Short Trip to the Train Store and Additions to the Layout

Last weekend me and my family went on a trip to Merrickville Ontario, while I was there I stopped by Lark Spur Line train store to see what they had in stock. I was mostly looking for figures and vehicles for my Hershey factory project however I ended up getting some other things too.

[@kalebscherlie1503]

Wow, that's got to be the most Canadian bush fix I've seen. A CN loco with the weights held together by Hockey tape.

[@SMTMainline]

The drive is probably lubricated with maple syrup lol

[@4everdc302]

A visit to a train store with a used variety is a good day.👍🚂🇨🇦

[@Gfysimpletons]

That mantua is a champ……….good buy! 👍 paint that beauty ‘tar black’, brass railings, and you could use a copper wiper on any truck for a replacement as long as the METAL wheels can be isolated. And the whole tender is a pickup on the left/drivers side rail……that’s why you can use a plastic truck……GREAT VID

[@SMTMainline]

Absolutely, these things are easy to work on/kitbash.

[@shaygetz52]

My hobby shop has a similar setup. I'm a sucker for inexpensive cars and trucks. My most recent purchase netted twelve cars...Busch, Praline and Herpa...they had been carefully disassembled, working head and taillights added, then reassembled. They work beautifully and cost me the princely sum of $2 US. That's less than 16 cents each. Yes, I'm notoriously cheap...

[@JoseAntonio-xc3ju]

how I wanted to see stores like this here in Brazil.Congratulations SMT.

[@cpcnmodelrailroadingrailfa9339]

Yet another amazing video great job I love all the videos from this store and I hope I can visit it sometime. Your my favorite KZbinr and the best model railroading train channel keep up the good work

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks a bunch for the kind words.

[@davidztog9011]

Belle's Ice Cream Shop is a nice addition to the layout, Harrison. It's a Monroe Models kit which is also available in N scale. The little gazebo looks right at home where you placed it -- a nice roadside respite while traveling across Canada in the family truckster to sit and enjoy a banana split sundae or twist. Good luck with the CN locomotive -- looked like someone was arc welding inside the cab. Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@SMTMainline]

The family truckster? I better prepare the stand for the Grizwalds lol. I had no idea this was a kit, I've never seen one before. I've gotta say, who ever did this one did a fine job.

[@paulbervid1610]

Harrison, great video. Cars are cool, gazebo is neat.

[@lorenzobeckmann3736]

the CN most likely needs elect contact clean; the steamer might take one polarity from the missing tender truck---but you know all of that already. Yes, the '59 Poncho is at a very good price

[@dbtech7914]

That gave me a good laugh! Everywhere else, it's called "Electrical Tape." In Canada, it's called "Hockey Tape!" I love it. Nice little Ice Cream stand and cars.

[@kroy1037]

Please keep your positive perspective on Larkspur, Harrison. Like you, I find the owner prices things competitively -- particularly relative to eBay, U.S. dollar exchange, and shipping. We have already lost the Lionel store in Ottawa; rumors are circulating that another store might be on its last legs; and one of the few remaining train stores in Montréal announced that it was closing after Christmas. As noted by many of the comments you receive, visiting an actual hobby shop is a privilege that many do not have in their vicinity. Regards.

[@sophiaevans9908]

If you think visiting a model shop is exciting, working in one is even better! 😁😁

[@abethpezarkar9946]

Nice looking Ice cream shop and Gazebo... Also 2 more patients awaiting you expert skills in restoring them... will love to see them restored.. Best of luck.

[@alanwbelcher]

Nice finds, Harrison! Thanks for taking us along. Paint the switcher & put a CN maple leaf on the tender & it'll be a beauty. The diesel has the light show option. If you can get across the border, there's a train show in St Albans, VT next Saturday. Hope to see you there!

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. Wish I could go to that train show :(

[@williamsquires3070]

Hint: get LOTS of the cheap, low-quality vehicles - there’s always a place you can put them on the layout. Also, randomly change them out - say - every month (or before every operating session). Paint vehicles like this with matte, pastel colors and weather with lots of rust. Then they can be placed in/near a scrap-metal yard, especially if they have no wheels. Hide a few behind structures, with just a bit peeking out, and put lots of weeds (tufts of static foliage material from Woodland Scenics) near/under it, and secure with diluted Elmer’s white glue. Don’t forget to get trucks (pickups, box trucks and Semis), as well as a bus or two. The vehicles with no windows were - I believe - from the Tyco open-air auto-rack cars. HTH!

