Trains and Such Locomotive Shop - Hundreds Z to G Scale Items

I've wanted to visit Trains and Such for many years now and I finally got the chance this summer on a road trip across Canada with a friend. I was overall impressed with the store since they had tons of locomotives, rolling stock, scenery and buildings in just about every scale. The prices didn't seem too bad in most cases ether. Here's my tour of the place.

[@wheeling827]

Awesome video Harrison! I liked that sign on their door that said "You can't buy happiness, but you can buy model trains. That's pretty close." Great tour, thanks!

[@SMTMainline]

Fantastic quote

[@davidstrainsandlego]

Nothings better than a display case full of engines!

[@randytaylor1258]

The secret to this store is not just that they have almost anything you could think of, but that the staff is as nice as you could ever hope to meet. They have been around for decades and have outlived other excellent stores who have forgotten that customers are what the hobby is all about. I have always considered Southern Alberta to be blessed with this shop -- the hobby is in great hands. Cheers!

[@0v3rr1d3]

Those cab forwards are fantastic! Can't wait to see it run!

[@mratsfrailfan1894]

That cab forward is amazing!

[@shaygetz52]

My $25USD Cab-forward had a frame that was infested with zinc pest. It warped in a way that forced the rear engine to sit tippy toed on its front driver. I broke the frame into three pieces and glued it straight with JB Weld. A bit of filing and shaping, followed by a thick coat of black paint to protect it gave me a beautiful running engine. I even managed to make it DCC compatible, and add 3 ounces to the boiler for added traction. She hauls 35 cars up a 1.75% grade without a whimper. Nice catch...

[@jcure]

awesome tale

[@shaygetz52]

@@jcure Wish I could post pictures here... I put an LED headlight on it using a 1/4 watt, 1000 ohm resistor that puts off a death beam. I have a picture of her in the yard and one as she's coming out of a tunnel, death beam ablazing...

[@alanwbelcher]

Looks like a super store! Not many have that much stock.

[@LMR78]

Amazing haul you got there! I’ve always wanted to have a SP Cab forward. There just such an interesting design and they look amazing! There pretty hard to find though, especially for that price. Can’t wait to see it riding the rails again.

[@therailfanman2078]

If your ever in Maine on a Saturday morning/mid-day or on a Wednesday night you should check out the great falls model railroad club it's not to big but it's one of the few if only model train club in Maine. If you do ever go I'd you see the way back yard then look by a bridge then look down for a yellow up water tank and a big boy and that's mine.

[@laurienorthrup6252]

I think I saw a big boy

[@therailfanman2078]

@@laurienorthrup6252 if it is in recent years then it was prolly mine unless you're talking about the store. Was it in the location I said?

[@cooltrainsinmontreal4883]

Glad to see such a vibrant model train store, in Montreal most of our model train LHS are gone, or going out of business soon.

[@duanedrouillard2495]

I live in Calgary and visit this store often. Like you said, the staff are great and bring in whatever you need if they don't have it

[@SMTMainline]

Great city and yes, the staff are great.

[@Santaanacanyon]

Marvelous train store! I am so jealous. We used to have several like that in Southern California. Now they are all gone. The Internet is just not the same.

[@coquitlam_railfan5686]

So the N scale loco running around the layout was a CP es44ac. As for those high end steam locos all were brass. The big boys were Overland brass. One of the high end US brass companies.

[@antonbruce1241]

You got a cab forward??? DAMN!!!!! THAT'S FANTASTIC!!! However, you should have also bought the SP "Black Widow" set as well!!!!

[@stormyskyrrp6988]

That's neat that they have g scale. Also those sp cab forwards are amazing I have one.

[@Brian_rock_railfan]

Awesome place Awesome train haul 🚂👍🚃

[@modelmainline7278]

I go to this train store almost 10 times a year and it has so much n scale stuff. Once I picked up a very rare b&o 0-4-0 locomotive that was in perfect condition and only costed 30 dollars. The layouts they have there are really detailed.

[@yestrainsalwaystrains7155]

Yay more videos from SMT mainline. I just realized that a train store is basically every train fan's dream. Ps SMT mainline should go to the Pennsylvania train show that might open in February or March.

