Small trains make great business

Friday, Feb. 5, 2010

Click here to enlarge this photo Staff photo by EMILY BARNES Jim Greer, owner of G Scale Train Station in Waldorf, turned his passion for model trains into a business. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

Hobby turned business: Jim Greer's passion for model trains began when he was a child and his love of the hobby grew into a business seven years ago in Waldorf.

The New York native opened G Scale Train Station on Old Washington Road in 2002 and he said his customer base has grown to more than 1,500 people.

Many are local folks who share his enthusiasm for the hobby and others order trains, scenery, accessories and books online from his Web site, Greer said.

The shop features an amazing supply of trains, including large models that people install in gardens or in restaurants, Greer said, adding that the store also features smaller scale trains and a variety of slot cars. He also does service work on trains.

Greer, who holds a degree in hotel and restaurant management, has worked in the past as a sous-chef and a salesman. He also owned Mrs. Greer's Plantation Cheesecake Company at Smallwood Village shopping center from 1989 to 1993. But he said his love of model trains won out in the end.

"I've always had trains and when I got into the G scale [large] size I found that they were very hard to find unless I mail-ordered them or traveled great distances," he said. "I decided to grow the product here according to the needs of the area, and people have been grateful because they couldn't get things locally."

Greer's father and an uncle sparked his lifelong passion for the hobby.

"I got my first American Flyer when I was 7 years old from my dad," he said. "We always put trains around our Christmas tree. My uncle had a very large layout in his basement. It was fun to see when I was a kid. I just got hooked; trains are so interesting to watch. It's like re-creating a part of history, a very important part of history."

A matter of scale: Greer, who displays elevated train tracks in his shop, said he very seldom buys vintage model train collections but is sometimes tempted to buy a set depending on the condition and unique features.

"I primarily sell G scale trains but they've doubled in price and that makes it almost impossible for people to get into them," he said. "I get a lot of requests for smaller types of trains now. I buy a few collections, mainly at auctions. Ninety-nine percent of what I sell is new."

Greer's trains, including Lionel, MTH, Aristo-Craft, USA Trains, Bachmann, Piko, LGB Toy Trains and Model Power, have been shipped to customers around the world, including England, Japan and Australia. About 50 percent of his stock is available online, he said.

Slot cars are a more recent addition to the shop, Greer said.

"They were big in the '60s," he said. "A lot of cars can be upgraded with tires, motors and gears. A lot of people have them in clubs or they run them on tracks in their basements."

Manly pursuit: Most of Greer's customers are men.

"About 75 percent are men," he said. "It's more of an adult hobby although kids come in with their parents."

For many folks the trains satisfy an interest in history while others remember having them when they were young, Greer said.

"There's an allure surrounding the whole history of trains in America," he said. "They were critical in building our country. The historical aspect of it is great. Trains are just very impressive pieces of metal and steam."

Greer said he would like to expand the business one day.

"Now is not the time but I would definitely like to get a larger location where I can have bigger displays and more products," he said.

Local hobbyists who patronize the shop help keep the business booming, Greer said.

"A lot of local hobby stores have closed up so I have to be very careful about what I spend," he said. "The cash flow just isn't what it used to be. My customers who come in and support my store help to keep me in business."

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