[@swamphdaddy]

That's the Mantua hook & loop coupler. On all their 40s, 50s & early 60s cars and locos. Very common in the day. They coupled very well but always were a pain to uncouple at times. As a proprietary item you had to buy them to put on other brands. Other companies had other types of couplers. The NMRA horn-hook coupler was a design which any company could use freely; and soon virtually all companies were using that except for those few who wanted more realism that used the somewhat expensive Kadee knuckle couplers. Now Kadee's and various Kadee type clones have started taking over the market.

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for sharing this, I wasn't aware this is how the different styles came about.

[@andrewpalm2103]

Nice comment. I'm old enough to remember the "HO coupler chaos" in the 50's and early 60's. Back then Kadee couplers had straight pins and a mechanical uncoupler. I always thought the NMRA couplers looked horrible, but at the time converting to Kadees was expensive!

[@richardakajazzyamx9690]

Sweet haul! I couldn't help but think when I saw the colors of those VW vans that you could paint one up like the vehicle owned by some certain 'Meddling Kids!" and maybe even have a scene of a them getting chased by some ghoul visible through a factory window...

[@Jax_Lines]

Keep up the good work smt. Get this man to 50k

[@EvilTurkeySlices]

I think the mantua could be cool as Great Western from Colorado. It’s a pretty nice paint scheme IMO. It also fits for a smaller engine such as that.

[@qwincyq6412]

Those discount used rolling stock trays at Larkspur draw me like a magnet every time.

[@SMTMainline]

They're always worth a look

[@taylorpillow5603]

Thanks for the awesome video. Yea I'm the guy about a month ago I asked if model trains is cheaper the rc airplanes. But um. I'm seriously thinking about getting back into model railroading even thow I sold everything I had in model trains. I'd be starting over if I got back into it. For sure. Where I live in the USA there is no model train stores within 200 miles besides the one I used to go too which now is a train museum not a train store. Is it to much to ask if I asked you to do a series on prices and repairs and good places to get parts. Besides get it all online. Like fleamarkets um antique dealers yard sales. Things of that nature. Thanks bro. Awesome videos

[@callingalltrainfans9891]

Very cool tour and some nice additions to the layout. I bought a 1940’s varney locomotive that had a coupler just like the one on the front of the Tyco mantua steamer.

[@Fxe4014]

without a doubt you keep improving when you make videos, keep it up, I really admire how good you are at fixing model trains

[@SMTMainline]

Thank you very much!

[@shockstrains5077]

I’m very excited to see what you can do with those two locomotives!

[@SMTMainline]

A bit of TLC and they might just ride the rails again.

[@jordanstrains7267]

smt for the 0-4-0 you should make it a sort of brown then put the word hershey on the tender so it can work in the hershey Freight yard

[@alcopower5710]

Very nice additions to the layout 👍

[@andrewpalm2103]

Fairly new subscriber here. I really agree with your comments on figures. I've been looking for a set of generic workers to augment what I have now (Preiser Truck Drivers and some ancient Revell/AHM railroaders) and have found little. I got some unpainted figures from China via eBay, but only a few suited my needs. My layout is set in 1962 and focuses on industrial switching where I'd guess the dress code was permanently "casual." :-)

[@johncloar1692]

Neat thing for the layout. Thanks for sharing Harrison !!

[@kevinbreaker2683]

Nice video like watching😉👍

[@bigboy-hz2lx]

wow that was a quick trip

[@williammcgeehan3424]

0:35. Inexpensive Alco Century 430 locomotives can be turned into the Espee Alco 643 DH ( diesel hydraulic ) You will need more than one shell plus aftermarket detail parts for the centered air intakes ans some scratch built parts. You will also need a set of Life Like Alco Century 628 trucks. The really experienced kit basher can also create an accurate version of the Union Pacific Alco Century 855 from Tyco and AHM shells and aftermarket parts.

