What a horrible little troll of a man who owns this store; do not bring children here. Cramped basement, crowded with haphazardly stacked items, incredibly dusty. Owner does not like children; he also does not like to part with his collections; seems to be in business for the wrong reasons; hurts the hobby. read more

Online research showed that this store carries SkyMarks airplane models. I got to 45th St. and was stumped because I couldn't find it. Then I heard the train bell and followed the sound into a hallway which led to stairs going to the basement. Upon walking in my jaw dropped as you go down stairs lined with glass cases of planes, trains, cars, and more! I felt like a kid again. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall paradise of collectables, toys, and trinkets! The owner had a thick NYC accent and was bickering with his brother; it was cute, felt like I was in a movie. I bought a few planes, since I was paying cash, I got a discount. It's easy to miss, but everyone has to come check out this one of a kind store in Manhattan! read more

I love coming here despite the wobbly steps filled with junk; be careful of not falling. The elevator is always broken. As I had a stroke, I can no longer visit using steps. The place is chock full of toys & models but the manager is always busy on the phone & unable to answer questions. There are plenty of models to choose from; prices are moderately high & the manager is far from friendly. Cats seem to follow me wherever I go; maybe they are security guards. I felt unwanted but it's the only hobby shop left in a big city like New York. No air conditioning either just several fans; customers can easily trip in this store but there is a great selection. read more

amazing store I bought a blue box gp 50 for a great deal and very good advice from the owner everything is in good and running condition and I recommend and it's the only one in Matthatten and I just love that because others are in new jersey and that's all I have read more

I just got back home from a trip to NYC. I always to get an item to remember the trip by so I stopped by here about 630pm which is 30 minutes before closing. I met a guy coming up the stairs telling me not to go in since they were closing. I told him I had 30 minutes and I would be just a minute. I quickly saw an old man screaming and cursing at another man, saying he had to be at the theater in 15 minutes . I told him I would be out his hair quickly and he then insisted he was not going to sell me anything. He then preceded to start stripping and when to find that other guy to curse at again. I don't need his product that bad and it was strange that his shop is on 45th which is right on top of theater district. This will never be on my places to stop again based this experience I had there so be on guard for whatever if you go there. read more

This store is a unique spot for nyc and houses many tough-to-find items. The owner is very friendly in his own quirky way. The crux of what I want to say about the store is that, at least in terms of the diecast airplane collection, the models are poorly displayed- often with damage and dust. Additionally, the items are all extremely over-priced. Would be nice to see some sort of competitor open up in the 5 boroughs! read more

Bring time. LOTS of time. Mr Spitz is a fantastic host, and lets one wander for hours eyeballing a phenomenal inventory. I cannot bring my (6-year-old) grandson back without a blindfold, and I probably should return without a billfold. Seriously --- it was refreshing to visit someone who I believe will give me the straight dope on whether to fix my long-broken Lionel. Happy travels 'til then, sir! read more

This place is great. Excellent customer service. They repaired my Lionel trains while I waited. I'm so glad I found this gem of a store.

This place is one of New York's rare diamonds. Although it is not gemstones they sell even though they're not but a hop skip and a jump from the diamond district it is the rare and elusive scale model kit. The battleships the tanks the model railroads complete with scenery. You have to walk down the stairs but if you do a small museum the way to swell is a friendly cat. read more

This is the most magical Hobby Store I have been ever, period. Totally clattered, crammed to the brim with arcane stuff, little treasures everywhere. Reasonable prices, a feast for a REAL modeler. The person that was there on Monday Oct 8th opened 11am sharp as advertised. He was a kind, absolutely nice person; knowledgeable and informative, nothing like the ogre described by some reviewers, but he is a New Yorker, which I liked, not a New-Age I-Love-Everyone character. I also liked his cat!. I purchased some long-sought items, and because my plane was leaving right there, I could only spend 20 heavenly minutes. I'll endure NY again, but only if I can spend a lot of time (and money) in that store of wonders. read more

I have been to Red Caboose several times when I lived in NY he does have a lot of rare and hard to find Models and Supplies and now that I live in Florida can't find anything or any Hobby store close to what he has in his store and my biggest let down is he does not do online orders read more

To the person who went to a train store to get her boyfriend's helicopter fixed. Trains have wheels and move on tracks.

Dropped by this spot after hearing about it in the Times http://rss.nytimes.com/c/34625/f/640361/s/4c4ac3c5/sc/10/l/0L0Snytimes0N0C20A150C120C20A0Cnyregion0Cmidtown0Eshop0Ethe0Ered0Ecaboose0Eleaves0Eits0Ecompetition0Eand0Eits0Etrains0Ein0Ethe0Edust0Bhtml0Dpartner0Frss0Gemc0Frss/story01.htm because it was the holidays and because I used to be obsessed with trains. Not disappointed, but unclear how long they'll last even with the recent press. read more

These guys are right. Woody Allen! Anyway, its really unorganized down there, and of course, expensive. It appears that the majority of stuff is second hand. Unfortunately, woody didnt have the train i was looking for. Must say.... the owner can talk your ear off. He really is knowledgeable about trains and train history. Worth a try to see if he has what you need. read more

Expensive, terrible customer service.... do yourself a favor and make your purchases elsewhere.....

