Clinging to each other like the carriages of a sleeper train, the six letters of the sign clearly announce things. Here, it's about "Trains" and nothing else. More precisely: miniature electric trains, a childish hobby that smacks of nostalgia.
“The golden age was the 1970s,” recognizes Maurice Citerne. “At the time, all the kids played there. At Christmas, we sold the equivalent of an entire truckload. Today, children only swear by video games,” observes the merchant without passing any moral judgment on this development. Times change, that's all.
“My parents arrived on Boulevard du Temple in 1962, coming from Charenton,” he says. Initially, the store was a hardware bazaar. Quite quickly, they only kept the toy business. Then the store focused exclusively on model trains. » For four decades, Maurice Citerne has been in charge of the store.
We suspect: business is no longer what it used to be. But “Trains” is resisting, thanks to enthusiasts, who are generally over fifty and some of whom are SNCF employees.
“We are one of five stores of this type still existing in Paris,” explains the owner of the premises, from whom customers obtain their supplies of wagons, locomotives, scenery for landscapes (houses, level crossings, trees) as well as specialized magazines (Loco revue, Ferrovissime, etc.).
On Saturdays, the small community of miniature enthusiasts meets in or in front of “Trains” to talk about such a set of three long-line sleeper cars “Simplon Orient express” from the German brand Märklin (around €300), such a dining car at 70 € from the Italian manufacturer Acme or even such diesel locomotive BB67349 from the French Jouef – a model which will fetch around 250 €.
What do these toys have in common? All are “made in China”. Other than that, and aside from a few technological improvements – like locomotives that simulate the sound of real engines and internally lit carriages – things haven't changed much in the model train business. And one thing remains perfectly intact: the passion of the grown-up children who attend “Trains”.
Trains
21, Bd du Temple, 75003 Paris
Closed Monday and Sunday
Tuesday to Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. then from 14:15 p.m. to 19 p.m.
Tel: 01 42 78 00 16
Text and photos: Axel G.
29.09.21
WINDOW SHOPPING, IT'S THIS WAY
Quick lunch at Titi Palacio
On the second floor of this youth hotel (a hostel) is an indoor tavern which is reminiscent of the Mama Shelter in Lisbon. Except that here, we are in Paris and at the Titi Palacio, a hostel concept with dormitories and single rooms and a restaurant with a veranda…
Oysters and fish: P'tit Mousse knows his job
Why bother going to Wepler or La Coupole, when there is P'tit Mousse? Both an oyster bar and a fish restaurant, this address on Rue Rambuteau advantageously replaces the Parisian brasseries on Place Clichy and Boulevard Montparnasse.
Breton house, Brittany rue de Rivoli
A stone's throw from the Saint-Paul metro station and a stone's throw from the BHV, a little piece of Brittany has just been established. At the helm of this new ship, chef France. Originally from Finistère, she has been making crepes for over 20 years, so after experiencing the takeaway kiosk – Food Breizh on the banks of the Seine…
NOW ON LE MARAIS MOOD
The Marais Crossings 2024: surprises and emotions (from 13/15 to 09/XNUMX)
From September 13 to 15, 2024, Le Marais celebrates the 10th anniversary of its cultural festival “Les Traversées du Marais”. Under the theme of “Surprise”, this anniversary edition promises to shake up the senses and certainties of strollers, in a district where history rubs shoulders with the avant-garde.
Heritage Days 2024: the secrets of the Marais
Le Marais, an architectural showcase of historic Paris, is preparing to reveal its hidden treasures during the 2024 Heritage Days. This district, once a marshland that became a stronghold of the nobility in the XNUMXth century, is home to an exceptional density of private mansions and historic buildings, silent witnesses to the splendor of yesteryear.
Private cruise on the Seine: a perfect moment
Like the Olympic athletes at the opening ceremony, Le Marais Mood embarked on a cruise on the Seine. But for a private cruise, in a small group (six passengers), with champagne on tap. This is what Green River Cruises offers for 450 euros for a one and a half hour cruise.
