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Pre-Order The Best Model Trains in The World!

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Pre-Order The Best Model Trains in The World!

Preordering is as easy as 1-2-3:

Preorder any item with a red "Preorder item". Date flag indicates anticipated arrival.
We will email your invoice approximately 30-45 days before your preorder items land at the warehouse. With the interactive invoice you can select your preferred shipping method and pay the balance of your order right online!
We'll ship you your preorder once your invoice is paid online.

It's that simple!

PLEASE NOTE: Prices shown in red reflect your 10% Down Payment.
Preorders used to be $0. What happened?

View

Preorder item

PREORDER Rapido 023551 HO PA-1 (DC/DCC/Sound): Gulf, Mobile & Ohio: #292

Rapido PREORDER Rapido 023551 HO PA-1 (DC/DCC/Sound): Gulf, Mobile & Ohio: #292

$33.25 $332.45

Browse reviews for PREORDER Rapido 023551 HO PA-1 (DC/DCC/Sound): Gulf, Mobile & Ohio: #292

Preorder item

PREORDER Atlas 30138048 Alco S2 - 3-Rail - Proto-Sound 3.0 - Premier -- Alaska Railroad #7112 (black, yellow), O

Atlas PREORDER Atlas 30138048 Alco S2 - 3-Rail - Proto-Sound 3.0 - Premier -- Alaska Railroad #7112 (black, yellow), O

$62 $619.95

Browse reviews for PREORDER Atlas 30138048 Alco S2 - 3-Rail - Proto-Sound 3.0 - Premier -- Alaska Railroad #7112 (black, yellow), O

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2334 GP8 Locomotive, Conrail #5459 | 199.99

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2334 GP8 Locomotive, Conrail #5459 | 199.99

$20 $199.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2334 GP8 Locomotive, Conrail #5459 | 199.99

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis ATHG-1017 HO Gunderson MAXI-STACK II Well Car, DTTX #73066 (5-Car Set)

PREORDER Athearn Genesis ATHG-1017 HO Gunderson MAXI-STACK II Well Car, DTTX #73066 (5-Car Set)

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis ATHG-1017 HO Gunderson MAXI-STACK II Well Car, DTTX #73066 (5-Car Set)

$25.20 $251.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis ATHG-1017 HO Gunderson MAXI-STACK II Well Car, DTTX #73066 (5-Car Set)

Preorder item

PREORDER Walthers Proto HO 920-10804 NYC-Style Express Boxcar Troop Sleeper Conversion, St. Louis-San Francisco #462

Walthers PREORDER Walthers Proto HO 920-10804 NYC-Style Express Boxcar Troop Sleeper Conversion, St. Louis-San Francisco #462

$6.30 $62.98

Browse reviews for PREORDER Walthers Proto HO 920-10804 NYC-Style Express Boxcar Troop Sleeper Conversion, St. Louis-San Francisco #462

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2690 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Iowa Interstate #706 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2690 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Iowa Interstate #706 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

$35.50 $354.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2690 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Iowa Interstate #706 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn HO 3161 Bay Window Caboose, Penn Central #24035

Athearn PREORDER Athearn HO 3161 Bay Window Caboose, Penn Central #24035

$4.66 $46.61

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn HO 3161 Bay Window Caboose, Penn Central #24035

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2693 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, EMD #782 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2693 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, EMD #782 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

$35.50 $354.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2693 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, EMD #782 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn N 3196 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, Union Pacific UPFE #463704

Athearn PREORDER Athearn N 3196 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, Union Pacific UPFE #463704

$10.35 $103.49

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn N 3196 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, Union Pacific UPFE #463704

Preorder item

PREORDER Atlas O 30138432 EMD GP30 Locomotive 3-Rail, Proto-Sound 3.0 and DCS, Premier, CSX#4251 (DCC and Sound Equipped)

Atlas PREORDER Atlas O 30138432 EMD GP30 Locomotive 3-Rail, Proto-Sound 3.0 and DCS, Premier, CSX#4251 (DCC and Sound Equipped)

