Shops in Toronto

[ianmianmianm]

Good evening - any recommendations for shops in Toronto / GTA, ideally close to train or metro. I'm visiting next week from outside Canada and there are no model shops in my current country. Especially looking for somewhere retail, that stocks N gauge Kato track and platforms etc, and doesn't mind taking a bit of time to explain and check, as once I fly home it will be a lot harder to return anything that is not right. Any recommendations from Canadians welcome. 

[mdvle]

Most/all shops aren't transit friendly, though you could with time get to them via bus.  Suggest emailing them prior to getting into Toronto to see if they have what you want in stock (or depending on timing can get it in)

 

Google Maps will allow you to plan transit to get to either of them.

 

My preference would be Credit Valley (located in north-west Mississauga), it is in a large industrial unit and thus has lots of stock.  https://www.cvrco.ca/

 

The other main store near Toronto is George's Trains, up in Markham https://www.georgestrains.com/  

Edited November 17, 2019 by mdvle

[brossard]

Brick and mortar hobby shops are getting to be pretty rare beasts.  Easier to sit at home and to order stuff from an online shop.  I wanted some Evergreen strip last week and intended to visit my local shop, about 20 kms away.  We had a snowstorm the night before so, rather than deal with traffic and hazardous conditions, I ordered what I needed from Hattons.  Ironic really that my supplies (and you never buy just the one thing) had to come from across the ocean instead of across town.

 

That said they are marvelous places to look around in.

 

Georges Trains do mail order, I have dealt with them

 

John

Edited November 17, 2019 by brossard

[BR60103]

Second mdvle.  Credit Valley is located possibly within walking distance of a GO station (cant remember the name) but there may not be convenient trains going in that direction.

 

I dont know if there is any public transit near George's, but Rapido is almost next door.

[peach james]

I don't think John's has ever carried Kato, so although they are transit friendly, I'd suggest giving them a pass.

 

its North America, rental cars are unfortunately a needed evil for a lot of places...or uber, or a local?  I'm nowhere near T. Any more, so can't help...if you were on Vancouver island, then I'd be up to a road trip to Scotts, who do have unitrack.  (As does central hobbies, who are transit friendly in Vancouver)

 

[mdvle]

10 hours ago, BR60103 said:

Second mdvle.  Credit Valley is located possibly within walking distance of a GO station (cant remember the name) but there may not be convenient trains going in that direction.

 

Lisgar GO.  Given that CV closes at 5 and the trains from Toronto are only afternnon rush don't think it would work.

 

Some GO bus service to Lisgar on weekdays but Meadowvale is better served with weekend service.

 

 

 

[Dominion]

Second Credit Valley if you are mobile with a rental car, but even then it can be a 45 minute drive if you are starting from down town. Closer from Airport though.

John's Hobbies on the Danforth is a lovely store. Much much smaller though. German heritage and do stock German brands in N gauge. I think I have seen Kato there but can't be sure, so same advice as above to phone first. Also check hours. It is very easy to get to on the Subway.

[dibber25]

9 hours ago, mdvle said:

 

Lisgar GO.  Given that CV closes at 5 and the trains from Toronto are only afternnon rush don't think it would work.

 

Some GO bus service to Lisgar on weekdays but Meadowvale is better served with weekend service.

 

 

 

I usually take the GO bus from Union station to Lisgar but it's a long walk (maybe 20-30 minutes) from the bus/train terminal to the Credit Valley shop. Train is useless as it goes only one way (into Union morning and out in the afternoon. I've only done it in summer (a VERY HOT walk) and wouldn't attempt it any other time of year. A great shop with lots to see and very helpful staff. (CJL)

[mdvle]

50 minutes ago, dibber25 said:

I usually take the GO bus from Union station to Lisgar but it's a long walk (maybe 20-30 minutes) from the bus/train terminal to the Credit Valley shop. Train is useless as it goes only one way (into Union morning and out in the afternoon. I've only done it in summer (a VERY HOT walk) and wouldn't attempt it any other time of year. A great shop with lots to see and very helpful staff. (CJL)

 

Google says 20 minute walk, though there are other options if willing to use Miway (Mississauga Transit) and better if using a Presto Card.