Do you like toy trains? Do you really really really really like toy trains? Do you spend hours a day in the basement with your toy trains? Well this is your place. If they packed one more box into the slim aisles of this basement, the shelves would literally topple. It's so cluttered with modeling kit that two people can't pass without backing up, and then only at the risk of knocking over a rack of balsa wood. read more

Stumbled across this gem looking for a toy store in the area. Definitely a different kind of place. Dusty trains line the packed shelf's and the manager is, as you would expect and avid hobbyist eager to "talk shop". As a non-hobbyist I found him friendly enough and willing to be helpful. Great place if you know what your looking for or if you want an education. read more

Just the fact that a dedicated model railroading supply store like Red Caboose still exists blocks away from the world's greatest railroad terminal Grand Central Station is a big deal. Small ma & pa shops like this are quickly fading away. I used to work around the corner from there and would visit on my lunch break when I needed to free my mind up from the stress of running MTA subway construction projects. Quirky, well stocked, a throwback to the golden era of hobby shops, I HOPE IT STAYS AROUND FOR A LONG TIME. I used to work for a very big hobby store on Staten Island called SMC Model Railroad Center, which has since closed decades ago, You could find everything in all scales there from brass to fine scale craftsman kits, Shinohara & Gargraves track or just a simple Bachmann train set for Xmas- huge inventory, but sadly gone. Although Sal the owner seems to be selling off what remaining stock he has on ebay. No places like that anymore around here, although my dream would be to reopen the business in it's original location because of the links to my childhood memories visiting the store with my dad. read more

This place is great! Big selection of trains and great showcase models. I love coming here.

Although cramped and semi-disorganized, this is a cool place for train, car, and airplane collectibles and models. It's in the basement, with items stacked to the ceiling. I managed to find several very hard to obtain airplane toys for my son. Much of the items seem "older," with beaten up packaging and faded tags, but it's worth a visit if you are in the area. read more

Great Hobby shop with very good pricing. Allen is very knowledgeable regarding different glues, adhesives and paints. Allen helped me with a paint problem that saved me hours of work. read more

This is a rare gem. The store is located in a basement. As you enter there is a display area to the left with neat models and as you go down the stairs your are welcomed by an enormous amount of trains in all scales. The place is packed full, the aisles narrow, but that adds to the experience. You will uncover some neat items in the store--which is well stocked with trains and other toys. The owner, who was busy, was friendly and engaging and we spent a few minutes talking about trains. The prices are moderate, but to be able to see and handle items prior to purchasing them was well worth the cost. Having an owner that cares about his customers and store is well worth forgoing the internet discounters. The cat was run to. read more

I don't collect trains, or models, or create little mini worlds. But it was still very fun to walk through the store and look at the thousands of little trains and accessories. Some of them were very old and valuable. This place was packed, and its a tight fit. Seems like the guys working there are characters. One guy was dismissive of customers, and was having some intense phone conversation about I think trains, and the other guy was being extremely helpful. Added to the charm. read more

Yeesh. I would go out of my way to support a local hobby shop. HOWEVER, if this is the local shop, I'd suggest you place an Amazon order from within the shop, just to make your point. This place couldn't be less helpful if they tried. Nasty, gruff. They were so unhelpful on the phone, and yet for some reason I travelled up to check stock on something in person. Even nastier in person. With any luck this will become something better, like an ATM vestibule. read more

I went there today the guy behind the counter was helpful but his attitude toward me was not very nice he came of as rude even though he clearly not trying to be rude at all read more

Fantastic hobby store! It's old school NY. It's a dusty old store with lots of treasures, hobby making models galore. Hope this one doesn't close! read more

If you are a model train enthusiast, this place may be great. But if your hobby does not involve trains (such as remote control helicopters) do NOT go to Red Caboose! We stopped by to look for a spare part to fix my boyfriend's helicopter and experienced the worst customer service of our lives! The guy "helping" us was rude and dismissive as soon as he heard that we didn't care about trains and refused to listen when we asked about other hobby stores that might have the part we were looking for. As a clinical psychologist, I can say that he was striking case study! What an awful experience! read more

The guy that owns this place (Allan Spitz) is the lowest of the low. His only goal is to rip you off. I basically had to beg him to sell me a postwar Lionel train as a gift. He made me wait 45 minutes as he ignored me. Then told me he didn't want to sell me the train because I knew more about trains than he did. While I was there he also yelled at a kid and his father for knocking over a box and called them "idiots.". Do not do business here. read more

Red Caboose is truly a store without equal, at least in New York City. It is a throwback to another era, before we were overrun by standardized sameness (Starbucks, The Gap, Subway, Duane Reade, etc). The basement hobby shop has a great selection of trains, planes, cars, supplies, parts, books and other related things, but it is also a hangout. Stop by on a Saturday afternoon and observe the steady stream of hobby enthusiasts who come to browse the (totally messy) inventory and to ask the incredibly knowledgeable owner, Alan, for advice on how to build or fix something. Alan is a definite NY character. Some have commented that he is "nasty" or "arrogant" but I'm sure it isn't intentional. Yes, he's a bit socially-challenged (could be Aspergers), but if you don't take his sometimes gruff manner personally and get to know him, you'll find he really wants to help people (just isn't always very good at communicating it). read more

Great selection is more than offset buy one of the weirdest owners/salesman you can imagine. I'll stick with online orders.

