Wow, this is an excellent model train store! Everything is organized, they offer items to fit every budget, and the employees are so friendly and knowledgeable! We will definitely be back! read more

Arnie's Model Trains - Train layout - Toy Stores Near Me - Westminster, California

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helpful and knowledgeable staff Spacious store with lots of cool selections of model trains Value is worth one of a kind read more

Having an HO layout, Arnies is our go to. It's local, the crew that works there is knowledgeable, helpful, and also fellow hobbyists. They have a great selection of HO, N scale, trains, plus all the accessories that you'd want to decorate your set up. They also have kits for DCC, parts, paints etc. The discount table out front is always fun to check out as our discount rolling stock selection. You can find some great deals here. Highly recommend Arnies. read more

Great selection of n / ho scale trains, tracks and scenery, I enjoy visiting and finding great bargains on their table outside. Staff is attentive and knowledgeable, Thank you Arnie's. read more

A great resource of knowledge and train stuff. A loyal supporter of model train events and interests. Bright spacious store with very large selection. One of a kind read more

I stopped by this store because I had some TYCO train cars from my grandfathers collection. They greeted me as soon as I walked in and gave me good advice to try selling items on eBay because it would provide me a bigger return. Love the honesty and customer service! read more

Unreal! Truly blown away by the display and service, As an N Scaler, I thought the products on hand was extremely sufficient. I found some awesome bargains on the tables. In fact, I went in for a replacement worm gear. Th manager simply looked at it, and replaced it and tested it to make sure it ran. Who does that anymore!!??? This spot! The place reads as an upscale showroom for our sport. Love the store and will most definitely visit again soon read more

HO train snobs! Sadly, there are very few model railroad retail stores, even here in SoCal. If you have an interest or passion about HO Gauge model trains, this is the store for you. Beautiful displays and merchandise and apparently knowledgeable and passionate train guys here. However, if you like the smaller N Gauge, go elsewhere! Once they learned I liked N Gauge model trains, I was snubbed and nearly ignored. I know when I'm not wanted. I left and decided to warn others. read more

Amazing service, staff is awsome to speak to. Very knowledgeable, prices are truly incredible for hard to find items. Kevin who works there is super nice and knows what he's talking about. Would highly recommend this place any day. Selection of items is unlimited it seems too with so much to see from used to brand new. read more

We dropped into this store after seeing it along the roadside on the way to Best Buy nearby and thought we'd satisfy our curiosity. I was impressed by the sheer number of stock within the store! Talk about sensory overload!!! We were immediately greeted by several extremely helpful employees. From our visit, we learned the differences between On30, HO, and Z scale train sets. Although I was really eyeing an HO scale train, we ended up leaving and visiting the sister store next door, Milepost 38, to check out the larger scale trains. Although I ended up getting a O scale Lionel train set, I'm still jonesing for an HO train set and will update this review when such a purchase is made! read more

I went yesterday to get my first train set for my N scale club and was hesitant. I have always felt like model railroad stores had no patients to novices like me. Not at Arnie's. I wish I had gotten his name; he was young 20's or 30's wearing shorts and had I guess his son in the store with him who kept pestering him...anyway he was fantastic. I had wanted a freight locomotive with full sound and remote control. He went over costs with me and also showed me a nice Kato Amtrak bookshelf set. He compared the prices of passenger vs freight, went over recommended manufactures, ensured I was happy with my purchase and made sure the two units were synced for tandem running. He knew the layout of my club and told me I would need two locomotives to pull a nice load with our grades. I ended up getting the passenger set of cars. Ironically, with his explanations, this was the cheaper of the options. Really? Retail isn't about trying to get the most out of the customer? They want to ensure you are comfortable with your purchase as this is a big investment. When I got home I researched what I bought. Everything was a bit higher than the suggested retail price but hands down I will purchase from Arnie's again. This place has N, HO, and I think a little Z scale. They also own the place next door for O and G scale. SHOP SMALL SHOPS! read more

Arnie's Model Trains - Toy Stores Near Me - Westminster, California

My family and I visited Arnie's Trains on Sat, Sept 13. I love N-Scale and HO-Scale trains and have always wanted to make a trip to Arnie's Trains. Finally, I was able to go there. I was very disappointed with their staff (2 of the 4 staff there). We had a terrible experience at the store. The two staff that sat near the front door were very unfriendly. They glared at us when we walked into the store. We immediately felt unwelcomed as we walked into the store. We had a terrible experience the whole time we were there. That was a polar opposite of Milepost 38 (next door and sister store). The Milepost 38 staff was super friendly and helpful. He made you feel welcomed as you step into the store. Too bad that type of great customer service and friendly atmosphere was not replicated at Arnie's Trains. The store had a lot of N-Scale and HO-Scale trains, parts, and accessories. After this experience at Arnie's Trains, I will NEVER SET FOOT IN THE STORE AGAIN. I DO NOT RECOMMEND ARNIE'S TRAINS TO ANYONE. read more