[@mybrainmeatshurt]

There are a bunch of train shows. There's the Greenberg show that moves around; the one I'm looking forward to is the Great Scale show in Timonium MD, which is close enough to PA.

[@yestrainsalwaystrains7155]

@@mybrainmeatshurt it's the one that moves around

[@clearcreek69]

I visited Trains & Such at Christmas when I visited my sister & her family. That Rivarossi steamer was available but I bought lots of other things during my visit to Calgary. I gave up on the hobby a few months ago due to finances, electrical issues, & trying to accomplish too much too soon.

[@mercuryoak2]

Wow that is an impressive store. And the Cab forward you bought i had a feeling as you walked by and its like moment you seen it that was the big loco to buy even the N scale diesels and the Uboat type loco . Very impressive store i will say. A store with scales for all types of modelers .

[@MattKonsol]

I agree bro I like all the model scale trains equipment in this store including some of the used stuff!

[@patrickhundley1203]

That HO scale store layout is the trackplan that’s on the Bachmann expansion track box I believe

[@Vinyl_guy]

i can confirm it is, i watched that dvd religiously as a kid

[@Conn653]

My 1956 A. C. Gilbert American Flyer S gauge still runs. I've had it for 65 years

[@SMTMainline]

Those things are tanks.

[@kroy1037]

Another great haul, Harrison, and a good overview of what that store has to offer. As others have mentioned, can't wait to see the cab forward steam engine up and running.

[@SMTMainline]

Can't wait to get working on it.

[@andrewferguson5653]

What an amazing store!

[@ChristopherBrown-mq1lg]

Great store, love the junk bins that’s my kinda store 👍

[@trainst]

I’ve got a rivarossi cabforward my self got it at the Amherst train show runs amazing and it’s an amazing engine for its age

[@exarkun42]

Congrats on the cab forward! I can confirm that at least one of those Big Boys is an Athearn. Worth it if you can afford it. Great models.

[@DowneastProductions211]

Wow great haul!

[@district2productions]

We meet again

[@zendoargos4988]

That cab forward is a cool locomotive. I've always wanted one of those myself. As someone with O, HO, N, and Z in my collection that store would be a great visit if I ever make it up to Canada. Great video.

[@SMTMainline]

I would recommend it if you're ever in the area

[@MrBnsftrain]

This is quite an impressive store! You always seem to come across some great model train stores! Mine has a fair selection of new and used models in multiple scales, but their prices aren't always the best.

[@jasonscott5064]

this is my train store i go to in calgary, weird seeing a video about it. i have bought lots of those used units and repaired them.

[@michaelschultz5127]

I think I went to heaven when I saw this store. We in the USA has lost several hobby stores maybe because of that virus.

[@jacobpfeifertrains1998]

That n scale Canadian Pacific engine running on the layout was a GE ES44AC.

[@FJX2000_Productions]

Nice cab forward. I did a DCC Sound conversion on one of those myself! Pretty awesome model to find, like you said, on eBay they go for around $100-200

[@The_Carolean_Swede]

I am absolutely astounded by 3 via rail f-units, very cool store

[@richardakajazzyamx9690]

Nice haul, I'll have to visit that store if I ever come up that way into Canada! I recently got a customized Rivarossi 2-8-4 Berkshire, NKP 779. However, as it turns out it has no motor or driveline, so I'll be looking for one with a broken shell and good drive.

[@thedisneyhufflepuff]

My son Griffin would like me to tell you that he is really looking forward to seeing you test the trains you got. (He didn’t realize you just posted this and got upset that the video ended without the trains being tested 😂) you’re my 6 year olds fav model train youtuber.

[@SMTMainline]

All in good time :)

[@sparky107107]

now that is a store worth the trip. you are right I would be in there most of the day

[@SMTMainline]

It was great

[@garysprandel1817]

Nice grab on the cab forward. IIRC some of those Model Power locomotives were manufactured with a huge cylindrical can motor and if the motor happens to cook it's not like the frame was set up that you could easily swap out the the original motor for something like an spare Athearn motor so most likely those depowered Model Power locos suffered a failure and were turned to dummy locomotives

[@casstelles]

You mentioned a Santa Fe E7. I didn't get a good look to tell, but it may have been an E8. The E8's are more common than E7's. Also, there's a quick way to tell an E7 locos. Just look for the square windows on the sides. This was unique feature of the loco. I hope this helps to identify E units.