The Red Caboose is without a doubt a " wonderful train wreck" and a must see for the train hobbyist. Based on previous reviews, I was curious and made a visit on my trip to Manhattan on September 27th. Upon wandering downstairs, I was greeted by both Allan with his distinctive voice and his companion cat relaxing amongst the clutter. In our corporate Big Box retail society of today, the Red Caboose brought back memories of simpler times of shopping in New York. A gem of a store, you could get lost for hours browsing the vast assortment of merchandise. Allan was extremely helpful and I was able to procure an older copy of a hard to find Noch, German catalog. A definite home run and worthy of a return trip on my next visit. read more

Adding to the previous reviews, yes the shop is messy and crowded. It is hard to find -- look for the sign, walk all the way down the hall and then down the stairs. Some of the inventory is second hand -- just ask. They have some older and rare items - you may find something unusual. They do have paints, glues and basic products. It is an experience. Try them once! read more

The Red Caboose is a fantastic store. They have more railroad Items than I have ever seen in one place. The owner is very knowlegible. I asked him several questions and he was helpful with each of them. When you get to his address you have to walk down the hall then downstairs into the basement. Merchandise is in cases lining the stairs. The entire large basement is full of merchandise organized on floor to ceiling shelves. If you model railroads you have to go here. The also had a large selection planes and cars but I didn't look closely at them. read more

Love this place. Yea the owner / manager is a complete lunatic, but he knows his stuff. Stores like this are going away. Support them while you can. The eye candy at the store is worth the price of admission (free). While you are there, pet the cat, he is probably sitting on the counter. read more

On a visit to NYC in 2004 I went to this store to do a little shopping. It was a store with a good selection of items but nothing quite caught my eye because they didn't carry what I was looking for. I do however remember that the store was vast in its selection and was a treasure trove of other items. I ended up at the now out-of-business Manhattan Trains and Hobbies which was located right across the street on an upper floor of the building. They had a much smaller selection of items but they carried the brand that I was looking for. I bought some items and had them mailed home to me in CA since I was on vacation. Try this shop out, from what I remember it was pretty well stocked and a decent place. read more

Red Caboose is pulled out of Diagon Alley. On the street you can hear the steamwhistle blow. The shop is into a short hall and then duck left down a few steps, already surrounded by ancient and odd engines. Behind glass. As David N says here, "Everyone needs to visit this place whether you are into model kit building or not. It's more museum than hobby shop." Like others I first heard about it on the Christmas photo display in the NYTimes (I can't find the pictures right now, but here's an article they put into words: http://nyti.ms/1ZcwyED). There are a lot of nuances to the model rail hobby and its people and all of them are right here in this little shop. Just go and hang out for awhile, and browse and listen. You have to keep moving around because there's not enough room for you and the trains and that little boy staring at the cat in the back room. You'd like the owner to be a fuzzy yoda but he's a cranky precision train builder. So: do you want something unique? Crappy trains? Unique highend trains? Japanese starter sets? A tiny family and tiny sculptor with his tiny model? Got em got em got em. read more

I like this little gem. Lots of older N Scale Engines still brand new. Atlas with Kato drives. Many used items. If you are knowledgable you will do just fine. Take your time looking. Got a great deal on a very old run loco (nonDCC Friendly). Work the deal. read more

In NYC on business. Found this place on Google search in Yelp listing. Found it fascinating exploration. I found a rare Con-Cor N scale custom paint set for the Texas Special in a display case. The owner, Allen, figured a a fair price. My only regrets are Allen upped the price $25 when we found out the engine ran, and he could not find the original box the set came in. I must say he and John looked for 30 minutes to try and locate it. Had he found the box my rating would have been a 5. read more

Filthy, dirty, dusty, jumble with a rude man behind the counter. Doesn't appreciate it when he is getting a fair deal. This place has a lot of potential, but misses the mark on helping the customer. read more

I went to this store yesterday and the owner failed to show respect and desire to do business. I was VERY interested in purchasing the "big boy" steam engine (gauge O) that he had on display on the top shelf. I asked him to bring it down to do the final inspection and basically buy it, but his answer was "no I can't, too heavy." I will never come back to that store again. My first set of trains I purchased was in that store back in 1971. The gentleman that sold me the train was an A-1. read more