As we continue to grow, Watts is constantly bringing in new collections from all across the world. We have over 4000 pieces currently in stock from collection "staples" to rare and unique items. With LGB/Marklin slowly ramping up production, we will continue to supply the market with the finest, largest selection of LGB trains available. Check out WattsTrainShop.com to see that huge collection! It has been recently redesigned to include our inventory, as well as a shopping cart so you can actually purchase things on our website without needing to call us or visit us in-store. We're moving into the 21st century! Also, we've created a YouTube channel, so check that out for some videos of products we have, as well as some videos of some of the locomotives running on the layout.
We also perform repairs for those locomotives that are "under the weather" and installations when you want to add sound and/or decoders to your locomotives. We also add lights to passenger cars and cabooses!
Whether you are new to the hobby and looking for a simple starter set, or you're looking to bring a new gem to your collection, Watts is the place to go. We have hundreds of starter sets in-store as well as several LGB/Aster locomotives and countless other rare and unique pieces! Check out our website or call us at 1-800-LGB-POLA (542-7652)
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Harry Potter Train!
Check out this really cool Harry Potter Hogwarts Express Train by Lionel!
Harry Potter Hogwarts Express
Harry Potter Hogwarts Express
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Unique Flat Car + Hess Truck!
Check out this unique item - g scale flat car with Hess Truck attached, real wood on the top of the flat car. Made by the Hudson River Car Manufacturing Company.
Hess Truck + Flat Car
Hess Truck + Flat Car
Monday, May 23, 2011
Website!
Remember to continually check out our updated website for more product listings and our ever-growing inventory! We are always updating it and adding new products!
WattsTrainShop.com
We have LGB, USA Trains, Aristo Craft Trains, Playmobil Toys, Papo Toys, Thomas the Tank Engine toys, as well as Christmas ornaments and trees on site!
WattsTrainShop.com
We have LGB, USA Trains, Aristo Craft Trains, Playmobil Toys, Papo Toys, Thomas the Tank Engine toys, as well as Christmas ornaments and trees on site!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
One particular collection...
Here at Watts, we are constantly bringing in new inventory, often with rare, discontinued, hard-to-find items. One such collection provided Dave and Ross with an unusual turn of events...
Knowing that then 16-year-old Ross loved trains, Dave brought him along to help him pick up a new collection. The customer had a beautiful three story home with an elevator to the third-story layout room. His layouts consisting of five circuits with a circus train, trolleys, large steam engines - even a golf course - all surrounded by hand-painted murals. He was moving to a new home and had decided to cut back to running a single Christmas train set.
As they walked into the layout room, Ross was excited to see some locomotive that he had never seen before such as an LGB Brass Hudson and a Continental Express set. He couldn't help but ask the owner to demonstrate some of them before boxing them up. The owner had not operated his MTS layout for some time, but was more than happy to oblige. After a few minutes, he had the Hudson up and running, followed by the Continental Express, a Mallet, and soon, all of the locomotives on the layout were in full operation. Ross's excitement was contagious. After about 20 minutes, the layout was powered down, leaving Ross to compliment the owner on the beautiful layout he had constructed. The owner nearly teared up as he thanked Ross. Dave motioned to Ross to begin the task at hand - picking up the collection. As they began boxing up items, it soon came time to box up the layout.
"You know, on second thought, you might want to leave that particular train and cars," the owner said.
"Ok, how about this one?" Dave asked.
"Oh, well, you better leave that one too," said the owner.
"Ok, which ones can we box up?" asked Dave.
"Well, you know, you just better leave them all," the owner said.
"I understand, it would be a great way to help sell your house."
As they were driving away, Dave told Ross, "In the future, please try to contain your excitement when we pick up a collection."
Knowing that then 16-year-old Ross loved trains, Dave brought him along to help him pick up a new collection. The customer had a beautiful three story home with an elevator to the third-story layout room. His layouts consisting of five circuits with a circus train, trolleys, large steam engines - even a golf course - all surrounded by hand-painted murals. He was moving to a new home and had decided to cut back to running a single Christmas train set.
As they walked into the layout room, Ross was excited to see some locomotive that he had never seen before such as an LGB Brass Hudson and a Continental Express set. He couldn't help but ask the owner to demonstrate some of them before boxing them up. The owner had not operated his MTS layout for some time, but was more than happy to oblige. After a few minutes, he had the Hudson up and running, followed by the Continental Express, a Mallet, and soon, all of the locomotives on the layout were in full operation. Ross's excitement was contagious. After about 20 minutes, the layout was powered down, leaving Ross to compliment the owner on the beautiful layout he had constructed. The owner nearly teared up as he thanked Ross. Dave motioned to Ross to begin the task at hand - picking up the collection. As they began boxing up items, it soon came time to box up the layout.