[@MattKonsol]

Such an interesting store you visit! The Union Pacific ge u25c? I think I have that same one put with the handrails on it I need to get the light bulb for it as well as the bell and the horn! That Norfolk and western emd sd7 or sd9 I think that reminds of my n&w emd gp18 I have from life like in n scale!

[@davidztog9011]

I've been looking for an affordable cab forward to send you, Harrison, but no luck. Looks like I can stop searching since you got one now --- nice. Gotta love those Kato N scale locomotives. I thought you would've picked up one of those Zed scale starter sets.🤔 How about a video from the journey across Canada? Thanks for sharing. 👍👍👍

[@leverettrailfan5414]

Oh man I wish that store was anywhere near me, I'd have so much fun! I don't really do HO as my main thing, but I was certainly drooling over some of that stuff. I caught a glimpse of a Lionel HO Chesapeake & Ohio ALCo FA in those trays of CN F units, I would totally have bought that if it was $10 or less (and had a motor). Nice finds SMT, I can't wait to see how you get on with them!

[@SMTMainline]

Can't wait to start working on them.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

Those cab forward engines are among the most unique of all steam engines. They all burned fuel oil. Only one example of a cab forward steam locomotive is preserved. Number 4294 an AC-12 4-8-8-2 cab forward built by Baldwin Locomotive Works was one of 256 built. No railroad besides SP had them. Lima and Southern Pacific also built cab forwards. 4294 is a late cab forward and one of the very best. It operated on the difficult Southern Pacific route in the Sierra Nevada mountain range and over Donner Pass. It resides today at the California State Railroad museum at Sacramento. 👋

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks for the information!

[@ohiovalleyrailfan]

The Burlington Northern is not a Kato. Its a Life-Like, but was packaged in the wrong box at the store.

[@Heroduothecomedian]

The Japanese n scale train you picked up at 2:51 is a class J-5 bullet train

[@Vannorticus]

Wow! Maybe I can go to Canada and buy some stuff there one day!

[@chasesrailwaylinesrr6447]

I hope I see some of these trains at the train show on sunday

[@elleryparsons2433]

Nothing wrong with that. Spending a Day at a Train shop is So worth it.

[@williammcgeehan3424]

SMT: If you ever see a model of an Atlas N scale 96' 60,000 gallon jumbo tank car decorated red/white with GATX reporting marks/logo, don't hesitate to pick one up. Atlas also offered the jumbo tank car in green/white with Texaco logo & reporting marks. They sell for $130.00+ every once in awhile on ebay. Quality Craft Models made an excellent craftsman kit of the GATX 8-axle 16 wheel jumbo tank car in ho scale. The ho QCM kits go back 5 decades as does the Atlas N-scale model. The prototype GATX 96' 60,000 gallon jumbo tank ( the only one ever built ) is preserved in it's as delivered paint scheme and is in a rail museum in St. Louis. Check out pics of it online. 👋

[@SMTMainline]

Good to know

[@ncofab46]

I love that shop I live in Edmonton and I travel to Calgary just for them

[@MMRails]

Thanks for the tour! You’re so funny. How many other project/video ideas are you sitting on? “Weeeeeellll folks, in today’s video I’m going to unbox this package I purchased 20 months ago on eBay!” Lol

[@SMTMainline]

Lots happening, some repair projects get finished and the video is never shown because the repair was too simple. In other cases things take forever because the project is too complex. I probably won't ever take on a project as large as the Hershey factory.

[@VintageRoadRail]

Nice video! That layout they had is the Madison Central. It was featured some time ago in Model Railroader Magazine and shown in a World's Greatest Hobby video narrated by Michael Gross.

[@raymondleggs5508]

Michael gross does train vids when he's not fighting creatures that come from the ground.

[@SMTMainline]

I had no idea, I saw the series you're referring to years ago.

