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Post by keystonefarm on Sept 1, 2023 9:57:20 GMT -8
Sorry to bring more bad news . Bowser has announced their retail store will be closing the end of this year. They will still have the on line store open and they will continue production of the products they offer. -- Ken
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Post by drsvelte on Sept 1, 2023 10:10:18 GMT -8
Sad, but I have good memories.  I first went to English's about 1970. The proverbial candy store for a model railroader. |
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Post by kentuckysouthernrwy on Sept 1, 2023 10:30:08 GMT -8
Text from their message: After 77 years English's Model Railroad Supply is closing. English's Model RR has been an area fixture as the place in Central Pennsylvania to buy toy trains as well as other hobby supplies including Model Kits and Rockets. Founded in Sunbury PA, Lew and Shirlee English operated a hobby shop from their home's basement. Over the years it grew and eventually found a permanent home in Montoursville PA. We will be closed this weekend and Monday September 4th for Labor day. Starting immediately we are offering 20% off all in stock merchandise in the store. Everything is for sale including the shelves. Existing Back orders and advance reservations will be handled through our sister online store www.ToyTrainHeaven.comWe will continue offer curbside pickup for phone, email or web orders. -end- |
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Post by lvrr325 on Sept 1, 2023 10:59:02 GMT -8
Kind of strange really, it wouldn't cost them anything to maintain a storefront, unless this lets them drop expensive insurance or something.
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Post by middledivision on Sept 1, 2023 11:28:10 GMT -8
Lee English is probably looking towards retirement sooner rather than later.
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Post by cpr4200 on Sept 1, 2023 13:27:39 GMT -8
So they're just closing the physical store and keeping TTH? Guess that's a good thing, but I wish they'd fix their websites. Takes forever to load a page and then you get "Internal Server Error." Then you hit reload and wait another 20 seconds.
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Post by migalyto on Sept 1, 2023 13:35:52 GMT -8
Have to wonder if there isn't going to be a big acquisition announcement coming from someone in the future?
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Post by snootie3257 on Sept 1, 2023 13:49:24 GMT -8
Have to wonder if there isn't going to be a big acquisition announcement coming from someone in the future? Scale Trains will have both the EMD & GMD SD40-2?🤔 Steve |
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Post by ambluco on Sept 1, 2023 14:01:05 GMT -8
TTH is remaining open. See notice above where open orders are migrating to TTH.
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Post by cemr5396 on Sept 1, 2023 14:20:53 GMT -8
Have to wonder if there isn't going to be a big acquisition announcement coming from someone in the future? PLEASE no. Bowser has some cool stuff in the pipeline we can probably kiss goodbye if they sell out. Not to mention their locomotives strike the perfect balance between "fully detailed and nice to look at" and not sticking a bunch of gimmicks on. |
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Post by The Ferro Kid on Sept 1, 2023 14:52:23 GMT -8
So they're just closing the physical store and keeping TTH? Guess that's a good thing, but I wish they'd fix their websites. Takes forever to load a page and then you get "Internal Server Error." Then you hit reload and wait another 20 seconds. Unfortunately, I too have had a lot of trouble with it ever since it was redone. And I cannot find my reservations no matter what I do. |
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Post by wmcbride on Sept 1, 2023 18:33:49 GMT -8
Yes, unfortunately the TTH website re-do took an older but functioning website and made it horrid.
I used to pick up some good deals every few weeks from their weekly sales. But then I could search by manufacturer. Now, one has to click from page to page. Too fatiguing so they lost me.
Bill McBride
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Post by 690 on Sept 1, 2023 19:03:43 GMT -8
Have to wonder if there isn't going to be a big acquisition announcement coming from someone in the future? PLEASE no. Bowser has some cool stuff in the pipeline we can probably kiss goodbye if they sell out. Not to mention their locomotives strike the perfect balance between "fully detailed and nice to look at" and not sticking a bunch of gimmicks on. Speaking of details, I really wish they’d offer the Timken roller bearings that come with some of the CP SD40-2s as separate buyable parts. |
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Post by cpr4200 on Sept 1, 2023 19:32:02 GMT -8
Speaking of details, I really wish they’d offer the Timken roller bearings that come with some of the CP SD40-2s as separate buyable parts. Amen. I wish SOMEBODY would offer those bearings (with the collar), or better yet, Blomberg B and M sideframes molded with them. I'm working on trucks for an MEC U18B using K&S telescoping tubing with an end cap from the Athearn SD60M Triclops to replace the stock Hyatt bearings. Haven't gotten too far with it. |
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Post by 690 on Sept 1, 2023 21:37:26 GMT -8
I’d need it as a separate part since I’ve got two straight SD40s that need eleven each, but I have three MEC U18s and possibly a GP9u that need them as well. I’ve thought about casting some so I have some on hand, but I haven’t really had time to do it.