"You know, on second thought, you might want to leave that particular train and cars," the owner said.
"Ok, how about this one?" Dave asked.
"Oh, well, you better leave that one too," said the owner.
"Ok, which ones can we box up?" asked Dave.
"Well, you know, you just better leave them all," the owner said.
"I understand, it would be a great way to help sell your house."
As they were driving away, Dave told Ross, "In the future, please try to contain your excitement when we pick up a collection."
Sales & Installations - Hand in Hand
Selling trains goes hand in hand with providing service & repairs. That is why Watts has provided exceptional service since 1976. Train service installations began with smoke stacks and coach lighting and grew to digital sound systems and multi-train decoders. Service has grown from individuals needing general maintenance to restaurants, hotels, museums, hospitals and even Disney WOrld needing as many as 10 trains serviced at one time. Usages vary from delivering drinks at Pizza King to transporting radioactive plutonium in a nuclear facility.
Some of the most challenging repairs included locomotives recovered from Hurricane Katrina, hit my lightning and used as homes for spiders and wasps (although not intentionally). It is especially exciting when the train is opening on the workbench with insects inside - alive! Damage often comes from nature, but the most unusual damage usually comes from humans themselves. One man, in Florida let his grandchildren play with his trains, later finding them buried on the beach.
Another example comes from a man who, well into a margarita happy hour, decided to vent his anger by shooting his trains with his BB gun.
Finally, after upsetting his wife, on man saw his collection destroyed with a sledgehammer.
Another unusual case involved a man on an outdoor layout tour. He called David the afternoon before the tour, desperately in need of a spark arrestor smoke stack that he had broken off of his sound mogul locomotive. He had to have it that night! David explained that he would leave the smoke stack in teh mailbox for him to pick up. Soon thereafter, Dave and a friend ventured to the mailbox. As they approached, the notice a car, headlights on, parked near the mailbox. The man inside was fishing through his wallet. As they pulled up, Dave told his friend "This is the man who wants the smoke stack, please hand it to him." The customer, looking up, saw Dave's vehicle slow to a stop, the window roll down and a hand extending outward with the smoke stack.
"Hey you, come here," Dave's friend said. The man, shock, began to raise both hands into the air.
"Hey, this is for you." The customer raised his hands higher and began to back away.
"Hey! This is the smoke stack for your train!"
The customer finally understood and lowered his hands exclaming, "For a moment there, I thought I was in some real trouble..."
Call us for any of your service needs at 1-800-LGB-POLA or visit us at WattsTrainShop.com for more information and installation prices!
Some of the most challenging repairs included locomotives recovered from Hurricane Katrina, hit my lightning and used as homes for spiders and wasps (although not intentionally). It is especially exciting when the train is opening on the workbench with insects inside - alive! Damage often comes from nature, but the most unusual damage usually comes from humans themselves. One man, in Florida let his grandchildren play with his trains, later finding them buried on the beach.
Another example comes from a man who, well into a margarita happy hour, decided to vent his anger by shooting his trains with his BB gun.
Finally, after upsetting his wife, on man saw his collection destroyed with a sledgehammer.
Another unusual case involved a man on an outdoor layout tour. He called David the afternoon before the tour, desperately in need of a spark arrestor smoke stack that he had broken off of his sound mogul locomotive. He had to have it that night! David explained that he would leave the smoke stack in teh mailbox for him to pick up. Soon thereafter, Dave and a friend ventured to the mailbox. As they approached, the notice a car, headlights on, parked near the mailbox. The man inside was fishing through his wallet. As they pulled up, Dave told his friend "This is the man who wants the smoke stack, please hand it to him." The customer, looking up, saw Dave's vehicle slow to a stop, the window roll down and a hand extending outward with the smoke stack.
"Hey you, come here," Dave's friend said. The man, shock, began to raise both hands into the air.
"Hey, this is for you." The customer raised his hands higher and began to back away.
"Hey! This is the smoke stack for your train!"
The customer finally understood and lowered his hands exclaming, "For a moment there, I thought I was in some real trouble..."
Call us for any of your service needs at 1-800-LGB-POLA or visit us at WattsTrainShop.com for more information and installation prices!
Ross' Story
Hi, I am Ross Buttrum. I began running trains when I was five years old. Every Christmas my parents took me to Watts Train Shop to pick out something to add to my LGB carpet railroad. Watts is down the road from my house, so when I turned 13, my mom would drop me off every day and I would stay until closing. I tested every locomotive in the shop. After a year, David Watts put me to work so I could continue to grow my collection. Four years later, I'm doing installations and repairs! Visit me at WattsTrainShop.com or call me at 317-873-2365 or 1-800-LGB-POLA!
