Rising Stars: Meet Jeff Smith of Los Angeles / OC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Smith.

Hi Jeff, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love of trains began when I was just two years old, with a simple wind-up locomotive that sparked a lifelong passion. I had no way of knowing that little toy would eventually lead me to co-own a model railroad hobby store with my wife, Leticia, or that it would shape the course of our lives for decades to come.
Although my professional career took me through customer service, technical support, and management roles at Toshiba, trains were always there in the background.
My wife, Leticia, and I are both retired military veterans. I retired as a First Sergeant after 39 years of combined service in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Army, while Leticia retired after 32 years of service in the U.S. Army. Together, we have 71 years of military service.
We learned a lot during those years, but probably one of the most important lessons was how to work with people and take care of them. That’s something we’ve carried into the hobby store.
Our journey into the model railroad business actually started in 2006, when Leticia and I purchased a model company out of New Zealand. We initially sold model railroad kits but soon expanded our product line to include micro speakers, primarily for use in sound-equipped model locomotives. This gave us an opportunity to learn the business side of the hobby and establish relationships within the model railroad industry.
My long-term plan had always been to open a hobby store after retirement. I wanted a place where model railroaders could find what they needed, get honest advice, and enjoy talking trains with other hobbyists.
However, life had a slightly different timetable in mind.
In 2010, I was laid off from Toshiba as part of a reduction in force (RIF). While it wasn’t something I had planned, it gave Leticia and me an opportunity to move forward with something we had been talking about for years.
The hobby store had always been part of our retirement plan. The layoff simply moved that plan ahead of schedule.
On May 1, 2011, Leticia and I opened RailMaster Hobbies in Bellflower, California. We started with a small 300-square-foot storefront, but we were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time. The response from the model railroad community was better than we could have imagined, and the business grew rather quickly.
Just over a year later, we had outgrown our original location and moved into the larger store we occupy today.
RailMaster Hobbies is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), something Leticia and I are both very proud of. Our military backgrounds continue to influence how we run the business. We believe in treating people fairly, standing behind what we sell, and taking care of our customers.
But from the beginning, our goal was bigger than simply running a retail store. We wanted to build a community.
That’s why, when we opened in 2011, we started our Last Saturday of the Month – Model Railroaders Get-Together, a tradition that continues to this day.
On the last Saturday of every month, we open the store an hour earlier than normal. We provide free coffee and doughnuts in the morning, followed by pizza and soda in the afternoon. There’s no charge and no obligation to buy anything. It’s simply an opportunity for people to come together, share ideas, and enjoy the hobby.
Over the years, these gatherings have created a real sense of camaraderie among our customers.
Sometimes I joke that the store feels more like a neighborhood bar than a hobby shop, except instead of everyone sitting around talking about sports, they’re talking about trains!
You’ll find people standing around sharing stories about their layouts, showing pictures of their latest projects, discussing something they’re working on, or laughing about something that didn’t go quite as planned. Someone might be celebrating a successful project, while someone else is trying to figure out why their locomotive that ran perfectly yesterday suddenly refuses to cooperate today.
And, of course, there’s always someone willing to offer advice!
What I really enjoy is watching everyone interact. You might have someone who’s been in the hobby for 50 years talking with someone who’s just getting started. Before you know it, they’re swapping stories, sharing ideas, and helping each other out.
That’s what makes these gatherings special. People share their successes, their failures, and what they’ve learned along the way. Some customers come in searching for a specific locomotive, while others stop by just to see what’s new, enjoy a cup of coffee, and visit with friends.
Over time, customers have become friends, and many of those friendships extend well beyond the hobby store. That’s something Leticia and I never really anticipated when we opened our doors, but it’s become one of the most rewarding parts of owning the business.
As we shared during our appearance on LA Unscripted, model railroading truly is a hobby for all ages. We’ve seen children as young as four light up at their first train set, and we’ve helped hobbyists well into their nineties who are still building, tinkering, and learning.
