What's New
Check this page often to find out what's new in the store, your hobby, hear about upcoming local shows or about any sales or specials that we are having.
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Please note that the information on this page is accurate at the time of its posting. Product availability and any quoted prices are subject to change without notice.
February 2010
Our latest HO Diorama Workshop with Ted Rafuse was once again a big success. Watch for photos of the completed projects to be posted on the Workshops page next month.
We have been so pleased with the feedback on these workshops that we would like to run it again this Spring. If you are interested in participating please let us know. We would like to have your input to scheduling and length.
We have some irons in the fire for our next Miniatures Workshops as well, with details to be released as they become available.
Show season is upon us and once again we will be attending Train shows in Cobourg and Lindsay and Dollhouse Miniature shows in Montreal and Kingston. Check our Calendar page for dates and details.
We have extended our in-store sale on Carrera Go!!! starter sets at 50% off, while supplies last.
We have also slashed prices on both HO and N scale in stock Rapido products and True Lines N scale products.
December '09
Our next in-store Workshop is now confirmed and is rapidly approaching. Ted Rafuse will once again be teaching his HO Diorama Workshop. We received lots of great feedback from last years participants and we are glad to have Ted back. The Workshop will consist of four sessions of three hours each, from 10 am to 1 pm each Saturday in January, 2010.
This Workshop is limited to just 6 seats so don't hesitate to sign up.
The Workshop is suitable for any level of experience and could make a very unique gift for the Model Railroader on your list.
For all of the details please check the Workshops Page.
Back by popular demand is our Christmas Wish List. Sometimes it can be difficult to get just the right gift for a hobbyist, especially when the buyer is a non-hobbyist, so we will help eliminate the guess work. Just come into the store and let us know that you would like to make up a Wish List. Have a browse around, add anything you like to your list and let those who will be shopping for you know that you've registered at the store. We will keep track of anything that is purchased on your Wish List to avoid duplication.
Also for those who are shopping for hobbyists this season we have Gift Certificates in any denomination that you would like.
As well, we have loads of items in our
Pre-Christmas Sale
All In Stock G Scale Locomotives and Rolling Stock are 15% off regular sticker prices.
Selected Carrera Go!!! slotcar sets are 25% off of the regular prices. We also have a selection of individual add-on Go!!! cars for just $10.00 each. (regular $15.95) These would make great stocking stuffers!
You will find other Sales throughout the store on Doll House kits, Locomotives, Rolling Stock and accessories in all model railroad scales.
Also, just in time for Christmas, for the Lionel enthusiast we have received the newly released Canadian National Coal set.
This great set features an SD70M-2 Legacy Control equipped locomotive with dual motors, smoke, Legacy Rail-Sounds, loads of detail and much more.
The set also comes with 6 bathtub gondolas (individually numbered) with rotary couplers for prototypical dumping operation.
This set won't be around long so don't hesitate or you'll miss out.
The store is open every day from now until Christmas. Check the Home page for our extended hours.
We would like to wish all of our friends and customers a wonderful Holiday Season and hope that the New Year brings you and yours All the Best!
Colleen, Jim & the Staff
November '09
We have now added the pictures from Jacey Culham's Gingerbread House workshop to our Workshops page.
Tuesday Night Race League!!! is now up and running but it's not too late to join and still be in the running for season end Championship Titles.
September '09
We have just completed the redesign on our slotcar track in time for the start of season two of Tuesday Night Race League!!! The new circuit should provide all new challenges to our racers with a long straight-away with a banked curve on either end to give cars an opportunity reach their top speeds. The redesign also provides improved sight lines so that all cars are visible at all times.
We will be open for practice sessions on September 29 and October 6 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Practice sessions are free and are also open to spectators and anybody curious about participating.
To join Tuesday Night Race League!!! you just need a Carrera 1/32 digital car. The fee is either $5 per week or prepay $100 for the whole 27 week season.
There will be great prizes awarded at the end of the season for the winners in several different categories.
For more information please call the store or stop by and check out our new circuit.
We still have some spots available for our upcoming dollhouse miniature workshop with Jacey Culham. In this workshop participants will create a festive 1/12th scale "Gingerbread" house mainly from polymer clay. Please check our Workshops page for details and a photo of the prototype.
