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    The Original Whistle Stop

    4.2 (61 reviews)
    PriceyHobby Shops
    Open 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

    The Original Whistle Stop Photos

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    You can only see the sign when approaching from the east.
    Paul S.

    Model trains, man, when I was a wee tike I was crazy about trains. My father lived in Pennsylvania doing much of the required 15,000 hours of research and fieldwork required for a clinical psychology Ph.D. from Michigan, and one highlight of those visits was riding a wood powered steam engine on the Strausberg Railroad line in Lancaster County. That translated to receiving my first model train set, a Lionel Guage type, by age three or four. My love affair with the hobby extended well into my high school years but I switched to the more affordable and stowable HO scale. Why? Good question. Obsession perhaps? I mean, the smallest scale trains are as expensive as fine Swiss watches, but HO was perfect because it was close to my other obsession, WW2 model tanks (1/72 scale). The cost though... Even then it was expensive. I built most of my box cars et al. from kits and consulted Model Railroader magazine for tips on weathering and constructing surprisingly realistic diaramas and train sets. Insert long lapse to adulthood. My stuff is in boxes in my mom's basement in Michigan. One day I spotted Whistle Stop driving to Poo Bah Records a few blocks away. It's harder to see their sign coming from the west because of those massive trees lining East Colorado, but since 1951 they've supplied hobbyists with the tools, pricy but purpose made accessories and related things for model train enthusiasts. See my pics for how cool their display train set is, but it was a time warp strolling the aisles. I saw old Tyco model kits (new old stock) I owned and probably still have gathering dust in that basement. The pricy "Big Boy" shows how dedicated train enthusiasts can be. At 2K you'd best be well-heeled and have tons of space to accommodate its required turn radius.

    Hailey Z.

    This place is large and has such a wide selection. Being a woman, I couldn't help but notice the cool decor on the walls. Lots of railroad decor, but cool stuff. Not just stuff that you can find just anywhere. They have this awesome display in the middle of the second room that they have. I probably sat there in amazement for a few minutes as I watched the train going through the crafted mountains, and the detail that that was put into it such as the cattle running through the water stream. It really is a great sight. This place has older gentlemen working there, I'm pretty sure that one of them the day I was there owns the place. I really enjoyed hearing them talking with other older customers about Vietnam and the war. I didn't care that they didn't ask us if we needed help, I enjoyed listening to them and I knew that they'd stop to help us had we asked. My husband recently visited here without me the other day to purchase some stuff for our N scale model that we're making. He said that they were more than helpful there to accommodate them and give honest opinions, not just a sales pitch. Hubby says that we will be back to purchase more stuff as we go, and I wont hesitate either because I love looking at the stuff that they have in there.

    Lucky S.

    Gawd I love Pasadena. They have so many cool, local, one of a kind unique shops and this train store is one of them. My father collected Lionel trains when I was a kid and this place taps into that nostalgia with all of the classic and vintage items and memorabilia. Any train lover should stop in and visit!

    HO layout in the Shop.
    Erick R.

    It's hard to find a good Model train shop around these days and with many of them losing the battle VS the internet such as the case with Allied in Culver City finding one is like finding a 4 leaf clover. I've been coming to this store on and off now for almost 2 years, I'm an HO modeler, and they have a decent selection of stuff. Upon entering, there is a community board, with info on train events, and people selling (train) stuff, such as kits, layouts, trains, etc. They have trains, signs, people, buildings, scenery, kits of all sorts of scales and sizes as well as books and videos. In all the times I have come in whether to by something or just window shop, I have never had any problems with the customer service. On my last visit, I had my son with me, and they gladly turned on the train on the store Layout for him. The parking lot in the back is fairly small, but I usually am lucky enough to find street parking in front. As long as this store is still around, I'll be coming back.

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    15 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Absolute amazing train stop. The people there were very nice and helpful. Very broad selection of brands and scales. I'd recommend ten fold.

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    3 years ago

    Super friendly and knowledgeable staff to answer questions and give you helpful advice on all matters model railroad!

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    Fred H.

    Thanks and look forward to your next visit. - Fred

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    5 years ago

    The owner and his staff are knowledgeable and lovely. My father was a toy train enthusiast and this is the only place he'd go.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Original Whistle Stop

    Do they check to see if trains (power locomotives) work. And do they fix models as well?

    Yes they have the ability to test trains, and do minor and major repairs as well as lubricating them and answering any questions you have to make them work better

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Original Whistle Stop

    On my last visit, I had my son with me, and they gladly turned on the train on the store Layout for him.

    Mentioned in 13 reviews

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    Odyssey Games - Massive gaming store with tons of selection!

    Odyssey Games

    3.9(92 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I've been here a couple of times over the years. My sister and brother-in-law, who both went to…read moreCaltech and are huge board game geeks, recommended it. A few weeks ago I was looking to get some games to play with my family. My sister gave me 3 recommendations (Ito, Things in Rings, Hot Streak). I walked in and, after taking a few rounds through the densely stocked rows and shelves, and, not finding any of them, asked for help. They had two of the games so I got them. We've played Things with Rings (basically figuring out Venn diagram categories) several times at family game night and are starting to get the hang of it. It's a large shop (especially for games and figurines), and they host events too. Definitely a fun place to browse and get new games.