There aren’t many hobbies where you can bring together people from so many different generations. And no matter how long you’ve been involved, there’s always something new to learn.
We also enjoy helping customers with their projects. Whether someone is just getting started, troubleshooting a stubborn locomotive, or tackling an advanced project, we’re always happy to lend a hand.
Sometimes the advice works perfectly. Other times it doesn’t, and we get to figure out what went wrong together. That’s part of the fun of model railroading. We’re all learning, regardless of how many years we’ve been involved.
Leticia and I have always approached RailMaster Hobbies as a partnership. We each bring different experiences and strengths to the business, but we share the same commitment to our customers and the model railroad community.
Our commitment to the community extends beyond the store as well. I’ve had the privilege of serving as president of the Bellflower Chamber of Commerce and being involved with the National Model Railroad Association’s Los Angeles Division. Both organizations have given me opportunities to meet some wonderful people, support local businesses, and help promote the hobby.
Looking back, it’s interesting how everything connects. What started with a wind-up train when I was two years old eventually led to purchasing a model company in 2006, opening a small storefront in 2011, and growing into the RailMaster Hobbies our customers know today.
We’ve certainly had our share of challenges along the way, as any small business owner will tell you. But we’ve also had a lot of fun, met some great people, and made friendships that we probably never would have made otherwise.
For Leticia and me, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.
Today, more than 15 years after opening our doors, we still enjoy seeing the excitement on someone’s face when they discover something new about the hobby, finally get that troublesome locomotive running, or simply spend an afternoon talking trains with friends.
I often think back to that little wind-up train I received when I was two years old. I certainly never imagined that one day I’d be running a hobby store with my wife, but I’m glad things worked out the way they did.
After all, we may be in the business of selling model trains, but what we’re really building is a community. Because trains bring people together.
And if we can do that while sharing a cup of coffee, a doughnut, a slice of pizza, and a few good railroad stories, I’d say we’re on the right track!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anyone who has owned a small business would tell you it’s always been a smooth road. We’ve certainly had our share of challenges, but we’ve also learned a lot along the way.
One of our first challenges was simply deciding to take that leap from having a steady paycheck to running our own business. When I was laid off from Toshiba in 2010, opening a hobby store was still something I had planned for retirement. I wasn’t necessarily ready to jump into it quite yet.
To be honest, I was hesitant about taking that leap. Going from a steady paycheck to the uncertainties of owning a small business was a big decision, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to take that risk.
Fortunately, Leticia saw things a little differently. She encouraged me to move forward with the dream we’d been talking about for years. With her support, we decided the time was right, even if it was a little earlier than we had originally planned.
Looking back, I’m certainly glad Leticia encouraged me to take that leap. Sometimes you need someone who believes in your dream enough to give you that little push when you’re not quite ready to take the next step yourself.
Of course, opening the store was just the beginning.
Like most small businesses, we’ve faced our share of economic challenges, but probably one of the biggest was the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a difficult time for small businesses everywhere, and the uncertainty of what was coming next made it even more challenging. We had to adjust to changing conditions while doing our best to keep the business moving forward.
Another challenge is the changing landscape of the model railroad industry itself. Sometimes it seems like model railroading is becoming a dying hobby. Over the years, we’ve watched the number of brick-and-mortar model railroad stores in the Los Angeles area shrink significantly. Stores that were once part of the local hobby community are no longer around, and that certainly makes you think about the future of the industry.
However, I don’t believe the interest in model railroading has disappeared. We still see plenty of enthusiasm for the hobby, particularly when we introduce someone new to it. The challenge is finding ways to attract younger generations while continuing to support the model railroaders who have enjoyed the hobby for decades.
Then there’s the competition from online resellers, many of whom operate without a traditional storefront. They don’t have the same overhead expenses that come with maintaining a retail location, and that can make competing on price difficult.
