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Choo-Choosing A New Job

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By HAROLD VALENTINE

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 7, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Because he had gone to the shop since 1974, it made sense to Kevin Pytlak to take over ownership of Happy Hobo Trains in 2003.

The hobby shop has specialized exclusively in toy trains since opening in 1971. Pytlak, 41, decided it was time to be on the other side of the counter after years of unsatisfying work as a veterinary technician.

"Having grown up in the store, taking over seemed like a perfectly natural thing for me to do," Pytlak said.

He said the fact he was exposed to the hobby at such an early age is key to his love of toy trains. His father, Gerry Pytlak, originally had a passion for airplanes and aviation, which was too expensive.

"But in this world of toy trains, you can at least get into it as dream," the elder Pytlak said.

Customer Henk Kruining, 43, said his mother got him interested in toy trains, and he has never lost interest.

Kruining said Happy Hobo Trains, 4040 W. Waters Ave., provides more in-depth toy train supplies and has the best customer service of any hobby shop he has been to.

"If you want service and dedication to one thing, it is here," Kruining said.

Kruining said that because the shop offers some non-name-brand scenery, tools and supplies, money goes further.

Kruining echoed other customers. They usually don't bother with eBay because Hobo stock is extensive, and Pytlak said he can get most of what customers ask for. Customers said service is something you cannot find online.

"If there's an issue, I have my receipt and someone to talk to," Kruining said.

However, the shop offers supplies on eBay at www.stores.ebay.com/happyhobo-trains.

Rhonie Marchand gained an appreciation for toy trains through her husband, Carl, who was a regular at the shop long before the couple met. Marchand said her husband frequents Hobo two and sometimes three times a week.

"I like to look at the scenery," Marchand said.

HO scale is the most popular size for toy train enthusiasts. That scale means "half O," with O being the full size. Pytlak said HO is the most popular size because a full track with scenery takes up much more space. HO workshops, or track set-ups, are often sized 4 feet by 8 feet.

At the shop, Pytlak's workshop is 4 feet by 10 feet, with tracks journeying throughout the store. Kruining's daughters, Katie, 2 and Delana, 3, were mesmerized by the scenery and ran with the digital trains along their path.

Pytlak said digitally controlled trains, complete with digital sound, are popular. Digitally controlled trains allow for control of multiple trains on the same track. Older direct current tracks, or DC tracks, do not have that option.
Happy Hobo Trains moved to its current location in 1991. It used to be on North Church Avenue near Dale Mabry Highway and Hillsborough Avenue. "There's a retention pond there now," Pytlak said.

Pytlak is a drummer in several local bands. He and his wife, Pamelyn, have a 15-month-old daughter, Aubrey.

He said though some children enjoy toy trains, many come in with their nose close to handheld video games. He said getting children involved in toy trains is important for the hobby's survival.

"The average age in the hobby is 95, which means that the young guys are 87," Pytlak said. "I'm exaggerating, but it's very much an older guy's thing."

Though some collectors buy trains based on criteria as simple as color, most have a more specific niche, which usually is historical restoration. Pytlak, a Tampa native, prefers to collect toy versions of trains he saw in town as a kid from 1967 to 1975. In Florida, the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad, a result of the merger between Seaboard Air Line Railroad and Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, dominated that period. Through sales and mergers, Seaboard Coast Line Railroad evolved into CSX Transportation.

With so many of Pytlak's customers from out of state, the shop features railways that were popular in the Northeast and Midwest.

Though Pytlak and his customers say their hobby is based in childhood, they could not pinpoint exactly what keeps them involved in toy trains.

"It's like a dog chasing a car," Pytlak said. "I have no idea why I'm doing it or what's going to happen when I catch the car. I don't care. I just do it."

IF YOU GO

NAME: Happy Hobo Trains

ADDRESS: 4040 W. Waters Ave.

HOURS: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday

CONTACT: (813) 886-5072

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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