 

On weekends, or weekday afternoons starting at 3pm, there is bus service practically to the door of Credit Valley (stop is at the parking in front of the store).  Simply take the GO bus to Meadowvale Town Centre (will actually get off at Formentera Avenue across the road from the mall), and then at that same bus stop transfer onto the Miway route 43S (weekdays starting at 3pm about every 20 minutes), or on weekends the route 38AS.  If paying using Presto Card then Miway will only cost you $0.80 in a co-fare arrangement GO runs.  Not as great earlier in the day but on weekdays you could also take the 38S (which doesn't on weekdays go past the store) and get off in the retail area and cut about 1/3 of the walking distance.

 

[though note the weekday 43 only gets you to the store - it is like the Milton GO Train one thus annoying routes that goes one direction in the morning, and the other direction in the afternoon]

 

Another (slower) but slightly cheaper way would be to take the subway to Islington Station, then take (from the bus station in the subway station) the Miway route 109 limited stop express bus to Meadowvale Town Centre.

 

 

Edited November 18, 2019 by mdvle
clarifed 43 directional

[ianmianmianm]

Greetings all and thank you for all your input. I'm now reporting back.....

 

I went to 4 shops in the end - these being as follows. All proprietors were equally generous with their time and advice....

My main mission was N gauge Kato Unitrack, controllers, switches, and paint, decals, scenics and modelling materials.

 

East 

 

- Johns Hobbies. A small High Street style shop, with half the space devoted to model railways. for thoase whgo remember it, it's about the the same size as the Smithdown Road Hattons. Probably the lowest stock variety but good for continental stuff. No Kato. Also painst, plasticard and styrene strip and sections. Easiest to get to, opens at 9.30 and is 5 mins from the Woodbine subway stop. This was my first of the day..... from Downtown, it's around 6 dollars in total return (may even be 3 if you manage to do it within your card limit). You can't park outside but you can park nearby. Best buy from here - Brawa station arches in HO, which I am modifying for N as they have tiny brickwork. Something I wasn't expecting to find!

 

- From here the next logical shop would be George's. This is accessible by a subway and a bus. The subway you want is the Warden stop on the same line as Woodbine (green). At warden station you get the bus 68 (or 68A) which is a TTC red and white bus, getting off at the junction of Alden Road and Eglington.   It;s then about 5 mins walk. The buses are about half hourly. Bigger store, lots of N american and Kato. Friendly guys. Then bus back to Warden. Not much to eat nearby, but they are over the road from Rapido, but I don't know if the latter accept visitors. I think I spent another 8 or 9 dollars on the bus return to get there. Lots of parking. Best buy - SH Kato track pieces for my F/yd. Also the only place that had the Unitrack matching ballast. 

 

- You might also be able to do...... Dailey Hobbies in Whitby. Best way is to track back to Warden station, get the subway to Main Street on the way back into the city, and then walk 5 mins down to Danforth Go station. From Danforth, a Go train east to Whitby, and then a taxi from Whitby to Dailey Hobbies (about 13 Canadian dollars each way). Huge store, surprisingly good stock, almost as good as credit Valley. Lots of North American and Kato. Superb paints, weathering etc. Will need to get a taxi back to Whitby, then a Go Train back into Toronto. I found this one out because I had business in Whitby.  Total cost of a trip to this one likely to be about 35 dollars. Nothing else to do nearby except for a very interesting chocolate shop! Parking fine. Best by - the only shop that had some purple acrylic paint! I am modelling early 2000s Silverlink. Also Found some Tomix buildings here too.