Love this shop - stocked with new and used trains at great prices. The guy who helped us Saturday was very helpful and knowledgeable. The guy who answered the phone was one unhappy guy. Items are also available on their web site. Plenty of parking and shop hours are good. Can't wait to go back! read more

I wish I had a shop like this near me. Good selection, very good prices, and helpful and knowledgeable staff. I ended up buying (and spending) more than I planned on, but it was worth it. I'll be back when visiting the area. read more

Arnie's was always a very special train store for my husband, who loved building his own train displays. He purchased a great deal of beautiful train supplies from this shop, and never was disappointed. If you're just looking into getting into the train hobby, or already are, Arnie's is the only shop I will recommend. read more

Again very satisfied, andrew was very helpful and he did a good job fixing my other kato trains. See you soon! Thank you so much.

Came here in 2022 and it was amazing! Huge selection of Kato Ho/N scale products, amazing prices on everything from scenery to engines, I got a T2 Athern Genisis NS DCC GP for 280$ brand new and got help from one of the employees who put it on the test track and let me try out everything, he knew everything about the engine and helped us get 6, 100~ inch atlas flex track and gave us tips on how to use it read more

I have to say if you need a train, they have it! It's a shop that is just a fun place to go as a family also and a great hobby so many great train stories. I was trying to build a Halloween train still trying, but with their help I'll get it.great little shop read more

Great store!! And best of all, everyone there loves to help you!! Andrew and Kevin are fantastic and know their stuff! Highly recommend this place!!!! read more

"Come with me And you'll be In a world of Pure imagination. Take a look And you'll see Into your imagination..." "Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory" Looking into my grandson's eyes, this song came to mind. Model trains are as good as chocolate in his eyes. You see, 3 year old Drew announced that he and Grandpa were going to the hobby shop to see the trains on their special, monthly, Saturday bonding day. Not sure exactly where this particular pronouncement came from, but a fast Yelp look up, and thank goodness for Arnie's. What we didn't know was, Arnie's and another train store, Milepost 38 Toy Trains, were right next to each other. Model train overload? I think not when it comes to a model train fanatic. We went to both. Natch! Arnie's is mostly for adult, die hard, serious modelers. The big boys. But if nothing else, come to see the landscaped model train set up, fun for young and old to watch in action. Once you have seen it run around the track a few times, complete with village, hills, tunnels, bridges, and cute little action figures, you become aware of the scope of fun accessories on the shelves and walls for sale. Not a cheap hobby, but it sure stimulates the imagination. read more

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Had a great visit here with my 2 sons. The 2 gentlemen on the Large scale side were really helpful in suggesting trains for when my toddlers get older. An older gentleman employee and Brad were awesome in running the trains so we could see the smoke effect. Great experience for children of any age. read more

Arnie's Model Trains - Trains in glass cases - Toy Stores Near Me - Westminster, California

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Its a fully stocked store from floor to ceiling. Meticulously organized and very clean. Not a sign of dust anywhere. The staff was friendly & helpful the second I walked in. There are endless rows of model trains and everything you need for the villages and lighting! There is so much more but I don't want to spoil it for ya! read more

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I like this store and found it well stocked. When I walked in there was one customer in the store. Several employees were talking near the register. I did not receive a friendly greeting when I walked in although they did look at me. I found what I came there paid and left. No one approached or asked if I needed help. They weren't rude...just not helpful. They had a great inventory and selection of merchandise. They just need to brush up on their customer attention a little. read more

I was just going to let this go, but wrong is wrong. My mother and I were at this store not too long ago, and the N scale cabinet wasn't rotating. I notified the staff of this, and they started working on it. The language that one of the staff used (F-Bombs) didn't bother me, but my mom was standing right there, and the person never even thought about apologizing for their language in front of a lady. Real class, people. Real class. This is not the first time something like this has happened here. The staff has flat-out ignored us or didn't bother to offer help on other occasions as well. Maybe because it was the gauge I chose to model in that they felt I wasn't worth the effort to assist me. We had to literally help ourselves while an unoccupied staff member looked on from the front counter. When I walk into your store, treat me like a customer, not like a bother, and keep your potty-mouth in the gutter when a lady is present in your store. Me? Don't worry your heads about me ever returning to your lousy service. I won't be returning. My money and time will be better spent elsewhere, and I guarantee that I will be spreading the word about how you treat customers and talk around women. I had to give you one star simply because there is not a negative stars rating. read more

