Chicago area hobby shops with good N scale selections accessible by CTA, etc.

[Upstate Gator]

I'm going to be in Rosemont for a conference the weekend of 5/18 without a vehicle. I'm arriving at Union Station by train.

I'm looking for recommendations for shops with a good N scale selection, preferably accessible by CTA or MetraRail. I've been to Des Plaines Hobbies, but haven't checked out any other shops in the area for more than 20 years.

Suggestions?
Ben W.
Upstate New York

[mcjaco]

From Rosemont?  You're pretty much SOL. 

Des Plaines is obviously the easiest, and you could cab it there in about five minutes.  Quite honestly, there really isn't any other real good N scale shop.  Grayland Station is right off the tracks in Edgebrook, but you'd have to head down to Union Station, and then take the Milwaukee North line back up.

[oakcreekco]

Is RAM still in business on Higgins??  Been a long time since I've been there, but he did have a ton of N stashed all over the place.

A different place and experience for sure.

[Roger Holmes]

Like MCJACO said, the problem isn't lack of hobby shops on CTA or Metra lines but the lack of transportation from Rosemont.  If you can get a hotel shuttle to O'Hare Airport (which you are very close to) you can take the CTA O'Hare line back downtown.  Chicagoland Hobbies is on Northwest Hwy and IIRC is near a stop on the O'Hare Line.  On the Metra CNW line you can go to Hill's in Park Ridge and Al's in Elmhurst though you will have traveled at least an hour and a half by CTA and Metra to make what would be a 20 minute car ride.  Best bet would be to make friends with somebody who has a rental car at your convention.

Caveat:  It's been a few years since I've visited any of the above mentioned shops so you should confirm that they still exist.

[Vince Gortner]

And Des Plaines Hobbies pretty much has enough to make your eyes bleed and melt your credit cards.  Worth a short cab ride over from Rosemont for sure.

[Upstate Gator]

Hotel shuttle is definitely an option, or a brief walk to the Rosemont station.
Thanks!
Ben

[Sokramiketes]

Like MCJACO said, the problem isn't lack of hobby shops on CTA or Metra lines but the lack of transportation from Rosemont.  If you can get a hotel shuttle to O'Hare Airport (which you are very close to) you can take the CTA O'Hare line back downtown.  Chicagoland Hobbies is on Northwest Hwy and IIRC is near a stop on the O'Hare Line.  On the Metra CNW line you can go to Hill's in Park Ridge and Al's in Elmhurst though you will have traveled at least an hour and a half by CTA and Metra to make what would be a 20 minute car ride.  Best bet would be to make friends with somebody who has a rental car at your convention.

Caveat:  It's been a few years since I've visited any of the above mentioned shops so you should confirm that they still exist.

Hills new owner moved to Buffalo Grove and then promptly went out of business. Probably because they moved a block away from an established hobby shop...

[mcjaco]

^ What?  That's not a sound business plan???   

We had an old friend that called him Robber Baron Hill.   

RAM is still there, but the hours are just about as odd as the owner.  Honestly, it's just better to head up to Des Plaines and check out their new digs.  You may even run into Skibbe....   

Chicagoland has almost no N scale that I ever recall.  It's pretty much an HO/Lionel shop.

[w neal]

Is it just me or is Greyland a bit down on locomotive stock levels? Maybe everybody has just bought up a lot of Atlas locomotives?

Anyway, I recommend a stop there. Its fun to dig. The owner is a great guy too.