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Post by middledivision on Sept 2, 2023 7:55:08 GMT -8
Have to wonder if there isn't going to be a big acquisition announcement coming from someone in the future? PLEASE no. Bowser has some cool stuff in the pipeline we can probably kiss goodbye if they sell out. Not to mention their locomotives strike the perfect balance between "fully detailed and nice to look at" and not sticking a bunch of gimmicks on. Gonna happen in a few years. My fear is that Rapido buys them, since they share a factory and all those Canadian diesels would be a natural fit for them. |
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Post by keystonefarm on Sept 2, 2023 18:35:51 GMT -8
I've heard two closing dates . One the end of September the other end of year. Friend of mine that lives in Williamsport said the place was jammed today with people buying stuff left and right. --------- Ken
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Post by champagnetrail on Sept 2, 2023 18:39:47 GMT -8
Sad news, but inevitable I suppose. Stopping at English's was always a highlight of our trips back home from Greenville SC to Rochester NY. First stopped at the old store in Montoursville back in 1991 I think, and have made it a yearly thing ever since. Actually, come to think of it, I remember stopping at the OTHER English's store in Southport (Elmira) NY back in the late 70s. I shall miss them.
-pat
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Post by locochris on Sept 2, 2023 18:46:48 GMT -8
Can anyone explain to me how Bowser/English's/TTH are related? I don't know the history. I know ESU is in the same building too, which there also has to be a story behind. Did Bowser start out as English's shop and then started making trains as Bowser?
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Post by 12bridge on Sept 2, 2023 20:32:41 GMT -8
ESU used to be in the old Bowser store, they are now in the upstairs offices.
English's was a great little shop, had some fantastic detail part racks. I did notice the entire store started to thin out the last few times I was there.
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Post by Baikal on Sept 2, 2023 21:29:04 GMT -8
Can anyone explain to me how Bowser/English's/TTH are related? I don't know the history. I know ESU is in the same building too, which there also has to be a story behind. Did Bowser start out as English's shop and then started making trains as Bowser?
Also how Stewart became Bowser?
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Post by Christian on Sept 3, 2023 1:09:05 GMT -8
Also how Stewart became Bowser? That one is simple. When the Stewarts wanted to retire a deal was made between Pennsylvanians. Thus Bowser's plastic manufacturing capabilities. Lew English (Sr) also acquired Penn Line's Penny products in 1963 from Varney/Life-Like. Steam locomotive kits mainly. Penn Line was the start of major Bowser manufacturing. (The rest of Penn Line ended up various places and eventually Walthers.) (Penn Line was a real mutt with products made by Mantua, Athearn, Fleischmann, John English, and others.) Bowser also has acquired other small manufactures over the years. As much a magpie as Walthers. There is a Wikipedia article on "Bowser Manufacturing" that goes into better detail then the skimmed report I've posted. |
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Post by champagnetrail on Sept 3, 2023 8:49:22 GMT -8
ESU used to be in the old Bowser store, they are now in the upstairs offices. English's was a great little shop, had some fantastic detail part racks. I did notice the entire store started to thin out the last few times I was there. I noticed the same thing. Not as well-stocked as Mainline Hobby Supply in Blue Ridge Summit PA. I've been thinking that wasn't a good sign. Now I know.