[@SMTMainline]

I will keep that in mind

[@iananderson5050]

You made out pretty well with that trip! I actually check your videos every time I come back either from antiquing or going to my local hobby shop. Today I was in Eastern Pennsylvania and managed to snag a PRR coal shovel (from a steam loco ofc,circa 1900-1920) for $50 in practically like new condition. Best deal I've gotten in years. It's going up on the wall right above my o gauge line (the fictional Pittsburgh, Cumberland, & Montour RR, jointly operated by the PRR, P&LE/NYC, Western Maryland, N&W, P&WV, B&O, C&O and Montour RR's)

[@DowneastProductions211]

Amazing haul! I'm trying to get my dad to take me up to my "local hobby shop"

[@sva60_cyyz59]

Awesome video! You should finally make the Canadiana 0-4-0 wih the new one you bought!

[@andrewferguson5653]

Larkspur is a great store. That will be a day trip for me when winter is over.

[@elmerandkevin8379]

Congrats Harrison on 50k! The channel has grown and improved so much in the last year. Keep up the great work

[@totaltrains3889]

I really liked the gazebo it is a great addition

[@SMTMainline]

It looks right at home :)

[@chuckdeyo291]

Nice. The little blue car is a American Motors AMX. I enjoy detailing cars and the like.

[@garysprandel1817]

Not bad. Supplies for the layout and 2 episodes worth of content on the side. Watched enough of your videos to guess the brushes in that CN unit will be definitely in need of your magic touch. The 040 being unpainted leads me to believe it's an early to mid 80s full on Mantua kit locomotive. Kind of hard to tell but the blue car looks to be out of a Bachmann set and IIRC is a stylized generic road barge very close to a 73/74 Cadillac El Dorado.

[@SMTMainline]

The brushes could be the culprit but I'm also suspicious someone tried to add a metal weight and placed it poorly.

[@garysprandel1817]

@@SMTMainline depending on age and the propensity of kid's trainsets to run set up on the livingroom floor it's also possible a stray piece or two of actual metallic Christmas tree tinsel got up in the works and made it's way to the motor from that light show.

[@shrek_428]

That little light blue car is a 1968-69 AMC AMX, similar to the Javelin

[@rj29productions]

Likely one of the tyco ones

[@lancerevell5979]

Yep, an AMX. I owned a 1968 AMX back in the day. Great little hotrods. AMX was a Javelin platform shortened about ten inches behind the front seats. Glass (except quarter lights), doors and trunk lid were interchangeable.

[@OscarHernandez-el3mq]

Awesome video Harrison

[@MechanicalShockwaveBow]

I went to a train store recently and got some cool new n scale stuff :) A norfolk southern gp60 and some cool michigan related cars

[@SMTMainline]

That’s awesome!

[@ontariorail1251]

Wow the progression on the layout! The dirt road and the grade crossing looks awesome. Btw can you make a video on how to make one of those grade crossings some day?

[@matteditz1164]

yeah he should make a video I would really like to do that on my layout

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks. I don't see why I can't make a tutorial on the grade crossing, it isn't perfect but works fine for what I want.

[@cheesewonton7263]

Im going to a train flea market tommorow, cant wait to see what i can find

[@paulgreenberg6471]

Old mantua loop coupler. Predates the NMRA X2F coupler.

[@mercuryoak2]

Absolutely love the store I have to get up there maybe this summer I'm going to try to plan on a trip for a vacation. The blue car that you said you didn't know what it was looks like to me a 1970 Pontiac LeMans for a Oldsmobile Cutlass. Awesome buys that you found at that store I love the fact that you got the Gazebo and that custom little building. The Tyco Mantua 0-4-0 locomotive looks to me like it has the original Tyco Mantua coupling system in the front I did see some at the flea market the last time I was there I heard that they were very robust coupling system from the 1960s and was similar to marklin Fleischmann European couplers this was before they made the horn hook talgo coupler

[@Gfysimpletons]

Well, gas in the states will be $6.50 a gallon by summer…….in Canada? $3 usd/liter?

[@mercuryoak2]

@@Gfysimpletons ok and.. What was the point of saying that.. Just sayin.... I'm in OTR truck driver I don't burst bubbles on someone's dreams. I don't care I am going to continue driving my diesel car. Which gets more fuel mileage than any gasoline-powered vehicle

[@Gfysimpletons]

@@mercuryoak2 I’m not criticizing your mode of transport……I just looked at my post and I meant to also write, “start saving now” That’s all………

[@mercuryoak2]

@@Gfysimpletons ohh ok I mean I am saving up for an apartment and other things but yes I agree I'm sorry for the misunderstanding I've had people bash me because I have a diesel car I don't know why. I don't like what's going on either

[@Gfysimpletons]

@@mercuryoak2 all good……and I hope you enjoy your vacation!