Very knowledgeable staff. Helpful to new as well old timers Will even demonstrate products on their own layout! Andy I think his name is, took a lot of time to help me understand ballasting then demonstrated on the layout the technique- If you want something but don't have the cash, they will put it away for you for a couple days until you do- I've been out of model railroading for about 30 years and it's amazing the improvements- But you need to know what's out there-- Many times you walk into other hobby stores and no one can answer a question. Or the staff is so busy talking to each other they won't help you. Here they will take it out of the box, run it on their track and explain what you need to do to make it better... They have stayed until after closing on a mere $20 purchase However be ready because everything is full retail expensive. I know you can get whatever cheaper online but let me tell you the knowledge and help is worth the cost- Keep it up guys! read more

I've been here twice, I live a long way away, but both times I've been here I've been asked if I needed any help, the staff are engaging, and even my (non-hobbyist) wife enjoys browsing around and loves the experience. If I lived down the street it could get expensive! Today I just needed a simple 6-pin DCC decoder for a loco currently being shipped from the UK, good prices and I'm so happy to do business with a local store. The internet businesses are great, but I do love the personal connection. The staff here are very, very engaging and we learned today that if we win the Lotto, the steam locomotive for my wife's fantasy garden railway will run us around $500,000 Good to know! Bonus - my wife asked if I'd ever had an "Orange Julius", and the Westminster Mall opposite had a Dairy Queen. My advice - shop at Arnie's, head across the street and get an Orange Julius in the mall. I'll report back on the DCC chip, but already money well spent. Thanks guys! read more

Arnie model train was a well-maintained store very clean and neat in a friendly guy with the alien Lindsay will be interested to come back and be that I left in the door they had more read more

Arnie's Model Trains - Toy Stores Near Me - Westminster, California

My husband and I went there for train layout pieces, and found a wonderful, friendly staff and selection of everything trains.

I brought in an old locomotive and asked if they could place it on a track to see if it was working. The salesman told me that it would cost me $35 to do that. I didn't believe it as first and then he told me if they did it for free, there would be a line out the door. I looked around the store and after seeing only one other customer, I wondered if that would be such a bad thing... I'll find another neighborhood train store to test and purchase model train supplies... read more

Arnie's trains simply awesome. It's a five hour plus drive literally across the state to get here and is worth every minute of it. Their inventory is fantastic and if they don't have it in the store they'll get it for you ASAP. The staff is second to none in service and knowledge of the hobby, and a special kudos to Kevin. I call him the DCC Guru. He works magic on all he does, has the patience of a saint with (my) stupid questions and is eager to teach and share his knowledge. His services cost, but you definitely get what you pay for. Keep up the great work, Arnie's. It's always a pleasure to stop in to see all of you. read more

Just so you know, they do cherry pick everything you have for sale and only take the "good" stuff. They pay ~1/10 of retail value. Slightly better than trashing the entire collection but they are well TRAINed slippery - smooth con artists. I do not recommend this place if you are trying to sell and get a fair price. Very disappointed. read more

If you want to be followed around like you're a shoplifter than come here! The minute you have a question though your a bother. Cheaper places to shop than Orange County that aren't too far of a drive and won't harass you. If you're an N scaler they could care less about you. It may be a big store, but the prices are moderate to high versus the competition online and one other smaller store an hour away. They had what I needed and that's all why they get a 3 star. Never again. read more

If you want to visit a well-organized train store and be sexually harassed while shopping, this is the place to go! My boyfriend is a train fanatic and had been excited to show me this store for a while, so we finally decided to take a drive and visit this place. Upon entering, the store was very impressive and immaculate and because of this, I expected a professional business. Instead, I was made to feel like a piece of meat. An older black male associate greeted us not long after we entered and asked if we were both "choo-choo" people. I said that I wasn't, but that my boyfriend was. The associate's response to this was, "Well, I can talk trains to you [my bf] all day, while I look at her [me] the whole time." We both awkwardly laughed at this not knowing exactly how to react. Things just got worse from there. Sprinkled between small snippets of actual talk about trains, this man made sure to let me know he was admiring my physique. He made comments about my hair, commended my parents for "putting together a woman who looked like [me]", and even asked me to remove my mask inside the store because he wanted to confirm that I was as "beautiful" as he has seen other Asian women. He continued to make comments about "beautiful" women, how he wonders how anybody could fall asleep next to one. He told us a story about how he spent an entire night awake next to a woman, just staring at her beauty; he now wonders why he wasted his time just staring instead of doing "acrobatic moves with her all night". He attempted to be helpful by advising me to buy my bf a nice locomotive because "in about 8 hours, you want to make sure he's happy" (insert slimy smile and winks here). I could go on and on but you get the idea: everything out of his man's mouth was suggestive and inappropriate. The worst part of all this is that other sales associates noticed and overheard all this happening and never once tried to pull this man aside to stop him. I know that they noticed because one asked if we were okay and another chimed in to elaborate on how to buy large foam pieces. I didn't say anything at the time (which I now regret) because I didn't want to make a scene and I was in total shock. I felt like I was in a bad episode of "What Would You Do?" except John Quinones never popped out. It took a few days for me to finally process what happened. We gave the store the opportunity to apologize by contacting them privately, but we have not received a response. I feel that those who choose to visit this store with their girlfriend or young daughters need to be aware of this man's behavior so they can shield them from this unnecessary trauma. read more