-pat
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Post by keystonefarm on Sept 3, 2023 10:40:40 GMT -8
Can anyone explain to me how Bowser/English's/TTH are related? I don't know the history. I know ESU is in the same building too, which there also has to be a story behind. Did Bowser start out as English's shop and then started making trains as Bowser? Bowser was the name of the California company that offered cast metal loco kits mainly west coast . Lew English bought Bowser and brought the production to his facility that was already producing the Penn Line cast locos that Lew had purchased from Penn Line. Same technology fit right in. Kept the Bowser name the Penn Line name went away. Bowser/English had two sites one was the factory and another was the smaller retail store. Steve Stewart and his wife started Stewart Hobbies and eventually ended up with a production facility in Chalfont Pa. When he first started with the RS-3 units it was run out of his house and garage. The Kato F units is what really kicked his business in high gear. Then came the Century six axles and hopper kits. The move from the garage to Chalfont came about in the Alco Century era. Then the FT's came along and the Baldwin switchers and AS units. The car kit line increased with the PRR/PC/CR G-39 ore jenny with a G-38 to follow. However a few years later Steve's wife became ill and passed away. She was the business person in the business and I think Steve lost a bunch of his interest when she passed. He also saw the RTR fully detailed sound equipped world coming and realized that his facility in Chalfont would not be able to handle those tasks especially the detail parts required. Steve refused to deal with China and realistically that was the only place it could be done . He saw the writing on the wall. He then decided to sell out to Lee English which was Lew English's son. The Stewart line fit right in with what Bowser was producing. When production of a number of Bowser products moved to China Bowser had room in their factory to move the retail store there and increase it's physical size and also offer on line and mail order therefore TTH. The retail store stock and TTH stock were the same items. One interesting thing about Bowser is that for most of their products they still have the injection molds and produce the part here in the US and ship them to China to be painted detailed assembled. Most of the other so called manufacturers have everything done in China. In reality they are just importers not manufacturers. The original store was rented by ESU with Matt Herman as the US rep. Matt used to work at Bowser and got to know the ESU line as they moved from Soundtraxx to ESU for their sound equipped locos. Later Lee decided to sell the original store and ESU moved upstairs in the factory building with the hobby shop downstairs. They are still there today. I worked with Steve Stewart for a number of years helping with product selection numbering, photos. etc., The H-37 was one of my suggestions that could use the same injection mold carrier that the H-39 did reducing costs. I also did testing of loco's on my Buffalo line and Steve was a member of my op crew for years. Lee English is 71 so some attention has to be given to what will happen to Bowser/TTH in the long run. Only the retail store is closing not the Bowser side. We got a lot of great products from Steve and Lee. Be happy that we had the opportunity to do so now and in the future !! ------------------------ Ken McCorry |
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Post by hudsonyard on Sept 3, 2023 11:05:37 GMT -8
steve was harold wirthweins dispatcher on his erie delaware division for many years, a very nice guy. many of his kits are my favorite simple plastic kits to build. i still put those RS3 flat kits against a lot of other manufactures efforts.
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Post by keystonefarm on Sept 3, 2023 19:56:34 GMT -8
And Steve was ahead of his time offering all three phases way back when. -- Ken
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Post by middledivision on Sept 4, 2023 7:11:48 GMT -8
Can anyone explain to me how Bowser/English's/TTH are related? I don't know the history. I know ESU is in the same building too, which there also has to be a story behind. Did Bowser start out as English's shop and then started making trains as Bowser? Bowser was the name of the California company that offered cast metal loco kits mainly west coast . Lew English bought Bowser and brought the production to his facility that was already producing the Penn Line cast locos that Lew had purchased from Penn Line. Same technology fit right in. Kept the Bowser name the Penn Line name went away. Bowser/English had two sites one was the factory and another was the smaller retail store. Steve Stewart and his wife started Stewart Hobbies and eventually ended up with a production facility in Chalfont Pa. When he first started with the RS-3 units it was run out of his house and garage. The Kato F units is what really kicked his business in high gear. Then came the Century six axles and hopper kits. The move from the garage to Chalfont came about in the Alco Century era. Then the FT's came along and the Baldwin switchers and AS units. The car kit line increased with the PRR/PC/CR G-39 ore jenny with a G-38 to follow. However a few years later Steve's wife became ill and passed away. She was the business person in the business and I think Steve lost a bunch of his interest when she passed. He also saw the RTR fully detailed sound equipped world coming and realized that his facility in Chalfont would not be able to handle those tasks especially the detail parts required. Steve refused to deal with China and realistically that was the only place it could be done . He saw the writing on the wall. He then decided to sell out to Lee English which was Lew English's son. The Stewart line fit right in with what Bowser was producing. When production of a number of Bowser products moved to China Bowser had room in their factory to move the retail store there and increase it's physical size and also offer on line and mail order therefore TTH. The retail store stock and TTH stock were the same items. One interesting thing about Bowser is that for most of their products they still have the injection molds and produce the part here in the US and ship them to China to be painted detailed assembled. Most of the other so called manufacturers have everything done in China. In reality they are just importers not manufacturers. The original store was rented by ESU with Matt Herman as the US rep. Matt used to work at Bowser and got to know the ESU line as they moved from Soundtraxx to ESU for their sound equipped locos. Later Lee decided to sell the original store and ESU moved upstairs in the factory building with the hobby shop downstairs. They are still there today. I worked with Steve Stewart for a number of years helping with product selection numbering, photos. etc., The H-37 was one of my suggestions that could use the same injection mold carrier that the H-39 did reducing costs. I also did testing of loco's on my Buffalo line and Steve was a member of my op crew for years. Lee English is 71 so some attention has to be given to what will happen to Bowser/TTH in the long run. Only the retail store is closing not the Bowser side. We got a lot of great products from Steve and Lee. Be happy that we had the opportunity to do so now and in the future !! ------------------------ Ken McCorry Always looked forward to talking with Steve at the Allentown show. As a Pennsy guy, I loved his hoppers and when the ore cars came out, I hugged him! He was a great guy. |
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Post by atsf4195 on Sept 29, 2023 20:49:01 GMT -8
Today, September 30, is THE last day for Bowser's retail store. Rich, the store sales manager for just about 30 years (if Lee English and I recall correctly) moved on a couple days ago. He begins his next job next week.