[@richardsweeney197]

The gazebo is an old metal kit from Woodland Scenics which they still produce.

[@SMTMainline]

I'd imagine they'd be made of plastic by now? I don't recall them making stuff out of lead.

[@Petemonster62]

@@SMTMainline - They used to make their trees out of a similar metal.

[@randytaylor1258]

Thanks for sharing!

[@rdrogel]

You should invest in 2nd(GPs add SDs with a bit of GE Dash 7 series) and 3rd Gen(Wide Cab Era)motive power in your layout

[@bmmodelrailroading1802]

You could use some of those broken locomotives as weathered/stored/abandoned locomotives in the back

[@JohnJohnson-cn9fh]

nice one harrison i an sure you will get those loco,s running again.jpj

[@joeythecat7482]

Maybe you can put the 0-4-0 in a Hershey livery

[@TRAINSPLANESEVERYDAY]

Can you please make a playlist of this store

[@Gravity461]

Maybe you could get that steam engine running and try to paint on a Hershey’s paint scheme similar to those diesels on it.

[@SMTMainline]

It's a good idea but I think I will paint it black.

[@tracynation2820]

Super. 💙 T.E.N.

[@MattKonsol]

@7:45 Oh no the the tyco Canadian national c430 looks it’s gonna start to smoke I’m thinking somebody oil the commutator though so thats really not a good sign or maybe the motor must been worn and might have a lot of carbon in the edges of the commutator I hope get that situatated though bro as well as the 0-4-0 too btw nice haul man! At the end you look great though Harrison. Give nerf cat a pet for me and that’s pretty cool thing you got lots of cars to go with Hershey factory parking.

[@SMTMainline]

Through the window it looks like someone might have tried to add a weight and might placed it over some wires.

[@MattKonsol]

@@SMTMainline that could true man

[@luistherailfanner2798]

Nice

[@KILLUA957]

As soon I saw this I was like YOINK

[@arrow1414]

That was a very early Mantua 0-4-0 with the loop couplers, likely from the early to mid 1950s.

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

Awesome 🚂😎👍

[@minazabala7244]

nice

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

That blue car you got looks to be a AMC Javelin by Tyco. It would have come with the orange Frisco Auto loader car.

[@SMTMainline]

Good ole AMC, I like it.

[@stefansvensson9218]

I think it is an AMC AMX

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

@@stefansvensson9218 I think your right

[@yackbackb4]

1967 to 1969

[@johnsterling7420]

Harrison a lot of ho scalers including me, we use hot wheels and matchbox cars and they are a lot cheaper.👍👌😇

[@Toby32022]

So, finaly ,i receive one good feedback . I realy appreciated now . Dan .

[@totaltrains3889]

Nice👍

[@yestrainsalwaystrains7155]

Oh boy a new video from are good old friend smt mainline

[@SMTMainline]

Yesss

[@jaydosprime1471]

What is usually the problem when a locomotive is running but then it just randomly stops and then it runs again and then it stops? Would that be a shortage?

[@jeffsikes5312]

the blue car is a AMX by AMC it was a car on a tyco auto loder car the car also had chevy camaros there were three of each on the car !!!.

[@MMRails]

One of these days I’m going to leave a secret message in Lark Spur for you.

[@Graulas]

holy cow i havent even realized how youre just about to pass 50k harrison!!!

[@SMTMainline]

It's might close :)

[@Graulas]

@@SMTMainline youre at 50k!!!!!

[@stephenhudson6543]

I hope you get to work on that mantua Tyco soon it's an 040 switcher

[@souris_62]

incroyable vidéo

[@whitewallwheels1hardcore.m_o_h]

you said theres a field turn it into a park make the band stand a centre piece with the ice cream hut make a smal lake and put model boats in it theres loads of things spring to mind but i am sure you know what you want

[@SMTMainline]

I'm on the market for some boats, just gotta make a lake lol

[@Fozzy1119gh]

Great video SMT

[@bryceh2163]

3:13 that’s an AMC AMX

[@zingerboxdemolisher]

Turn the tyco steam engine into an abandoned train diorama on your layout

[@SMTMainline]

If I can't get it working I might but otherwise I think it deserves to be restored.

