Little Choo Choo Shop

I just so happened to be in the area over at the Railroad Museum across the street and after leaving for the day I figured why not check out the local hobby shop and see what all they had. I can honestly say this is the LARGEST train/​hobby shop I’ve ever been to. I mean the place was FREAKING HUGE. Upon walking in they have a huge O-​scale layout in the middle of the retail space with all sorts of rolling-​stock, track, engines, scenery stuff, etc. After looking around there was a hallway that open toward the back into a nice size book, magazine and how to guide area. With electric and wiring books for you train layouts and track plan guides as well as an abundance of historical train books, regional train books and train watching location guides. The store continued even further back into their HO-​scale section where they had both an HO and N-​scale layout combined together in the back SLAMMED full of HO & N-​scale stuff. Like you would have to be there to see it, it was ALOT of stuff. They also had a cool children’s Thomas section in the back too with a neat play table set up for the kids. Needless to say I was looking for G-​scale and they didn’t have very many of those at this store, But I was still satisfied looking at all the trains either way this store blew my away from the get go. The Staff was also extremely knowledgeable on things and asked if I need help with anything to which they answered several of my questions I had to ask. If i had known initially I would have brought in two of my broken HO trains and had them repaired if only I lived a little closer.
**Overall, AMAZING train store. I find it funny how Train’s get inside you even as small children playing with them as we age, even grown adults play with them too. Something that never seems to fade or ever get boring.

I just recently moved back to North Carolina, but had shopped in this store over 20 years before. I found there to be one of the largest selections of most gauges of locomotives and rolling stock in the state. The staff is very knowledgeable and allowed me to look without me being followed, but answered all questions thoroughly and showed me what I was looking for. I collect in N-​gauge and they have a very good inventory of the current production runs, particularly of the railroads I model such as Southern Railway and Central of Georgia. I am a collector of railroad books and they have a very good selection of both hardback and softbacks, particularly of the regional railroads.
If go just for the train store, go across the street and see the Historic Spencer Shops of the former Southern Railway.
I just wish it was just a little closer to Kings Mountain, NC or I would be in there every weekend.

They are located right in front of the NC Transportation Museum.
They have a wide variety of trains, N Gauge, HO, 027.
They have O27 in the front of the store… many locomotives. Some of the locomotives are on consignment and some are new. They also have quite a nice selection of rolling stock for this format. They have a nice set up in the middle of the area. Although when I was there nothing was running… would have loved to see it in motion.
They have HO in the back area of the store… this is a very large area. They have some coal and steam engines, but mostly modern freight locomotives. They had a very nice selection of these available in all price ranges from just over $ 100 to $ 800. Some of the locomotives are on consignment and some are new. They also have quite a nice selection of HO rolling stock. They have a nice HO set up in the middle of the sales area, it looked as though it was under construction… however it’s been there for years. When I was there nothing was running… would have loved to see it in motion as well.
They have N Gauge in the show cases in the back area of the store… this is a very large area. They have mostly modern freight locomotives. They also have quite a nice selection of N gauge rolling stock.
They offer repairs also… although on the older stuff they send it out to someone. The sales staff is very knowledgeable and most of them have worked there for years.
They weren’t very busy during a weekday afternoon. All the sales people were preoccupied and didn’t offer to assist me at all. I was there for over 30 minutes. I even had to wait at the checkout area for two guys to help someone on the phone before I could checkout. I’ll return because of their vast inventory and knowledge, but I’m prepared to help myself on the sales floor.
If you’re looking for an HO steam engine… probably better to shop online. Definitely go there for repair parts, and HO or N gauge rolling stock.
Don’t forget to visit the NC Transportation Museum if you are a train buff… it’s a must see.