10 Old-School Pennsylvania Hobby Shops Where Trains And Kits Still Line The Shelves
One small shop in this list is said to be the oldest hobby shop in Pennsylvania, at least according to its owner.
I love that a claim that big comes with shelves of rocket engines and model car kits.
Another stop stocks so much N scale gear that it practically runs its own tiny railroad economy out of one storefront.
A third pairs plastic kits with RC racing tracks, which sounds like my kind of afternoon. I can’t imagine a better rainy day than wandering aisles of boxcars, glue, and tiny paint jars.
Online shopping is quick, but it never hands you a real box to flip over and study happily for ten minutes.
So which shop earns your next free Saturday, and how many kits will quietly sneak home with you? Better clear some shelf space and hide the receipt first.
1. Tony’s Hobby Shop
Bragging rights don’t get much bigger than this.
Founded in 1947, Tony’s Hobby Shop in Coplay has been recognized as Pennsylvania’s oldest single-owner hobby shop.
That’s a fun title to carry, and the shelves back up the old-school feel.
Model kits for cars and trucks share space with trains and planes, so you can bounce between hobbies without leaving the room.
Rocket fans get a treat here too. You’ll find model rockets and the engines that send them skyward, which is a pairing plenty of stores skip.
Paint gets serious attention as well. A good stock of kits, building materials, and finished models means you can grab a project and the supplies to finish it in one trip.
Plan your timing, though, because the hours are a little particular. The shop opens Tuesday through Friday from 11 AM to 7 PM and Saturday from 11 AM to 3:30 PM.
Sundays and Mondays are closed.
Visits here tend to be quick, which works nicely if you already know what you need. Then again, a wall of kit boxes can turn a five-minute errand into a much longer browse.
Parking is easy, with free street spots and an on-site lot. One important detail: the borough’s business listing says the shop doesn’t accept credit cards, so bring another way to pay.
Bring a list, bring patience, and maybe bring a friend to stop you from buying a third rocket.
Address: 101 S 2nd St, Coplay, PA 18037
2. Modellbahn Ott Hobbies
The name sounds like it rolled straight off a German rail line, and trains really are the star.
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies sits on East Philadelphia Avenue in Boyertown with an extensive selection of model trains and modeling supplies.
Railroaders can stock up on layout materials without hunting all over the county. That’s handy when your little town needs one more stretch of track, or one more building, or both.
Kit builders aren’t left out of the fun. Plastic kits, airplane models, and Gundam models fill out the shelves alongside rockets and RC gear.
Tabletop gamers will spot Warhammer here as well. Add a strong lineup of paints, and you’ve got a shop that serves several crowds under one roof.
Few places in Pennsylvania carry such a wide mix of hobby supplies. That variety is exactly why a stop here feels like a throwback to the classic, everything-on-the-wall hobby store.
Hours run six days a week, with weekday hours stretching into the early evening. Saturdays close a bit earlier, and Sundays are off.
Got a half-finished project waiting at home? A quick visit could be the push it needs, though the train aisle might start a brand new project instead.
Address: 42 E Philadelphia Ave, Boyertown, PA 19512
3. Hobby Express
Some hobbyists happily drive an hour across the Ohio line just to shop here.
Hobby Express in Cranberry Township has earned that kind of loyalty with a big selection of model trains and RC vehicles.
HO scale fans, take note. The rolling stock and train supplies here rank among the best around, so your freight yard may grow faster than planned.
Trains come in a range of scales, not just HO. That’s a relief if your layout runs smaller or larger than the usual.
Model kit builders get plenty to chew on too. Almost any type of kit can turn up, along with tons of tools and supplies for putting it together.
Paint shoppers will find a large selection waiting. The RC section rounds things out, giving the shop a bit of something for builders, racers, and railroaders alike.
Timing matters if you like elbow room. Saturdays are the busiest stretch, while weekdays run much quieter for slow, careful browsing.
