Independent Auditors' Consent


The Board of Directors
The Great Train Store Company

We consent to incorporation  by reference in the registration  statement on Form
S-8 of The Great  Train  Store  Company of our report  dated  February  4, 1997,
except as to note 3 which is as of March 19, 1997,  relating to the consolidated
balance sheet of The Great Train Store Company and  subsidiaries  as of December
28, 1996 and the related  consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholders'
equity and cash flows for the years ended  December  28, 1996 and  December  30,
1995, which report appears in the December 28, 1996 annual report on Form 10-KSB
of The Great Train Store Company.


                                                    /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

                                                    KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Dallas, Texas
October 6, 1997