Welcome!
Thank you for visiting. When I go to a website, I usually want to know the following information:
Telephone number: 1-414-482-1566
Address: 2633 S. Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207
Map of Location: Click Here for a Map to the Store
What type of trains do you have?
HO gauge: 60-70% (new and used) (Athearn, Genesis, Atlas, Trainman, Intermountain, Ribside cars, Kato, Proto 1000, Proto 2000, Walthers, Broadway Limited (with trepidation), Con-Cor, MTH HO, Roundhouse, others, Exactrail, Roco, Fleischmann. I may be carrying Marklin again soon, it depends upon the new ownership of the company.
Track: Peco (code 100, code 83) track, Atlas (code 100, code 83), Bachmann gray roadbed (black roadbed is special order, as is Lifelike track). Shinohara and Micro Engineering track when I can get it.
Discounts: Rolling Stock, 20%, Engines 30%* for the most part, Some BLI and all MTH excepted (email for quote), Track at least 20% sometimes more depending upon the quantity and availability (for example, I honor all Walthers Sales Flyer discounts)
N gauge: 15% (new and used) Mostly Fox Valley Models, Atlas, Trainman. Some Deluxe, Some Athearn, very little Micro Trains, very little Walthers.
Kato and Atlas (code 80) track in stock
Discounts: Rolling Stock 20%, Engines 30%, Track 20 - 30% depending upon the brand and the Walthers Sales Flyer price (which I honor).
O gauge: none
Z gauge: none
G gauge: none
On30: very little, but interest is building.
Books: Morning Sun, Iconographix, Kalmbach, Motorbooks International, Pixels Press, Carstens, Whiteriver, Milwaukee Road Historical Society.
Discounts: typically 20% off
Magazines: Trains, Classic Trains (including special editions), Railmodel Craftsman, Railroad & Railfan, Model Railroader, Model Railroading, Passenger Train Journal, CNW Lines, Milwaukee Railroader, Railroads Illustrated, Lines South, The Diamond, L&N, Ore Extra, and Diesel Era.
DVD's: Large selection, Top Frog, Pentrex, C-Vision, Railway Productions and Charles Smiley
Discounts: typically 20% off.
Do you provide Service / installs of DCC? Yes, I install DCC and Sound Systems for HO (mostly), N (I have to take a look at it and see what's feasible). I do mechanical repairs on HO trains, but don't do painting, decaling or detailing (admittedly, I don't have the skills to guarantee my work). For example, I can make ditch lights flash, I can't install ditch lights. Also, the work provided is in house and done by me. If there's a problem, I'm responsible.
DCC wise, what do you sell? I stock, NCE, Digitrax, Lenz, Loksound / Lokpilot, and Soundtrax (Tsunami) and MRC. I'm knowledgeable on all systems!
Discounts: They vary, typically 20% off
DCC / Sound installation rates: It depends (I'm reasonable). I really have to look at it to get you a quote. I give flat rate quotes, not by the hour. Also, the quote will always be honored. (Basically, there's no call / email "I ran into some trouble and it will be $$$ more to fix it")
DCC price of decoders: typically 20%.
Are we a brick and mortar store with regular hours? Yes!
Here are our hours:
Sunday, Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 12-5pm
Wednesday, Thursday: 12-6pm
Friday: 12-5.30pm
Saturday: 9.30 - 3.30pm
Telephone 414-482-1566, email is MUCH better, tom@southsidetrains.com
Why aren't you open at more convenient times?
I'm a one person show and I want to keep it that way. This is the only thing I do and I want to make ensure when the doors of my store are open, my attention is focused on you (the customer). Don't worry, I've got a heck of a lot of work that gets done when the doors are closed. But, when the doors are open, I want to focus on the important things in life, TRAINS.
Are you affiliated / partners with Sommerfeld's Trains in Butler Wisconsin (12620 W. Hampton, Butler, WI 53007, 262-783-7797, www. sommerfelds.com - shameless plug!)
Yes / No / Kind-of
Basically, I worked for Jack for 9 years. We started this business on the south side of Milwaukee on April 30, 2007. But running two stores, that didn't / don't carry the same items, and are in two different tax districts was a real pain in the ... . We amiably separated June 1, 2008 and this is now South Side Trains (formerly Sommerfeld's South, formerly Jerry's Bayview Hobbies, formerly Bay View hobbies - a legacy that goes back to 1957). Sommerfeld's Trains and South Side Trains (Jack and Tom) are still great friends, but different business entities.
Thank you for visiting, I hope to see or hear from you soon. My family and I appreciate your business and friendship,
Thanks,
Tom
South Side Trains