August '09
We are very pleased to announce that Jacey Culham is returning to teach another miniature workshop for us. On Saturday, October 24th you will have the opportunity to create a 1/12th scale Gingerbread House.
Seats are limited to ten and registration is first come, first served.
Long time since the last update, huh? We hope that everyone has been enjoying their summer. So far we have been spending our summer watching our grandson become quite possibly the cutest kid ever born.
We were quite pleased with the results of many of our new projects last year and are looking to improve upon them this year.
Tuesday Night Race League!
This years start date is set tentatively as Tuesday, October 13th and the season will run until April 27th. We will be open for practice sessions on September 22nd and October 6th. Everybody learned so much as last season progressed and we have taken the experience and will make a few changes (improvements) for this season, but with our sights firmly set on recapturing the fun and competitive spirit that made Season One such a big success.
Workshops;
We were extremely happy with the results and great feedback that we received about last years workshops and have several more planned for this year. We credit our great instructors with much of last years success.
Ted Rafuse has agreed to return once again to lead another HO Diorama Workshop. Ted will share his skills in track work, scenicing, weathering and kit construction. We will announce the dates as soon as we confirm the details.
We have several other irons in the workshop fire (model railroading and miniatures) and will announce them ASAP. If you have any requests for content or specific instructors please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. Check our Workshops page often to keep up to date as all of our workshops will have limited space.
Kids Club;
With the assistance of the Ganaraska Railway Modellers we would like to start a Model Railway Club for kids.
We are proposing meeting in the store once a month, probably on a Saturday morning for a few hours. We would like to give children, ages 8 to 16, the opportunity to learn more about the fascinating world of Model Railroading. This is a multi-faceted hobby that appears very difficult to master from a distance but is something that anybody can enjoy when it is broken down into its individual components. We think that this club could be ideal for boys and girls that don't have the space or the means for their own layout at home but would like to learn about track work, scenery, electrical & wiring, kit building and operating a small train layout. If you have or know of any children who fit into this category please pass the Club information along or put them in touch with us.
New Products;
Rapido passenger coaches in N scale have arrived and the HO scale Steam Generator cars are due mid-September.
True Line Trains have released their latest N scale rolling stock. We now have the CN & BC Rail 50 foot newsprint cars in multiple road numbers.
In N scale we have the latest cupola cabooses from Atlas in CP Rail multimark (black & yellow), Ontario Northland (yellow & blue) and TH&B (yellow & black).
Athearn HO releases have arrived including the CP Drovers Caboose and CP Pullman coaches.
From InterMountain we now have the HO EMD FP9 A&B units in CP action red and the CN zebra stripe. Both variations come in DC and DCC with sound versions.
Lionel new releases are in, including the CP Rail 6565 diecast boxcar (yellow), CP Rail HiCube boxcar (red), Saskatchewan cylindrical hopper and the BC Rail tank car.
New Products Arriving Soon;
Bachman PCC Streetcars in the Toronto Transit Commission livery. These are the 1930's vintage with diecast power trucks. N scale is due toward the end of this month with HO (which is DCC equipped) is scheduled for October/November.
Walthers HO & N scale Catalogues for 2010 should arrive in September/October. The first shipment always disappears quickly so if you would like one put away for you we will do so on a first come/first served basis.
The new Doll's House Emporium catalogue should also be released soon. We expect to have our store copy by the end of August (and will announce it's arrival).
PLEASE NOTE;
The store will be closed Tuesday, September 1st and Wednesday, September 2nd for holidays.
May '09
This is a large update but it's full of lots of interesting info.
A year has already gone by since we relocated to 100 Peter Street. We are very happy with this location as it has allowed us to do a lot of the things that we wanted to do on John Street, but just didn't have the space for.
We have hosted 4 successful workshops to date with our Monthly Workshop Series with Carolyn Roach under way. We have expanded the slotcar track and our first season of Tuesday Night Race League! is behind us. The Ganaraska Railway Modellers have done a great job on our HO layout in the store and with our Built in a Day demonstration.
We have expanded our product lines in many areas, with large growth in the areas of tools and scratch building supplies and scale lumber. We are also very pleased to now be Lionel dealers.