$66 $659.95

Browse reviews for PREORDER Atlas O 30138432 EMD GP30 Locomotive 3-Rail, Proto-Sound 3.0 and DCS, Premier, CSX#4251 (DCC and Sound Equipped)

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2701 Trinity 5161 Covered Hopper, Farmland #3566

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2701 Trinity 5161 Covered Hopper, Farmland #3566

$6.50 $64.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2701 Trinity 5161 Covered Hopper, Farmland #3566

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn N 3177 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, American Refrigerator Transit #923968

Athearn PREORDER Athearn N 3177 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, American Refrigerator Transit #923968

$10.35 $103.49

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn N 3177 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, American Refrigerator Transit #923968

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn HO 3117 36 Low Side Gondola with Drop Gates, Central of New Jersey #81110

Athearn PREORDER Athearn HO 3117 36 Low Side Gondola with Drop Gates, Central of New Jersey #81110

$5.17 $51.74

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn HO 3117 36 Low Side Gondola with Drop Gates, Central of New Jersey #81110

Preorder item

PREORDER Brekina HO 18157 Dodge Monaco, Chicago Fire Department

Brekina PREORDER Brekina HO 18157 Dodge Monaco, Chicago Fire Department

$2.97 $29.69

Browse reviews for PREORDER Brekina HO 18157 Dodge Monaco, Chicago Fire Department

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn HO 3108 36 Flat Car, Union Pacific #81451

Athearn PREORDER Athearn HO 3108 36 Flat Car, Union Pacific #81451

$5.17 $51.74

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn HO 3108 36 Flat Car, Union Pacific #81451

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2655 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Rock Island The American Railfan #4310

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2655 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Rock Island The American Railfan #4310

$25 $249.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2655 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Rock Island The American Railfan #4310

Preorder item

PREORDER WalthersProto 920-50506 HO EMD NW2 Phase V - Standard DC -- NIckel Plate Road #20

Walthers PREORDER WalthersProto 920-50506 HO EMD NW2 Phase V - Standard DC -- NIckel Plate Road #20

$19.25 $192.48

Browse reviews for PREORDER WalthersProto 920-50506 HO EMD NW2 Phase V - Standard DC -- NIckel Plate Road #20

Preorder item

PREORDER Rapido 023552 HO PA-2 (DC/DCC/Sound): Missouri Pacific - Eagle Scheme: #8001

Rapido PREORDER Rapido 023552 HO PA-2 (DC/DCC/Sound): Missouri Pacific - Eagle Scheme: #8001

$33.25 $332.45

Browse reviews for PREORDER Rapido 023552 HO PA-2 (DC/DCC/Sound): Missouri Pacific - Eagle Scheme: #8001

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2643 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Soo Line Primed For Grime #4417

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2643 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Soo Line Primed For Grime #4417

$26 $259.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2643 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, Soo Line Primed For Grime #4417

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2661 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, EMD #769

Athearn PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2661 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, EMD #769

$25 $249.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn Genesis HO G2661 GP38-2 Diesel Locomotive, EMD #769

Preorder item

PREORDER Minitrix N 18971 Type Zs 2-Axle Tank Car, KVG Tank Car Leasing

Minitrix PREORDER Minitrix N 18971 Type Zs 2-Axle Tank Car, KVG Tank Car Leasing

$3.70 $36.99

Browse reviews for PREORDER Minitrix N 18971 Type Zs 2-Axle Tank Car, KVG Tank Car Leasing

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn HO 3090 RS-3 Diesel Locomotive, Delaware & Hudson #4068 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

Athearn PREORDER Athearn HO 3090 RS-3 Diesel Locomotive, Delaware & Hudson #4068 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

$29.50 $295.01

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn HO 3090 RS-3 Diesel Locomotive, Delaware & Hudson #4068 (DCC & Sound Equipped)

Preorder item

PREORDER Brekina HO 59657 Ikarus 255.71 Bus, White | 40.49

Brekina PREORDER Brekina HO 59657 Ikarus 255.71 Bus, White | 40.49

$4.05 $40.49

Browse reviews for PREORDER Brekina HO 59657 Ikarus 255.71 Bus, White | 40.49

Preorder item

PREORDER Athearn N 3178 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, American Refrigerator Transit #993999

