HUGE N Scale Train Layout - Esther’s hobby shop - Pittsburgh PA

Hi train friends! For the new Train Store walk thru series Part 2, we took a tour of a local shop and their massive N scale train display! Special thanks to one of the members of the Steeltown N scaler’s to run the trains. What a layout!! I visit here regularly for my N scale supplies, and we’re planning a new N scale layout so stay tuned and subscribe to follow upcoming news about that layout!
Esther’s Hobby & Toy center
219 North Ave
Millvale, PA 15209
United States
Phone: [phone]
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Thanks,
Nick-

[@styx2055]

I used to live in Pittsburgh and going there every once and awhile was so fun, great shop and owner

[@elleryparsons5766]

Heaven when A model Railroader goes to A Hobby shop It’s Heaven.

[@warrencleversy2773]

Good looking layout.

[@joebakewell7566]

Nice layout.

[@morganhay859]

I remember going down there and looking at old ho stuff he had to buy

[@Stormysteamie]

I've been here before. I bought a Model Power 0-4-0 there, but I traded it at a local train meet for some coaches. I miss that switcher and this shop.

[@MrBsHiawathalandRails]

Now that's a nice hobby shop!

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Yes it’s a great one for smaller scale trains!

[@Building_America]

Wow they have a ton of stuff and that layout is very nicely done. Thank you for sharing Nick.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Thank you Darren! Glad you enjoyed the tour. He has a really cool shop! The owner has been into trains for 80 yrs! And he’s still very friendly and helpful. I had to laugh though, I went over to him and asked if the layout was open and running....he goes”the heck if I know I don’t have two set of eyes and laughs”. 😂😆

[@elleryparsons5766]

Very lovely Layout love it.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Thank you so much! Subscribe for much more!

[@johnhyman3549]

Just Awesome. Such wonderful detail. I love the multiple trains running all at one time. makes me smile.

[@dirtydanstrains1414]

I go to there all the time it’s a great shop for anyone in the Pittsburgh area

[@PghTrainFanatic]

DIRTY DAN cool! He has tons of N scale trains. It’s also nice they do discounts on purchases over $50.

[@JoeG-firehousewhiskey]

Thanks for the tour, that layout is huge! Thats pretty awesome!

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Thanks Joey G! It’s a really neat store. Great atmosphere!

[@trade0714]

Incredible store.

[@hanspaal5394]

This is a great shop and one of the last of it's kind, a true old fashioned feel. The owner has been into trains for 80 years (yes 80, not a typo), and is very knowledgeable about N scale. Prices can be on the higher end for some of the newer items but you won't find a better or more varied selection. Frankly, the charm of the place does me in, when I stop by it is real hard to leave. I am glad someone has taken some videos of his amazing layout downstairs. There are also some true bargain prices on N scale cars in the basement next to the layout, as well as a few Locos; I think he got a lot of these at estate sales but everything I have picked up so far has been in excellent condition and runs well.

[@hanspaal5394]

Oh, and great review! I made sure to subscribe :^>

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Thanks for the nice comments Hans. Esther’s is a great shop, the owner, and the feeling of the store! They do offer discounts for purchases over $50 and then additionally even more for purchases over $100. The layout downstairs is really cool! Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@grandpaarock]

amazing layout

[@HenryArdon3002]

I love that long miniature city with train sets, I want to make one

[@PghTrainFanatic]

That’s the cool thing about N scale is you can make an entire city and not take up a huge amount of space

[@n-scaleunionpacificevansto6569]

Nice layout and nice video! Thanks for taking us there. I would like to go there someday ...Roy

[@civilwartrains]

That's one of the tidiest hobby shops, especially one that mainly sells trains, I've ever seen. My local shop is literally mountains of stuff just piled up. The owner somehow knows where ever single thing is, though, haha.

[@ajmayowskijr]

Looking forward to your next N scale layout Nick

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Hey thanks Al!! As of right now I’m ready to film N scale layout update #1. Look for that video coming soon! You’ll love it!

[@mrjsanchez1]

Thanks for sharing, I hope to visit Esther's someday, that Kato Unitrack is great stuff, very reliable and I found it holds up well most of my Unitrack track is over 20 years old now!

[@larry8779]

PTF - I have bought several of your building fronts. Very pleased. My N gage is in process. I have several ideas to mount your fronts that will give some depth to the buildings when displayed against a back drop. Still waiting for that steel mill in G gage! Nice KZbin channel. Keep up the excellent work on both your products and touring H-shops!!!!