In celebration of one year in our new digs and to thank our family, friends and customers for all of their support we would like to invite everyone to our second
Open House on Saturday, June 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Join us for;
Race for Reading - A slotcar racing fundraiser in support of the Port Hope Public Library
Ganaraska Railway Modellers - Will be on-hand working on our store layout, offering tips, hands-on demos and answering your questions
Derek Osborne - of Osborne Model Products will be in the store demonstrating his model kits and offering tricks & tips on their construction
Carolyn Roach - will be demonstrating her miniature flower making skills
We will also be having specials, give-away's and refreshments.
We have kicked off a Monthly Workshop Series with Carolyn Roach offering up her expertise in miniature flower making. The next workshop will take place on Wednesday, June 10th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Tuesday Night Race League! Season One is now complete. It was a lot of fun and much was learned about successful driving strategies and car modifications.
The big winners were;
Mid Season Points Leader - Dan Janes
Most Improved Driver - JD McHolm
Best Custom Paint Job - Ken Combdon
Season One Champion - Dan Janes
Watch for season two beginning in the fall of '09.
Now in stock are the next installment of Rapido coaches.
We have the Model Railroader Magazine 75th Anniversary car in and two more passenger coaches that are decorated with experimental CN paint schemes.
We also have word that Rapido's first N Scale coaches should be arriving shortly as well as their HO Steam Generator cars.
April '09
There are only a few seats left in each of our upcoming miniatures workshops with Jacey Culham. We have added photos of the items that you will be creating on our Workshops page.
Now that Spring is here it's time for Spring Cleaning which is a great reason for a
Spring Cleaning Sale!
We have marked down the prices on lots of items. For a limited time you can save from 15 to 25% off of our regular prices on model railroad structure kits, locomotives, rolling stock, vehicles and/or starter sets by Athearn, Atlas, Kanamodels, Huberts, IHC, Kato, LGB, Micro-Trains, Mini Metals, Model Power, Rapido, Trains Canada, True Line Trains and USA Trains.
We have also sale priced selected Carrera Slotcar sets, books and calendars.
As well, we have the complete 9 piece Turbo Train by Rapido, in either the CN or Via paint scheme on sale for only $650.
All sales are final on Spring Cleaning sale items and club discounts do not apply.
We once again have one of Owen Hachey's beautiful dollhouses on display in the store. The Cambridge is a one of a kind Victorian creation by this Master Craftsman and will be in the store for a limited time only.
March '09
Join us in the store this Saturday, March 14th from 10 til 5 for Built in a Day! Members of the Ganaraska Railway Modellers will be on hand to build our in-store HO train layout. They will be starting with the bare benchwork and laying roadbed & track, wiring the layout with a DCC system and adding scenery (possibly including kit building). Please drop by and watch them in action to pick up some tips and pointers on layout construction and feel free to ask questions.
The Eastern Ontario Miniature and Doll Show is back on again this year. It will be held on May 9th at the Columbus Community Centre in Cobourg. For more information go to;
February '09
Join us in the store on Saturday, March 14th, begining at 10:00 a.m. for Built in a Day!
Members of the Ganaraska Railway Modellers will be on hand to build our HO scale store layout. Starting on the Woodland Scenics benchwork the club members will lay and ballast the track. Wire the layout with Digitrax DCC, scenic the layout and hopefully our layout will be Built in a Day! Stop in and see these experienced modelers at work. Learn some of their techniques and tricks and feel free to ask questions.
Anybody who has been a fan of G scale trains is probably aware of the troubles that have been plaguing LGB for the last few years. In and out of bankruptcy. Changed hands several times. LGB of America. We have tried to be patient while they sorted things out but what was once the flagship of our G scale line is now nearly nonexistent.
We are clearing out our remaining LGB stock at 25% off the regular prices. Starter sets, rolling stock, track, accessories, maintenance items and parts are all discounted.
We will continue to carry G scale from USA Trains, Canada G Scale, Woodland Scenics and others but barring a rise from the ashes, we are afraid that this is the end of the line for LGB.
The HO Diorama Workshop is now complete. We send out a big thank you to the participants and especially instructor Ted Rafuse. We have heard nothing but positive feedback from all involved and we were witness to some impressive creativity and modeling skills throughout the sessions.
We now stock bulk 18 AWG wire in 4 different colours to be sold by the foot. As well, we will custom make Loconet cables for your DCC systems to any length you require.