Athearn PREORDER Athearn N 3178 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, American Refrigerator Transit #993999

$10.35 $103.49

Browse reviews for PREORDER Athearn N 3178 57 FGE Mechanical Reefer with Sound, American Refrigerator Transit #993999

Factory Direct Hobbies is a family owned business based in Asheville, NC that began in 2006 as Factory Direct Trains. For 14 years, we focused on bringing our customers the finest, cutting edge model railroading products available. During that time, we've expanded our model railroading inventory to one of the widest and most up-to-date in the world. But we've also grown our customer base and offerings to include hobby products that go well beyond trains, like the Bandai Gundam franchise. Our goal is to provide the best selection of hobby products in the world, at prices that make purchasing from us easy.

7 Glenn Bridge Rd, Unit B
Arden, NC 28704
tel: (828) 818-1404

WE ARE ONLINE ONLY: no in-person shopping or store pickup.

Factory Direct Hobbies strives to make our website accessible. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and meeting the needs of all of our customers, including those with disabilities. We are continually improving our website to comply with the accessibility guidelines in WCAG 2.1 Levels A and AA. Further accessibility efforts are under way and we continue to update our website to improve accessibility. In the meantime, if the format of any material on our web pages interferes with your ability to access the information, please contact us to request assistance or if you have questions or comments about our web site’s accessibility. Please call (828) 818-1404, e-mail ask@factorydirecthobbies.com, or submit an inquiry using the gold chat bubble in the bottom right hand corner of our website.

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Preorder FAQs

How preorders work

How do preorders work?

Guarantee your reservation on any item marked with the red "Preorder item" flag, by paying just 10% down. Preorder items also display a date badge indicating the anticipated arrival.
We will email your invoice approximately 30-45 days before your preorder item lands at the warehouse. This interactive invoice will allow you to select your preferred shipping method, and pay the balance of your order, right online!
We'll ship you your preorder once your item arrives at our warehouse. Preorder fulfillments are queued in the order in which they were paid for.

Preorders used to be $0. What happened?

Recently, our suppliers have made a major policy change and are no longer accepting product returns for non-paying end customers. After much consideration, we unfortunately must also change our policies to align with the realities our suppliers have created.

As our preorder offerings have grown, we’ve found that a large percentage of preorder reservations are canceled or left unpaid without notice. We pay our suppliers for every preorder item that arrives at our warehouse, so when a customer does not pay for their item, we are left no choice but to absorb that cost. We have tried our best to cope with the effects of this change; however, after more than a year of trying, we have found we cannot continue to do so.

We understand that this is an unwelcome change, and no one wants to pay earlier than necessary. However, this is unavoidable in order for us to be able to continue to offer the wide variety of preorder options you’re used to getting from Factory Direct Hobbies. We must now ask that customers pay a 10% good-faith down payment toward the price of their item. This non-refundable good-faith payment is applied to the price of the product, and the balance (plus shipping and any applicable taxes) will be invoiced approximately 30-45 days before the item is slated to arrive at our warehouse.

We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have questions or would like further clarification, feel free to contact us through the gold chat bubble.

Is my 10% down payment refundable?

The good-faith down payment is not refundable if you choose to cancel your preorder or do not pay your invoice.

However, if a manufacturer cancels a project for which you have made a down payment, you will receive a refund for your down payment.

If the manufacturer cancels a project, will I get my 10% down payment back?

Yes. We know that paying ahead of time can be unnerving when delivery dates are distant, and not every project makes it to the production line. Rest assured that, in the event the manufacturer cancels your preorder project, you will be refunded your 10% down payment.

Hobbies should be fun, not stressful!

If my item gets delayed, can I get my 10% down payment back?

The manufacturing process involves many different moving parts, and this complexity often renders production timelines unpredictable. Therefore, some level of unpredictability in timing is inherent to preordering hobby products. Down payments are not refundable in cases of routine manufacturing, delivery, or other short-term delays.

