only store that seems to be there is H & R--and I'm not familiar with them.  Comments?

Thanks.

Richard Wroblewski
carmelmodelrr

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I was in H&R a while ago. I think they're ok and worth it if you're nearby.

Of course, the most legendary one, Chester Holly's closed a long time ago, but I still remember it fondly from vacations when I was a kid.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/chester-holley-model-railroad-specialists-tampa
http://www.sptimes.com/2004/12/24/Citytimes/Holleys__train_shop_c.shtml
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/17098.aspx?sortorder=desc

While you're there, you might also want to scope out CSX's Bone Valley operations. They're like nothing else anywhere that I'm aware of.

[Philip H]

I shopped regularly at H&R through 2001 when I left Florida for Seattle. They are good but a bit thin on N scale. Tampa is sadly a railroad hobby ghost town  - Chester's was the last real train store with anything.

There are a couple good stores down in Sarasota, and I agree about the bone valley - the phosphate mines have to be seen to be believed.

[Upstate Gator]

Gold Coast Model Railroad in Sarasota is your best bet. H&R Trains was a disappointment. I do not know if the Sarasota Model Railroad club is still around, but they had a nice N scale layout. You should also check for train shows.
Ben

[atsf_arizona]

I live here in Sarasota and can vouch for Gulf Coast Model RR shop in Sarasota at  3222 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone:(941) 923-9303.  It's a great store - Kelly and Dave will take good care of you.

The model railroad club in Sarasota/Bradenton area, http://realrail.org/  is great place, some very talented modelers there such as Bob Hamm, NMRA National Contest Chair, Ray Hazen, and more.  They're open house every Saturday from 10-2.  The folks there are some really talented modelers.   I used to be a member there before my job got too busy again.

If you are able to drive to Cocoa Beach (Cape Canaveral area) on Jan 7-9, that will *really* be a highlight of your visit to the area, it's
the "Winter NMRA Nationals"  http://www.prototyperails.com/    Don't miss this one if it fits your sched.  Definitely on your bucket list.

Sunshine Region of NMRA lists a lot of good info.
http://sunshineregion.org/SunshineRegionHome.aspx

H&R is just OK.  Haven't found any good other hobby stores in Tampa area.  Many people from Tampa will drive down to Sarasota if they want a good model railroad hobby shop.  Take the wife to St. Armand's Circle for shopping/eating, then stop by on the way to Gulf Coast Model RR shop.

The Suncoast Model RR club in Largo is definitely worth a visit:   http://www.suncoastmrrc.com/    12355 62nd St, Largo, FL 33773

North of Tampa is the Suncoast Center for Fine Scale Modeling I hear is just great:  http://www.finescalemodeling.org/Welcome.html  *Incredibly superb* modeling here. The Suncoast Center for Fine Scale Modeling, Home of the Sundance Central Railroad is open on the 3rd Saturday of the month.   Open from September thru May and CLOSED June, July and August.   2016 3rd Saturday Hours of Operation: 10am till 4pm

Willaford Railroad Museum in Plant City (about 26 miles east of Tampa is a good visit):  http://www.willafordrailroadmuseum.com/   There's also  a model RR club in the same town.  Plant City is good railfanning.

Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, FL  (on east side of Tampa Bay) is here:  http://www.frrm.org/

Tampa Union Station, if you're downtown, is worth dropping by for a few minutes to look around.

Hope that helps!

John Sing
ATSF_Arizona
www.pbase.com/atsf_arizona

[Blazeman]

Depending when you are visiting the area, there is a train show/layout display at The Villages one weekend this month, I believe. It's a drive for sure, but by going there, you're half way to some stores in the Ocala/Gainesville area. Definitely would not be as interesting of a trip as going to Sarasota, especially with the wife coming along. Sarasota a very sophisticated and lovely area.

[Rich_S]

I live here in Sarasota and can vouch for Gulf Coast Model RR shop in Sarasota at  3222 Clark Rd, Sarasota, FL 34231
Phone:(941) 923-9303.  It's a great store - Kelly and Dave will take good care of you.

John Sing

I can second that the "Gulf Coast Model Railroad Shop is a nice hobby shop. My in laws live in Nokomis, FL. A couple of years ago while we were visiting, I asked if there were any hobby shops in the area. Even though my father in law is not a model railroader, he was familiar with the Gulf Coast Model RR shop. We took a run up to the shop one morning, just to have a look around. I ended up getting a couple of N scale box cars and a great video titled "Trains of the Bone Valley". If you are in the Sarasota area, be sure to check out this hobby shop, from what I remember it was a well stocked hobby shop.   

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Speaking of the Bone Valley, check these out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb-pU8G8Z7EtEBef4XKQeRVErO2fCzDa2

[towl1996]

And if you get hungry, Berns Steakhouse is one of the best  and it has the reported worlds largest wine collection.

[Roger Holmes]

No knowledge of train shops but I second the recommendation of Berns Steakhouse.

As far as ATSF Arizona's recommendation about taking your wife to St. Armand's Circle for shopping, I have taken several wives there ( all my own lest you think I would take someone else's wife) and while the wife may be happy you will have no train funds left