ABOUT
AL, LIBBY, AND STAFF WELCOME YOU TO SIDE TRACK HOBBIES.
We were in Europe in 1971. After the Marines and acquiring a degree in Electrical Engineering designing computers for the Military, we were ready to leave for the US. However, there was a toy store that was displaying some indoor/outdoor large-scale trains. Looking to the future, we thought these would be nice for our son, who would be born in a couple of months. AS Libby will tell you, if I see something I like that costs $100.00, I will think about it, but it is offered for $99.00 I will buy 2. Will, wew car came home with extras that were enjoyed the friends and neighbors, who needed to have them too. So, as the story goes, we became a distributing dealer.With note cards, paper and pen, phone in hand and filing drawers, we began selling trains from our living room, the basement, the garage then to the WAREHOUSE.
The LGB large-scale trains were selling fast, needed room and employees. In 1976 we added Lionel. Later, we added MTH, WEAVER, MARKLIN, AMERICAN FLYER, BACHMANN and a host of other O-Guage, S, HO, N, Z and ONE GAUGE manufacturers. (G is not a scale, G stands for GARDEN.) We carried the complete line of MTH trains, Tin Plate, 1-Guage (G), 0-Guage, Rail King and Premier, Atlas 0-Guage and LIONEL products, nothing smaller. IN 1980, we took our 2 sons and put the show on the road. From 1980 to 2008 we did about twenty-four shows a year from NY to Florida to ILLINOIS and all the states in between. We have a customer list of over 65 thousand. We have been fortunate to look them in the face and shake hands with many of them. We moved from the WAREHOUSE to a 16 thousand Sq. Ft. Showroom with 4 ceiling trains and seven other circles of trains on the floor with all accessories needed to build a full-scale layout of any scale. We had a Slot Car Track and vers carried, boats, planes, slot cars and related items. Let us not forget that trains where-not our major responsibility. WE were partners in a Grocery Store, we had 3 Hardware stores, a Liquor store, Gas Station, and a Landro mat. With 243 associates and great managers, 5:15 AM to 11:00 PM seven days a week with freezer alarms, mopping floors and late-night calls, was just about right to make the week The boys, (now married) with 3 grand kids and 3 Great Grand Children, all play with trains. (Libby worked very hard with me to make all this happen. I LOVE her dearly.) Now after these many years, I have started my first true train garden, one in the winter outdoors for 2 months and one permanent, 26x12 operating TWO STANDARD GAUGE (29/1) circles, one, ONE GAUGE (32/1) and three 'O' GAUGE (48/1) circles. As normal, they will never be completed or finished. Many of our customers think that I should have a huge collection of trains after all the years we have been in business, but you see, we are in business to help you secure your trains at a competitive price. I now am buying trains for myself that I onceI LOVE her dearly.) Now after these many years,l have started my first true train garden, one in the winter outdoors for 2 months and one permanent, 26x12 operating TWO STANDARD GAUGE (29/1) circles, one, ONE GAUGE (32/1) and three 'O' GAUGE (48/1) circles. As normative, they will never be completed or finished. Many of our customers think that I should have a huge collection of trains after all the years we have been in business, but you see, we are in business to help you secure your trains at a competitive price. I am now buying trains for myself that I once sold.
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Thank you for visiting