Barnegat Resident's Train Shop Chugs into Lacey

When you walk into All Aboard Trains, you know you’ve entered the workshop of a true train enthusiast. An authentic train town with tracks, tunnels, trees and more overtakes the front corner of the store. The walls are lined with kits, train pieces and accessories.

All Aboard Trains, located at the Village Green Shopping Center on Route 9 in Forked River, opened Sunday, Nov. 13 under Barnegat resident Cary Van Nuis. The store features Lionel trains and other toys.

“I grew up with trains. It was a hobby," said Van Nuis, who previously owned a shop in Barnegat. "We always had trains around the Christmas tree,” he said. “I’ve always been mechanically inclined. [The business] was always in the back of my head.”

Van Nuis began his business out of his home in May 2005 repairing trains.

“I wanted to expand,” he said. “You can’t do that from your home.”

Van Nuis was looking for a place in Lacey after closing his Barnegat shop when he came across the vacant space at the shopping center, he said.

“The grand opening went really well,” Van Nuis said.

All Aboard Trains repairs Lionel Trains pre-war, post-war and modern era. Van Nuis repairs other manufactured brands as well.

The store sells remote control cars, helicopters and boats, HO trains, HO racecar sets, rockets, rock tumblers, car and boat model kits, woodburning kits, and paint for train models. All Aboard Trains also stocks scenery, people and accessories for train towns.

Since All Aboard Trains is a Lionel retailer, Van Nuis can order trains and pieces from distributors and have them sent to the store within three to four days, he said.

Purchases can also be made online at www.allaboardtrains1.com.

All Aboard Trains is open Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.