Model Train Journal

“After having owned and operated LaBelle Woodworking since 2001, I have been in the model business longer than the original or subsequent owners, I have decided to call it a day. I will be closing the doors and turning out the lights on LaBelle after 25 years on June 1, 2026. I have posted this as a courtesy to you, my loyal and well received customers, so that there will be no future surprises.

If anyone is interested in getting into the Model Railroad business I am not adverse to selling LaBelle to someone who is interested in purchasing it. I will be entertaining serious offers for LaBelle and the all of the equipment used to make our kits. I would love to sell the business so that the names and products that we produce, such as LaBelle, Silver Streak, Mainline Models, Ye Olde Huff and Puff, OnTrack and Valley Car Shops don’t disappear from the modeling scene.”

I will be out of the office from March 13 to April 6, 2026. Please do not panic if you do not have your order yet.

Even though I am closing the doors on June 1, I will honor all orders received up to that date. Due to family matters, I will be gone from May 27 until after June 1 as well.

As far as shipping goes: Due to changes on the Post Office website, we can no longer connect with them for estimated shipping, hence the $20.00 placeholder. All credit card orders received will have the proper shipping and handling charges on them. So if it says $20.00 for a set of decals, you will not be charged that.

RP

This is the status used next to your name by the Crew Management system on Union Pacifc when an employee is going to retire. It means “Retirement Pending”. Now it applies to me, again.

After having owned and operated LaBelle Woodworking since 2001, I have been in the model business longer than the original or subsequent owners, I have decided to call it a day. I will be closing the doors and turning out the lights on LaBelle after 25 years on June 1, 2026. I have posted this as a courtesy to you, my loyal and well received customers, so that there will be no future surprises.

If anyone is interested in getting into the Model Railroad business I am not adverse to selling LaBelle to someone who is interested in purchasing it. I will be entertaining serious offers for LaBelle and the all of the equipment used to make our kits. I would love to sell the business so that the names and products that we produce, such as LaBelle, Silver Streak, Mainline Models, Ye Olde Huff and Puff, OnTrack and Valley Car Shops don’t disappear from the modeling scene.

Please contact me at info@labellemodels.com for further information. If there is any further information about the future of LaBelle, I will keep you informed here on the website’s introductory page.