Although I never met Jim, He was a "hobby friend" through correspondence.
The Jim Seacrest name was known far and wide from his persistent and prolific "'O' scale wanted classified ads in several railroad modeling magazines. I answered one of his ads & sold him my Atlas 'O' scale DM&IR switcher sight unseen and sent it to him. I was modeling DM&IR and GN at the time, location -- my childhood home of Northern Minnesota.
I was curious as to Jim's interest in DM&IR. He told me that as a youth he attended summer camp at Lake Vermillion----a well know resort area in Northern Mn. and he had been fascinated by the international rail line that passed nearby----The Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific. It was a subsidiary of the Canadian National and ran passenger service in those days----late 1950's.
Jim explained to me in a letter that he was constructing a huge model of the DW&P in a commercial building in Nebraska. He kept acquiring DM&IR, GN, NP, DW&P and other regionally related rolling stock from me for a few years. This included some of my favorite scratch built freight cars. He was ravenous for my rolling stock and at one point I just changed my focus in modeling because Jim, had nearly "bought me out". And believing Jim's DW&P would be one of the greatest 'O' scale empires EVER----I actually wanted my rolling stock on his layout. I gave him great deals!
Then I did countless 3 to 2 rail conversions for Jim and painting and lettering as well. I WASN'T the only one doing this for Jim! He had spotters/buyers at the major 'O' scale meets as well! So somewhere along the line I began to realize what a massive collection of quality 'O' scale equipment Jim Seacrest must have acquired!
But alas, Jim was bedeviled by health problems and his eyesight was poor. But I KNOW he inspected the work I did for him with a magnifying glass! He told me at one point the DW&P project wasn't going to happen due to his failing health. It seemed like it really bummed him out but he kept right on buying more 'O' scale goodies.
Jim is no longer with us---he passed away last year. I suspect HIS collection of 2 rail 'O' scale railroad models is one of the greatest in the history o our hobby. When this collection comes up for sale it will be Earth shaking. I'd like to get a few of my favorite rail cars back from his collection---to better remember Jim by!
Jim Seacrest----one of the great 'O' scale model railroaders!