    I've been coming here to play board games since it was still called Game Empire. They later changed…read moreowner and converted to Odyssey Games, but for the most part, everything feels the same. They have a wide selection of games available to play on-site, and if you end up liking one, you can also purchase it. There's no charge just to sit down and play, which makes it a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy board games together. The staff are very friendly and knowledgeable, and they carry a solid variety of games. If you want more privacy, they also have a second floor that you can reserve for game nights. They have parking at the back and street parking. I never had a problem parking here. Overall, this is a great spot to hang out, play games, and even meet new people. They also sell snacks and drinks, so you can stay awhile. I'd definitely recommend it if you're into board games or just looking for a fun, low-pressure place to spend some time.

    Photos
    Odyssey Games - Huge playing area with plenty of tables!

    Huge playing area with plenty of tables!

    Odyssey Games - Front counter

    Front counter

    Odyssey Games - Inside Store

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    Inside Store

    Gunpla Style - More Gundam model kits

    Gunpla Style

    4.9(18 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    On a rainy afternoon, my 9-year-old son and I stumbled upon this unassuming little shop tucked away…read moreon the second level above an urgent care. As a middle-aged father looking for a hobby we could share that didn't involve screens or video games, I'd read a bit about Gunpla and decided to give it a shot. What a find! The owner was incredibly helpful and patient with us, taking the time to understand what we were looking for and guiding us to first sets that were perfect for our skill levels. His enthusiasm was genuine, and it made the whole experience fun and welcoming, never overwhelming for complete beginners like us. The prices are very reasonable, which is a huge plus when you're testing out a new hobby with your kid. We both walked out with our own kits, and I have to say, I'm just as hooked as my son! Building these models has been a surprisingly relaxing and rewarding experience, and I'm already looking forward to tackling more complex builds and refining them. I'm planning to return soon to pick up a few more sets for Christmas gifts and to expand my own collection. If you're looking for a screen-free activity to share with your children or just want to explore the world of Gunpla, I highly recommend stopping by this shop. The passion and knowledge of the owner really make all the difference.

    I work in Alhambra and have never seen this place. Its extremely hidden inside the Urgent Care…read morecenter, upstairs. It is inside the teal building. The stairs are pretty steep going up and down, so be careful. No elevator from the front, but I dont recall there being an elevator in the back . There is parking in the back or street parking. It is a really small shop but the store owner is really friendly and will assist with placing orders for pick up or just help you in general. My husband shops here more than I do, but the prices are reasonable considering the recent tariffs and tax increases.

    Photos
    Gunpla Style - Store shelves with model kits

    Store shelves with model kits

    Gunpla Style - Store floor signage

    Store floor signage

    Gunpla Style - Gunpla shelves

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    Gunpla shelves

    Hobby Lobby

    Hobby Lobby

    2.8(48 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Went to have a painting framed, that I've had since the 90's…read more It was done by a family member and I am quite fond of it. A pretty good reproduction of an original Gauguin that happens to be in a nearby Pasadena art museum. Well, we paid a visit to Hobby Lobby, as we were picking up some things from nearby Whole Foods. The store occupies Sear's old location on Foothill. It's a huge place and designed to get you to walk around for things as signage isn't plentiful or helpful. Shelves are high so unless you are very tall you need to search around, guess they took that cue from Costco, it works if you aren't in a hurry. We were happy to find they had a framing department and also a fabric area, which, since the sad closing of JoAnne's, I was glad to see for the ghost of my mother who enjoyed sewing. I'm focusing on the Framing department and the friendly efficient gentleman in charge of that department, his name is Theo. He was helpful and friendly from the start. Their framing prices are posted as 50% off, which sounded great, but I guess the original prices need to be considered before seeing this as a good deal. Well, we checked on one style which had always been our original style we felt appropriate for this art work. We visited Tahiti a couple of years ago and and saw some Gaugain copies framed in a similar style, it works very well, so we inquired as to cost and estimated the size as we didn't have the painting with us. It was very reasonable compared to the frame shops we have checked over the decades, yes, decades! It was a very fair price, not knowing the quality of the work was something to consider, but Theo was very efficient and knew his products and was very meticulous. We could tell we were in very good hands. We were quoted, less the 50%, a little under $100 before tax. A very fair price. We were given a "finish by date", and 5 days before that date I gave a call to check on status, I was told it would be done in a couple of days. I was surprised and happy to receive a message later that day from Theo that our framing job was finished and available for pick up. We got over there that evening and Though Theo was gone then, a nice young lady got our finished product for us. It looked very nice. She walked us and the painting up to the lone cashier, as that is their policy, and we waited in line to pay. They did open another register as the line was about 6 people deep. I'm not going to get into their company politics, but over all it was a positive experience, especially thanks to Theo and his friendly, knowledgeable service and framing skill. Thanks Theo!

    1st time here for some Holiday Decorations for a Christmas event. Pretty cool one stop shop…read more Inventory is pretty cool and has a good variety. However, Many employees suck! 2 older ladies really take the cake. Their names seem to be incorrect according to manager and associates. She Returned and emptied my cart 2x and said I abandoned my cart with all my goodies. I will not come back here again!

    Photos
    Hobby Lobby - Frames

    Frames

    Hobby Lobby
    Hobby Lobby - Framing job by Theo.

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    Framing job by Theo.

    The Original Whistle Stop - hobbyshops - Updated May 2026

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