Spring Creek Model Trains, Deshler NE

[pedro]

https://www.springcreekmodeltrains.com/
Date of visit: 8/30/20

I’ll admit I’m a bit of a Johnny-come-lately to Spring Creek. They’ve been in business for 20+ years first doing train shows and for 10 years with the current store in Deshler. I’ve always bought something when I see them at train shows, but had never been to the store.


Anyway, I had the pleasure of making the trek out there with a buddy this past weekend, a 7 hour drive from Chicago. Totally worth it. Their stock levels in both HO and N (and a small amount of O) are something to behold. They have what I would call “deep stock” of product.  Things I haven’t seen in a long time, and current/recent products that are sold out elsewhere. Call or email. Their web site does not even begin to scratch the surface of what’s in the store. The only thing notably absent was regular Micro-Trains releases, although they do have a bunch of weathered releases and runner packs.


The best part is, it’s an all-in-the-family business run with the type of kindness and personal touch that’s rarely seen in hobby shops, but not at all uncommon for that part of the country. Truly nice people. And the store itself is first-rate. Clean, well lit and meticulously organized. Aisle after aisle, like a supermarket. A+

[w neal]

This is a great idea. The shops REALLY need our business these days. This is a great way to promote them and highlight some places to find the "hard to find" items. Especially so, now that train shows are rare.

[Rivet Miscounter]

I've been a customer of their for years at shows but I've never been to their store.   Thanks for the inside scoop.

[Rossford Yard]

Ditto on always stopping by their booth for shows, and usually coming away with something I "need" even if I didn't know it at the time.

Was on business in Lincoln, NE early in the pandemic and almost put off my flight home just to make the trek out there......I know it would have been impressive.

[C855B]

Steady customer at shows since forever. Visited the store after chasing UP 844 in 2011 and managed to leave my credit card on the counter. 

Great place; very impressive. Found old stock that would never make it to shows but filled nagging holes in my collection. Sorta kinda off the beaten path, but still worth the trip if you're in the Lincoln area, for sure.

[pedro]

Just about everything in this pic is the N scale section. There’s more out of view to the right.

[Point353]

Their stock levels in both HO and N (and a small amount of O) are something to behold. They have what I would call “deep stock” of product.  Things I haven’t seen in a long time, and current/recent products that are sold out elsewhere. Call or email. Their web site does not even begin to scratch the surface of what’s in the store.

I wish shops would post to their website even a basic text listing of their inventory.
A google search would be able find items on that list and you could then contact them to confirm availability and place an order.

[Mark W]

I wish shops would post to their website even a basic text listing of their inventory.
A google search would be able find items on that list and you could then contact them to confirm availability and place an order.

They are definitely working on it.  But in the mean time, just give them a call.  Deb will know almost instantly what you're looking for and whether it's in stock, just by memory!


Also, two things that haven't been mentioned.  Well, the first one sort-of has.

Their total inventory includes everything in the store AND two large utility trailers packed wall to wall, floor to ceiling, with everything they haul around to train shows.

But the best thing about Spring Creek Model Trains is they support independent makers in a huge way!  They stock several brands of 3D printed models and details (disclosure, mine included! ), custom models, kits, and specialty items.  On top of that, they work with several of the major manufactures to produce custom run equipment and offer models in road paint that would not otherwise be done for the mass market.

[ednadolski]

I wish shops would post to their website even a basic text listing of their inventory.

Easier said than done.  Hobby shops can have hundreds of thousands of different items in their inventory, unless it's all in the computer it would be a lot of work to keep the listings current.

Ed

[Point353]

Easier said than done.  Hobby shops can have hundreds of thousands of different items in their inventory, unless it's all in the computer it would be a lot of work to keep the listings current.

Ed

Don't they already maintain such an inventory list for insurance purposes?
Hard to imagine in this day and age that they're still using file cards in a shoebox, instead of a computer, to manage their inventory. 
Updating such a list periodically - perhaps monthly, would not seem to be an onerous task.
   
A shop with "hundreds of thousands of different items in their inventory" would be truly incredible.
If you add up all of the items listed on the MBK site its on the order of only ten thousand.

[peteski]

. . .
A shop with "hundreds of thousands of different items in their inventory" would be truly incredible.
If you add up all of the items listed on the MBK site its on the order of only ten thousand.

Likely just a creative marketing exaggeration.  Businesses (well, their salespeople) do this all the time.

[C855B]

Likely just a creative marketing exaggeration.  Businesses (well, their salespeople) do this all the time.

Probably less an exaggeration than it is a self-induced perception... especially if you're the one entering inventory into the database! 

[ednadolski]

A shop with "hundreds of thousands of different items in their inventory" would be truly incredible.

Likely just a creative marketing exaggeration.

https://www.caboosehobbies.com/lists?utf8=%E2%9C%93&lists%5Bkeywords%5D=&society_id=&manufacturer_id=&category_id=&scale_id=



Ed

[Point353]

https://www.caboosehobbies.com/lists?utf8=%E2%9C%93&lists%5Bkeywords%5D=&society_id=&manufacturer_id=&category_id=&scale_id=



Ed

Limit the search to "In-Stock Items" and the total drops to about 12,000.

[wazzou]

You'd hope that they'd track purchases from Vendors/Distributors through a computer, verifying once received and that would make a good start at inventory tracking.

Bar Code printers and scanners linked to inventory purchases/sales aren't that expensive anymore.