[@Declan_9373]

Oh SMT there's a train station somewhere I went there with my mom and my dad and its nice

[@antonbruce1241]

Ya gotta love a tour of a new tarin shop!!!! Um, Harrison....WHERE IS THIS PLACE???? I MUST visit!!!

[@jasonlowes6212]

This place is in calgary alberta

[@SMTMainline]

Calgary Alberta Canada lol

[@antonbruce1241]

@@SMTMainline Ah! I see they have a nice website - and an e-bay store!!! My heart is happy!!!!

[@rayronvr]

wow saving the best for last. great find on the Cab forward.

[@SMTMainline]

I wasn't expecting to find that.

[@rayronvr]

@@SMTMainline nice! from the packaging looks like an older RR. I have one from the later RR years (the red RR Box). If the motor is bad there is a motor i found one on ebay that can replace it. I needed one to fix and old RR Malet N&W 4884.

[@cpcnmodelrailroadingrailfa9339]

Hey smt you should check out George’s Trains in Vaughn Ontario it is an awesome store. Another amazing video keep up the good work

[@Coffee_Rail1112]

@@Wawa111_Mainline check out credit valley model railway they sell good stuff

[@cpcnmodelrailroadingrailfa9339]

@@Wawa111_Mainline it’s a good spot

[@SMTMainline]

Haven't been there but I did order from them once.

[@UnionPacificTrainMan1988]

DANG smt mainline great haul

[@CR7659]

2:52 is a Japanese market probably static model of the end car of a Shikasen or other express train. The Bachmann dockside is kind of scarce. I agree $10 for Kato is a great deal. Athearn UP is a U28C Thats not bad for the Cab Forward either. Probably the shafts need to be freed up, they kind of lock up to the bearings. I also picked up a Cab Forward in December, I think for $25, but no box and no tender.

[@randallellison6421]

Cool stuff Harrison! I noticed that blue and white SD60 during the tour and there's a fun fact about them. There are actually 2 versions of this same scheme, if the locomotive has the EMD initials followed by the number on the cab, it's an EMD demonstrator unit. If it has the standard 4 digit road number on the cab, it's an Oakway Leasing unit. The prototype Oakway SD60s were leased to Burlington Northern for Powder River Basin coal train service in the late 1980s and early 1990s and there is footage of them working for BN successor BNSF as late as the early 2010s. Anyway, awesome haul, that cab forward will be a unique addition once you get it running again, take care!

[@SMTMainline]

I've never heard about that before, thanks for sharing.

[@randallellison6421]

@@SMTMainline no problem, it's actually pretty easy to miss if you're not looking closely at them, the two versions are virtually identical except for the road number of course.

[@racingraptor4758]

Im jealous you guys have model trains so cheap! Especially those ,, trash,, bins and broken locos shelves! I love to repair stuff and my uncle is specializing in repairing electric stuff and he helped me a loot with broken RC cars! Also that cab forward is an awesome find! One of my favorite locos!

[@SMTMainline]

Those junk bins are usually where hidden treasure is, at least to some of us :)

[@dowilliam5770]

This is a awesome video really love the train store it’s really big with lots of good selection. I would definitely want to go out of the way to visit there. Also its cool how they have all the trains but they also have like a library or book store area

[@SMTMainline]

Thanks

[@dowilliam5770]

@@SMTMainline your welcome

[@mr.shadestrains6033]

Great video 🚂😎❤️👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@paulburns3788]

Hello smt Mainline how are you doing buddy good luck trying to fix the Southern Pacific cab forward locomotive it is a challenge to fix them articulate engines but I'm glad you found a cab forward locomotive I hope you get it running again

[@SMTMainline]

I'm good, how are you? I hope the Rivarossi wont be too much trouble.

[@paulbervid1610]

Harrison great hall, great video.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

Wow I would love to go there !

[@5DRex]

been there, that place is awesome!

[@Thelefevrefever]

At 8:10 in the video you can see a Milwaukee Road at seven a unit by Athearn. To me that’s pretty cool because I have two of those units myself, and I’ve never seen any others in the flesh or online. Also if you have keen eyes you can see one of those units in my profile picture.

[@northwestrailfanofficial]

2:05 that is an ES44AC, you can tell by the radiator vents and the trucks

[@shockstrains5077]

very cool locomotives!

