Hobby shops in Houston
Bill Hirt
business meeting. I've never been there before, but I'm told the hotel I'm
staying at is in the Galleria area. Any good railroad shops out in this
area open in the evening? I will have a car, so I can travel a little
ways. Thanks.
-Bill
Northwest - West - Southwest - Everywhere West - Burlington Route
Bob Batson
WT>I just found out for sure that I will be in Houston next week for a
>business meeting. I've never been there before, but I'm told the hotel I'm
>staying at is in the Galleria area. Any good railroad shops out in this
>area open in the evening? I will have a car, so I can travel a little
>ways. Thanks.
Should be two fairly close. Bellaire Roundhouse has a good supply of
brass, but don't expect anyone to acknowledge your presence there. It
is kinda hidden back in a strip shopping center.
One of the best I have found in that area is the new one near the
Astrodome on the loop. I think it is TrainSource and has a fairly good
stock, and excellent service. The man behind the counter didn't laugh
when I asked for N scale, and would actually carry on a conversation
about modeling.
What you really ought to do is get one of the Houston guys on this
conference (like Rick@ATSF) to take you to see a layout!
Houston? Oh yeah, if you get on the freeways, don't forget to pack your
shooting iron!
Stay on track,
Bob Batson
Lubbock, TX
* 1st 2.00 #6283 * Please don't worry if you never receive this.
RickATSF
>next week for a business meeting. I've never been
>there before, but I'm told the hotel I'm staying at
>is in the Galleria area. Any good railroad shops
>out in this area open in the evening? I will have
>a car, so I can travel a little ways. Thanks.
>-Bill
>Northwest - West - Southwest -
>Everywhere West - Burlington Route
You said - open in the evening - limiting your selection. And
you did not say your interest. And you did not say which days
you'll be coming. I'll copy some input from Bill Wright who
wrote in the Waybill (newsletter of the Texas Gulf Division - Div
8 of the Lone Star Region of the NMRA) for June, 1995. I'll add
my own spin.
The easiest shops to get to are near the interstate - and of
those, only one is close to the Houston Galleria and open in the
evening. It is Houston's largest (5500 sq. ft) - TrainSource
Texas which is open Sun - Wed 11 to 7, Thur - Fri 11 to 9, and
Sat 9 - 9. From the Galleria, take the I-610 loop south (it will
turn east). Exit at Main street and take the Texas U-turn.
You'll be on the feeder road headed back towards the Galleria -
***immediately*** turn right into the parking lot - you'll see
the store. 3264 South Loop West - 713-662-0809. Has lots of HO
and N. Some Lionel and G. This is where I buy HO.
If you come in at Intercontinental airport then there are two
other choices that are good. For G gauge pick the first, for HO
pick the second.
From IAH exit to US 59 (future I-69). Go north one exit (FM-
9160) and exit. ***Before*** you get to the light for FM-1960,
turn right on Main St. Cross the tracks and in the next 3
blocks look for Mikes Hobby Shop. Its sign faces the street and
is hard to see - it is on the south of Main St. in a brick bldg.
with a marquee over the side walk. Has tons of G gauge and also
HO and some N. It is where I buy G gauge. 713-446-7550, 212
Main St., Humble, Mon-Fri 8 to 6:30 and Sat 8:30 to 3:30.
From IAH take JFK south to Beltway 8. Go west to Hardy toll
road, go north to FM-1960 (same FM-1960 as above - you can go
from Mike's above to here). Exit the toll road and go west.
Just before I-45 (you'll see the overpass) turn into the strip
shopping center on the south side. Larry's Hobbies faces I-45
half way down the strip shopping center. Has HO and some N. 713-
443-7373 with hours Mon-Th 11 to 7m, Fri 11 to 8, Sat 10 to 7,
and Sun 12 to 5.
If you must have brass, try Bellaire Roundhouse. From the
Galleria go south on loop I-610 to the Bellaire Blvd. exit and go
west past Bissonnet (crosses at angle). Shop is in a strip
shopping center just past Bissonnet on north side. Shop faces
west and is very hard to see. A must for a brass collector.
Also a good selection of HO, also N. 713-667-7762. Mon - Wed 11
to 6, Th 11 to 8, Fri and Sat 11 to 6.
There are also the following:
G&G Model Shop in the village 713-529-7752,
Hobby Town USA on FM-1960 713-995-7097
I&I Hobby Center on Chimney Rock at Bellaire Blvd. 661-2270
JR's Hobby Shop on Kirkwood 713-568-8754
LaPort Hardware (Lionel only - good) 713-471-2210
Runaway Trains 713-460-3026
Spring Crossing 713-353-9484 on I-45 north (Exit 68)
Trains and Planes on Westheimer (Galleria area) 977-1420
The Train Store - G gauge 713-521-4587 (custom layouts too)
Plus others that carry some HO with much other stuff who I did
not list.