[@ewoodrailway]

Impressive, it's s flight then an internal flight then a drive..thank god for KZbin! Thanks for sharing..I've subbed

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Awesome!!! Thank you for subscribing. You’ll love all the content I’ll be doing in the upcoming new decade! 😁

[@Chessie1985]

Very nice review Nick!!!

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Jeff Bennett thanks Jeff! Glad you enjoyed it. The beginning got messed up, I thought the camera was receding sooner and it cut out an entire sentence lol. Oh well I made it work.

[@Chessie1985]

Your welcome!!!

[@Steven_Williams]

Cool video Nick, KATO has a nice size selection of stuff. Their headquarters is located about 40 miles Northwest of me in Schaumburg, Il. Thanks for sharing.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Thanks Steven. Kato makes nice stuff. Love the unitrack! I hope they have a retail store for you being so close! Lol

[@fredericbesnard7254]

Bonne année 2020

[@Minionmoto529]

that is a cool layout. very nice shop as well. i don't have any shops like that anymore near me.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Thanks for the nice comments. I’m trying to do a tour of the local shops around the Pittsburgh area. You’re right they’re a dying breed. Maybe these videos will help spark some business for them!

[@Minionmoto529]

you're welcome. that is a fun idea to do. yes i am hoping that the more train videos that are out there, the more people get interested into it like they were years ago.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Minion Moto you’re right. The hobby needs to be kept alive and kids need to set their phones down for a little bit. Even if it’s just around Xmas. Doesn’t need to be a year round hobby. Nothing like Xmas and trains. They go together hand in hand!

[@Minionmoto529]

i agree with you 100%. look my dad is 59 years old and is still building a model railroad. i'm 28 and i'm still working on building one as well. so its definitely something that needs to be kept alive.

[@Heroduothecomedian]

1:24 *gasps at the robot models* glad to see more hobby shops are starting to sell gunpla aka Gundam plastic model kits and not just specialty stores

[@tospisnotavailable6079]

You should go to Wolfe’s Nursery he has a bunch of lbg and piko stuff and a few layouts!

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Cool! Thanks for the tip....I never knew about that place! I googled it, in greensburg right?

[@tospisnotavailable6079]

PghTrainFanatic yeah! It a little bit outside of it! They are closed on Sunday and Mondays until spring and their hours are 10am to 5pm

[@zingerflippinz2066]

Is this the old Bill & Walt's downtown?

[@skiiipawbs]

Nah, it’s esthers

[@benlahrman4149]

Which part of Alleghany County is this in?

[@elleryparsons5766]

Love that place where's it at?

[@PghTrainFanatic]

219 North Ave Millvale, PA 15209 United States

[@mr1846]

I know where that is isn’t that in? I forgot

[@pilierofq]

Slow the camera down in the store!! Getting seasick!

[@elleryparsons5766]

I Don’t think you Could Pry me From this layout.

[@quinndavenport1044]

If this was REALLY in Pittsburgh than the signs at 3:36 would stay look with YINZ eyes not 'ur

[@skiiipawbs]

It’s millvale. It’s right on the edge of the city across from the east end

[@freedomring4813]

I'd like to know the cost of his inventory.

[@hanspaal5394]

His inventory cost is not too bad. Some of the newer stuff is on the pricey end, but he does have a deal on Kato equipment and locos, depending on how much you buy. I know for track and equipment when I get over $50 worth h has given me get 20% off the order. The real gems are the bargain prices down in the basement, with the layout, stuff that I think he said he has gotten from estate sales. N scale cars range from 5 to 15 dollars, and I have found a few real gems down there. Not many Rapido coupler cars but a few. He also has some clearance locos upstairs ranging from 25 to 75 dollars, I have an Atlas Loco from that group that runs excellent.

[@brianswezey724]

@@hanspaal5394 thanks for the info but you misunderstood my question....how much money is everything in his store worth put together....inventory. But I might have worded it wrong.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

That would be allot of dough

[@7829mk]

While I like the modeling, structures and alike, the layout like so many I have seen is much too flat. This is boring (my apologies should I offend). There is so much straight track. The most interesting layouts (only my opinion) is where there is elevation, crossovers and s-curves. With all the available space, it seems that it could be easily accomplished. Oh well...

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Hey you’re entitled to your own opinion. But with that said this layout is modular. So I don’t think multi level could be accomplished.

[@oxolotleman7226]

No thanks, way too small.

[@PghTrainFanatic]

Oxolotleman lol yeah it’s small and not for everyone. We all know that O scale is the best scale. 👍🏼