Hey folks. I am going to be in North Carolina for a couple days. Was wondering if anyone knew of a couple Hobby shops that have decent N and or Z scale stuff. I am going to be an hour or so east of Ashville in the Marion area. Thanks Rich
I know the area pretty well, so can maybe help. The Hobby House [ http://hendersonvillehobbyhouse.com ] in Hendersonville, NC is 60 miles west/southwest of Marion. It's been years since I was there. I remember some N Scale, but mostly Lionel and LGB. Regarding Hendersonville. depending on what day you visit, there are two model railroad clubs there worth a stop. The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club [ https://avmrc.com ] is in the Hendersonville depot. It's HO with some LGB outdoors. Their HO layout is extensive and excellent. The French Broad e'N'pire Club [ https://fbe-nscale.org ] is N Scale and is nearly across the street from the Apple Valley club. Hendersonville also has a lovely downtown. Little Choo Choo Shop [ https://www.littlechoochooshop.com ] in Spencer, NC near the North Carolina Transportation Museum is 100 miles east of Marion. It's been 20 years since I was there, but was a nice shop with a lot of inventory and probably still is. Chuck's Trains [ https://www.chuckstrains.com ] in Landis, NC is 100 miles east of Marion. Never been there. New Brookland Railroad & Hobby [no website, 405 State St, West Columbia, SC, Phone 803- 791-3958] is 170 miles south of Marion. A very small shop with all scales. Inventory, aged and new piled high. There is/was one in Arden, NC near Asheville, but it's now Internet only with no retail sales.
There's another N Scale club, the Piedmont 'N' Southern [ https://piedmontnsouthern.org ] at Easley, SC that's 100 miles southwest toward Greenville, SC. I don't know if they have a layout, but they set up N-Trak and T-Trak at many local train shows.
