OFF THE BEATEN TRACK
Staying on Track
The Western Depot nears five decades serving model train enthusiasts
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Steve Martarano
From left , store manager Robert Forren , shipping manager Kevin Shelton , and owners Holly McBratney and Robert McBratney Jr . operate The Western Depot , “ an old-fashioned hobby shop ,” as Robert McBratney calls it .
The Western Depot in Yuba City , called “ an old-fashioned hobby shop ” by owner Robert McBratney Jr ., has carved out a niche in the model railroad industry for 44 years with its impressive inventory , knowledgeable staff and timeless train decor .
The Western Depot , one of the few remaining brick-and-mortar model train shops in the Capital Region , has been closed to walk-in customers due to the coronavirus pandemic since March 2020 . McBratney , who says the store will reopen as soon as he deems it ’ s safe for customers and employees , says his business nonetheless has thrived through mail-order and internet sales , mainly because of its inventory of 14,000 items .
“ We had our best year in 15 years ,” says McBratney , whose father , Robert
McBratney , started the business in his garage on Jan . 1 , 1977 , the day after he retired as a U . S . Air Force pilot . Sales grew by 20 percent during 2020 , McBratney says , because the store has been selling online since the early days of the internet , with nearly everything in the store available on its website .
Thanks to the internet , the store has customers worldwide , McBratney says .
24 comstocksmag . com | April 2021