 

West

 

Credit Valley. Huge. Nice in-store layout.  Best route I found was a subway to Islington, then bus 101 to Wolfdale road, and a bus 38. BUs 38 stops almost over the road. Other bus options within 2 buses are available too. Lots of other retail nearby and eating places. I managed to do this at the end of a day having done all the others, but I was very planned and purpose driven for specific stuff, rather than browsing, and I also chose a day they close later. Actually went twice in the end. Superb range, lots of American and Kato. Parking. Best buy: Graffiti decals. As mentioned above, ignore Lisgar Go train, as it is a bit of a walk and the trains are unidirectional for commuters. There may also be a GO bus at other times (route 21C) but honestly, the buses are rather painless in the whole.

 

Panther Hobbies. I didn't do this one, but I would suggest you could combine it with Credit Valley on a separate day. Not sure what I missed but apparently lots of SH. Bus 101 on the way to Credit Valley actually passes Panther. Other retail and food nearby.

 

EDIT: jan 2020

 

Made a visit during my second trip in January 2020. Big shop - excellent for paint and HO, not so much on N gauge. But: lots of SH in HO and some in N, lots of SH Kato layout parts such as switches and track. Massive N gauge layout out the back - not sure if I was allowed in or not so I glimpsed through the door - but this sucker was huge with several scale tankers and container ships. Guy behind counter was a bit off on arrival (I prefer a "good evening" or hello before being told to put my bag down, which I was in process of doing anyway. Transport to this one is easy, get the subway to Islington on the green line, and various buses (101 etc) pass close by. You want the stop for Dundas at Wharton. It's the next stop after George Richards Big and Tall store on the same side. Panther is literally right there by the stop, just set back from the road.

 

NONE of the shops has much British, mainly because it is simply uneconomic for them to stock it. Some can order in, but most suggested just to mail order from Hattons etc.

 

Without exception all props and staff were very kind hearted and generous with their time.... I got freebies in 2 shops and rounding down in another.  

 

Being Bermuda based, the savings I made on both shipping and import duty paid for my flights and about half of the public transport so although it was not a cost neutral trip, my net savings were significant. I'd be happy to talk anyone through the transport options if anyone needs me, please send a PM and be patient.

 

Accommodation wise - I stayed in a self catering opposite Union Station, around 85 dollars a night, great supermarket and take away downstairs, and has a kitchen, washer and dryer, meaning of course I had more room in my luggage for trains. 

 

MAin issue I found was that the other operators of buses (if you did my adventures above then you would need to do TTC subway, TTC bus, Missisauga Bus, York regional bus, and Brampton Transit) are not very good at putting up timetables, direction signs or maps at stops, and also confsuingly refer to "stations" and "Transit stations" which are nothing to do with trains but are simply bust staions. Google is your friend bigtime on these, I recommend planning the route out and printing maps before you arrive in Toronto. That said, it's a fine set of shops to visit and well worth the effort. A rental car would also be a proposition, as long as you are happy with freeways and have free parking at your base location. 

 

Edited February 2, 2020 by ianmianmianm
Adding info about Panther Hobbies., 2nd Jan 2020

[mdvle]

1 hour ago, ianmianmianm said:

MAin issue I found was that the other operators of buses (if you did my adventures above then you would need to do TTC subway, TTC bus, Missisauga Bus, York regional bus, and Brampton Transit) are not very good at putting up timetables, direction signs or maps at stops, and also confsuingly refer to "stations" and "Transit stations" which are nothing to do with trains but are simply bust staions. Google is your friend bigtime on these, I recommend planning the route out and printing maps before you arrive in Toronto.

 

Mississauga and Brampton at least have never posted schedules except at bus terminals and some random stops - the assumption was that you would use the bus stop number to get bus times in the past.

 

But with hindsight being wonderful, in addition to the very useful Google Maps should have thought to mention the smartphone app Transit (though it does assume you have data).  Provides stop schedules for routes that are nearby to where you are, and better yet for transit systems that support you get real time bus/streetcar/train info so you can tell if the bus might be running late (or sometimes early) as well as trip scheduling.