Friday, May 13, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
LGB Locomotive Videos!
Video of a great 2056 Rio Grande Diesel Loco!
and here's a 2055 White Pass Loco!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Why LGB? Why G scale?
An ideal choice for model railway trains are the G scale LGB trains - now owned by Marklin. When you debate all your options, the larger G scale train models offer many advantages over the smaller indoor layouts. It is called "G" scale after the German word "gartenbahn," meaning "garden railroad." Hence, you can build amazing layouts and displays with just a few outdoor gardens and a small gardening knowledge base. In fact, a layout of trains outdoors, allows one to drastically improve their skills in gardening and landscaping as well as planning outdoor projects. Also, some interior designers love to add a flair to their designs with the addition of a nearby outdoor layout.
So why should you choose LGB G-scale trains and what are the benefits of outdoor layouts?
Outdoor LGB model trains can add a very special touch to the landscaping of your yard - definitely better than hiding it in the basement. Outside there is a wide range of landscaping options and opportunities that are not available for an indoor layout. You can add any number of exciting, original features, such as water, landscaping, plants, trees, rocks and garden designs.
So why LGB?
For some people, the equipment on a larger scale LGB G scale trains are easier to handle. G scale trains are 1:22:05 scale, unlike the HO model trains 1:87 scale. LGB model trains also have a reputation for quality and reliability - one that is only improving with their recent association with Marklin.
LGB and G scale train gardens are ideal for bringing in more fans of trains, even when not in use. When the trains are outdoors, the climate - especially in the ultraviolet light from the sun - can cause wear on the train platforms and buildings. If there is snow on your train tracks, you can remove it manually or let the train to deal with a plow or a wedge. There are countless LGB trains that have survived years of weathering, and still run like new.
Some recommendations...
If you raise the roadbed above the ground, it is easier to maintain and enjoy its beauty, without harming your back or leaving it susceptible to animals.
A popular method for raising an embankment is to use bricks and filling the area with dirt or gravel. If you prefer not to use brick, building a wooden, above ground layout is a possibility. It is strong and flexible, as well as weather resistant. And yet it is easy add to the buildings as well as adding ramps and bridges.
Remember: Make the design of the garden based around the layout.
Consider filling part of your yard with a rock garden. Another innovative touch would be to convert birdhouses into miniture buildings.
LGB G scale trains offer a compelling choice for outdoor layouts. With LGB model trains, the possibilities are endless.
Visit us at WattsTrainShop.com for our huge selection of LGB and other G scale trains!
So why should you choose LGB G-scale trains and what are the benefits of outdoor layouts?
Outdoor LGB model trains can add a very special touch to the landscaping of your yard - definitely better than hiding it in the basement. Outside there is a wide range of landscaping options and opportunities that are not available for an indoor layout. You can add any number of exciting, original features, such as water, landscaping, plants, trees, rocks and garden designs.
So why LGB?
For some people, the equipment on a larger scale LGB G scale trains are easier to handle. G scale trains are 1:22:05 scale, unlike the HO model trains 1:87 scale. LGB model trains also have a reputation for quality and reliability - one that is only improving with their recent association with Marklin.
LGB and G scale train gardens are ideal for bringing in more fans of trains, even when not in use. When the trains are outdoors, the climate - especially in the ultraviolet light from the sun - can cause wear on the train platforms and buildings. If there is snow on your train tracks, you can remove it manually or let the train to deal with a plow or a wedge. There are countless LGB trains that have survived years of weathering, and still run like new.
Some recommendations...
If you raise the roadbed above the ground, it is easier to maintain and enjoy its beauty, without harming your back or leaving it susceptible to animals.
A popular method for raising an embankment is to use bricks and filling the area with dirt or gravel. If you prefer not to use brick, building a wooden, above ground layout is a possibility. It is strong and flexible, as well as weather resistant. And yet it is easy add to the buildings as well as adding ramps and bridges.
Remember: Make the design of the garden based around the layout.
Consider filling part of your yard with a rock garden. Another innovative touch would be to convert birdhouses into miniture buildings.
LGB G scale trains offer a compelling choice for outdoor layouts. With LGB model trains, the possibilities are endless.
Visit us at WattsTrainShop.com for our huge selection of LGB and other G scale trains!
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Pictures!
New Site!
We just launched a new, updated site! Now you can actually shop online with us!
Check it out here:
WattsTrainShop.com
Check it out here:
WattsTrainShop.com
Welcome!
Welcome to the new Watts Train Shop blog! Check back here often for updates from the store! Check us out at WattsTrainShop.com or check out our eBay Store for great deals on LGB, Marklin, Aristo-Craft and USA Trains!
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