I was there on Friday, September 29. Another dealer within PA was there shopping for rare stuff that you can't find just anywhere and found several small HO vehicles. It was steady busy for many hours. There is still plenty of HO merchandise there. The O section is looking a little empty, but the HO section is still so well stocked, and there are bargains still to be had. I could have literally spent thousands if I had it to spend...There were several wonderful diesels made by Bowser and others I had to leave behind even though the prices were right.
It was wonderful to be able to chat with Lee a bit about old times and people we knew who used to work there, etc.
I purchased the Morning Sun Wheeling and Lake Erie book, 4 freight cars, and a brand new (old stock) BLI Paragon 2 SP RSD-15. At $160 sale price, with sound, and cosmetically basically perfect, I could not leave it behind. On getting it home, it did not run right away--had been sitting for too many years. Perhaps that is why it was still sitting there after all this time. There was no problem with lubricant gelling or anything like that. Somewhere there was oxidation that was affecting the electronics such that it had great difficulty running at all--even lighting at all--but there was no short whatsoever. Since I suspected that based upon all the years of past experience, I patiently worked with it to get the flywheels moving just a bit, then just a bit more, and now after more than an hour it is running great, as well as any of them ever did. It may be my new favorite loco.
It is bad to leave these modern engines sitting for so long. The electronics just don't like to not get used for several years. I recommend running all locos a couple times per year even if it's only a short test run.
At least with this somewhat unloved (in Pennsyltucky) SP engine I have one final interesting story and memory to tell after all the years there, having grown up there, etc.
Whatever isn't sold today will eventually go through the Toy Train Heaven website. I would encourage people to go one more time and scarf up the deals while you still can. Also, they are not open till 5 pm but will close earlier than that, though I didn't bother to check the exact closing time as I can't get there again. Happy hunting to all. The discount is 20% off the already sale prices on most items.
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Post by atsf4195 on Sept 30, 2023 14:33:24 GMT -8
When production of a number of Bowser products moved to China Bowser had room in their factory to move the retail store there and increase it's physical size and also offer on line and mail order therefore TTH. Hello folks- The above sentence seems to imply that TTH started after Bowser purchased Stewart and after final assembly of Bowser trains moved offshore. If I may respectfully offer a clarification: In actuality, Toy Train Heaven was already in business taking telephone and fax orders for many years prior to the purchase of Stewart. Because Lewis K. English, Sr. had cut a deal with AHM back during the 1970's that English's would service their trains IF they could buy them at a wholesale price competitive to the big warehouse store chains (who always sold trainsets for Christmas but offered zero repair services whatsoever--if it didn't run you took it back or threw it away), that helped the retail store to survive all these years and served as the beginning of English's becoming for many years a distributor for many product lines. Once they became a distributor for all those product lines, they were able to start Toy Train Heaven, and it was in operation at least as early as 1986, because I worked there then, part-time. Lew, Sr. was very direct and clear in communicating that if they had not cut that deal with AHM all those years ago, that the train store (which he particularly loved) would not have been able to survive all these years. I remember there were other train stores around the greater Williamsport area, like a nice basement shop called "John's Trainland" in South Williamsport, not far from Little League Baseball Headquarters, but some of those shops did not survive the 1970's. English's also survived by being a Lionel Service Center. |
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Post by wagnersteve on Sept 30, 2023 15:40:00 GMT -8
Sept. 4, about 7:39 p.m., EDT
w&le6358, thanks very much for your additions to model railroad history in your last post.
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I first went to English's about 1970. The proverbial candy store for a model railroader. 