 

Better yet, the app works with various transit system around the world so you can check their website to see if it helps where you are visiting - https://transitapp.com/

 

And at least with Mississauga/Miway, the "Stations/Transit stations"  aren't simply bus stations but rather bus stations on the purpose built transitway that put the buses on a bus only roadway that is grade separated from surrounding streets.

 

 

Edited November 30, 2019 by mdvle

[BR60103]

Ian

We British modellers long ago gave up on the regular shops and developed a network of specialist importers who were enthusiasts. The shops are good for generics like track and scenery.

The late George (of that ilk) told me he didn't stock much English stuff because they complained about the selection and then wanted a discount.

 

[ianmianmianm]

18 hours ago, mdvle said:

 

Mississauga and Brampton at least have never posted schedules except at bus terminals and some random stops - the assumption was that you would use the bus

 

And at least with Mississauga/Miway, the "Stations/Transit stations"  aren't simply bus stations but rather bus stations on the purpose built transitway that put the buses on a bus only roadway that is grade separated from surrounding streets.

 

 

True true, but when something comes chortling along and says "xxxx Station" on the front, you think it might drop you at a train or subway one. And of course, the buses that say "city centre" on the front which in fact refers to Mississauga. I take your point about Transit stations, but why go to all the effort of building something that to all intents and purposes looks like a railway station with a concreted trackbed, with elevators, platforms, canopies, an overbridge and an underpass, only to then not provide a single route map anywhere on the installation? I'm thinking about the one at Renforth here.....

[mdvle]

1 hour ago, ianmianmianm said:

True true, but when something comes chortling along and says "xxxx Station" on the front, you think it might drop you at a train or subway one.

 

I guess this is where local knowledge helps - in this case anyone living in Mississauga is well aware that there are no subways in Mississauga (and any Mississauga bus going to the subway states Islington, which is the name of the TTC Subway station served).

 

As for train stations, they are all referred to by suffixing GO onto the name I think - Lisgar GO, Meadowvale GO, Cooksville GO, Port Credit GO, Long Branch GO, Clarkson GO - covers all that have regular bus service (there is also Dixie and Cooksville stations but don't think they get regular bus route service except as a passing by).

 

1 hour ago, ianmianmianm said:

And of course, the buses that say "city centre" on the front which in fact refers to Mississauga.

 

Which sort of makes sense when it is a Mississauga bus.

 

(and for those not familiar with Mississauga, the "City Centre Transit Terminal" is at Square One Shopping Mall, which is right next door to Mississauga City Hall and the Central Library).

 

1 hour ago, ianmianmianm said:

I take your point about Transit stations, but why go to all the effort of building something that to all intents and purposes looks like a railway station with a concreted trackbed, with elevators, platforms, canopies, an overbridge and an underpass,

 

Well, it's a compromise - Mississauga doesn't (yet) have the population density to support a LRT/Streetcar along that corridor let alone a subway or other train service (Mississauga is, assuming no changes by the province, getting at some point in the next 10 years a LRT up Hurontario Street from Port Credit to just inside the edge of Brampton but that really is the only place with sufficient density to be viable - and side note, it could have gone 1/3 of the way through Brampton to Brampton GO/VIA but Brampton council said no).

 

1 hour ago, ianmianmianm said:

only to then not provide a single route map anywhere on the installation? I'm thinking about the one at Renforth here.....

 

Haven't been there for a while, but I believe there are Mississauga (Miway) system maps on the upper level of the transitway stations.  Renforth is a bit unusual in that the TTC also uses it so I don't know what if anything the TTC does, though I will forward your comments to the Miway email account as that is perhaps the one station where a maps down at bus level could make sense with people possibly transferring from the TTC.

[ianmianmianm]

Edited my post of 30th November to provide info on Panther Hobbies.