I have been to your store a few times and I believed it was the best in Southern California. Today (February 12, 2022) I went to the store with my girlfriend at about 11:00am. We were greeted by a an older black male employee. When he first spoke to us, he started talking about trains which was expected. He then began making comments about my girlfriend and how attractive she was. He was very subtle at first, and then he kept approaching us and making more comments. He kept talking about how attractive Asian women were and even asked her to remove her Covid-19 mask so he could see what she looked like. He kept making sexual innuendos, and we both felt very uncomfortable inside the store. We could not even shop without this guy walking up to us and making his inappropriate comments. He explained how he was married to a Japanese woman for twenty something years. I know my girlfriend is a strong, mature woman with thick skin. We eventually left to Milepost 38 because we felt so uncomfortable. I did not want to create a scene inside the store because it is a place of business. There was a young male Asian and male white employee that were very nice, and even seemed to take notice of the older black man that kept approaching us and saying things. After we drove away from the train store, I could tell my girlfriend was bothered by what happened and I very disappointed. This man should not be working with the public if he is going to treat people like that. I too work in the people business (Government Agency) and if I behaved like that, I would be terminated. I just wanted to let you know that this man needs to be professional and treat people like he would want his wife or daughter to be treated. read more

This is an amazing store, with a large collection of both HO and N scale model trains. Specifically, I model in N scale. Their rolling stock selection is amazing! There are also plenty of cars that are under $15 which is basically a bargain! Overall going to Arnie's is well worth the trip. read more

These guys know their stuff (another word comes to mind, but hey, G rated website don'tcha know). I model in HO, HOn3 (who does that!!!!), and G. So I have been on both sides of their operation. The guys on both sides are very knowledgeable, courteous, helpful, and certainly professionals (no I am not describing Boy Scouts); it is very pleasant to encounter people who are articulate, intelligent, and well steeped in their products. Kevin is the store manager, and lead technician. His knowledge of all the brands is extensive, and his ability to take on terminal cases, resuscitate the patient, proffer good news to the client who firmly believes his baby is dead, is known far and wide in the dark corridors of the model train world everywhere. The drawback is this guy is busier than a one legged man at a butt kickin match. Perfection's price is patience, and you must be rich in patience. That's the bad news, the good news is you will get back your unit 10 times better than it was, rock solid, and working like a champ. Hint: when working with Kevin best to email him as calling can usually take several times. They are presently underway with converting my six Blackstone engines with Soundtraxx Tsunami 2's, current keepers, and mini cube speaker's. Once complete on this project, they will do all three of my Atheren Diesel's, and the Steam 'Big Boy' and Challenger, also by Atheren. So, bottom line. This is one stop shopping personified. Everything you want or need is right here in River City (from the musical 'The Music Man'). Remember when you are looking at the internet and marveling how you can 'save' 5% on average, no one will be there to repair your unit, modify it, answer your stupid questions, or powder your butt with tips and tricks of the pro's! Save the 5% on Peanut Butter, you really can't fix it, and you know what it's for, and how to use it. Visit your favorite model shop. Remember what you get for free, when you want to bitch about the price, AND KEEP THE DOORS OF OUR LOCAL MODEL SHOPS OPEN!!!!! read more

This is one of my top five train shops. Wide selection. Helpful staff. Always worth getting there despite the weird road access from the freeways. read more

Hugh selection of HO & N scale trains. Really enjoy shopping for trains & cars bought at estate sales. Excellent prices. Very knowledgeable & friendly. read more

This is certainly someplace I never thought I would be. My 19 month old is obsessed with trains. I mean obsessed... So, I thought it would be a fun activity for us to share. This place is all about trains, so it can be overwhelming because there are multiple sizes and each has it's own track, engines, accessories and so forth. People get very serious about their train brands and sizes. In fact, much like being a Ford or Chevy Man, you can quickly become a Lionel or LGB Man... The staff was super friendly, but I am sure I looked totally out of my comfort zone. I found the little man a new engine to add to his growing collection. I was so excited to come home and immediately went to work on putting the track together. And, I still haven't taken off my engineer hat! read more

Disappointed in the light inventory at this business. Not what I remembered from 30 years ago. Maybe a bigger store but a lot of open floor with just air to look at. Of course they were out of what I came for, which is odd, since personal said that in HO, it was one of their top sellers. After seeing their ads online, I expected a lot more. How can you claim to service the greater LA area with so little on the shelves or so much open space in the room? read more