However, we know it can be frustrating when a project gets delayed for many months. In the event a project is delayed more than 6 months beyond the delivery window originally estimated by the manufacturer, we will handle refunds of down payments on a case-by-case basis.

Friendly Reminder: Should you choose to cancel a preorder, it will no longer be reserved for you; in the event the item becomes available on our website, all customers will have equal access to purchase the item.

I preordered items for $0 before this policy change. Do I owe a down payment?

Nope! The policy is not retroactive: if you already made a preorder reservation before this policy update, you do not owe a down payment for that reservation. However, any future preorders you make will require the 10% good-faith down payment.

When will I get my preorder item?

We make every effort to keep our website updated with information that reflects manufacturers' current estimated delivery schedules. To find the estimated delivery month of an item, you can visit our Preorder Section and use the filters to narrow down your selection.

However, we encourage you to directly visit the manufacturer's site for the most current delivery dates.

How do I pay the balance of my preorder?

Approximately 30-45 days before your preorder items land at the warehouse, we'll email your invoice to you to pay in full. At this point, you'll be able to provide your shipping address and select your preferred shipping method.

Your item will be reserved for 7 days, beginning when your invoice is sent. After 7 days, your preorder will be canceled.

Why do I have to pay for my preorder before it arrives at the warehouse?

Recently, our suppliers have made a major policy change and are no longer accepting product returns for non-paying end customers. We have tried our best to absorb the effects of this change; however, after more than a year of trying, we have found we cannot continue to do so. After much consideration, we unfortunately must also change our policies to align with the realities our suppliers have created.

As a result, we must now ask that customers pay in full prior to the supplier finalizing shipment to FDH, about 30-45 days ahead of product arrival. This gives us the time we need to cancel with our suppliers any unpaid orders prior to shipment.

We understand that this is an unwelcome change and no one wants to pay earlier than necessary. However, this is unavoidable in order for us to be able to continue to offer the wide variety of preorder options you’re used to getting from Factory Direct Hobbies.

One silver lining is that this change will result in preorder items getting to your door even faster, as all payment processing will be well out of the way and the usual several day wait after product has arrived will be eliminated. We thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have questions or would like further clarification, feel free to contact us through the gold chat bubble.

What if my preorder item gets delayed after I pay my invoice?

Manufacturing schedules can sometimes be unpredictable. In the event your preorder item does not arrive at our warehouse within 60 days of your invoice payment, then you will have the option to cancel your preorder and receive a refund OR you may elect to continue waiting for the item.

Friendly Reminder: Should you choose to cancel a preorder, it will no longer be reserved for you; in the event the item becomes available on our website, all customers will have equal access to purchase the item.

I need a bit more time to pay. Can my reservation be extended?

We know life happens, and missing out on a great item can be a drag!

We're here to help; just contact us via the gold chat bubble and we'll do all we can to work with you!

How do I view all of my preorders?

If you have an account with factorydirecthobbies.com, you can view all your preorders, as well as your active orders. Login to your account, and select the “My orders” option. All your preorders and active orders will be listed along with the current status of each order. If you have further questions about your order, please feel free to reach out to us through the gold chat bubble.

Where can I find the most up-to-date information on preorder statuses?

Although we try to keep our preorder arrival estimates as accurate as possible, we encourage you to visit each manufacturer’s website to find the most up-to-date delivery information.

For instance, with Athearn and Walthers, you can enter the part number into their websites and navigate to the item. Most of the time, the delivery date will be listed there. Broadway Limited has a published delivery schedule, as does Rapido.

Rewards and Preorders

Can I use rewards for preorders?

Yes. Rewards can be used on both your 10% good-faith down payment and on the balance of your preorder at invoicing time.

Can I earn rewards on preorders?

Yes! Preorders are awarded reward dollars at the same 5% rate. You'll receive your reward within several days of paying the balance of your preorder invoice.

Still more questions?

Contact Us

If we still haven't answered your question, please click the gold messaging bubble in the bottom right of our site, and we'll help in any way we can!