Skip to main content

The Train Barn has been closed for more than 6 years now, and Seth Giem sadly passed away in 2015.    Does anyone know what happened to the layout? It has been a while since I have heard anything about the Train Barn.
 
It was truly an amazing layout, and I have a lot of fond memories of visiting the Train Barn. I am forever grateful to Seth for sharing his layout with the public. 
Last edited by NS 3322
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I have visited it several times almost 20years ago...  i liked his collection of PW on display.

Maybe check the TM Video series.  I know there were a few visits to trainbarn in the heyday, maybe they filmed that building.

I cant lay my hands on what video it was in unfortunately...

I vividly remember Seth saying he doesnt run trains, but preferes to spend time making buildings or details.

Last edited by Super O Bob

 

Super O Bob posted:

Maybe check the TM Video series.  I know there were a few visits to trainbarn in the heyday, maybe they filmed that building.

I cant lay my hands on what video it was in unfortunately...

I vividly remember Seth saying he doesnt run trains, but preferes to spend time making buildings or details.

The Train Barn is featured in Great Lionel Layouts Parts 1 and 2. 

It is currently available for $9.99 on the TMBV website: https://www.tmbv.com/Great-Lio.../productinfo/GLLDVD/

 

This video is probably the best available on the internet (by dlc54): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4Tvw6eIsPA&t

A couple other videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4RQXTm_LuQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfPE5hmOpNs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNkfyD6SrM8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0Iv92X8ocw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwTIsFN6IYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PwiZc4TA38

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBPsaV0oDcw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoCxPPF1r3Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnaatCmhFuo

Last edited by NS 3322

The TRAIN BARN and the layout are still there on Eastshore Drive in Portage, MI. 

Peggy Geim has not had anybody reopen the store for visitors to the layout. Mostly all of the remaining items for sale have been sold off to somebody. The collection of O gauge and tinplate items are still in the display shelving units behind glass.

Andrew

NS 3322 posted:
The Train Barn has been closed for more than 6 years now, and Seth Giem sadly passed away in 2015.    Does anyone know what happened to the layout? It has been a while since I have heard anything about the Train Barn.
 
It was truly an amazing layout, and I have a lot of fond memories of visiting the Train Barn. I am forever grateful to Seth for sharing his layout with the public. 

One of the club members use to work there. Next time I see him I'll ask.

colorado hirailer posted:

To view this layout, did a visitor have to climb a stairs to see it?  I stopped to see one on the way to somewhere years ago, but don't remember when, where exactly, or why.  Train convention in Western Michigan?

Yup, it was in the loft of the barn. Downstairs he had a shop. I was there in 2012 during the NMRA national convention in Grand Rapids. I had seen the TM videos, and always wanted to visit. If I remember correctly, Seth was planning to close it up back then, and I bought a bunch of cars from the shop.

Peter - I'm in the process of looking through my pictures. If I find the Quick Sand & Gravel I'll post it.

Is this it? Looks like he won a blue ribbon with it.

IMG_0506

BTW I have a lot more photos from around the layout, but the quality isn't the greatest because it was a bit dark up there.

Attachments

Images (1)
  • IMG_0506
Last edited by Big_Boy_4005

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions, and help..........since I have nearly everything that TM has produced, I located my copy Great Lionel Layouts, Part 2......watching it  will be a project for this weekend.

In addition, (funny how this happens) lying in bed this week I seem to remember a feature article on the Train Barn in one of the early CTTs.....maybe the 1st one which has Richard Kughn on the cover. That article had a picture of Quick Sand & Gravel. Once I locate my copy this weekend (I know exactly where I keep it), I will ask Carl Swanson and Roger Carp if I could post a phone picture, giving CTT credit as the source.

Peter

Putnam Division posted:

I want to thank everyone for their suggestions, and help..........since I have nearly everything that TM has produced, I located my copy Great Lionel Layouts, Part 2......watching it  will be a project for this weekend.

In addition, (funny how this happens) lying in bed this week I seem to remember a feature article on the Train Barn in one of the early CTTs.....maybe the 1st one which has Richard Kughn on the cover. That article had a picture of Quick Sand & Gravel. Once I locate my copy this weekend (I know exactly where I keep it), I will ask Carl Swanson and Roger Carp if I could post a phone picture, giving CTT credit as the source.

Peter

Hi Peter,  I checked my archives, and your memory is correct, the Train Barn was in the Premier Issue of CTT, with Mr, Kughn on the cover.  It was the Fall 1987 Issue. I remember when I bought that issue, seems like yesterday!  LOL

 

@kmacleod posted:

Peggy auctioned off everything in the lower level display cases in 2020. Last summer 2021 all the engines and rolling stock on the layout were sold thru a local hobby store. I picked up several items.

Thanks for sharing this! I just reached out to Hobby-Sports and they told me everything they had from them has been sold. I only wish I had known about the sale sooner...oh well, I guess it was not meant to be. Appears they only advertised the Train Barn engine and rolling stock sale on their Facebook page. Also, looked like most of the good stuff (like the GTW 1776 unit) had been sold off long ago.

Hard to believe it has been close to 10 years since it was closed.

Last edited by NS 3322
@NS 3322 posted:

Thanks for sharing this! I just reached out to Hobby-Sports and they told me everything they had from them has been sold. I only wish I had known about the sale sooner...oh well, I guess it was not meant to be. Appears they only advertised the Train Barn engine and rolling stock sale on their Facebook page. Also, looked like most of the good stuff (like the GTW 1776 unit) had been sold off long ago.

Hard to believe it has been close to 10 years since it was closed.

The GTW 1776 was a repainted LIONEL GP20 diesel loco, not a true GP38-2 diesel model, like what MTH released in the past year.

It was running on the layout in the Township Hall building at the Vicksburg Historical Society, when they set up a layout in 2019.

Here is my video of the 1776 GP20 on that track layout in 2019.

Andrew

Attachments

Videos (1)
MVI_5122

Add Reply

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×