New in from Lionel we have received the Conventional Classics #2124W Pennsylvania GG1 Passenger Set. The locomotive features a diecast body, dual motors with Magne-Traction and electronic horn & bell along with three handsome coaches. Click here for more details.
The Rapido Turbo trains in HO in both CN and Via road names are now sold out at the manufacturer. We still have full sets of each but when they are gone they will be gone for good as Rapido has no plans for a second run of these items.
First off we would send a big Thank You out to everybody who voted us the Best Hobby or Craft Store in the Northumberland News Readers Choice Awards. It's great to hear that our customers are pleased with what we do!
Our first workshop (the HO diorama) is drawing to a close. We are getting great feedback from the participants on the project and particularly the Instructor, Ted Rafuse. Check the Workshop page for some photos.
All the details are almost in place for our next workshop. It will be a Dollhouse Miniature project led by gifted artisan Jaycee Culham. It is tentatively scheduled for April 25th. We will release the final details as soon as they are available.
January '09
Happy New Years to all!
Please make note of our changed store hours on the homepage.
There are just a couple of openings left for our workshop for the HO scale diorama, which begins January 10th. Please contact the store or check or Workshop page for details.
And there is still time if you would like to join the Tuesday Night Race League! The practice sessions are over and our Championship season begins on January 6th. Racing costs $5 per night or $75 for the whole season. Please contact the store for further details or show up any Tuesday night. Warm-up begins at 6:30. Racing from 7 to 9.
December '08
If you are looking for a very unique Christmas gift for the model railroader on your list, we have just a couple of spaces left in our first workshop, being held in January. It is ideal for hobbyists just starting out or at an intermediate level. For all the details go to our Workshops Page.
We are also in the midst of putting together our first workshop for the Dollhouse enthusiasts. Details will be available soon.
We are just adding the finishing touches to our Carrera race circuit in the store. After several fun-filled weeks of working out the bugs in the new (much larger) track, drivers learning the secrets of successful driving and tuning their cars, the practice season for our Tuesday Night Race League! is coming to a close, with just December 16th left on the schedule. There will be no racing on December 23rd or 30th. The Championship season will begin on January 6th and will run for 17 weeks, finishing on April 28th. We are still welcoming new members. For further information on the Tuesday Night Race League! league check out our Slotcars page or call the store.
We are scheduled to receive a (long awaited) large shipment from Carrera on Tuesday, December 16th. We should be receiving new cars, starter sets including the all new Digital 143 Go! sets, digital chips, track and accessories just in time for some last minute Christmas shopping.
Our stock of Lionel trains has expanded with Polar Express and the Hogwarts Express starter sets now in.
For the G Scalers, we have received (after a 2 year wait) the U.S.A. Trains S4 Switchers in both CN and CP paint schemes.
We are currently open 7 days a week (store hours are on the Homepage). The store will be closed December 25th & 26th and January 1st & 2nd. We will be closing a little early (4 pm) on December 24th and 31st.
November '08
Just in for the HO modelers is the long awaited Rapido Trains turbo sets in both CN and VIA road names. We currently have in stock all of the available pieces in both names. There is a 3 piece starter with 2 powered locos. Single add on coaches as well as 2 car packs. There are a total of 7 different coach numbers and two locos. These models are getting great reviews and are going fast.
Also for the HO enthusiasts we have managed to get our hands on some vehicles that are normally only available through Norscot dealers. There are 4 different Peterbilt flatbed transports with Red, Black, White and Yellow cabs, each hauling a different piece of CAT equipment.
October '08
***Please take note of our new hours***
The Cobourg and District Miniature Club is seeking new members. This is currently a small group of miniaturists. There are no membership fees, no meeting minutes and no executives. Just good friends, good conversation, good projects and good fun! The group meets monthly during the daytime in Cobourg, Ontario. For more information or to join please call 905-372-8019.
For our Hornby enthusiasts we currently have a couple of recently released Limited Edition items in stock.
First up is the R2688 Sir Nigel Gresley A4 locomotive. This is a reproduction of an original 1938 release to celebrate Hornby's 70th Anniversary. The locomotive comes in retro packaging with a special numbered certificate and we have been able to obtain just one of the 2008 and that have been produced.