Doors open seven days a week, with shorter Sunday hours. Swing by on a calm Tuesday, and you might have the HO aisle nearly to yourself.
Address: 1713 PA-228, Cranberry Township, PA 16066
4. Tommy Gilbert’s Hobby Shop
History buffs and model builders share a town, so why not share a shop?
Tommy Gilbert’s Hobby Shop is a longtime Gettysburg business, mixing model trains with a deep selection of modeling supplies.
Railroaders can explore HO and N scale products, including new and used locomotives, rolling stock, and track. Scratch-builders will also find supplies for crafting pieces from the ground up.
Here’s a fun local twist. The shop carries Civil War HO scale buildings, a perfect fit for a town so tied to that chapter of history.
Diorama lovers get plenty of scenery items, paints, and odds and ends. Plastic car, truck, and military vehicle kits sit nearby, along with other modeling supplies.
The stock of hard-to-find plastic models is the real head-turner. If you’ve been chasing an older kit, this is a smart place to look.
Hours run Tuesday through Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Mondays and Sundays are off, so plan your trip around them.
Free street parking and an on-site lot make stopping easy. Pair a visit with a day of sightseeing, and you’ll leave with both stories and a new project.
Address: 346 E Water St, Gettysburg, PA 17325
5. Esther’s Hobby Shop
Tiny trains, massive selection. Esther’s Hobby Shop in Millvale specializes in N scale, and the range of N scale gear here is huge.
That focus makes it a rare find for small-scale railroaders. N scale lets you fit a lot of railroad into a little space, and this shop clearly gets that.
Kits matter here too, not just trains. Car and truck models line up with prop models, giving builders plenty to pick from.
Painters will want to slow down. The shop carries spray and brush paints, including Tamiya paints, which many modelers love for their finish.
Think of it as a true mom-and-pop spot in the Pittsburgh area. The store keeps things very clean and very organized, so finding that one tiny part isn’t a treasure hunt.
Hours are limited, so check your calendar before heading out. The shop opens Wednesday and Friday afternoons, plus Saturday mornings into the early afternoon.
Miss those windows, and you’ll be staring at a locked door. Catch them, and you could leave with enough N scale track to circle your bookshelf twice.
Address: 219 North Ave, Millvale, PA 15209
6. Get A Hobby
Most shops let you buy an RC car, but this one gives you somewhere to race it.
Get A Hobby in Uniontown features RC racing tracks along with a wide selection of models and trains.
RC is the main event, no question. Still, kit builders will find a good selection of plastic kits, paint, and accessories waiting nearby.
The train side keeps things balanced for railroad fans. You can browse models and trains, then wander over to watch the speedier crowd.
Repairs are a strong point here. The shop keeps parts in stock to fix the items it sells, which saves a lot of waiting for mail orders.
The staff knows their stuff, too. In this corner of southwestern Pennsylvania, it stands out as a one-stop hobby shop for miles around.
Practical perks help as well. There’s a free parking lot and free Wi-Fi, handy if you’re looking up part numbers on the spot.
Hours run Wednesday through Sunday, with Mondays and Tuesdays closed. Show up on a weekend, and you might leave with a kit, a train, and a sudden urge to buy a race car.
Address: 575 Morgantown Rd, Uniontown, PA 15401
7. Nicholas Smith Trains
More than a century of model trains under one roof? Broomall has exactly that.
Nicholas Smith Trains traces its history back to 1909, making it a serious destination for railroad hobbyists.
The shop specializes in model trains, with locomotives, rolling stock, track, and accessories covering multiple scales.
Lionel fans will find plenty to explore, but HO, N, S, and G scale enthusiasts have reasons to visit too.
Here’s where things get interesting. The selection goes well beyond ready-to-run trains.
Couplers, electrical components, scenery materials, and layout-building tools help turn a basic oval of track into something much more ambitious.
Collectors can hunt for detailed locomotives, while beginners can start with a complete train set.
That mix makes the store welcoming whether you’re building your first layout or upgrading one that’s been running for decades.
