Visiting The Baltimore Area

[GeneralService4]

Hello everyone. I am an N scale modeler who is considering making the trip from Massachusetts to the Baltimore area to attend the Timonium show this fall. While down there, I would also be interested in checking out any of the other rail related interests (real and model) in or around the city. The only one I know of off hand is the B&O Museum, but I am sure there is much more than that. What would you recommend? Thanks in advance.

Josh

[Mark5]

MBK is close by, though the showroom is a shadow of what it once was.

[Spwoody1031]

Depending on where you are coming from, Strasburg area in PA is not that far. If you contact me off forum, I can arrange for you to stop by and visit my N-scale model railroad. I am just a short drive off interstate 95 in Northeast MD.

website: http://www.harm-web.org/dcsrr-n

Scott.

[mu26aeh]

Mainline Hobby Supply is in Blue Ridge Summit, PA.  Great staff and excellent selection of N Scale inventory.  Also along the CSX Hanover Subdivision and Maryland Midland/Genessee & Wyoming-ex WM East Sub.

[Bob]

Harper's Ferry is about a 1 hour 15 minute drive from Timonium - great history, the HF station is restored, and you will no doubt have some trains roar by.  A walk over the Potomac brings you to the C&O Canal.

[wm3798]

Maryland Midland is also within an hour's drive, and the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum in Union Bridge is open on Sundays 1-4.  Operating model railroads, prototype equipment displayed, and a multitude of cool artifacts of a great railroad. 

http://westernmarylandrhs.com/

Lee

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Oh man, nice!

There are usually a handful of us at the Timonium show, and I'm always happy to show people around town.

You might want to take some time to browse through my railfanning blog and see if anything stands out: http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/ (especially http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/tag/baltimore-area/). If so, I'll be happy to get you there.

These might also be helpful: http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/helpful-railfan-resources/

And lastly a map I've put together: http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/helpful-railfan-resources/baltimore-railfan-location-map/

As far as my own personal high points:
MB Klein (mostly for convenience and that they usually do sales for the show weekends).
Chaps Pit Beef: https://chapspitbeef.com/ - It's not convenient to the show but is a true Baltimore legend. You can get good seafood in MA but there's nothing like this up there (that I've found).
St Denis: http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/tag/st-denis/ It's not the most scenic spot but it is one of the busier locations for CSX freight traffic. It's also easy to get to and easy to hang out at.
Halethorpe MARC Station: Near St Denis and you're almost guaranteed to see trains. See some pics here: http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/2014/11/the-west-side-of-baltimore-november-2014/
Martin State MARC Station: http://railfanning.kapuscinski.net/tag/martin-state-marc-station/ If you're going to Chaps, you might as well go here too. I'm not sure if you've spent much time on the NEC, but if not, this is a real treat of a spot.

If you're looking to go farther afield, I'd recommend the following:
The Strasburg Rail Road - There is NO finer steam operation in the world (if anyone disagrees, fight me).
The Wilmington & Western - Another great steam operation.
Washington Union Station - North and South Station WISH they were as impressive.

[MetroRedLine]

MBK is close by, though the showroom is a shadow of what it once was.

M.B. Klein is just a quarter-mile walk from the Warren Road MTA Light Rail station, so you can get there easily from central Baltimore. If you've never been there, it's VERY impressive, don't listen to the jaded locals - especially if your local hobby shop doesn't offer much. The whole Kid in a Candy Store analogy rings true here. And here's the best part: Their modeltrainstuff.com and physical store inventories are totally separate, so if something is sold out on the website, you might just find it in stock at the store. And their brick-and-mortar prices are exactly the same as online.

[MetroRedLine]

If you're looking to go farther afield, I'd recommend the following:

Washington Union Station - North and South Station WISH they were as impressive.

If you want to visit Washington DC, it's only a $7 ticket on the MARC commuter rail line from Baltimore!

[DeltaBravo]

Josh,
 A lot depends on where you stay and how you plan on getting around. If you drive down or rent a car while you are here there is a lot to see and I think many of the guys have listed them already. I will offer that MBK is still a cool store to visit and they offer a discount as mentioned on the Saturday of the show. But it is a shadow of what it was even two years ago, currently about 1/3 its original size.  But everything is the same price as on line.  I suggest one day at the show and one or more days to see other attractions. Plenty of good restaurants depending on your food preferences and budget. Bantrak will be there so feel free to reach out if you want to bring something, we can see about getting you a little run time.

[MetroRedLine]

Josh,
 A lot depends on where you stay and how you plan on getting around. If you drive down or rent a car while you are here there is a lot to see and I think many of the guys have listed them already. I will offer that MBK is still a cool store to visit and they offer a discount as mentioned on the Saturday of the show. But it is a shadow of what it was even two years ago, currently about 1/3 its original size.  But everything is the same price as on line.  I suggest one day at the show and one or more days to see other attractions. Plenty of good restaurants depending on your food preferences and budget. Bantrak will be there so feel free to reach out if you want to bring something, we can see about getting you a little run time.

Interesting. I visited the store in January 2015 while visiting various cities between Boston and Washington DC and was floored. Someone told me their online fulfillment warehouse is in the back of the store, so I assume they expanded that and reduced the storefront space?

[Mark5]

Someone told me their online fulfillment warehouse is in the back of the store, so I assume they expanded that and reduced the storefront space?

Bingo.

[DeltaBravo]

They took over 2/3 of the store for fulfillment  and warehouse. Now you are more likely to find it online verses in the store, still a nice store and they have computer kiosk and will pull inventory while you wait..

[GeneralService4]

Thanks so much for the suggestions and other input. With so many options, it will be hard to decide what to do!

Ed, many thanks for the railfanning guides. I definitely want to get out and catch a few trains at some point. Chaps looks delicious as well!
I've been the Strasburg, and as great as it is, I suggest you come up and visit the Valley Railroad in Essex, CT. They have a fine operation as well, not to mention the closest thing to a real New Haven steam locomotive operating today.

David B. , I will definitely stop by BANTRAK at the show and say hi. I may take you up on that offer to bring something to run.


Josh

[DKS]

Don't overlook the fact that you'll be driving past (more or less) a number of s along the way... @Ed Kapuscinski , @davefoxx , @wm3798 , and others, myself included. I'm sure most of them would make the time to meet with you.