Model Railroad Lovers Could Spend Hours Browsing This Old-School Illinois Hobby Shop

Sun-faded boxes, tiny tubs of enamel paint, and a wooden Thomas engine you last saw in 1995 can all live on the same shelf in one small Illinois store. Model train fans in the Chicago suburbs treat it like a treasure hunt, and kids treat it like a playground with price tags.

It is the kind of old-fashioned hobby shop that has mostly vanished, which makes finding one still going strong feel like a small win. Bring patience, because a quick stop almost never stays quick.

A Packed Little Shop In Itasca

Maplewood Drive in Itasca does not look like a destination at first glance. Yet at number 865 sits America’s Best Train, Toy & Hobby Shop, a DuPage County storefront that model railroaders across the Chicago area talk about with real affection.

From the outside, it reads as a modest neighborhood business. Step inside, though, and the place unfolds like an overstuffed attic, with shelves climbing toward the ceiling and boxes stacked in every direction.

Trains get top billing, but toys, model kits, paints, and building sets fill just about every remaining inch.

Itasca sits close to O’Hare and the busy suburban corridor west of Chicago, so the shop is an easy drive for families across the northern half of Illinois. That convenience matters, because many folks who visit once end up planning a return trip before they even reach the parking lot.

Calling it a train store tells only part of the story. Regulars describe it as a paradise for anyone who loves building, collecting, or simply looking at small, detailed things.

It is a classic, privately owned hobby shop, and shops with this much selection have become genuinely rare in the region, which is a big part of its charm.

The Last Of A Fading Breed

Remember when nearly every suburb had a hobby shop where you could buy a caboose and a bottle of glue on the same Saturday? Most of those stores have quietly closed.

Around Chicago, plenty of train fans consider this one the last true classic toy train store still standing.

That reputation comes from the feel of the place as much as the inventory. Shelves hold both pre-owned pieces and items still new in the box, so browsing feels a little like time travel.

Some boxes show sun-faded edges from years on display, a detail that only adds to the old-school vibe for many shoppers.

Owner Tony is known for deep knowledge of collectible lines like Thomas Wooden Railway and the hard-to-find Whittle Shortline Railroad. Collectors who chase those pieces appreciate having someone behind the counter who understands exactly what they are hunting for.

Nostalgia runs strong here. Grown-ups returning to the hobby after decades often say walking in makes them feel like a kid again.

That emotional pull, more than any single product, explains why people keep coming back and why the shop has earned such a loyal following among Illinois hobbyists young and old.

Every Scale From N To LGB

Scale is everything in model railroading, and this shop covers a remarkable range. N scale fans, who work with tiny trains perfect for tight spaces, will find a solid selection.

HO and O scale shoppers often discover that if they need something, the store probably has it.

Lionel trains sit alongside HO equipment, while the big end of the spectrum includes high-end LGB sets designed to run outdoors in a garden. On the gentler side, toddler-friendly BRIO sets offer a starting point for the littlest engineers.

Few stores manage to serve both a preschooler and a lifelong collector this well.

Track, accessories, and every small part a layout might need are packed into the aisles. One returning hobbyist rebuilt an N gauge set around a Christmas tree after forty years away, and found every piece needed in one trip.

Another finished an entire ceiling layout with help from the staff.

A quick word on G scale: prices on those larger trains can run high, with some pieces approaching the $80 to $100 range. Shoppers focused on N, HO, and O scale generally find pricing more reasonable, so it helps to know your scale before you go.

Wooden Railways, Lego, And Playmobil Treasures

Kids tend to make a beeline for one side of the store, and it is easy to see why. Thomas Wooden Railway, Chuggington, and BRIO pieces line the shelves, both pre-owned and new in the box.

Even the original Trackmaster items show up, which thrills young fans who know exactly what they want.

Across the room, older Lego sets wait for builders of every age. Collectors searching for retired kits often have better luck here than at big-box stores, since the shop carries sets that have long disappeared from mainstream shelves.

Playmobil gets serious attention too. Anyone trying to track down that one missing set has a decent chance of spotting it here, a fact that delights parents who have searched everywhere else.