The shop also carries paints, glues, brushes, and other supplies. It’s the kind of place where a small repair project can easily become a full afternoon of browsing.
Knowledgeable staff are another big draw. Getting advice from someone who understands model trains beats guessing which part to order online.
Hours are Monday through Thursday from noon to 5 PM, Friday until 7 PM, and Saturday from noon to 5 PM. Sundays are closed, and summer hours may differ.
Address: 2343 West Chester Pike, Broomall, PA 19008
8. Strasburg Train Shop
A model train shop in a town famous for real trains? That sounds almost too perfect.
Strasburg Train Shop sits right in Pennsylvania’s railroad country, making it an easy stop for anyone who loves locomotives.
The store covers about 2,000 square feet, and model railroading takes center stage. You’ll find trains and supplies in everything from tiny Z scale to much larger G scale.
HO and O scale fans have plenty to explore too. Engines, freight cars, passenger cars, buildings, and track components fill out the selection.
Layout builders should pay special attention to the scenery department.
Landscaping materials, detail parts, and scratch-building supplies help turn a plain sheet of plywood into a miniature Pennsylvania town.
New and used items arrive regularly. That gives collectors a reason to return, especially when they’re searching for something that disappeared from catalogs years ago.
Here’s a fun bonus. The shop is part of The Shops of Traintown, right next to the Choo Choo Barn, a longtime attraction famous for its enormous animated model railroad display.
That makes this more than a quick shopping stop. You can spend time exploring miniature trains, then head next door for even more railroad fun.
Hours are simple: 10 AM to 5 PM daily, with closures on certain major holidays. Address: 226 Gap Rd, Strasburg, PA 17579
9. CoolTrains Toys & Hobbies
Some hobby shops pick one specialty and stick to it.
CoolTrains Toys & Hobbies in Salunga prefers to keep several kinds of builders happy under the same roof.
Founded in 2003, this independent shop has the kind of selection that makes browsing feel like a treasure hunt.
Model trains share space with plastic kits, slot cars, rockets, puzzles, and building supplies.
Railroad fans can explore new and used HO and O/O27 trains. Engines, rolling stock, track, and scenery supplies give layout builders plenty to work with.
Plastic model builders get their own reasons to linger. The store carries kits from brands such as Tamiya, Revell, AMT, Airfix, and Gundam model manufacturers.
Then there’s the paint selection. Racks of hobby paints, tools, adhesives, and finishing supplies mean you can buy the kit and everything needed to complete it in one visit.
Slot car fans aren’t forgotten either. Tracks, cars, and replacement parts make this a handy stop for anyone who still loves miniature racing.
CoolTrains also buys collections of trains, model kits, and slot cars. That helps keep interesting older merchandise moving through the shop.
Plan your visit carefully. It’s open Wednesday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 1 PM.
Sunday through Tuesday are closed.
Address: 106 W Main St, Salunga, PA 17538
10. Iron Horse Hobby House
A proper old-school hobby store should have a little bit of everything.
Iron Horse Hobby House in Reading takes that idea seriously, with trains, model kits, RC vehicles, and building supplies packed into one longtime neighborhood shop.
The business dates to 1979, but the building’s hobby-store history goes back even further.
A previous owner opened a hobby shop at this same South Sixth Street location in 1947. That kind of continuity is hard to find today.
Model railroaders have plenty of reasons to browse. G, O, HO, and N scale trains and accessories share shelf space with the parts needed to build detailed layouts.
Plastic model builders won’t feel left out. Cars, airplanes, military vehicles, ships, and Gundam kits all appear in the selection.
The RC department adds a faster side to the hobby. Cars, trucks, and related parts give radio-control fans a place to browse beyond the train aisles.
Here’s a particularly useful perk. The shop offers repairs and tune-ups for many of the products it sells, including RC vehicles and model trains.
Hours are Wednesday through Friday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 3 PM. Mondays and Tuesdays are closed.
Address: 60 S 6th St, Reading, PA 19602