We understand that customers have choices when it comes to purchasing model trains, but we also believe there is something important about having a local hobby store.
You can’t walk into a website, have a cup of coffee, ask a question about your layout, and spend an afternoon talking trains with friends.
That’s where we believe RailMaster Hobbies makes a difference.
We’re not always going to have the lowest price, and we certainly can’t stock everything, but we can provide knowledgeable service, help customers troubleshoot problems, and give people a place to come together and enjoy the hobby.
Maintaining the right inventory is another ongoing challenge. The model railroad industry includes so many different scales, manufacturers, and interests that it’s impossible to carry everything. Add in rising operating costs and changes in product availability, and running a hobby store becomes a constant balancing act.
One thing Leticia and I have learned over the years is that you have to be willing to adapt. The business environment today is certainly different from what it was when we opened in 2011, and what worked back then doesn’t necessarily work today.
Our military backgrounds taught us that when things don’t go according to plan, you assess the situation, make adjustments, and keep moving forward. We’ve carried that same philosophy into running RailMaster Hobbies.
We’ve overcome a number of challenges over the years, but some of them, particularly competition from online retailers and the changing hobby industry, are challenges we continue to face every day.
Looking back, I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, but I wouldn’t trade the experience. We’ve met some wonderful people, developed lasting friendships, and built something that Leticia and I are both proud of.
At the end of the day, our biggest challenge isn’t simply selling model trains. It’s finding ways to keep the hobby alive, introduce it to future generations, and make sure there’s still a place where model railroaders can come together.
And as long as people continue to enjoy trains, we’ll keep doing our part to keep the hobby on track!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
RailMaster Hobbies is a full-service model railroad hobby store located in Bellflower, California. We specialize in model trains and everything that goes along with building and operating a model railroad, including locomotives, rolling stock, track, structures, scenery materials, electronics, and accessories.
What I believe sets us apart is our approach to customer service. We’re not just interested in making a sale; we want to make sure our customers get what they actually need.
For example, someone might come into the store excited about building their first model railroad and ready to purchase everything that day. Rather than sell them a bunch of products they may not need, I’d much rather have them go home, measure their available space, think about what they want to accomplish, and come back with a better understanding of their needs.
I’d rather not make the sale today and have that customer return tomorrow to purchase exactly what they need, instead of what they think they need.
In the end, the customer is much happier, they’ve spent their money wisely, and they have a much better experience with the hobby. More importantly, we’ve established a relationship built on trust rather than simply making a sale.
We also take pride in sharing our knowledge, helping troubleshoot problems, and providing the kind of personal service that can sometimes be difficult to find today.
What Leticia and I are most proud of isn’t necessarily how much we’ve sold or how large the store has grown. It’s the reputation we’ve built and the relationships we’ve developed with our customers over the years.
Our philosophy is simple: Treat people right, give them honest advice, and help them enjoy the hobby. The sales will take care of themselves.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned throughout my military career, my years at Toshiba, and now owning RailMaster Hobbies is actually pretty simple: Treat people fairly, offer good products, and provide great service.
I’ve always believed that if you treat people right, they’ll remember it. You don’t need to make every sale, and you certainly don’t need to sell someone something they don’t need just to make a few extra dollars.
Sometimes doing the right thing means telling a customer to go home, think about their project, and come back when they’re ready. I’d much rather have a happy customer who returns for years than make a sale today that they might regret tomorrow.
Another important lesson is that relationships matter. Whether you’re leading soldiers, managing employees, or helping someone with their model railroad, people want to know they can trust you.
Leticia and I have always tried to carry those values into RailMaster Hobbies. We certainly haven’t had all the answers, and we’ve made our share of mistakes along the way, but we’ve always tried to learn from them and do what’s right.
At the end of the day, it’s not just about what you sell. It’s about how you treat people, the trust you build, and the reputation you leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.railmasterhobbies.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/railmasterhobbies/

Image Credits
Photos by Jeff Smith