Also in is the R2706 GWR "The Flying Dutchman" Royal Sovereign Limited Edition train pack. The set includes locomotive, tender and three passenger coaches. Each is specially presented in Limited Edition packaging and includes a numbered certificate. We have been able to obtain two of the two thousand sets produced.
With the Christmas shopping season looming, there are currently some special bargains to be had in the store for both N and HO scale model railroaders.
We have an assortment of Hubert's rolling stock sale priced to move at 25% off the lowest sticker price.
As well, Kanamodels wood structure kits are also discounted by 25% in both scales.
We also have select MiniMetals diecast vehicles on sale at $9.00 each and a variety of Athearn vehicles at $12.00 each. Quantities are limited. When they're gone, they're gone!
September '08
We apologize for no August update but some things were on hold while we hosted our daughters wedding at our home.
The new Doll's House Emporium catalogue has arrived. It is loaded with new items. We have received our first shipment and have some of the latest additions to the line in the store now.
We will soon be expanding our miniature lines with the addition of Handley House, Aztec and Osborne's scale lumber.
We have received a couple of more shipments of Lionel O scale and now have an assortment of track, sets, accessories and rolling stock in the store. We have also added built up structures and diecast vehicles by Railking to accessorize your layout.
Lots of new items in HO. We have received the new Athearn GO F59 PH1s as well as the matching GO coaches.
Athearn has also released the very popular CP AC4400 with two new road numbers.
As well we have received the Athearn EMD Demonstrator MP15-AC with DCC and sound.
We also have in stock the InterMountain CN Rainbow hopper in both HO and N scales.
We will be expanding our selection of N scale Micro Train couplers in the near future. (just waiting for the shipment to arrive)
Carrera shipments out of China were suspended during the Olympics but things are beginning to flow again.
We are in the planning stages of expanding our in-store racetrack. We are planning to begin the race league on October 21st to run on Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 pm.
The details of the race league will be added on the Slotcars page in the near future.
We have been working hard to get our Workshops off the ground. We have tentatively scheduled a workshop to build an HO diorama early in '09 with local rail historian and Master Modeler Ted Rafuse. Details will be finalized soon.
If you have any requests or suggestions for workshops please feel free to let us know.
July '08
Well... we are all settled in and very happy with our new home. Our new sign is up so people should have a little easier time locating us.
We have received our first shipment of Lionel trains. We now have a small assortment of starter sets, expansion packs, rolling stock, track and accessories with another shipment on the way.
As well for our train enthusiasts, the latest releases of Intermountain rolling stock in HO and N scales have arrived. The selection includes the very popular CN Rainbow covered hopper in both scales.
For the Miniaturists, we currently have a real treat for you in the store. We have 2 houses on display that are the work of Master Craftsman Owen Hachey. Owen was the Project Manager at Cullen Gardens and Miniature Village in Whitby for many years and was responsible for creating most of the park and miniature buildings. His dollhouses are true works of art and must be seen to be appreciated. We don't know how long they will remain on display in the store, so do yourself a favour and come in soon.
For those of you who run your train layouts on DCC we are now making Loconet cables to connect your base unit (Zephyr, Empire Builder, Super Chief) to your UP-5 Universal Interconnect panels. The cables are custom made to length and sell for $1.00 plus 50 cents per foot (plus taxes).
G scale enthusiasts should be sure to come in and check the line of "G Scale Structures" that we are now carrying in the store. These structures and accessories are hand-made in Ontario, good quality and very reasonably priced.
And last for this update and perhaps most exciting (for us anyway), we have now been accepted as Authorized Lionel Train dealers. We have yet to receive our first shipment but it shouldn't be too long before it arrives. When it does we will update you on the What's New page.
June '08
We are pleased to announce that our Grand Re-Opening will take place on Saturday, June 14th from 10 am till 5 pm.
The day will feature refreshments, displays, give-away's and prizes, product demonstrations and specials. We invite one and all to stop in, say hi and visit us in our new home.
May '08
Well I guess that the big news is that the move is complete and went very well. We were actually only closed for two extra days and have to send out a huge THANK YOU to the members of the Port Hope and Cobourg Model Train Clubs, as well as friends and family members. You made all the difference in the world!
As you can see we are changing our overall look. We have a new logo, changed website and our new sign should be in place very soon.
With all of this extra space we plan to expand our product lines with more electrical & tools, more artisan miniatures, On30, more Thomas and more!
