Red Caboose

Wow, what an impressive shop. A hidden gem! He has everything, really, everything you need regarding model transportation. Actually got a good deal. Both me and my 6 year old were extremely happy. Just have a little patience and you will go a long way. He is short staffed and dedicates his love to his products. Really worth it, go check it out!

Yes, no storefront and underground, even cooler!

Not only is The Red Caboose a hidden gem, it is one of the last real hobby shops still around.

It can be easy to miss when walking by as you go through a narrow entrance then down some steps into this lower level hobby shop that is very rich in character and history. I almost feel like it's another year from a past time when I'm here but that's also what makes this place awesome.

I went here expecting a small store in a basement with a small selection but discovered an entire maze stuffed to the rafters with scale models and scale model supplies. As the name suggests, the store mostly is for model train enthusiasts but there is a decent selection of military models and automobile models as well.

The store is old school and the owner is an old school New Yorker as well and that might rub some people the wrong way but for me, it's great to go into an indepth discussion with someone about Soviet WW2 4BO green paint and whether the Testor's Model Master "Soviet Armour Green" is accurate.

Stopped by yesterday 2/21/24 to buy some putty and plastic glue. Good price (Cheaper than paying shipping on ebay) and Alan is very helpful. Not to mention the man is extremely knowledgeable in hobby models and I think particularly trains. A dying breed, I was glad to see he's still running the shop, as I hadn't been there since around 2008 when I picked up some minicraft airliner models. His shop is crammed with lots and lots of items, the "Isles" are narrow, but on the bright side, you'll have a lot to choose from.

This place is extremely legit. The owner has an insane amount of stock and most of it is really expensive. Seems like a great place for people who are very deep into model trains. I came looking for cool trinkets and was able to find reasonably priced souvenirs to take home. Highly recommend poking around the store if you are into these kind of things.

Love this place, it was my 3rd time going today. First time bought a Gemini jets FedEx 767, 2nd time a United 737-800, then today an Amtrak Siemens ACS-64. This store is truly a New York City experience. Amazing selection at good prices. Owner is extremely helpful and knowledgeable. The store is a hidden gem for sure. Any collector of planes, or trains, should definitely try this place out!

I heard of this store not thinking much but when I went there myself it was unreal. Just the vastness and amount of model trains in all different types of scales was incredible!! Definitely a well hidden treasure in New York City if you are a model railroader!!

Perhaps the last store of its kind. Packed with new and new old stock. As to be expected, on the internet some people complain about the management as they have no sense of humor. Knowledge snd personality are equally hard to come by. A real gem!

This is great! The owner was nice and he has great prices. I recommend coming here if it’s your first time trying model trains. Thanks Mr. Spitz!

What a treasure trove of all things hobby. Railroad, model kits, figures, tools, paint, and everything in between. An amazing find in the middle of Manhattan and a time capsule of a shop that is too few and far between. Give yourself enough time to truly dig through and find the gem you desire, it's definitely in there!

The place is unique. The place is definitely not for everyone. I think the closest definition is “old school” in the whole sense. True it is messy and dusty, true the owner is not exactly polite but neither rude or anything bad, just “old school”. I didn’t buy anything, but the reasons is that I will need to come back with at least one full day in my agenda to make the right purchase. It is filled with treasures all over, but you need to know what you are looking at. It is an awesome place.

Its a beautiful place for anyone to remember when we were kids inj the 60's,70's 80's and our parents couldn't buy us classic cars or classic toys and now as adults we walk into this awesome hobby store and memories just start kicking in 😔but it's wonderland and they got everything u need💯

I came to this store with 2 of my friends yesterday and as a diehard fan of airplanes that I am just wow I happened to run across a few rare older Skymarks Releases that are currently out of production and that not too many other places have these days a little bit pricey are some of them but Definitely worth it I will certainly come back in the future if I have it in mind to scoop up Some older releases this place awesome

"So many models, so little time." This little basement store on 45th in Manhattan is chocked full of models and model building materials for every genre. There's so much to look through and the inventory is consistently updated and changing that it's definitely worth your time to look around and come back for additional visits.

Helpful friendly and a joy to visit. It's a classic hobby store from days long ago tucked away in the middle of Manhattan. They have a nice selection of classic model kits, accessories, and all scales of model trains. I look forward to visiting again. Thank you!!!

Enjoyed my visit. An intriguing mix of new trains and old stock no longer available anywhere else. Claustrophobic aisles.

The shop is small, but it is fairly well stocked. I am interested in N and Z scale model trains, and I found the selection to be good. They sell both new and used models. The owner was patient and friendly, and I ended up purchasing a set. I thought the price was decent: not the lowest but still below the MSRP. Considering the shop's location, I believe this was fair. Definitely worth a visit if you are a model train enthusiast.

Fantastic hidden little gem. Found some really hard to find items and he didn’t gouge me. I live in NJ but definitely will be back.

What a piece of heaven in the middle of midtown. If you are a modeler don’t walk, run to this store, his prices are in line with online and you are supporting local businesses!

Loved this place. Stopped in for some supplies and to look at the gunpla selection (found some hard to find ones). Owner was super helpful and nice. Will definitely be going back. Amazing place to find some hidden treasures.