There are also fancy collectible horse figures, plus die-cast cars that appeal to kids and grown-ups alike.

For families, this section turns a shopping errand into an outing. Children leave clutching new trains or cars and asking when they can come back.

Parents get the fun of watching that excitement, plus the satisfaction of supporting a local Illinois business instead of clicking a button online.

Paints, Kits, And Supplies For Builders

Plastic model fans, take note. Beyond the trains, the shop stocks an excellent assortment of acrylic and enamel hobby paints, the kind of variety that saves builders from ordering colors one bottle at a time.

A large collection of Tamiya model kits sits among kits of many other types, covering tanks, vehicles, and more. Model cars, rockets, and general building supplies round out the selection.

Tools and adhesives are close at hand, so a project can go from idea to workbench without a second stop.

Knowledge is the secret ingredient. Staff members are especially well versed in plastic model kits, tools, and supplies, and they can explain which paint suits a particular surface or which kit fits a beginner’s skill level.

That kind of help is hard to find through a website.

Model making materials for train layouts also show up throughout the store, from scenery bits to small accessories that bring a miniature town to life. For anyone who likes working with their hands on a quiet winter evening, this corner of the shop offers enough inspiration to fill an entire season of projects at the kitchen table.

Friendly Experts Behind The Counter

Questions are welcome here, and that makes a big difference. Hobbyists returning after years away often arrive unsure where to begin, and the staff gladly spends time walking them through options.

The team clearly shares the same passion as its customers. Conversations drift easily from track layouts to vintage engines, and the people working the floor are known for being helpful, nice, and conversant about nearly every corner of the hobby.

Train service and support also earn high marks from layout builders.

Budget is never treated as a barrier. The shop stocks items for simple starter projects and extravagant collections alike, along with everything in between.

Newcomers get patient guidance, while longtime modelers get expert input on specialized pieces.

Plenty of shoppers mention leaving with exactly the item they came for, sometimes at prices $20 or $30 lower than what they would have paid on eBay. That combination of fair pricing and genuine expertise is precisely what online marketplaces cannot replicate.

For a parent buying a first train set or a grandparent restoring a cherished layout, having a real person to ask may be the most valuable thing in the building.

Hours, Pricing, And Planning Your Trip

Timing your visit is simple. The shop opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday hours run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sundays are closed, so weekend browsers should aim for Saturday.

Admission is free, of course, which makes this a budget-friendly outing even if nobody buys a thing. Families can wander the aisles, point out favorite engines, and soak in the atmosphere without spending a dime.

When purchases do happen, prices on most trains, toys, and supplies are considered fair and often better than online resale.

Getting there is easy from much of northeastern Illinois. Itasca sits in DuPage County near major highways and O’Hare, so a drive from Chicago, Schaumburg, Elgin, or Naperville makes a reasonable half-day trip.

Plan for more time than you expect. Shoppers regularly warn that the store is packed full of surprises and can easily swallow a couple of hours.

A winter afternoon works especially well, when indoor outings are welcome and holiday train layouts are on everyone’s mind. Pair the visit with lunch nearby, and you have an affordable family day that feels special without stretching the wallet.

Worth The Drive For Young And Old

Small shops like this one carry more than merchandise. They carry memories, and that is exactly what keeps America’s Best Train, Toy & Hobby Shop so beloved among Illinois families.

For seasoned railroaders, the draw is depth: every scale from N to LGB, rare collectibles, and knowledgeable help. Kids get wooden trains, Lego, and Playmobil that spark their imaginations.

Builders find paints and kits in abundance. Very few places manage to please all three groups under one crowded roof.

Is it polished and modern? Not really, and that is part of the appeal.

Faded boxes and stuffed shelves give it the feel of a neighborhood store from decades past. G scale shoppers may want to compare prices, but most visitors find value across the rest of the store.

Bring a grandparent who grew up with Lionel trains, or a child who cannot stop talking about Thomas. Give yourselves a slow Saturday morning and no strict schedule.

Chances are someone will leave with a new treasure, and everyone will leave with a story to tell. For a humble hobby shop in Itasca, that is quite an accomplishment worth bragging about.