[@thelincolnrailfan]

2:14 CP ES44C4

[@norfolkrailwayfan1722]

Cant wait to see the n scale get tested I'm a huge fan of n scale but that union Pacific deisal is pretty sweet

[@crsrdash-840b5]

Union Pacific #2802 is a GE U33C or U36C version. They are good at heavy hauls.

[@PWaco-yq7wr]

you should of got those 2 SOUTHERN PACIFIC Black widow F7 units and U'P; DD40 ATHEARN is going to talk about them some day. they have number of a DD35A on U.P. #70 to #80

[@DeathLetterBlues44]

The Burlington Northern Kato n scale locomotive is a GP50. If it does not run, I would be very surprised if you can't fix it. 3114 was manufactured in 1989 and they were 'built like tanks' as you like to say.

[@rocketsnhotrods9022]

I got a rivarossi cab forward off ebay few weeks ago n it's my favorite really wanna convert it to dcc

[@charlesmcclure5994]

That's Southern Pacific cab forward steam engine was a great find hope you can get it working

[@SMTMainline]

Hopefully there isn't too much wrong with it.

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

WOW those are some rare locomotives its pretty hard to find some of those g scale items nowadays namely the CP RS-3 and CP FA-1s since aristocraft was the only company that made in g scale and they've been out of business since 2013

[@Theoriginalborgy]

I live near Calgary, sometimes I manage to find some British OO gauge. Which I model in, because I’m English and I had some rolling stock from my childhood, They have great staff there too.

[@SMTMainline]

The Hornby/Triang stuff seems to find it's way up here pretty often. I could be wrong but it might have even been sold here briefly.

[@nicholascanjuga6000]

as soon as I saw that cab forward I knew you bought it

[@wazzo8527]

nice to see some G scale on the channel! That LGB mogul was fairly well priced.

[@SMTMainline]

Yes, as I said it isn't too common. Glad to hear the price was good.

[@Curtiss1965]

2:51 That's a Shinkansen, a passengertrain from Japan. This model is probably a Kato or a Tomix...

[@ACA_cyclone]

2:54 those are one the shinkansens running through the west of japan if your little confused about that

[@russrh]

That Japanese thing is a static model made by Trane in N scale of the EVA 500 Shinkansen

[@Austin.D]

I went to a model train store quite similar to that except it was really small but crammed full of stuff and I was like a kid in a candy shop

[@the_autism_express]

8:59 I don't remember athearn making a southern railway schools class

[@SMTMainline]

Maybe they're custom?

[@the_autism_express]

@@SMTMainline probably

[@elleryparsons5766]

If there’s a Place to Be It Would Be a Train shop and lovin it.

[@adenipnip922]

2:52 Shinkansen 500 series

[@casstelles]

Well... I thought that I would be done commenting, but I viewed the Athearn UP engine. I purchased the same unit at the US 127 garage sales here in the states. It wasn't a loco that I was looking for, but the price was right for an Athearn unit.

[@kevinbreaker2683]

awesome great train store,,

[@Graulas]

wowza, on another note my new varney ten wheeler just arrived. workin well ;) smelling just like the early 50s smelt like

[@SMTMainline]

That's awesome

[@CMRailroadProductions]

Good store for David’s z to g, haha

[@randomrazr]

i was wondering what u thought of new bright g scale trains?

[@SMTMainline]

I liked seeing them, they aren't common.

[@thecrocman8849]

There are unfortunately virtually no mode train stores in my area. I have to buy everything off of eBay

[@hellstrains9393]

This is my local model train store I don’t go there often, but when I do, I get something

[@jordanstrains7267]

iv been wanting a cabfront locomotive for 5 years

[@johnm.withersiv4352]

Z scale is always worth a mention.

[@saadqureshi7993]

2:53 That is my friend a Japanese bullet train (Shinkansen)

[@raily2525]

An amazing store! One question: did you ever see Märklin Hamo or Trix-H0-Locos in a american Train Store?

[@SMTMainline]

I have but it's super rare.

[@TheABRailfan]

I wish I could have bought things when I went to visit in March of last year