[@zingerboxdemolisher]

@@SMTMainline I agree, Its a nice locomotive.

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

FYI that is a Tyco 1950s Loop coupler

[@McPatMan124]

need a road up to that shop

[@Toby32022]

One sad thing about that store . When i purchase on ebay i like to leave a great feedback (but ) when i ask to have one ,they dont reply and no feedback at all ... Just to say here that a good relationship between the seller and the buyer is the key of success . I think they dont know that ? I regret that i leaving a very nice feedback to that store . Dan .

[@minecraftmanyt321]

Hi SMT Mainline, I was wondering if you can look at my Tyco 1880 Twelve Wheeler Central Pacific Steam engien, the motor is going but the thing won't budge.

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

That coupler on the front of the 0-4-0 is a Talgo coupler.

[@SMTMainline]

I see, this model must be older than I thought

[@Jonathanrailfanning123]

Dang snowy up there up here in Chicago it 70

[@Gravity461]

Almost at 50k!

[@hondachopper6978]

It's showing 50k from what I'm seeing. Is there an exact count visible on the site?

[@stephenhudson6543]

It was a Mallet engine for the uintah railway

[@williamsantangelo]

Harrison I have faith in you

[@stephenhudson6543]

I used to have a Mantua 2662 tank

[@antonbruce1241]

DO NOT OPEN that GM licensed model!!! That probably is a limited run, and IF you keep it in the packaging - it might just be worth a lot as a collector's item by the time you get my age (64)!!!

[@SMTMainline]

It's too late now, oops :(

[@antonbruce1241]

@@SMTMainline Ouch. Let me tell you a story: My grandson, when he was in his early teens, constantly (as a joke) asked if I would buy him a Lamborghini. As a "gag gift" for his 15th birthday, I bought him an HO scale Lamborghini - cost me $35US at the time. I put it in a gift bag with a tag "Enjoy this - it's the only one you'll ever get from me". When he opened the bag, he saw the thing and that it was a Lamborghini, and broke out laughing. Then he noticed this Lamborghini was a licensed collectable, #2 of 365. Here it is 8 years later, and it's now worth $65US. So yea - left in the package, these things CAN increase in value. But if you've already opened it...oh well...

[@randolphfriend8260]

❤

[@sankardas5974]

Brother smt mainline can you please make a vidio of your N scale locomotive collection please 😭😭😭😭🥺🥺🥺🙏🙏🥺🥺🙏🙏🙏🥺🥺🙏🙏

[@Bravo07-m3z]

Im working on a ttc t1 locomotive

[@funtasticisland2874]

Hey SMT! What are you going to do to celebrate your 50k sub milestone?

[@rdrogel]

3:18 Mitsubishi L300(called VersaVan in the Philippine Market)

[@rdrogel]

Later types are commonly in your country as a second hand import from Japan

[@momsmaniacs2398]

you shod pant the 0-4-0 like a Hersheys train

[@SMTMainline]

I will probably just paint it black

[@momsmaniacs2398]

@@SMTMainline cool. I love all your videos.

[@bigboy-hz2lx]

hello how are you smt love your videos sorry for bugging you to run a bnsf have a good day and by :)

[@SMTMainline]

Next time there is a live stream it can be requested :)

[@bigboy-hz2lx]

@@SMTMainline thank you for the turbell

[@AglassOfHotCoCoProductions]

The blue car is a Chevy Chevelle btw

[@SMTMainline]

Awesome, more GM stuff on the layout!

[@AglassOfHotCoCoProductions]

@@SMTMainline heck yeah!!! GM for life!!

[@Tar171]

Weeee

[@EasternMaineRailfan]

Man, you gotta get a discord server, maybe model trains or something

[@lukethebell3863]

Hi smt

[@SMTMainline]

Hey

[@ERRORCODE2121]

Hi hairison how's it going

[@SMTMainline]

Not bad, how are you?

[@ERRORCODE2121]

@@SMTMainline I'm doing great 😃 thanks for replying

[@ThePeejRR]

Oof the prices on scale figures. What honestly justifies 25 bucks for four figures? Handpainted? They look like crap, I could have done a better job with colored markers!

[@SMTMainline]

Typical prices for these sorts of things. Many are hand painted but also the prices on everything in the hobby have gone up over the last 10 years.