For the past year I've been compiling a list of modeltrain stores for my model railroading website.  These shops all look like fantastic places to visit, but what are the most popular?   Here is a list for the great state of Ohio.

The most popular model railroading shop (based on online chatter) in the state of Ohio are:

10. Parma Hobby Shop in Parma

9. Robbies Hobbies in Columbus

8. Hobbyland in Columbus

7. Stockyard Express in Oberlin

6. E and S Trains in Akron

5. Dixie Union Station in Mason

4. Depot Train and Hobby in Cleveland

3. The Whistle Stop Train Shop in Troy

2. Al's Trains and Hobby in Bedford

...and the most popular shop for model trains in Ohio is...

1. Heritage Train and Hobby in Avon Hobby shops not quite making my top 10 were Brown's Hobby Shop and Raceway in Hammondsville, Golf Manor Hobbies in Cincinnati, Grand Pacific Model Railroad in Olmsted Falls, Hobbys Etc in North Olmsted, John's Hobby Shop in Mansfield, TK Hobby Shop in Bridgeport, Tom Thumb Hobbies in Columbus, and Train-O-Rama in Marblehead.

It should be noted that part of Heritage Train and Hobby's popularity is because it has a thriving online business.  If I had excluded it would probably have been a closer race.  It certainly does look as if everything in the top ten would be a fun place to shop for trains.

I compiled this list by searching for the hobby shops listed on a number of search engines and ranking them by the number of web pages, discussion forums, photos, videos, etc that are available online.  I further screened this list to include only pages that mentioned model railroading.

Check out my complete list of Model Train shops in Ohio at www.ModelTrainsWithLarry.com which has complete contact information for each shop including an address, phone number, and map to the store.